SUNS UPSET BUCKS
Coming in as the league’s worst team, the Phoenix Suns shock NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks
Kelly Oubre Jr. had 27 points and 13 rebounds, and the Phoenix Suns rallied from 10 points down in the fourth quarter to stun the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks 114-105 on Monday night in Phoenix.
Devin Booker added 22 points and Deandre Ayton had 19 points and 12 rebounds, including a key layup with 35.8 seconds to play that gave the Suns a four-point lead. Phoenix entered with the worst record in the league before improving to 14-51, just ahead of the New York Knicks.
All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo had 21 points and 13 rebounds, and Malcolm Brogdon scored 19 for the Bucks, who have lost two straight games for the first time this season. Milwaukee shot 36.8 percent.
The Bucks led by 16 in the first half, only to trail by three in the third quarter.
SPURS 104, NUGGETS 103
In San Antonio, DeMar DeRozan had 24 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added 22 as San Antonio withstood Denver’s closing rally.
The Nuggets fought back from 21 down and held the Spurs scoreless over the final 2 1/2 minutes, getting the final nine points to pull within one, but missed three shots in the last 16.2 seconds.
Jamal Murray missed a 3-pointer with 16.2 seconds to go and a runner five seconds later but the Nuggets maintained possession both times as the Spurs tipped the ball out of bounds. Aldridge then slapped Jokic’s pass down and Rudy Gay was fouled after capturing the loose ball.
Gay missed the ensuing free throws with four seconds remaining. After the Spurs committed a foul on the initial inbounds, Nuggets guard Gary Harris missed a 3-pointer over Patty Mills in the left corner as time expired to give the Spurs their third straight win.
The Nuggets have lost 13 straight in San Antonio.
Murray finished with 25 points and Jokic had 22 points and 10 rebounds for Denver in its third consecutive loss.
CLIPPERS 113, LAKERS 105
In Los Angeles, Danilo Gallinari scored 23 points, Lou Williams added 21 and the Los Angeles Clippers dealt another blow to the Los Angeles Lakers’ fading playoff hopes.
Gallinari led six Clippers scoring in double figures while they comfortably maintained a lead over their Staples Center co-tenants down the stretch. The Clippers (3729) took sole possession of seventh place in the Western Conference standings with their sixth win in eight games.
LeBron James scored 27 points and Rajon Rondo had his 32nd career triple-double, but the Lakers took their ninth loss in 12 games since they beat the Clippers on Jan. 31.
Rondo had a season-high 24 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds for the Lakers (30-34), who were coming off an embarrassing loss to Phoenix and played without ailing forward Brandon Ingram. Kyle Kuzma scored 13 points before limping off the floor with an apparent ankle injury with 6:04 left.
KINGS 115, KNICKS 108
In Sacramento, Buddy Hield scored 28 points and Harrison Barnes had 22 points and 10 rebounds in his best game with Sacramento as the Kings beat the woeful New York Knicks.
Harry Giles added 17 points for the Kings. /