Kevin Durant’s expected home debut was over before it started after a pregame mishap.
Devin Booker was more than willing – and able – to pick up the scoring load.
Booker scored 44 points, Terrence Ross added 24 and the Phoenix Suns beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 132-101 on Wednesday night after losing Durant to an ankle injury during pregame warmups.
Phoenix has won four straight games, but that was almost an afterthought following Durant´s injury. Even Booker admitted the game was a bit of bummer without their newest star on the floor.
‘The city’s been waiting on this, it was a big day,’ Booker said. ‘We’ll reschedule the party. The people that missed out on it tonight, I tried to give them a little something to make it better.’
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder’s Lindy Waters III
Booker drives on Oklahoma City Thunder forward Dario Saric (9) during his huge performance
A 13-time All-Star, Durant was added in a blockbuster trade deadline deal with Brooklyn and the Footprint Center was buzzing in anticipation of his home debut. But he rolled his left ankle while driving to the basket as he prepared to play.
The 6-foot-10 forward immediately hopped up and was walking, but several minutes later, the Suns confirmed that he would miss the game. Coach Monty Williams said he wasn’t sure how much more time Durant would miss.
‘We’ll get more testing done tomorrow,’ Suns coach Monty Williams said. ‘Right now, it´s just an ankle sprain and we don´t have anything official to report.’
With Durant out, Suns fans had to settle for a scoring show by Booker, who had 30 points in the first half.
The three-time All-Star shot 17 of 23 from the field – making 6 of 10 3-pointers – and received a standing ovation in the fourth quarter when he checked out of the game for the last time. He did his scoring in just 28 minutes on the court.
Ross also was 6 of 10 from 3-point range. Chris Paul had 18 points and nine assists. He made 4 of 5 3-pointers.
Booker reacts after getting fouled during the first half of an NBA game against OKC
PELICANS 113, MAVERICKS 106
CJ McCollum scored 13 of his 32 points in the final four minutes and New Orleans held off Dallas.
Dallas star guard Luka Doncic left in the third because of a strained left thigh after scoring 15 points. The Pelicans´ Brandon Ingram left late in the second quarter with a sprained right ankle after scoring 12 points.
Kyrie Irving had 27 points for Dallas.
Pelicans CJ McCollum (3) shoots the ball over Dallas Mavericks center Dwight Powell (7)
CELTICS 115, TRAIL BLAZERS 93
Jayson Tatum scored 30 points and made six 3-pointers and Boston beat Portland to snap a three-game losing streak.
Tatum had his 36th game this season with 30 or more points to help the Celtics avoid their first four-game losing streak.
Derrick White added 21 points and five assists. Al Horford finished with 17 points, six rebounds and assists. The Celtics played without big man Robert Williams for the third straight game as he recovers from a strained left hamstring.
Damian Lillard had 27 points and eight assists for Portland.
Celtics’ Jayson Tatum celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer during game against the Trail Blazers
BULLS 117, NUGGETS 96
Nikola Vucevic had 25 points and 15 rebounds, Zach LaVine scored 29 points on 12-of-18 shooting and Chicago beat Denver.
Chicago moved within a game of Washington for the final spot in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament, with 16 games left in the regular season.
Nikola Jokic led Western Conference-leading Denver with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Aaron Gordon had 17 points and nine rebounds.
Bulls’ Zach LaVine is caught with the ball by Denver Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
CAVALIERS 104, HEAT 100
Darius Garland scored 25 points, Donovan Mitchell added 18 and Cleveland assured itself of a second consecutive winning season with a victory over Miami.
The Cavaliers (42-26) are two wins away from matching last season´s win total, with 14 games left.
Jimmy Butler had 28 points for Miami.
The teams play again in Miami on Friday night.
Cavaliers Ricky Rubio (13) falls down as Miami Heat Jimmy Butler (22) drives to the basket
 HAWKS 122, WIZARDS 120
De´Andre Hunter´s three-point play with 1:07 remaining put Atlanta ahead to stay, and the Hawks held off Washington despite a career-high 43 points by Kristaps Porzingis.
The teams will finish the two-game set in Washington on Friday night.
Trae Young led Atlanta with 28 points and 10 assists. He shot 11 of 14 from the field.
Kyle Kuzma had 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Wizards. ___
Wizards Kristaps Porzingis, left, looks to pass in front of Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins
CLIPPERS 108, RAPTORS 100Â
Kawhi Leonard scored 24 points, Paul George had 23 and the Los Angeles Clippers broke away in the second half to beat the Toronto Raptors 108-100 on Wednesday night.
Leonard also had season-high 12 rebounds against the team he helped lead to the NBA title in 2019.
Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes each scored 20 points for Toronto, and O.G. Anunoby had 18 points. The Raptors have dropped two straight for the first time since Feb. 1.
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