The Suns defeated Spurs towards the end of the regular season

Jakarta (medialnews) – Devin Booker scored 23 of his 27 points in the first half and the Phoenix Suns of the visitors won on Saturday local time (Sunday WIB) a 140-103 win over the San Antonio Spurs in the penultimate game of the regular competition for the two teams.

With the win, the Suns (50-21) competed with Utah (51-20) for the highest seed in the Western Conference. If Phoenix beat the Spurs in their second consecutive game of meetings on Sunday afternoon and lose Utah at Sacramento, the Suns will win the region as they hold the tiebreaker with the Jazz.

Spurs (33-38) have won last place in the play-in tournament and cannot improve their place in the standings. San Antonio will play at home against Memphis or Golden State on Wednesday.

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Quoted on Sunday by Reuters, Mikal Bridges added 18 points for the Suns, while Chris Paul scored 16 points and 10 assists. Dario Saric had 13 points and Cameron Payne had 12 for Phoenix. Deandre Ayton (left knee pain) was out for the Suns.

Keldon Johnson and Gorgui Dieng each scored 18 points to lead the Spurs, while Drew Eubanks added 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Devin Vassell had 14 points.

The Spurs, who had not been free for a few nights in a row, decided to let two of their starters DeMar DeRozan and Jakob Poeltl rest. Five other players, including Dejounte Murray (back) and Rudy Gay (heel), are reportedly injured.

Phoenix passed Spurs early and took the lead with 17 points at the end of the first quarter. San Antonio made a mini-run in the middle of the second quarter, narrowing the deficit to 49-39 before the Suns regained speed before the break to 68-47.

Booker’s 23 runs led all scorers in the first half, while Bridges added 14 for Phoenix. Johnson had 16 points for the Spurs at half time.

The Suns opened the third quarter at 11-0. Phoenix cleared the bench in the fourth quarter to rest his starters for Sunday’s crucial game.

San Antonio also played without coach Gregg Popovich, who attended the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame ceremony, which included the inclusion of Spurs legend Tim Duncan.

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Reporter: Fitri Supratiwi
Editor: Bayu Kuncahyo
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