DEVIN Booker scored 32 points and made six 3-pointers in three quarters on Tuesday night (Wednesday in Manila) to help Phoenix post a 121-110 victory over visiting Los Angeles, a triumph that eliminated the Lakers from the play-in berth race as well as providing the Suns with a franchise-record 63rd victory.
LeBron James sat out with an ankle injury for the fifth time in seven games as Los Angeles lost its seventh straight game. The setback stomped out the Lakers’ final hope after the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Denver Nuggets earlier in the night.
Deandre Ayton added 22 points and 13 rebounds and Chris Paul recorded 12 assists as the NBA-best Suns snapped a two-game slide. Phoenix surpassed the 62 wins put together by the 1992-93 and 2004-05 teams.
Russell Westbrook scored 28 points and Anthony Davis registered 21 points and 13 rebounds for Los Angeles, which dropped to 11-28 on the road. Phoenix is an NBA-best 32-8 at home.
In other games, it was the Spurs 116, Nuggets 97; Jazz 121, Grizzlies 115 (OT); Raptors 118, Hawks 108; Bucks 127, Bulls 106; Heat 144, Hornets 115; Nets 118, Rockets 105; Sixers 131, Pacers 122; Magic 120, Cavaliers 115; Wizards 132, Wolves 114; Pelicans 123, Kings 109; and Thunder 98, Blazers 94.
Spurs 116, Nuggets 97
Devin Vassell and Kelden Johnson scored 20 points each, Josh Richardson had 18 and visiting San Antonio beat Denver.
Tre Jones had 14 points and 10 assists, Jakob Poeltl also scored 14 points and Zach Collins added 13 for the Spurs, who have won five straight road games.
Nikola Jokic had 41 points and 17 rebounds and Aaron Gordon added 18 points and 13 rebounds for Denver, which still needs one win or a Minnesota Timberwolves loss to secure at least the sixth seed and avoid the West’s play-in tourney. — Field Level Media
