Suns top 76ers, boost NBA-best road record to 19-7
Chris Paul scored 28 points, Devin Booker had 19 and Mikal Bridges 18 to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 116-113 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night.
Joel Embiid, who had 38 points and 17 rebounds, heaved a full-court shot at the horn that rattled around the rim and put the All-Star center on his back in disbelief over the near-make.
No matter, the Suns walked off winners on the road for the second time this week against one of the top teams in the East. They are an NBA-best 19-7 on the road and second overall behind Utah at 42-16.
Paul hit five 3s and Bridges, a former Villanova standout, continued to haunt the Sixers three years after an ill-fated draft-night deal. The Sixers selected Bridges with the 10th overall pick in 2018 — a feel-good story because of the Nova connection and his mother worked for the 76ers’ parent company. Zhaire played only 13 NBA games and is out of the league while Bridges turned into a breakout star for the blossoming Suns.
The Sixers again played without starters Ben Simmons (unspecified illness) and Tobias Harris (right knee). Seth Curry also missed the game with a left hip flexor.
The Suns were coming off an overtime win in Milwaukee to open their five-game trip.
RAPTORS 114, NETS 103 >> Pascal Siakam had 27 points and nine rebounds, OG Anunoby scored 25 points and Toronto beat Brooklyn for its fourth straight victory. Kyrie Irving had 28 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists for the Nets, and Bruce Brown added 21 points and 14 rebounds. Nets forward F Kevin Durant missed his second game after aggravating a thigh injury Sunday at Miami.
JAZZ 112, ROCKETS 89 >> Jordan Clarkson scored 22 points, Joe Ingles had 21 and NBA-leading Utah won at Houston. The Jazz have won four of their last five games. The 23-point margin was Utah’s most-lopsided victory over Houston since a 118-91 blowout Dec. 6, 2018.
PACERS 122, THUNDER 116 >> Malcolm Brogdon had 29 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists, and Caris LeVert scored 28 points and severely short-handed Indiana beat visiting Oklahoma City. Indiana snapped a three-game losing streak despite playing without anyone taller than 6-foot-7. Indiana was missing three starters — two-time AllStar forward Domantas Sabonis, center Myles Turner and forward T.J. Warren — and four backups. Darius Bazley matched his career high with 26 points for Oklahoma City. The Thunder have lost 12 in a row. CAVALIERS 121, BULLS 105 >> Collin Sexton scored 30 points, Darius Garland added 25 and Cleveland beat Chicago to snap a fivegame home losing streak. Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff was not at the game for personal reasons, but is expected to return to the bench Friday. Assistant coach Greg Buckner filled in for his longtime friend and colleague.
Kevin Love added 15 points and nine rebounds for Cleveland. Lauri Markkanen scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half for Chicago.