Booker, Paul extend Suns’ winning streak to 16 games
Devin Booker scored 30 points, Chris Paul had 22 and the Phoenix Suns extended their winning streak to 16 games with a 113-107 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night.
Playing for the second straight night to end a fourgame trip, Phoenix never trailed and led by as much as 22 while moving within a victory of matching the longest winning streak in franchise history.
The Suns will try to do that Tuesday night at home against the Golden State Warriors (17-2) in a matchup of the top two teams in the NBA.
Phoenix improved to 173, its best record through 20 games since having the same mark in 2004-05. The Western Conference champions haven’t lost in a month since Sacramento dropped them to 1-3.
Paul added eight assists and five rebounds, becoming the first player in NBA history to reach 20,000 points, 10,000 assists and 5,000 rebounds.
Mikal Bridges had 13 points and a career-high seven steals for the Suns. They won 17 straight games during the 2006-07 season, and also won 15 in a row earlier that season.
Kevin Durant had 39 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Nets. They had their four-game winning streak snapped.
James Harden carved out a sloppy triple-double in the Nets’ first game since Thanksgiving, with 14 assists, 13 rebounds and 12 points. But he shot 4 for 15 from the field, missing all six 3-pointers and committed seven turnovers. TIMBERWOLVES 121, 76ERS 120, 2OT >> D’Angelo Russell scored 35 points and had a decisive steal and assist in the final seconds of the second overtime in Minnesota’s
victory over Joel Embiid and Philadelphia.
Embiid had 42 points and 14 rebounds in his return to the lineup after missing nine games because of COVID-19 protocols. Philadelphia lost seven of those games without the four-time All-Star and has now dropped eight of 10.
Karl-Anthony Towns added 28 points and 10 rebounds for Minnesota, but didn’t play in the extra sessions after fouling out. Minnesota has won six of seven.
Embiid hadn’t played since Nov. 6. He entered averaging 21.4 points and 9.6 rebounds in 10 games this season. He also sat out on Nov. 1 against Portland to rest.
Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers said before the game that Embiid would be a game-time decision. The star center went through his normal pregame routine, then received a raucous standing ovation from the fans during introductions.
Embiid is one of four 76ers to be sidelined this season as part of the NBA’s health and safety protocols, along with Tobias Harris, Matisse Thybulle and Isaiah Joe.
KNICKS 99, HAWKS 90 >> Alec Burks scored 23 points, Evan Fournier added 20 and New York snapped Atlanta’s seven-game winning streak.
Burks, starting with Kemba Walker and Derrick Rose nursing injuries, hit three of his four 3s and scored 15 points in the third quarter.
Trae Young had 33 points for Atlanta. Clint Capela had 16 points and 21 rebounds.
HEAT 107, BULLS 104 >> Kyle Lowry scored 19 points, Jimmy Butler added 18 and the Miami Heat beat the Chicago Bulls.
Gabe Vincent made four three-pointers and had 20 off the bench