PHOENIX (AP) — The technical fouls were piling high in the third quarter. So was Devin Booker’s point total and the Phoenix Suns’ lead.
By the time the whistles finally stopped, the Suns were well on their way to 134-105 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night in a game that featured Klay Thompson’s first career ejection and seven technical fouls.
Booker scored 34 points and Deandre Ayton added 16 points and 14 rebounds.
“I thought emotionally, we kept it together when it was starting to get a little squirrelly,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “We were able to make enough plays during that time where we could get back to solid.”
Both teams lost their cool at various times during the third quarter, with all of the technical fouls called in less than six minutes. Thompson received two quick technicals and was ejected after having words with Booker, who also received a technical because of the exchange.
At one point during the argument, Thompson held up four fingers to signify the four championships the Warriors have won over the past decade. Those rings didn’t help on Tuesday. The veteran guard finished with two points on 1-for-8 shooting, including 0 of 5 from 3-point range.
It was the five-time All-Star’s first career ejection in 651 regular season games.
Golden State’s Draymond Green and coach Steve Kerr, along with Phoenix players Chris Paul and Ayton also were whistled for technicals for various outbursts in the third, with most of that ire directed at the officials.
Thompson didn’t speak with the media following the game.
In the midst of the third-quarter chaos, the Suns were playing well and their lead which grew to 19 points by the end of the quarter. Without Thompson, the defending NBA champs were never able to mount a rally and the Suns kept a comfortable lead throughout the fourth.
Booker shot 10 of 19 from the field and 11 of 14 on free throws. The two-time All-Star added seven assists.
Steph Curry led the Warriors with 21 points. Jordan Poole scored 17 off the bench. Green added 14 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Kerr said Thompson simply got frustrated, which led to the ejection.
“His shot wasn’t going,” Kerr said. “Some decent looks early didn’t go and I thought he got a little frustrated. I love the competitiveness. Obviously, he took it too far with the ejection, but I love the fire. Klay is an incredible competitor. We need his energy.”
Phoenix used a 13-0 run midway through the first to take a 37-29 lead by the end of the quarter. Paul made a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer to give the Suns a 72-66 lead at the break.
Booker scored 16 points in the first half while Ayton had 12 points and 11 rebounds. Poole led the Warriors with 14 first-half points.
The Suns improved to 3-1 for the season while the Warriors fell to 2-2.