The Phoenix Suns did just fine in their first game without Chris Paul.
The Western Conference-leading Suns beat the Thunder 124-104 on Thursday night in Oklahoma City.
They’ll look for their ninth consecutive win and 20th in 21 games when they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.
Paul fractured a thumb Feb. 16 in the Suns’ final game before the All-Star break. He’s scheduled to be re-evaluated in six to eight weeks, which is right about when the season ends (April 10.)
“It’s an opportunity for us to grow as a team without (Paul),” said Jae Crowder, who scored 17 points against the Thunder.
Devin Booker moved from shooting guard to point guard Thursday and did a pretty good Paul impersonation, finishing with 25 points, 12 assists, six steals and five rebounds.
Booker said he told teammates Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson before the game, “Remember, I’m a shooting guard.”
“I knew it’d be different,” Booker said. “I just wanted to go out there and make sure everybody was involved.”
Booker’s assist total was a season high and his steals total was a career high. He played 38 minutes.
“Thank God he’s 25,” coach Monty Williams said. “I thought Devin managed the game well.”
Booker scored 11 points in the fourth quarter, including seven during a closing 17-4 run by Phoenix.
The Suns, who have averaged 122.1 points over their last seven games, have won the first two meetings with New Orleans this season, prevailing 112-100 on Nov. 2 in Phoenix and 123-110 on Jan. 4 in New Orleans.
The Pelicans come out of the All-Star break within striking distance of a play-in spot despite a 3-16 start to the season.
“After the start that we had to the season, I like our chances,” coach Willie Green said. “We have a great group. We believe in each other. I believe in them. We have a great staff. I’m proud of where we are. We would love to be in a better spot. But we’re here for a reason.”
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The team bolstered its roster by trading with Portland for guard CJ McCollum just before the deadline, but New Orleans is just 1-4 since he joined the lineup.
“It’s been five games,” Green said. “We’re still figuring it out. Guys are getting a feel for each other. We would love to have started 5-0 since we acquired CJ. That’s not the case. We’ve been going through this all season where we had to figure things out, be resilient. And we will. We’ll be OK. We’ll be fine. It just takes a little time.”
McCollum has averaged 28.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.4 assists while shooting 51.4 percent from the floor and 42.5 percent on 3-pointers. His arrival created a one-two scoring punch with Brandon Ingram that the Pelicans have lacked during Zion Williamson’s season-long absence due to a foot injury.
“Some of the shots (McCollum) is hitting are so crazy,” forward/center Jaxson Hayes said. “It’s like, ‘Oh my god.’ It’s awesome to watch. It’s like watching another version of (Ingram) but way shorter (five inches). It’s just really awesome to watch.”
–Field Level Media
