Ayton and Suns rout Spurs, clinch a playoff spot

By JACK THOMPSON Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) —

Devin Booker scored 27 points and the Phoenix Suns never trailed, beating the depleted San Antonio Spurs 115-94 last night to clinch a playoff spot.

The Suns (44-35) won their sixth in a row, the longest current winning streak in the NBA.

With one more victory in the final three games, Phoenix would assure itself of at least the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference and home-court advantage in the first round.

Chris Paul scored 22 points, while Deandre Ayton had 19 points and 11 rebounds. Kevin Durant scored 18 points and reserve Torrey Craig added 15. The Suns are 7-0 when Durant has been in their lineup.

Malaki Branham led the Spurs with 21 points.

Tre Jones scored 20, while Keita Bates-Diop and Sandro Mamukelashvili each had 13.

The Spurs (20-59) only dressed 10 players. They were without their top two scorers, Keldon Johnson (right foot sprain) and Devin Vassell (left knee). Also out for San Antonio were Zach Collins (finger), Jeremy Sochan (right knee soreness) and Romeo Langford (left adductor).

And during Tuesday’s game, Doug McDermott played six minutes and limped off with an apparent knee injury.

Dominick Barlow was hurt in a fourth-quarter collision, and starter Devonte’ Graham was helped to the locker room late in the game after hurting his leg. San Antonio entered the night ranked last in scoring defence, having allowed 122.8 points per game. Phoenix came out roaring, shooting 63% in the first quarter in building a 42-25 lead. That’s the most the Suns have scored in the first quarter this season, passing the 40 points against Chicago on March

3. Booker had 14 points in the first quarter. The Suns led by as many as 31 points in the second quarter and were up 69-51 at the half. Paul made 7 of 8 shots in the half to lead the Suns with 18 points. Phoenix shot 56% and San Antonio 38 percent, with the Suns outrebounding the Spurs 30-20.

The Spurs got within nine in the third quarter, but by the end of the period Phoenix was back ahead 97-76. Booker scored 13 in the quarter to lead Phoenix.

MUTUAL ADMIRATION

Suns coach Monty Williams played for Gregg Popovich with the Spurs and coached under him as well. “I just enjoy seeing him and I’m grateful for the history I have with him,” Williams said before the game. “I’m grateful that I get to tell people outside of basketball that I know Gregg Popovich as a man, as a mentor, as a friend.”

Popovich may not have enjoyed yesterday’s result, but he too admires what Williams and the Suns have done.

In his second gruelling match so far, Major Jr survived against Lucas Castillo Sanchez from Colombia as he won over the number six seed in a 7-6 (15-13) tie breaker that lasted for one hour and 15 minutes before he wrapped up the second set as he rallied from a 5-1 deficit to surge to another tie breaker that he pulled off 7-4.

The performance came after Major Jr battled it out for three hours and 45 minutes against Omar Rhazili for a 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 decision, despite trailing 5-2 in the third and decisive set.

“So far in this tournament, I feel very good. I fought for every point,” Major Jr said. “Yesterday (Monday), I played for nearly four hours and today (Tuesday), I had another three-hour match.

“So it was fought physically, but I stayed tough mentally and I think I executed very well mentally even though I was really tired physically.”

Major Jr, who is preparing to enter college in August a year ahead of his required six years of high school, said these tournaments are a good test of his ability.

“I know I have a tough match ahead of me but I am prepared to go out there and give it my best shot,” said Major Jr, as he looks ahead to the next round today.

“I feel like I am playing well enough to beat anyone. Regardless of what happens, but I am prepared to go all the way.”

Major Jr is in the same position he was in during his first tournament in Trinidad last week when he won his first two matches and lost the third. He’s hoping that history won’t repeat itself this week.