Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns scorch Sixers

CHRIS Paul compiled 28 points and eight assists to lift the Phoenix Suns past the host Philadelphia 76ers (116113) on Wednesday.

Devin Booker added 19 points and Mikal Bridges had 18 for the Suns. Booker had scored at least 30 in each of his past seven meetings with the Sixers.

Cameron Johnson contributed 15 points and DeAndre Ayton chipped in with 10 for the Suns (42-16), who hold the best road record in the league (19-7).

The depleted Sixers (39-19) played without Ben Simmons (illness), Seth Curry (hip) and Tobias Harris (knee). It was the third consecutive game that Harris sat out.

Joel Embiid led the Sixers with 38 points and 17 rebounds. Danny Green scored 18 points, Tyrese Maxey added 14, Furkan Korkmaz put up 12, and George Hill had 11. Dwight Howard swept 11 rebounds.

The Sixers have lost consecutive home games for the first time all season.

Booker’s long jumper with 2:03 left gave the Suns a 109-101 advantage, but Korkmaz’s three-pointer with 2.8 seconds left cut the deficit to two. —