JAE Crowder hit a pair of jumpers, including a 3-pointer, after the Golden State Warriors had closed within one point in the fourth quarter and the host Phoenix Suns went on to win the Pacific Division showdown 104-96 for a franchise-record-tying 17th consecutive victory Tuesday night (Wednesday in Manila).
Deandre Ayton (24 points, 11 rebounds) and Chris Paul (15 points, 11 assists) recorded double doubles for the Suns, who won despite losing Devin Booker to a strained left hamstring in the second quarter.
The Suns’ winning streak matches the 17 straight won by the 2006-07 team, bridging December 2006 and January 2007, and completed the NBA’s first 16-0 calendar month since the Warriors accomplished the feat in November 2015 as part of their record-setting 24-0 start.
Booker’s injury occurred on a drive to the hoop midway through the second quarter. He was taken to the locker room, and the Suns announced he would not return.
Coming off a four-game trip on which he had three 30-point nights, Booker had 10 points in his first 15 minutes.
Even without their leading scorer, the Suns retained a slim lead throughout most of the second half– a margin that was just 92-91 when Otto Porter Jr. hit a short jumper with 5:19 to play. — Field Level Media
