Durant makes his debut as Phoenix rolls to a win
Kevin Durant feels a sense of comfort.
Durant finished with 23 points on 10-for-15 shooting in his Suns debut, helping Phoenix snap the Charlotte Hornets’ five-game winning streak with a wire-to-wire 105-91 road victory Wednesday.
Devin Booker led the way with 37 points and Deandre Ayton had 16 points and 16 rebounds in the Suns’ seventh win in 10 games.
Durant, acquired from the Brooklyn Nets on Feb. 9, also had six rebounds and two blocks in 27 minutes, showing no lingering effects from a right knee sprain that kept him out of action for more than seven weeks.
“I feel like I fit in pretty well,” Durant said. “Everybody out there was trying to make me as comfortable as possible.”
The Hornets played without Lamelo Ball, who underwent season-ending surgery earlier in the day to repair a fracture in his right ankle. Kelly Oubre Jr. picked up the scoring slack with 26 points, and Terry Rozier added 20.
“Things might be a little off, but we fight another day. Just keep fighting,” Rozier said.
● BUCKS 139, MAGIC 117: Gil annis Antetokounmpo scored 31 points, and Nba-leading Milwaukee hit a season-high 26 threepointers in a rout of Orlando, its 16th straight win.
The Bucks’ streak is the NBA’S longest since Phoenix won 18 in a row last season. The franchise record is 20, set during its 1970-71 championship season.
● CELTICS 117, CAVALIERS 113: Jayson Tatum had 18 points in a pivotal third quarter and finished with 41 as Boston held on to beat visiting Cleveland.
Tatum added 11 rebounds and eight assists as the Celtics earned their first win over the Cavaliers this season. The 24-year-old surpassed Antetokounmpo for seventh place on the NBA’S all-time scoring list for players under 25.
● 76ERS 119, HEAT 96: Tyrese Maxey scored 27 points, James Harden had 23, and Philadelphia took control early on the way to an easy win in Miami.
Tobias Harris had 18 points and Paul Reed added 16 points and 14 rebounds for the 76ers, who played without center Joel Embiid (left foot soreness).
● KNICKS 142, NETS 118: Jalen Brunson scored 30 of his 39 points in the first half, and New York rolled to its seventh straight win, routing Brooklyn at home.
The Knicks had a 47-point first quarter en route to their second victory over the Nets since their city rivals traded Durant and Kyrie Irving.
● GRIZZLIES 113, ROCKETS 99: Desmond Bane had 30 points, Ja Morant added 20, and visiting Memphis sent Houston to its 11th straight loss.
Coming off a 39-point game Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers, Morant also had seven assists and seven rebounds against the Rockets while sitting out the fourth quarter.
● BULLS 117, PISTONS 115: Zach Lavine scored 41 points, and Detroit called one too many timeouts, helping Chicago hold on for a road victory.
● LAKERS 123, THUNDER 117: Dennis Schroder scored 26 points to help Los Angeles win at Oklahoma City.