Phoenix improves league-best record behind Booker’s 35
Devin Booker scored 35 points, Deandre Ayton had 27 points and 12 rebounds and the NBA-leading Suns beat the Pacers 112-94 on Friday night in Indianapolis.
Chris Paul added 12 points and nine assist for Phoenix, and Cam Payne had 11 points and five assists. The Suns finished the first half of the season 32-9, their second-best record in franchise history through the first 41 games.
Justin Holiday scored 25 points for Indiana, Caris LeVert had 20, and Domantas Sabonis added 14 points and 14 rebounds. The Pacers have lost three in a row and nine of 10.
Booker scored 22 points in the third quarter to help the Suns take an 80-76 lead into the fourth. Down 73-76, Phoenix had a 23-2 run to take a 96-78 lead.
Neither team shot well in a low-scoring first half, with the Suns ahead 46-38 lead at the intermission.
76ers 111, Celtics 99: Joel Embiid had 25 points and 13 rebounds and host Philadelphia used a dominating start to roll over Boston.
Embiid finished five points shy of setting a franchise record with 30 or more points in nine straight games. He remains tied with Allen Iverson and Wilt Chamberlain for the club mark with eight in a row.
Tyrese Maxey scored 23 points, and Tobias Harris and Seth Curry each added 17 to help the 76ers win for the eighth time in nine games.
Jaylen Brown scored 21 points and Jayson Tatum had 20 for Boston. The Celtics had won three in a row.
Magic 116, Hornets 109:
Moritz Wagner scored a season-high 26 points, younger brother Franz added 19 points and seven assists, and visiting Orlando beat Charlotte to snap a 10-game losing streak.
Gary Harris added 18 points for the Magic, who had not won since before Christmas.
LaMelo Ball had 23 points and eight assists for the Hornets, who shot 12 of 42 from 3-point range. Miles Bridges added 20 points and Mason Plumlee had 10 points and 10 rebounds in a chippy game.
Pistons 103, Raptors 87:
Trey Lyles scored 21 points, Cade Cunningham and Hamidou Diallo each added 18 and host Detroit beat Toronto.
Josh Jackson had 13 points off the bench as the Pistons held Toronto to 32.2% shooting. With three starters spending much of the night in foul trouble, Lyles and Jackson came off the bench to play an important role in the win.
Fred VanVleet had 24 points and 10 assists for Toronto, but shot 6 for 21 from the floor. Pascal Siakam added 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Raptors, who have lost two straight after winning six in a row.
Heat 124, Hawks 118: Tyler Herro scored 24 points and Jimmy Butler added 23 as Miami overhauled visiting Atlanta. The Hawks led most of the second half, with the Heat finally taking the lead with 46 seconds left on a pair of Herro free throws.
Briefly: Nets forward Kevin Durant was fined $15,000 for using profane language during an interview after Brooklyn’s 114-108 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night. ... The list of players signing 10-day hardship contracts includes guard Dakota Mathias (Grizzlies), guard/forward Xavier Moon (Clippers) and guard/forward Malcolm Hill (Bulls) . ... Wizards coach Wes Unseld has entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols, and assistant Pat Delany is taking over as acting head coach.