Lowly Suns stun Bucks, Clippers deliver blow to Laker playoff hopes
LOS ANGELES: Kelly Oubre had 27 points and 13 rebounds, and the Phoenix Suns rallied from a 10-point late deficit to complete a season sweep of the NBA-leading Milwaukee Bucks with a 114-105 win on Monday.
Devin Booker added 22 points and Deandre Ayton hit a key layup with 35 seconds to play that gave the league-worst Suns a four-point lead.
“We can’t back down when a team goes on a run,” Oubre said. “We’ve got to make our own, coming back at them.”
All-star Giannis Antetokounmpo had 21 points and 13 rebounds for the Bucks, who have lost two straight games for the first time this season.
Phoenix appears to have undergone a rebirth of sorts, winning three of their last four contests since suffering a franchise worst 17 game losing streak.
Even more surprising is that they have now beaten Milwaukee both times they have met this season.
“I don’t think we take them as seriously as we should,” Bucks Malcolm Brogdon said. “It’s just a lack of focus.”
Josh Jackson tallied 16 points, Tyler Johnson scored 13 points as the Suns outscored the Bucks 38-23 in the final quarter.
“It’s kind of hard to think we lost to Phoenix twice,” Antetokounmpo said. “But they played better than us.”
Elsewhere, DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge combined for 46 points as the resurgent San Antonio Spurs won their 13th straight game at home against Denver by holding on for a 104-103 win
DeRozan finished with 24 points and Aldridge scored 22 as the Spurs withstood a torrid comeback by the Nuggets who were down 21 points at one stage and scored the final nine points of the contest.
“It almost seems like we’ve just been able to flip a switch, which isn’t the easiest thing to do,” Spurs guard Patty Mills said, “It’s been our defence that has won it for us.”
Jamal Murray tallied 25 points to lead the Nuggets, who also missed three shots in the final 16 seconds of the fourth. - AFP