DEVIN Booker hit a go-ahead 17-footer with 2:37 remaining, Royce O’Neale hit a 3-pointer to extend the lead with 47.2 seconds to go and the Phoenix Suns survived a frantic finish to defeat the visiting Sacramento Kings 130-125 on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).
Kevin Durant had 28 points, Booker added 25 and Eric Gordon supplied 23 for the Suns, who prevailed despite losing star Bradley Beal to a left hamstring injury in the first quarter.
De’Aaron Fox poured in a game-high 40 points and Domantas Sabonis (35 points, 18 rebounds, 12 assists) logged a triple-double for the Kings, who grabbed a 116-115 edge – the fifth lead change of the final period – on an alley-oop layup by Malik Monk with 2:49 to go.
Booker countered immediately with his lead-changing jumper. The Suns retained a slim advantage until O’Neale, acquired from the Brooklyn Nets at the trade deadline last week, hit his clutch 24-footer for a 122-118 lead in the final minute.
In other games, it was the Celtics 118, Nets 110; Thunder 127, Magic 113; Heat 123, Bucks 97; Wolves 121, Blazers 109; and Lakers 125, Pistons 111.
