Devin Booker scored 30 points, delivered seven assists, and added three steals as the Phoenix Suns secured a 101-96 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday night.
The win marked the fourth victory in five games for Phoenix following a sluggish 1-5 start to the campaign. The matchup carried added storyline weight as Miles Bridges faced his former franchise for the first time since leaving Charlotte.
Bridges finished the contest with 11 points and six rebounds for the Suns, according to AP News. Selected 12th overall in the 2018 NBA draft, Bridges spent his first seven professional seasons with the Hornets, climbing to third on the franchise’s all-time scoring list prior to his trade to Phoenix in an exchange that sent Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale to Charlotte.
Dillon Brooks contributed 15 points and Collin Gillespie added 13 for the winners. On the other side, Coby White paced the Hornets with 21 points, while Naz Reid chipped in 16 points on a 6-for-18 shooting night from the field.
Yahoo Sports reported that the Phoenix Suns led 48-31 halfway through the second quarter before Charlotte mounted a strong response. The Hornets controlled the glass, out-rebounding the Suns 64-43 and holding a 16-7 advantage in second-chance points.
NBA: Devin Booker, Miles Bridges help Suns hold off Hornets https://t.co/9kd2hj1Xok
Despite dominating the boards, Charlotte struggled mightily with ball security, committing 27 turnovers compared to just eight for Phoenix. Every Hornets starter recorded at least four turnovers.
Booker carried the offensive load in crunch time, shooting 12-for-20 from the field, including 4-for-8 from beyond the arc. He sealed the outcome with a deep three-pointer with 23 seconds remaining to extend the lead to six points.
Grayson Allen added 14 points for Charlotte against his former team, while Christian Anderson finished with 13 points. Coby White did not play in the fourth quarter due to an apparent minutes restriction.
| Player | Team | Points | Key Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devin Booker | Phoenix Suns | 30 | 7 assists, 3 steals, 4-8 3PT |
| Coby White | Charlotte Hornets | 21 | Led Hornets scoring |
| Naz Reid | Charlotte Hornets | 16 | 6-18 FG |
| Miles Bridges | Phoenix Suns | 11 | 6 rebounds, first game vs. Charlotte |
The Suns now hold a 5-6 record as rotation adjustments continue under head coach Jordan Ott.
NBA: Devin Booker, Miles Bridges help Suns hold off Hornets https://t.co/iVtAeuLHiv
