Booker notches 35 points, Suns beat Rockets

Devin Booker scored 35 points, Kevin Durant added 24 and the Phoenix Suns held off the Houston Rockets 110-105 on Thursday night to open a two-game series.

The teams will meet again in Phoenix on Saturday night.

Booker scored 20 points in the first quarter to help give the Suns an 18-point lead they would never relinquish. He has scored at least 20 points in an NBAhigh six quarters this season.

Jusuf Nurkic added 16 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks before fouling out. Bradley Beal missed his fifth straight game because of a hamstring injury.

The Suns took an 86-75 lead into the final quarter. Houston cut the advantage to six midway through the fourth, but Booker responded immediately with a 3-pointer to push the lead back to nine.

That led to a brief skirmish between Booker and Houston's Cam Whitmore, who both received technical fouls. Nurkic blocked Whitmore twice on the ensuing possession, which drew huge roars from the home crowd.

Tempers stayed hot over the next few minutes — Houston's Alperen Sengun fouled out and then got two quick technicals, earning an ejection.

Booker hit both of the technical free throws, Nurkic followed with his two free throws from Sengun's foul, and that pushed the Suns' lead to 99-84. The Rockets cut the lead to four.

Jalen Green led Houston with 34 points. Fred VanVleet added 21. The Rockets connected on just 11 of 45 3-pointers.

BUCKS 111, HORNETS 99 >> Giannis Antetokounmpo had 24 points and 10 rebounds and Milwaukee beat Charlotte to finish a home-andhome set and sweep the season series.

SPURS 132, THUNDER 118 >> Victor Wembanyama had 28 points and 12 rebounds, Devin Vassell also scored 28 points and San Antonio beat Oklahoma City to snap a five-game skid.

MAGIC 115, JAZZ 107 >> Jalen Suggs hit three 3-pointers in the final three minutes and finished with 15 points in Orlando's victory over Utah.

NETS 124, HAWKS 97 >> Cam Johnson scored a season high 29 points, hitting a season-high seven 3-pointers in 11 attempts, to help Brooklyn beat Atlanta to open a two-game series.