Suns hold off Bulls’ charge
Booker sparks league-leaders with 38
Devin Booker scored 38 points, and the NBA leadingPhoenix Suns hung on to beat the Chicago Bulls, 127124, Monday night in Chicago.
The Suns led by as many as 27 points in the third quarter and withstood a push down the stretch to win for the 13th time in 14 games. They improved to 43-10 overall and a leagueleading 21-5 on the road.
Booker hit the 30-point mark for the third time in four games. The All-Star made 14 of 23 shots, including five 3-pointers. Chris Paul added 19 points and 11 assists. JaVale McGee finished with 16 points and eight rebounds, and Mikal Bridges scored 15.
Chicago’s DeMar DeRozan scored 38, coming off a season-high 45-point performance in Sunday’s loss to Philadelphia.
Zach LaVine added 32 points after missing the previous two games because of back spasms.
Malcolm Hill scored the final eight points, including a layup at the buzzer, to pull Chicago within three. But the Bulls, who came in tied for second in the Eastern Conference with defending NBA champion Milwaukee, lost for the third time in four games.
Other games Heat 121, Wizards 100:
Bam Adebayo scored 21 points and Jimmy Butler had 19 as Eastern Conference -leading Miami cruised past host Washington for its third win in a row. Corey Kispert equaled his career high with 20 points for the Wizards, who lost for the ninth time in 11 games.
Raptors 116, Hornets 101: Pascal Siakam had 24 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists, and visiting Toronto defeated Charlotte for its sixth consecutive win. Miles Bridges scored 25 points to lead the Hornets, who lost their fifth in a row. Warriors 110, Thunder 98: Klay Thompson scored 21 points and visiting Golden State beat Oklahoma City for its ninth consecutive win. Stephen Curry added 18 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds for the Warriors. Lu Dort scored 26 for Oklahoma City. Jazz 113, Knicks 104: Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points and host Utah outscored New York, 31-18, in the fourth quarter to record the win.
Notes
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball and San Antonio Spurs guard Dejounte Murray were named to the NBA All-Star Game as injury replacements for Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green. The league also announced that Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, who was selected as a reserve, will replace Durant as a starter. The 71st NBA All-Star Game is Feb. 20 in Cleveland.