Jae Crowder hit a pair of jumpers, including a 3-pointer, after the Golden State Warriors had closed within one point in the fourth quarter and the host Phoenix Suns went on to win the Pacific Division showdown 104-96 for a franchise-record-tying 17th consecutive victory Tuesday night.
Deandre Ayton (24 points, 11 rebounds) and Chris Paul (15 points, 11 assists) recorded double-doubles for the Suns, who won despite losing Devin Booker to a strained left hamstring in the second quarter. Booker’s injury occurred on a drive to the hoop midway through the second quarter. He was taken to the locker room, and the Suns announced he would not return.
The Suns’ winning streak matches the 17 straight won by the 2006-07 team, bridging December 2006 and January 2007, and also completed the NBA’s first 16-0 calendar month since the Warriors accomplished the feat in November 2015 as part of their record-setting 24-0 start.
Jordan Poole had a game-high 28 points and Otto Porter 16 for the Warriors, whose star, Stephen Curry, was limited to 12 points on 4-for-21 shooting. The clubs will meet in a rematch Friday night in San Francisco.
Lakers 117, Kings 92
Anthony Davis scored 25 points, Malik Monk shot 6 of 10 from 3-point range en route to 22 points off the bench and Los Angeles beat host Sacramento without LeBron James.
Russell Westbrook finished with 23 points, six assists and five rebounds, and the Lakers’ bench tallied 58 points as James was scratched from the lineup late due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
The Kings’ Richaun Holmes made 12 of 13 shots for a game-high 27 points, De’Aaron Fox scored 17 and Chimezie Metu tallied 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Trail Blazers 110, Pistons 92
CJ McCollum recorded 28 points and six assists and reserve Ben McLemore scored a season-high 17 points as Portland sailed past visiting Detroit.
Portland easily improved to 10-1 at home despite not having the services of six-time All-Star Damian Lillard, who sat out due to a lingering abdominal injury. Jusuf Nurkic had 13 points, eight rebounds and five assists as the Trail Blazers snapped a three-game slide. Anfernee Simons added 12 points, six rebounds and five assists while starting in Lillard’s place.
Rookie No. 1 overall draft pick Cade Cunningham scored a career-high 26 points for the Pistons, who lost their seventh consecutive game. Isaiah Stewart contributed 15 points and 14 rebounds while Jerami Grant added 14 points.
Grizzlies 98, Raptors 91
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 25 points and blocked a season-best five shots — two in the fourth quarter — as Memphis won in Toronto.
Desmond Bane scored 13 of his 23 points in the first quarter for the Grizzlies, who lost at home to the Raptors last week. Dillon Brooks added 17 points for the Grizzlies, who have won two in a row without star Ja Morant (knee).
Pascal Siakam had 20 points for the Raptors, who lost their fifth straight home game. Scottie Barnes added 19 points, Fred VanVleet had 15 and Yuta Watanabe scored 11.
Nets 112, Knicks 110
James Johnson hit the tiebreaking free throws with 2.2 seconds remaining as host Brooklyn blew a 16-point lead but survived a wild fourth quarter against New York.
The Nets’ James Harden scored 28 of his 34 points in the first half to lead all scorers and Kevin Durant scored 11 of his 27 in the fourth quarter.
Alec Burks led the Knicks with 25 points and Julius Randle added 24. Derrick Rose contributed 16 points.
–Field Level Media
