Suns ‘Big 3’ gets it done

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THE Phoenix big three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal combined to score 88 points, led by Durant’s 37, and the visiting Suns beat the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers 117-111 on Monday (Tuesday in Manila).

Phoenix, opening a four-game road trip, overcame a sluggish start in which it fell behind by as many as 19 points in the second quarter. Beal scored 24 points on 10-of-19 shooting from the floor, part of the Suns’ 54.8 percent overall performance. In his return from a four-game absence caused by a right ankle sprain, Booker scored 27 points.

Behind Durant, who grabbed eight rebounds and dished out six assists to go with his game-high scoring total, the Suns chipped away at the deficit before taking a lead they never relinquished shortly before the midpoint of the third quarter.

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The Phoenix advantage never grew to more than nine points, however, as Darius Garland and Caris LeVert each contributed to keep Cleveland within striking distance. Garland scored 30 points and accounted for almost half of the Cavaliers’ 15 made 3-pointers, going 7-for-10 from deep.

In other games, it was the Pistons 114, Hornets 97; Nuggets 125, Raptors 119; Mavs 127, Bulls 92; Celtics 121, Blazers 99; and Warriors 112, Spurs 102.

Pistons 114, Hornets 97

Cade Cunningham had 22 points and eight assists and host Detroit completed a season-series sweep of Charlotte.

Jalen Duren supplied 20 points and 10 rebounds and Simone Fontecchio supplied 17 points and eight rebounds for the Pistons. Detroit has won 11 games this season, with three coming at the Hornets’ expense.

Miles Bridges led Charlotte with 24 points and Grant Williams contributed 22. Brandon Miller had 19 points and seven assists.

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