PHOENIX — Devin Booker scored 30 points, Kelly Oubre Jr. added 20 and the Phoenix Suns beat the Los Angeles Clippers 130-122 for their first win in the series in more than three years.
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) shoots over LA Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) during the second half of a basketball game Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo / Ross D. Franklin)
Phoenix (2-1) snapped a 12-game losing streak to the Clippers and won for the first time since losing starting center Deandre Ayton to a 25-game suspension after he tested positive for a diuretic.
The Suns had a 15-point lead midway through the fourth quarter before Los Angeles’ Lou Williams made things interesting with back-to-back 3-pointers.
The Clippers pulled within six on Kawhi Leonard’s 3-pointer with less than two minutes left, but the Suns’ Tyler Johnson responded with his own 3-pointer to stop the rally.
The two teams were tied at 55 at halftime, but the Suns pushed to a 91-85 lead after three quarters largely thanks to the unlikely combo of Frank Kaminsky and Jevon Carter, who combined for 17 points during the rally.
Carter started in the absence of Ricky Rubio, who missed the game because of a knee injury suffered on Friday against Denver. The second-year pro finished with eight points and six assists in 33 minutes.
Kaminsky finished with 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists. It was an impressive bounce-back win for the Suns, who lost to the Nuggets by one point in overtime on Friday.
Los Angeles (2-1) was led by Montrezl Harrell’s 28 points. Leonard added 27 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists.
Phoenix controlled most of the first half, but settled for the halftime tie after the Clippers closed the second quarter on a 6-0 run.
Hawks edge Magic behind Trae Young’s 39-point game
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) reacts in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Trae Young wants the ball when the game is on the line. He knows he’s expected to be Atlanta’s big-time player.
Young scored 39 points, including Atlanta’s last eight, to continue his hot start and the Hawks beat the Orlando Magic 103-99 on Saturday night.
When asked how he flourished in the final minutes, Young said: “That’s what makes big-time players what they are. They step up in big moments.”
Young, who had 38 points in Atlanta’s season-opening win at Detroit, again carried the scoring burden for the Hawks. Atlanta had no other player with more than 10 points.
The second-year point guard added nine assists and seven rebounds.
Young took over the game after Orlando led 96-95. His baseline reverse layup gave the Hawk the lead. Following a tying free throw by Aaron Gordon, Young’s layup again gave the lead back to the Hawks.
Young added a long, fallaway 3-pointer, stretching the advantage to 102-97 with 25 seconds remaining. He celebrated with a shimmy strut toward the other end of the court.
“He’s clutch, man,” Hawks forward John Collins said. “He just has that clutch gene. Guys like him take the shots down the stretch and just expect them to go in.”
The Magic couldn’t find a way to stop Young.
“I tried to stay in front and make him shoot over top of me,” said Markelle Fultz. “He shot it. Just got to slap him on the butt and say, ‘Good shot.'”
Young’s 38 points against Detroit were the most in a season opener since Dominique Wilkins’ 39 against the Nets in 1986. Young led NBA rookies with nine 30-point games last season, and now he already has two.
“Whatever it takes,” Young said. “I’m just glad we’re winning.”
In a matchup of 21-year-old point guards, Young had 17 first-half points. Fultz finished with 12 points.
Evan Fournier led Orlando with 23 points. Nikola Vucevic had 16 points and 10 rebounds. D.J. Augustin had 14.
While Young sank 5 of 10 3-pointers, Orlando made only 5 of 31.
“You can’t win an NBA game shooting 17% from the 3,” Magic coach Steve Clifford said. The actual figure was 16.1%.
“We’re all pros,” Gordon said. “We got to make those shots.”
The Hawks’ 9-2 run to open the second half included Young’s back-to-back trademark one-handed floaters. He added a steal of Gordon’s pass and a 3-pointer for a 61-52 lead — Atlanta’s biggest of the game.
Atlanta led 85-84 before Augustin’s four free throws and Michael Carter-Williams’ powerful jam gave Orlando a 90-85 advantage.
Atlanta twice pulled even on shots by Young. His long 3-pointer tied the game at 90, and his jumper knotted the score at 94-all.
Jabari Parker and Kevin Huerter each had 10 points for Atlanta.