Booker, Suns send 76ers to first defeat
PHOENIX 114 PHILADELPHIA 109
Devin Booker scored 40 points, Ricky Rubio added 21 points and 10 assists, and the host Phoenix Suns beat the NBA’s final undefeated team by knocking off the Philadelphia 76ers 114-109 on Monday night.
Phoenix (5-2) is three games over .500 for the first time in more than four years. The surprising Suns are on a three-game winning streak and off to their best sevengame start since 2013.
Booker, serenaded with MVP chants from the home crowd in the fourth quarter, has 6,003 points in his career. He’s the eighth-youngest player in NBA history to reach 6,000. The fifth-year guard, who turned 23 last week, finished 15 for 19 from the field, including three for four from three-point range, and seven for seven on free throws.
“It’s good to feel the energy in there,” Booker said. “The fans are getting what they want — a hardworking team that pushes the issue every night.”
Playing without suspended star Joel Embiid, the Sixers (5-1) were led by Al Horford’s 32 points. Embiid finished serving his two-game suspension for an altercation with Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns last week.
at Golden State 127, Portland 118:
Rookie Eric Paschall had 36 points and 13 rebounds, leading the injury-hampered Warriors past Damian Lillard and the Trail Blazers for their first win at Chase Center in San Francisco. Golden State started 0-4 at its new arena. Lillard, no longer playing in his hometown of Oakland when he visits the Bay Area, scored 39 points.
at Brooklyn 135, New Orleans 125:
Kyrie Irving had 39 points and nine assists, and the Nets withstood Brandon Ingram’s career-high 40 points to beat the Pelicans.
Houston 107, at Memphis 100:
James Harden scored 44 points to carry the load for the Rockets, who were without Russell Westbrook because he had the night off for rest. Rookie guard Ja Morant led the Grizzlies with 23 points and six assists.
Milwaukee 134, at Minnesota 106:
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 34 points and 15 rebounds as the Bucks beat the Timberwolves, who were led by Andrew Wiggins’ 25 points in the absence of Towns.
at Washington 115, Detroit 99:
Bradley Beal’s 20 points and six assists helped the Wizards beat the injury-depleted Pistons. Bidding to become the first player in at least 35 seasons to post four consecutive games with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds, Detroit’s Andre Drummond fell short with 15 points and 24 rebounds.