Suns down Thunder to stay unbeaten; Deandre Ayton doesn’t start after missing COVID-19 test

Deandre Ayton didn’t get the start.

The Phoenix Suns started slow.

Oklahoma City led by 15 points early, but the Suns surged back to remain undefeated in seeding games, winning, 128-101, Monday at The Field House in the Orlando Bubble.

Phoenix is now 6-0 in seeding games in the NBA restart.

All-Star Devin Booker scored 35 points in three quarters to tie Walter Davis for most 30-point games in Suns history with 90 as the Suns (32-39) are now a game behind Memphis (8th place) and just a half game behind ninth-place Portland.

Ayton didn’t get the start as he missed Sunday’s COVID-19 testing window. He took the test Monday morning, was cleared and was riding the bike behind the bench in the first quarter before checking into the game to start the second quarter.

“I’ve said from Day 1, we’ve had to navigate uncertainty,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “Getting tested every day is just different for us. I find myself, I’ll test in the morning and we’ll get to about four or five o’clock and I’ll ask myself questions. Did I test? You just get confused by it and I know I’m not the one that’s done that.”  

Starting the second half, Ayton finished with 10 points and six rebounds in two minutes. The second-year center wasn’t made available for Zoom media interviews after the game.

“We’ve said in an NBA season, guys are going to make mistakes,” Williams continued. “You have to be able to give people grace. It wasn’t intentional and thankfully he was able to get tested early enough to get the results back so he could come and play. The guys received him with open arms because we all understand we’re human. We have to be better. We know that, but he’s not only one that’s done since we’ve been here. It just happens.” 

The Suns led by as many as 29 in winning their sixth consecutive game, the longest winning streak since the 2014-15 season .

Phoenix Suns’ Deandre Ayton looks to pass against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

 (Photo: Mike Ehrmann, AP)

Phoenix will face Philadelphia (42-28) at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the second of a back-to-back at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex’s Visa Athletic Center. The Suns defeated the 76ers during the regular season.

Philadelphia will be without All-Star Ben Simmons, who left the bubble to have knee surgery. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will be part of Tuesday’s Second Screen Experience Virtual Fan Party. 

For more info or to RSVP, visit Suns.com/SecondScreen.

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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