Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns almost snapped the team’s three-game losing streak against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday.
But the result ended in heartbreak for the Suns, who fell short by one point, going down 101-100 at the Frost Bank Center. To add, there was enough drama that followed right after.
Devin Booker Reacts to De’Aaron Fox Dodging Crucial Tripping Foul Call
Booker minced no words when speaking to the reporters in the aftermath of the gut-wrenching one-point defeat. After collecting an inbound pass with 1.1 seconds remaining, the guard was picked up by the Spurs’ De’Aaron Fox. He claimed that he stepped on the sharpshooter’s foot while he launched the shot.
“It’s a trip. De’Aaron (Fox’s) foot was there,” he said, according to Suns reporter Duane Rankin. “I stepped on his foot. Probably a tough angle for the refs to see.” The no-foul call saw the Spurs pip the Suns, handing them their fourth straight loss.
In the same interview, the All-Star guard also reflected on the team’s ability to stay competitive despite being short-handed. “It’s like the last three or four, whatever it is. We’ve shown fight. We’ve been right there to the end. Just felt short.”
On Thursday, the Suns were without key players in Dillon Brooks, Mark Williams, Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, and Haywood Highsmith. That said, they still put on a solid effort on both ends of the floor to make it hard for the Spurs.
Booker ended his evening with 22 points and five assists. Colin Gillespie led the side with a team-high 24 points. However, the Spurs, led by Victor Wembanyama’s 34-point double-double with 12 rebounds, edged the Suns in the final second. Fox chipped in with 23 points and seven rebounds.
When asked about the injury in the final moments, which saw him hobbling back to his teammates, Booker had a positive update. “It’s alright,” he said. This comes as a major relief for the team and the franchise faithful as the side grapples with injury woes.
The Suns were one of the teams expected to make the playoffs after their healthy start to the season. But a roller-coaster run at the halfway mark, followed by a string of losses, sees them battle for a play-in spot.
At the time of writing, the Suns are seventh in the West with a 39-31 record. If the play-in were to be today, they would be on the 34-36 and eighth-placed Los Angeles Clippers. With 12 games remaining, Booker and Phoenix will hope to regain full health and gain some momentum to stand a chance of making the postseason.
Up next, the Suns begin their four-game homestand by taking on the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday (March. 21). They host the Toronto Raptors the following day.
