Booker, Johnson Help NBA-Leading Suns Beat Thunder 113-101 – Dothan Eagle

By The Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker scored 30 points, Cam Johnson added 21 while making all five of his 3-point attempts and the Phoenix Suns won their fifth straight game, beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 113-101 on Thursday night.

Booker splashed home a long 3-pointer at the third quarter buzzer to give the NBA-leading Suns an 82-69 lead after they trailed by three at halftime.

Deandre Ayton added 19 points — including an emphatic dunk in the final minute that earned a technical after he slapped the backboard — and 12 rebounds. Chris Paul had 16 points and seven assists.

Johnson was the catalyst for another great night from the Suns’ bench. He made all seven of his shots from the field.

Phoenix remained a half-game ahead of Golden State, with the teams set to meet in a Christmas showdown in the desert.

Shai Gilgeous Alexander had 29 points for Oklahoma City.

WARRIORS 113, GRIZZLIES 104

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry scored 46 points and made eight 3-pointers, Gary Payton Jr. added a clutch 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter and Golden State held off Memphis.

Curry made 13 of 22 shots, going 8 of 14 on 3-pointers, and hit all 12 of his free throws to help the Warriors improve to an NBA-best 16-2 at home. Payton had 22 points

Ja Morant had 21 points for Memphis. The Grizzlies had won six straight on the road.

SPURS 138, LAKERS 110

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Keita Bates-Diop scored a career-high 30 points, and San Antonio routed slumping Los Angeles in the final event at Staples Center under the 22-year-old arena’s original name.

LeBron James had 36 points and nine rebounds and Russell Westbrook scored 30 points for Los Angeles, which has lost four straight for the first time this season amid COVID-19 roster chaos. The Lakers are playing without coach Frank Vogel and five players under the NBA’s health and safety protocol.

Derrick White had 23 points and Lonnie Walker added 21 in the third victory in four games for the Spurs, who hit 18 3-pointers.

HAWKS 98, 76ERS 96

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 10 of his 15 points in the final 3:44, helping short-handed Atlanta beat Philadelphia.

The 76ers’ Joel Embiid missed a potential tying shot at the horn.

The Hawks were without seven players because of health and safety protocols, lost two more during the game to injury, but stuck with the Sixers, who were 9-1 favorites to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Cam Reddish scored 18 points and John Collins had 17 for the Hawks.

Embiid had 23 points and 10 rebounds.

BUCKS 102, MAVERICKS 95

DALLAS (AP) — Khris Middleton scored 26 points and Milwaukee beat Dallas with the superstar for each team sidelined because of COVID-19.

The Bucks were without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo for the fifth consecutive game because of health and safety protocols. Dallas’ Luka Doncic sat for the first time for that reason.

Jrue Holiday scored 24 points and DeMarcus Cousins had a season-high 22 points and eight rebounds for the Bucks. Doncic backup Jalen Brunson led Dallas with 19 points.

WIZARDS 124, KNICKS 117

NEW YORK (AP) — Spencer Dinwiddie had 21 points and 12 assists and Washington withstood a 44-point effort from Kemba Walker to beat New York 124-117 on Thursday night.

The Knicks pulled within two points with 2:40 left, but Kyle Kuzma had consecutive 3-pointers to give Washington an insurmountable lead. The Wizards, who were without All-Star guard Bradley Beal after he was placed in the COVID-19 health and safety protocols before the game.

JAZZ 128, TIMBERWOLVES 116

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 28 points and Utah beat short-handed Minnesota.

Rudy Gobert had 20 points and 17 rebounds, Bojan Bogdanovic added 18 points and Mike Conley scored 17 points to help the Jazz win for the 10th time in 12 games.

Malik Beasley scored a season-high 33 points for Minnesota.

HORNETS 115, NUGGETS 107

DENVER (AP) — P.J. Washington hit three big 3-pointers down the stretch, Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 14 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter and Charlotte overcame a 19-point deficit to beat Denver.

Will Barton’s step-back shot gave the Nuggets a 90-71 advantage late in the third before the Hornets rallied. Washington tied it at 99 on a 3-pointer with 5:30 remaining and gave the Hornets the lead for good on another 3 with 1:20 left.

Denver’s Nikola Jokic had 29 points and 21 rebounds.

PACERS 118, ROCKETS 106

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Myles Turner had 32 points and 10 rebounds, Caris LeVert added 24 points and 11 assists and Indiana beat Houston,

Turner made 14 of 18 shots as the Pacers hit 52.8% from the field. Indiana played without starters Malcolm Brogdon (sore right Achilles tendon) and Domantas Sabonis (sore right calf).

Christian Wood scored 22 points for Houston.

PELICANS 110, MAGIC 104

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Brandon Ingram scored 31 points, Josh Hart hit two clutch 3-pointers in the second half to thwart an Orlando rally, and New Orleans beat the Magic.

The Pelicans have won four straight and five of six. New Orleans started the season 1-12, but is 11-9 since.

Cole Anthony and Gary Harris each scored 22 points for Orlando.

HEAT 115, PISTONS 112

MIAMI (AP) — Tyler Herro scored 29 points, Max Strus added 26 and Miami beat short-handed Detroit.

Strus’ fifth 3-pointer with 40 seconds remaining gave the Heat their final margin.

Trey Lyles scored a career-high 28 points for Detroit. Cory Joseph’s tying 3-point attempt with two seconds left bounced off the rim.

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