The Oklahoma City Thunder took a big lead over the Phoenix Suns in the first quarter by forcing turnovers, but relinquished it in the second quarter when center Deandre Ayton entered the game.
After the first half, Oklahoma City trailed 65-64.
Darius Bazley, starting in the place of Danilo Gallinari, posted 16 points. It’s another big game for the 20-year-old, who made one 3-pointer and had his toe on the line for what was almost a second 3.
Chris Paul had 12 points with five assists.
Off the bench, Andre Roberson had seven points and Hamidou Diallo had six.
In the first quarter, the Thunder took the lead largely on the back of aggressive defense and forcing turnovers. Overall in the half, they scored 16 points off 11 turnovers, and one such play helped lead to a big run.
Holding a five-point lead with four minutes left in the first quarter, Paul stole the ball from Devin Booker and then completed the alley-oop with Bazley to increase the lead to 23-16.
CP steal from behind ➡️ alley to Baze. You love to see it!@CP3 | @BazleyDarius pic.twitter.com/UJsOLm9hEY
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) August 10, 2020
Booker checked out about a minute later and Oklahoma City went on a 14-7 over the final three minutes of the quarter to take a 37-23 lead into quarter two.
However, Ayton took the court in the second quarter. He did not start after missing a coronavirus test Sunday, but was eligible to play after testing negative Monday.
Without Steven Adams or Nerlens Noel for OKC, Ayton posted a plus-11 in the half, scoring six points and used his gravity to create space around him. Suns sharpshooter Cam Johnson had 15 points with 3 3-pointers, including one that was a four-point play.
Booker had 19 points on 6-for-11 shooting and three assists in the half.
Former Thunder guard Cam Payne, who signed with the Suns shortly before bubble play began, had eight points. He drew a flagrant offensive foul on Diallo, and Billy Donovan drew a technical for arguing the foul call.
Phoenix scored 42 points in the second quarter as Oklahoma City scored 27.
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