NBA: Suns fight back to top Spurs for 10th straight win
Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the second half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on January 22, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Pacers 113-103. Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP
Devin Booker had a 28-point effort that included decisive, back-to-back 3-pointers in the final two minutes as the Phoenix Suns came from behind to beat the visiting San Antonio Spurs 115-110 Sunday to win their 10th straight game.
The Suns trailed by 12 points heading into the fourth quarter but rallied to take the lead. San Antonio, playing without three of its usual starters, fought back and had a 108-106 advantage before Booker hit his two tough baskets from beyond the arc to put Phoenix in front for good.
Mikal Bridges added a season-high 26 points for the Suns, who at 40-9 have the best record in the NBA. Chris Paul had 20 points and a season-high 19 assists, with Cameron Johnson scoring 11, and Bismack Biyombo and Ish Wainright contributing 10 each. Biyombo also took a game-high 11 rebounds.
🔥 DEVIN BOOKER 🔥
Back-to-back threes put the @Suns in front for good as they pick up the win! pic.twitter.com/QdsX153hRh
— NBA (@NBA) January 31, 2022
🏀 Dropping DIMES 🏀@CP3 goes for 20 PTS, 8 REB and 19 AST as the @Suns extend their win-streak to 10-straight! pic.twitter.com/VOCMVL7n9s
— NBA (@NBA) January 31, 2022
Doug McDermott had 24 points to lead the Spurs while Lonnie Walker IV added 22, Keldon Johnson 16, Tre Jones 15 and Joshua Primo 13.
The Spurs played without Dejounte Murray (left-knee contusion), Jakob Poeltl (back soreness) and Derrick White (rest). Phoenix was missing starters Deandre Ayton (right-ankle sprain) and Jae Crowder (left-wrist contusion) and key reserve Cameron Payne (right-wrist sprain).
The Spurs’ makeshift lineup surprised Phoenix in the first quarter, building a 31-23 advantage behind eight points in the period by Jones and 54.2 percent shooting from the field. The Suns shot only 30.8 percent in the quarter.
Phoenix rallied in the second quarter as Booker had six points in a run that netted the Suns a 48-46 lead at the 2:12 mark. But the Spurs answered, scoring nine straight points to jump back in front before settling for a 55-50 lead at the break.
Jones paced the Spurs with 13 points in the half while McDermott added 12. Booker scored 15 before halftime and Paul had 10 for Phoenix.
The Spurs never let Phoenix get closer than two points throughout the third quarter and took a 91-79 lead to the final 12 minutes of play.
