Suns capture 14th win in succession
With the Suns’ long winning streak in serious danger, Devin Booker and Chris Paul knew exactly what had to be done. Phoenix’s season is still rising. Booker scored 35 points, Paul had 12 assists and made four free throws in the final 8.8 seconds, and the visiting Suns extended their winning streak to 14 games by holding off the Cleveland Cavaliers 120-115 on Wednesday night.
Phoenix’s streak started with a win at home over Cleveland on Oct. 30, which came after a 1-3 opening to the season for the defending Western Conference champions. The surge has also corresponded with allegations of racism and misogyny surfacing against Suns owner Robert Sarver.
“That’s just coincidence,” Paul said of the timing. “Our plan wasn’t to start out 1-3. We’ve got a great group, a great locker room. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
For nearly a month, the Suns have won in a variety of ways and Wednesday they improved the NBA’s best road record to 7-1.
It wasn’t easy. The young Cavs gave the Suns everything they could handle, and if not for Paul, a couple calls that could have gone either way and Cleveland’s Ricky Rubio missing three free throws in the final seconds, the streak might have ended.
The win was also the 100th with the Suns for coach Monty Williams, who is in his third season with the club.
“We know we can win ugly games,” Williams said. “We know we can win slug-outs. I wish we could win by 30 every night. But they have a really good team. We’re just finding ways to win.”
Jarrett Allen had 25 points and 11 rebounds, and Cedi Osman added 23 points for Cleveland, which dropped its fifth straight. Darius Garland scored 19 before fouling out late.
Nets 123, Celtics 104: Kevin Durant scored 21 points to pass Allen Iverson and move into the top 25 on the NBA’s career scoring list, and visiting Brooklyn beat the Boston Celtics 123-104 on Wednesday night.
Hornets 106, Magic 99: Terry Rozier scored 27 points and LaMelo Ball added 22 to help host Charlotte beat Orlando.
Kelly Oubre Jr. had 21 points and six rebounds of the bench. The Hornets won for the seventh time in eight games.
Bucks 114, Pistons 93: Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 33 points, Bobby Portis added 28 and Milwaukee continued its dominance over visiting Detroit.
The victory was Milwaukee’s fifth in a row overall and its 12th straight over Detroit.
Lakers 124, Pacers 116: LeBron James made the tiebreaking 3pointer in overtime and followed with a back-breaking 3 in his return from the first suspension of his career to lead Los Angeles.
Rockets 118, Bulls 113: Danuel House Jr. had 18 points, Christian Wood added 16 points and 10 rebounds and host Houston ended its losing streak at 15.