State Game 42 Notes

The Phoenix Suns beat the New York Knicks 106-99. Devin Booker scored 27 points, Grayson Allen added 16, and Mark Williams had 14. Deuce McBride was the Knicks Player of the Game with 25 5 and 5.

Devin Booker scored 27 points after missing a game with a sprained left ankle, and the Phoenix Suns beat the slumping New York Knicks 106-99 on Saturday night. Grayson Allen added 16 points and Mark Williams contributed 14 for the Suns, who had dropped the first two games on their six-game Eastern Conference road trip, including Thursday in Detroit when they played without Booker. Booker shot 7 of 18 from the field but made 12 of 14 free throws to carry Phoenix’s offense.

Reasons Why the Knicks Lost:

The Knicks’ defense was better than in some recent games, but it still had key breakdowns over multiple possessions. OG Anunoby allowed 4 of 10 from the field, including one three-pointer. Mohamed Diawara gave up 6 of 9 with two threes, while Karl-Anthony Towns allowed 6 of 18 with two threes. Mikal Bridges allowed 5 of 12 with no threes, and Deuce McBride surrendered 4 of 16 with one three-pointer.

Individually, the Suns’ players had mixed efficiency, but they were able to generate open looks and take advantage of Knicks’ lapses. Dillon Brooks shot just 2 of 13 from the field and 1 of 7 from three, and Grayson Allen went 4 of 14 with 4 of 13 from deep. Devin Booker struggled from the field as well, shooting 28.6 percent overall and 1 of 5 from three, though he made the most of his free throws. Jordan Goodwin made 5 of 6 from three, including two wide-open attempts and three contested looks against Towns, Landry, and Kolek. Overall, Phoenix shot 41.5 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from three, hitting 15 threes while forcing nine turnovers.

The Knicks also struggled to create offense and distribute the ball effectively. They turned the ball over 17 times and finished with only 20 assists. This highlighted a clear playmaking and shot-creation problem that Leon Rose will need to address moving forward. Despite a more disciplined defensive effort, New York could not overcome inefficiency and the Suns’ ability to capitalize on open shots and turnovers.

Player of the Game: Deuce McBride

Deuce McBride led the Knicks with 23 points on 9 of 18 shooting (50%) and added five three-pointers on 12 attempts (41.7%). He also contributed two rebounds, five assists, and two steals in 36.2 minutes, finishing with a plus-minus of +6. McBride was active in every phase of the game, creating shots for himself and others while providing consistent scoring and playmaking.

By quarter, McBride had a steady impact. In the first quarter, he scored two points and recorded one assist. The second quarter was his most productive, as he added eight points, one rebound, and two assists, including a pull-up jumper to tie the game at 38–38 and a top-of-key three-pointer to make it 40–41. In the third quarter, McBride scored nine points, including a pull-up three at 07:27 to give the Knicks a 65–64 lead and another catch-and-shoot three at 06:20, helping keep New York close. In the fourth quarter, he added four points, including a key midrange jumper at 08:25 to tie the game at 87–87.

Several plays highlighted McBride’s performance. Early in the first quarter at 09:26, he assisted OG Anunoby on a driving dunk to make it 6–8. He scored a pull-up midrange at 05:59 to bring the score to 11–17. In the second quarter, he hit a pull-up jumper at 06:32, a top-of-key three at 06:01, and another pull-up three at 04:35, keeping the Knicks competitive. In the third, he made a pull-up three at 07:27, assisted on Towns’ catch-and-shoot three at 06:54, and hit a catch-and-shoot three at 06:20. He also assisted Anunoby on a driving dunk at 04:36, demonstrating his playmaking ability. Finally, his fourth-quarter midrange shot at 08:25 tied the game and showcased his ability to make crucial baskets in key moments.

Knicks vs Suns Game Notes:

1st Quarter

Devin Booker opened the scoring with a layup over Mikal Bridges, 2–0. Dillon Brooks followed with a midrange jumper over Mohamed Diawara, and Diawara hit a corner three to make it 4–3. Mark Williams scored on a bucket, 3–6, before Mikal Bridges hit a catch-and-shoot three, 6–6. Deuce McBride assisted OG Anunoby for a driving basket, 8–6, and Mohamed Diawara found Karl-Anthony Towns for a three-pointer, 6–11. Towns drove for a bucket, 13–6, sparking a 10–0 Knicks run. Williams responded with a dunk, 8–13, and Towns later drew a foul on a driving attempt.

Brooks hit a catch-and-shoot three to make it 11–15, while McBride scored a step-in midrange jumper, 17–11. Booker converted a catch-and-shoot three, 14–17. Shamet added a bucket, 14–19, and was fouled, shooting three free throws. Jordan Goodwin made a catch-and-shoot three, 17–22, after a poor possession by Clarkson. Clarkson added a floater to make it 24–17, and Booker scored on a pump-fake driving layup, 19–24. Clarkson followed with a three-pointer, 27–19, to close the quarter.

2nd Quarter

Goodwin opened the quarter with a three-pointer, 22–29, followed by an OG Anunoby driving bucket, 31–22. Allen hit a catch-and-shoot three, 25–31, and added another three to make it 28–31. Phoenix scored another three-pointer, tying the game at 31–31. Goodwin hit a three over Towns, 34–31, making 5 of 5 from deep in the quarter, and followed with a layup, 36–31.

Towns scored on a catch-and-shoot three, 34–36, but Kolek responded with a floater, 36–38. Deuce McBride scored a step-back midrange jumper, 38–38, and Goodwin added two free throws, 40–38. McBride hit a catch-and-shoot three, 40–41, before Booker converted a step-back midrange, 42–41. OG Anunoby made a three-pointer, 44–42. McBride’s steals led to a Mikal Bridges midrange basket, 46–42, and another steal led to a McBride three-pointer, 42–49, sparking an 8–0 Knicks run. Williams scored on an offensive rebound, 49–44, Brooks assisted O’Neal for a bucket, 46–49, and OG Anunoby finished the run with an offensive rebound dunk, 53–48. Allen tied the game with an open three, 54–54, to close the half.

3rd Quarter

Gillespie started the second half with a three-pointer, 58–56. Mikal Bridges hit a three, and Booker scored a layup, 63–59. McBride and Towns both scored threes to make it 65–67 at 6:35 left in the quarter. McBride then scored consecutive three-pointers, extending an 11-point streak, 65–73. OG Anunoby drove for a basket, 75–65, and a Suns rookie scored, 67–75. OG added another driving bucket, 77–67. The Knicks committed turnovers but outrebounded Phoenix by 10.

Goodwin hit a catch-and-shoot three, 72–77, and followed with a layup, 74–77. Kolek turned the ball over with two minutes left, and Allen tied the game with a three over Clarkson, 77–77. The Knicks had a 16–0 run but the Suns responded with a 10–0 run to regain control.

4th Quarter

Dunn opened the quarter with a slam, 82–77. Mikal Bridges scored a layup, 79–82, and Towns added an offensive putback, 81–82. Gillespie scored a midrange jumper, 84–81, followed by Bridges’ midrange shot, 83–84. Gillespie continued to score, and Deuce McBride added a midrange jumper. Gillespie hit a three-pointer, 90–87, accumulating eight points in the quarter.

Towns missed another three-pointer with 7:50 left. Booker converted a euro-step and-one, 93–87. Mitchell Robinson grabbed 10 rebounds in 18 minutes, and Royce O’Neal hit a three-pointer, 98–89. Clarkson fouled Booker, giving him two free throws, 98–91, as the Suns held their lead late.

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