NBA: Suns crush Magic for fifth straight win
Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the second half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on February 01, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Nets 121-111. Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP
Chris Paul posted his 30th double-double of the season and Devin Booker scored 26 points, leading the host Phoenix Suns to a 132-105 win over the Orlando Magic on Saturday night.
Paul, who two days earlier became the 31st player in NBA history to reach 500 career double-doubles, dished out 10 of his 15 assists in the first half as the Suns built a 67-53 lead. He also scored 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting as Phoenix extended its win streak to five games.
Booker netted 16 third-quarter points, helping the Suns outscore the Magic 33-25 for a 100-78 advantage. Deandre Ayton finished with 17 points — 14 in the first half — and 10 rebounds, and Mikal Bridges had 14 points for his ninth straight game scoring in double figures.
Phoenix, which improved to 35-0 when leading after three quarters, had nine players score 10-plus points.
4⃣0⃣ assists tonight!
Our most assists in a non-overtime game since 2009! pic.twitter.com/iBkDSE3EIg
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) February 13, 2022
Torrey Craig, acquired prior to the trade deadline from Indiana, had 14 points in his season debut for the Suns. Jae Crowder added 11 points and seven rebounds, and Cameron Johnson contributed 10 points to Phoenix’s seventh consecutive home win.
Newly acquired Aaron Holiday scored all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter. Reserve guard Elfrid Payton also totaled 10 points and nine assists for Phoenix, which shot 52.4 percent from the floor and had a season-high 40 assists.
Magic rookie Jalen Suggs recorded his first career double-double with 20 points and a career-best 10 assists. Suggs also pulled down six rebounds.
Orlando dropped to 2-11 this season playing the second game of a back-to-back.
Cole Anthony scored 10 of his 17 points in the opening half for the Magic. Wendell Carter Jr. contributed 14 points and 11 rebounds for his team-high 23rd double-double, and Chuma Okeke had a double-double off the bench with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Terrence Ross’ 13-point effort included three triples as he passed Pat Garrity into eighth place on the Magic’s all-time list for made 3-pointers.
