Mills hits winner, Spurs outlast Suns in overtime
MEXICO CITY — San Antonio set a record. Patty Milly got the Spurs a win, too.
Mills made a jumper from the free throw line with 0.3 seconds left in the Spurs’ record-setting fourth consecutive overtime game, and they outlasted the Phoenix Suns 121-119 on Saturday.
The NBA record book shows 20 instances of teams playing three straight overtime games — but never four straight, like the Spurs have. They’re 3-1 in those games, their best stretch since opening the season 4-1.
“We’ve had four overtime games in a row now and we’ve won three of them and I think there’s something positive to be said for that,” Mills said. “Tonight it was the execution. We haven’t had the greatest of seasons but we’re learning as we go.”
DeMar DeRozan pulled the Spurs even with a drive and fling — after a foul by Mikal Bridges — down the right side of the lane, but missed the free throw. The ball went out of bounds on a scramble after the missed free throw, and San Antonio kept the ball after a replay review.
Phoenix, with star guard Devin Booker sitting out because of a sore forearm, overcame a late seven-point
SA: PHX:
deficit to force overtime on Kelly Oubre Jr’s 3-pointer from the corner in the final seconds.
Mills led the Spurs with 26 points.
“If it doesn’t go in, then it doesn’t work,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said about Mills’ winner. “This one happened to go in.”
DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge and Dejounte Murray each added 18 for San Antonio, and Lonnie Walker IV had 16 on his 21st birthday.
Ricky Rubio had 25 points and 13 assists for Phoenix. Frank Kaminsky added 22, and Oubre had 17.
“With Devin out, we knew Ricky was going to have to have a big game,” Phoenix coach Monty Williams said. “And he just kept making play after play after play . ... But as a young team, Ricky’s a guy that we rely on in a lot of situations.”
UP NEXT
Spurs: At Houston on Monday night.
Suns: Host Portland on Monday night.