NBA regular season

Devin Booker’s last-second free throw lifts Suns over Bucks in OT

Reuters

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Devin Booker’s last-second free throw lifts Suns over Bucks in OT

CLUTCH. Devin Booker salvages the game for the Suns.

Photo by Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports/Reuters

With just a fraction of a second left, Devin Booker knocks in the deciding foul shot to lift the Suns over the Bucks by just a point in overtime

Devin Booker made a free throw with 0.3 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the visiting Phoenix Suns to a 128-127 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, April 19 (Tuesday, April 20, Manila time).

After Phoenix’s Mikal Bridges and Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton exchanged three-pointers in the final 30 seconds of OT to force a 127-127 tie, Booker dribbled around the perimeter looking to get free for a final shot. His off-balance attempt under duress drew a foul call on PJ Tucker to set up the game-winning free throw on his first of two shots at the line.

Four Suns players scored at least 20 points, led by Booker with 24. The star guard added 7 points and 7 rebounds.

Phoenix’s Chris Paul produced 22 points and 13 assists to pass Lakers legend Magic Johnson for fifth on the NBA all-time assists list.

Bridges scored 21, and Deandre Ayton finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Four of Ayton’s points came during a crucial, 12-2 run in the late fourth quarter that turned the Suns’ 109-102 deficit into a 114-111 lead.

Ayton also came through on a few defensive stands in the fourth quarter, denying Giannis Antetokounmpo clean looks at the basket.

Antetokounmpo, the two-time reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, scored 33 points, his highest output in three games back from a six-game absence caused by a knee injury. However, he played less than a minute in overtime.

Phoenix held Milwaukee scoreless for the first 3:10 of OT, building a six-point lead before three-pointers from Pat Connaughton, Tucker, and Middleton brought the Bucks back.

Middleton finished with 26 points, including 5 in the final 1:18 of regulation. Jrue Holiday added 25 points and 8 assists for Milwaukee.

Bridges hit 5-of-7 three-point attempts as Phoenix finished 17-of-42 (40.5%) from long range. Outside shooting helped the Suns keep pace with Milwaukee despite the Bucks’ 64-42 advantage in points in the paint.

The Bucks shot 11-of-34 (32.4%) from long range, with Connaughton going 3-of-4. He scored all 9 of his points from beyond the arc.

With the win, Phoenix avoided its first losing streak since January. The Bucks took a second straight loss and fell for the fifth time in eight games. – Rappler.com

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