Suns advance in NBA Cup despite narrow loss to Thunder

Suns Advance in NBA Cup Despite Tight Loss to Thunder

The Phoenix Suns clinched a spot in the NBA Emirates Cup quarterfinals even after falling short against the Oklahoma City Thunder, 123–119, in a tense matchup. Despite the defeat, point differential and earlier tournament wins ensured Phoenix’s advancement in the group stage standings.

Game Overview

The Suns led through much of the game but struggled to close out late. Kevin Durant delivered a strong showing against his former team, scoring 29 points, while Devin Booker added 25. Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander fueled the Thunder’s comeback with 35 points and key baskets down the stretch.

Key Moments

What’s Next

Despite the loss, the Suns’ earlier group-stage wins were enough to advance them to the NBA Cup quarterfinals, where they will face a yet-undetermined opponent. Coach Frank Vogel noted that while the team still has late-game execution issues, he’s encouraged by their competitiveness and depth.

“We’re learning how to finish better,” Vogel said postgame. “You can feel this group starting to click.”

The Thunder improved their record but were eliminated from Cup contention due to point differential.

Author’s summary: Phoenix secured a quarterfinal berth in the NBA Cup despite losing a close 123–119 battle to Oklahoma City, with standout performances from Durant and Booker.

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Yardbarker on MSN Yardbarker on MSN — 2025-11-29

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