Baugh's triple-double powers Valley Suns past Oklahoma City Blue

Updated: Jan 22, 2026, 05:58 pm

The Valley Suns defeated the Oklahoma City Blue 124-102 on Wednesday night at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona, avenging an overtime loss the previous night. The Suns used a dominant third quarter to pull away after a tightly contested first half that saw numerous lead changes.

Damion Baugh orchestrated the offense for the Suns (3-4), recording a triple-double with 28 points, a game-high 15 assists and 10 rebounds. Jaden Shackelford led all scorers with 31 points on 12-of-22 shooting, including five 3-pointers against his former team. The Suns' bench provided a significant spark, led by Sean McDermott, who scored 17 points and made five of his nine 3-point attempts. Inside, CJ Huntley was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field for 14 points to go along with 8 rebounds and 2 blocks, and Tyrese Samuel added 14 points and seven rebounds on 7-of-8 shooting.

The short-handed Blue (2-7), who entered the game with only eight active players, were led by guard Bryce Thompson's 27 points on 11-of-21 shooting. Zhaire Smith posted a strong all-around performance with 25 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks. T.J. Weeks Jr. scored 14 points, making four 3-pointers, and Manny Obaseki chipped in with 13 points in the loss.

The game was a back-and-forth affair early, with neither team leading by more than five points in the first half before the Suns took a 59-54 advantage into the locker room. The turning point came in the third quarter when the Suns outscored the Blue 33-19 to build a commanding 19-point lead. Valley's offense was characterized by excellent ball movement, as the team registered 32 assists on 42 made field goals. The victory ended a two-game losing streak for the Suns and split the back-to-back series between the two clubs.

Up next: The Suns play host to the Iowa Wolves on Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET, and the Blue visit the Rip City Remix on Jan. 14 at 9 p.m. ET.

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