Devin Booker scored 35 points, Chris Paul added 19 points and 14 assists, and the Phoenix Suns extended their winning streak to eight games with a 114-104 victory over the visiting Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, March 27 (Monday, March 28, Manila time).
Deandre Ayton had 14 points and 12 rebounds for Phoenix (61-14), which has won its last six meetings against Philadelphia. Landry Shamet scored 12 points and Mikal Bridges added 11.
Joel Embiid paced the Sixers (46-28) with 37 points and 15 rebounds. Tyrese Maxey scored 18 points, Tobias Harris added 17 points and 8 rebounds, and James Harden had 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists.
Philadelphia trailed by one before the Suns went on a 13-2 run, capped by Jae Crowder’s 3-pointer that put the Suns ahead 114-102 with 1:35 remaining.
Phoenix shot 51.7% from the field and 13-of-27 (48.1%) from three-point range to snap the Sixers’ three-game winning streak. Phoenix improved to 45-0 this season when leading after three quarters.
Both teams set the tone early with a high-scoring first quarter. Embiid scored 15 points in the period for Philadelphia, which took a 39-37 lead after shooting 61.9%.
Booker, who scored a season-high 49 points in the Suns’ 140-130 win over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, ended Sunday’s first quarter with 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting.
Philadelphia extended its lead to 15 points midway through the second quarter before Phoenix responded with a 13-0 run to cut the deficit to 54-52 with 4:44 left in the half.
Booker was held scoreless in the second quarter for the Suns, who trailed 64-60 at the half. Embiid had 19 points at the break to lead the Sixers.
Philadelphia led by a point with 1:52 left in the third quarter before Phoenix closed on an 8-2 run to move ahead 91-86.
Phoenix took a 101-90 lead on Shamet’s trey with 7:43 left in the fourth quarter before the Sixers answered with 10 straight points.
Crowder finished with 9 points and 8 rebounds for Phoenix, which improved to 31-8 at home. – Rappler.com
