Bradley Beal scored 25 points off the bench, Kevin Durant added 23, and the Phoenix Suns outlasted the Atlanta Hawks 123-115 on Thursday night. Beal, adjusting to his new role, delivered one of his most efficient performances of the season, shooting 11 of 16 from the field, while Devin Booker contributed 20 points and 12 assists despite struggling from beyond the arc (0-for-8).
Phoenix opened strong, shooting 75% in the first quarter to take a 38-31 lead, but Atlanta rallied to grab a 72-68 advantage at halftime. The Suns regained control in the third, with Beal’s driving layup at the buzzer giving them a 98-92 lead heading into the fourth. Grayson Allen, who also scored 23 points and hit five 3-pointers, stretched the Suns’ lead to 120-105 with a critical three-point barrage late in the game.
Though the Hawks responded with a 10-0 run, Allen’s tough layup in traffic with 36 seconds left sealed the win. Trae Young led Atlanta with 21 points and seven assists, while seven Hawks players scored in double figures.
The Suns shot a blistering 57.6% from the field and secured their second win in three games, showing promise as their Big Three finally play together. Atlanta, missing Jalen Johnson for the third straight game, dropped back to .500 after losing four of its last five.
Phoenix might be onto something with bringing Beal off the bench amidst trade rumors featuring Jimmy Butler, but let’s grade the Suns players following a strong victory on Thursday night.
Bradley Beal: A-
Stats: 25 PTS, 7 REB (2 OREB, 5 DREB), 2 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK, 3 TO, 4 PF, 11-16 FG, 2-5 3PT, 1-2 FT, -5, 33 MIN
Beal thrived in his bench role, scoring a team-high 25 points on 11-of-16 shooting. His efficiency and ability to create offense were crucial in key moments. He also added 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals, showcasing an all-around impact. However, his 3 turnovers and -5 plus-minus reflect some lapses, likely during Atlanta’s runs.
Kevin Durant: B+
Stats: 23 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 7 AST, 0 STL, 3 BLK, 3 TO, 1 PF, 9-15 FG, 2-7 3PT, 3-4 FT, +7, 36 MIN
Durant delivered 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting while dishing out 7 assists and recording 3 blocks. His ability to facilitate and protect the rim was vital in stretches, though his rebounding (2 boards) and turnovers (3) left room for improvement. His +7 plus-minus highlighted his positive influence on the game.
Grayson Allen: B+
Stats: 23 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 1 PF, 7-8 FG, 5-6 3PT, 4-4 FT, +3, 27 MIN
Allen was nearly perfect, scoring 23 points on 7-of-8 shooting, including 5-of-6 from deep and 4-of-4 at the line. His sharp shooting stretched the Hawks’ defense, and his timely scoring late in the game sealed the victory. While he lacked defensive stats, his offensive output was pivotal.
Tyus Jones: B
Stats: 16 PTS, 2 REB (1 OREB, 1 DREB), 4 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 0 PF, 6-12 FG, 4-7 3PT, 0-0 FT, +6, 29 MIN
Jones scored 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including 4-of-7 from three, while adding 4 assists and 1 steal. His +6 plus-minus reflects his steady presence, though he didn’t dominate any particular aspect of the game. His scoring efficiency and secondary playmaking were valuable contributions.
Devin Booker: B-
Stats: 20 PTS, 3 REB (0 OREB, 3 DREB), 12 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 2 PF, 9-21 FG, 0-8 3PT, 2-3 FT, +10, 40 MIN
Booker’s playmaking was outstanding, with 12 assists to go along with 20 points. However, his shooting woes (9-of-21 FG, 0-of-8 3PT) dragged down his grade. Despite his struggles from deep, his +10 plus-minus highlighted his overall impact on the game, especially as a floor general.
Ryan Dunn: C+
Stats: 6 PTS, 7 REB (2 OREB, 5 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 4 PF, 3-5 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +11, 16 MIN
Dunn provided solid minutes, scoring 6 points and grabbing 7 rebounds in 16 minutes. His +11 plus-minus was impressive, but his limited offensive output and lack of assists or steals kept his impact more subdued. Still, he played his role effectively.
Mason Plumlee: C+
Stats: 2 PTS, 10 REB (4 OREB, 6 DREB), 4 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 0 PF, 1-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +8, 22 MIN
Plumlee had a strong night on the glass, collecting 10 rebounds (4 offensive) and adding 4 assists. His scoring was minimal (2 points on 1-of-1 shooting), and 3 turnovers detracted from his performance. However, his presence in the paint and +8 plus-minus were significant.
Oso Ighodaro: C
Stats: 4 PTS, 5 REB (1 OREB, 4 DREB), 2 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 2-4 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -3, 25 MIN
Ighodaro had a quiet night with 4 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists in 25 minutes. While he contributed defensively with 1 steal and 1 block, his -3 plus-minus indicates he struggled during some stretches. His limited offensive production and fouls (2) capped his overall impact.
Josh Okogie: N/A
Stats: 4 PTS, 1 REB (1 OREB, 0 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 1-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-2 FT, -1, 4 MIN
In just 4 minutes, Okogie scored 4 points, hitting both of his free throws and grabbing an offensive rebound. While his time on the court was brief, he made the most of his opportunities, though it’s insufficient for a full evaluation.
Monte Morris: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 3 REB (1 OREB, 2 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 0-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +4, 7 MIN
Morris played 7 minutes, grabbing 3 rebounds and dishing out 1 assist. He missed both of his shot attempts and committed 1 foul, but his +4 plus-minus suggests he contributed positively in limited action.
