Suns shine to upstage Clippers

Source:AFP Published: 2019/10/27 19:33:30

Westbrook passes Magic for career triple-doubles


Mikal Bridges (No.25) of the Phoenix Suns and Patrick Beverley of the LA Clippers fight for a rebound on Saturday in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo: AFP


The Phoenix Suns held off a fourth-quarter charge by the Los Angeles Clippers to squeeze out a 130-122 win on Saturday for their first victory in the series in three years.

Devin Booker scored 30 points, Kelly Oubre added 20 as the Suns outgunned the Kawhi Leonard-led Clipper offense in front of a crowd of 18,000 at the Talking Stick Resort Arena.

Phoenix led by 15 points halfway through the final quarter but the Clippers cut it to six on Leonard's three-pointer with less than two minutes remaining. 

Phoenix's Tyler Johnson then drained a shot from beyond the arc to blunt the Los Angeles rally.

The Suns won for the first time since losing center Deandre Ayton to a 25-game suspension for a failed drug test.

Phoenix also halted a 12-game losing skid to the Clippers.

Frank Kaminsky had 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Suns, who have won two of the season's first three games for the first time since 2015.

Los Angeles was led by Montrezl Harrell's 28 points and 27 from Leonard.

Elsewhere, Russell Westbrook posted his second straight triple-double since joining Houston to lead the Rockets to a 126-123 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

Westbrook recorded his 139th career triple-double to pass Magic Johnson for second on the all-time list, behind only Oscar Robertson's 181.

Westbrook had 28 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds and James Harden had a poor shooting night but still managed 29 points.

Elsewhere the Miami Heat completed a superb second-half comeback to spoil Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks' home opener with a 131-126 overtime victory.

Reigning NBA MVP Antetokounmpo led the scoring with 29 points, including a magical buzzer-beating tip-in to force overtime, but was unable to thwart Miami's victory charge.

The Heat, missing star Jimmy Butler, had trailed by 21 points in the third quarter but exploded to overwhelm the Bucks down the stretch, outscoring the home team by 16 points in the fourth quarter and overtime.

Goran Dragic led the Miami scoring with 25 points from the bench while Bam Adebayo weighed in with 19 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists.

Kendrick Nunn added 18 points while four other Miami players finished with double digit tallies.

Antetokounmpo delivered a highlight reel moment with his improvised tip-in to tie it up at 121-121.

Down by two with three seconds remaining, the Bucks inbounded to Khris Middleton who launched a long-range effort from the perimeter.

With the shot falling short, Antetokounmpo collected in mid-air and dropped the ball into the basket to force overtime.

However the Heat proved the stronger in overtime, outscoring the Bucks 10-5 to close out the win.



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