Game Recap: Booker goes AWOL as Suns fall 125-114 to Thunder

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - OCTOBER 26: Aday Mara #15 of the Oklahoma City Thunder defends the shot of Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Paycom Center on October 26, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Oklahoma City was missing recently injured star or near-star players in Jaylen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and Cason Wallace. Most knowledgeable fans expected an uphill battle for Phoenix, as the Thunder still possess loads of talent, size, and culture. Our preview predicted an 8-point loss, with improvements in our early-season process issues, such as ball movement and boxing out glass-crashers. This was happening, until it wasn’t. The Thunder pulled away for a 125-114 victory.

Sadly, the main storyline is Devin Booker’s milk carton-level disappearance. Your superstar-paid player needs to assert himself in a game like this. Not just another “one of 82”, but a fork-in-the-road type game for a team finding its footing. According to Google Sports Data, his 3 points in 33 minutes is a career low for games over 30 minutes. Anyone could have a rough shooting night, but winning star players force the action, and he never seemed to attempt this. It was a big letdown after the 43-point game Saturday.   

The last time Devin Booker played over 30 minutes in a game and scored less than 5 points?

Never. pic.twitter.com/inezePhbIP

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) October 27, 2026

Phoenix moved the ball slightly better, getting up 50 three-point shots and connecting on 36% of them. After a promising start at this, the Suns allowed 29% of the Thunder’s missed shots to be rebounded by them (2% worse than league average). Current lack of center depth with Mark Williams out definitely played a role in this.

Khaman Maluach is going through growing pains, but taking some developmental baby steps. Of the rotation players, he had a team-best -2 plus/minus. Miles Bridges demonstrated his varied offensive skills in the second half, but his overall defensive play and cold first half were an overall negative. Jalen Green actually looked somewhat under control and had 4 assists to one turnover while producing 20 points on an efficient 8-13 shooting.  

The Suns had a few spurts in this game, but every time they got some momentum, drives to the basket by the Thunder came about as easy as a Sunday 5 am drive down the 202.

The Suns have four days to use as a “get well retreat” ahead of NBA Cup play.  

Through how many centers have broadcast listeners heard Eddie Johnson say “keep that ball high, young man”.  Apparently, none have listened to this advice. The game opens with a Maluach offensive rebound…but then he brought the ball down and was stripped.

Some nice plays on both ends by Jalen Green, and the Suns led by one after the first 5 minutes. 

Alex Curoso, another one of those players that seems to elevate versus the Suns, came off the bench to hit consecutive threes. Collin Gillespie hit two of his own, finding his range. A success out of the gate, avoiding another bad start against an emotional team and crowd.

A Jordan Goodwin hustling offensive board and subsequent three limited a bad end to Q1, and Phoenix trailed 27-33. Ajay Mitchell with 13 points after one quarter.

Ryan Dunn once again looked more confident than last year, starting Q2 with a forced turnover, block, and corner three of his own.

Miles Bridges had several first-half blunders, but he added a nasty dunk over Isaiah Hartenstein.  Suns still hanging around, but allowing penetration and second chances – things on the radar for process improvement from our preview article.

Man Man was holding his own against rising rookie Aday Mara, but received his third foul with 5 minutes remaining in the half. Phoenix went “small ball” with no true center. This contributed to another strong quarter-end by OKC, up 14 in spite of a Dillon Brooks buzzer-beating three.  Looks like I missed Devin Booker highlights. He did play but was largely invisible.

Jalen Green looked like someone had moved up his NBA 2K awareness slider, making several well-paced attacks at the basket. Phoenix overall seemed to ratchet up their effort. A Miles Bridges three cut it to nine. OKC responded with another McCain three to put the deficit back to 14. 

Free-throw “yips” again raised their head for Phoenix with 7-of-19 misses.  

Bridges got it going in Q3 with a traditional 3-point play and another long-range three. More OKC drives that met little resistance and back to a 14-point lead going into Q4.

A watch item was preventing offensive rebounds. While Phoenix had only allowed 23% offensive rebounds through three, this started to become a problem, with Hartenstein alone up to six of them at the 7:56 mark of Q4. A Book airball out of the timeout, and this one’s starting to look like a route.

It had been a frustrating night for Dillon Brooks. After an incidental knee-to-knee with Aday Mara, he shoved him and was assessed a flagrant foul for excessive contact and then a dead-ball technical after the call. Thunder by 20. And in the end, Thunder by 11.

Suns most used lineups against the Thunder, per @hoopsjunkie_io: pic.twitter.com/oXIG3AszK9

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) October 27, 2026

Nuggets at Suns, Friday, October 30, 7:00 pm MST (first game of NBA Cup).