25 Jan 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns Guard Devin Booker (1) dribbles the ball during the first quarter against the Washington Wizards at the Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Iimagn Images Kevin Durant got 29 points and Nick Richards continued to make a star impression when Phoenix Suns noted a victory 119-109 over the visiting Washington trolls on Saturday night.
Richards got 20 points and collected a career best 19 returns in his fourth match with Suns and first at home since he was acquired from Charlotte Hornets last week.
Bradley Beal, the former Washington star, also got 20 points for Suns. Devin Booker added 18 points, seven assists and six returns, and Tyus Jones had 16 points.
Kyle Kuzma recorded 30 points and 11 returns for Washington, who lost their 13th match in a row. The sorcerers are 0-5 on a six-match trip and are 1-20 on the road this season.
Jordan Poole had 19 points, 10 assists and a career best sex steals for the magicians. Jonas Valanciunas scored 16 points, Bilal Coulibaly added 12 points and Alex Sarr and Bub Carrington had 11 for Washington.
Beal buried a 3-point to give Suns a lead of 111-98 with 4:42 to play before Wizards received eight straight points-the last five of Kuzma-to move within five with 2:31 left.
Kuzma preserved a 3-pointer to bring Washington in 113-109 with 1:57 left before Richards, Durant and Beal made each two free throw to make it a 10-point margin with 36 seconds left when the sun closed it.
Phoenix Rookie Ryan Dunn went out only 1:49 into the game because of a justified left ankle.
Suns shot 44.4 percent from the field, including 13 out of 40 from 3-point intervals. Durant made five 3 points and Beal met four.
Washington made 46.7 percent of his attempts and made 18 out of 41 behind the bow. Kuzma and Poole each had five three.
Phoenix had a 23-4 driving in the opening quarter before taking 35-24 lead into the second period.
Washington moved within sex early in the second thanks to a 15-3 burst. But Suns drove his lead back to two-digit numbers and led 68-53 at the break.
Booker led Phoenix with 15 points during the first half, while Kuzma had 14 half for Washington.
Beal got five straight points when Suns took an advantage with 80-61 with 7:37 left during the third quarter.
However, the guides received 22 of the next 29 points and moved within 87-83 on a 3-pointer by Carrington with 2:28 left in the third quarter.
Durant responded with seven straight points to help Phoenix lead 96-85 into the last sentence.
-Field level media
