Suns’ Booker shines with 70, but Celtics win

boston» Phoenix’s Devin Booker scored 70 points, becoming the sixth different player in NBA history to reach that total, but the Boston Celtics got 34 points from Isaiah Thomas and outlasted the Suns 130-120 on Friday night.

Booker joined Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, David Thompson, David Robinson and Elgin Baylor as the NBA’s 70-point scorers. Baylor also held the previous record against the Celtics with 64 points in Minneapolis for the Lakers on Nov. 8, 1959.

Just 20 years old, Booker scored 51 after halftime.

The win, Boston’s third straight, avenged its buzzer-beater loss in Phoenix earlier this month. Suns guard Devin Booker takes a shot Friday. The Associated Press

The rematch was dominated early by the Celtics as they hit eight 3-pointers during a 37-point second quarter to grow their lead as high as 26 points.

Chamberlain had six 70-point games, and his 62 points on Jan. 14, 1962, had been the most in Boston.

Phoenix, which has already been eliminated from playoff contention, had only eight available players because of injuries. Younger than some lineups in the NCAA Tournament, the Suns have lost seven straight and nine of their last 10, and they were out of this one early before Booker’s explosive performance made it interesting.

His previous career best was 39, which he reached three times before Friday. He had 19 points at halftime, then scored 23 in the third quarter to get the Suns back within range.

The Suns’ previous scoring record was held by Tom Chambers. He had 60 points March 24, 1990. Booker was 10 for 10 from the free throw line in the third quarter.