The Tribune

By DAVID BRANDT

AP Sports Writer

PHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker scored a season-high 36 points, Deandre Ayton had another double double, Mikal Bridges added 22 and the Phoenix Suns rallied in the fourth quarter to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 119-113 last night.

The Suns have won six of their past seven games while the Cavaliers have dropped four straight. Booker propelled the Suns to victory this time by making 14 of 27 shots, including 5 3-pointers.

Phoenix took a 101-100 lead with seven minutes left on a 3-pointer from Cam Johnson. The second-year forward had missed his first six attempts from beyond the arc.

That started an entertaining back-and-forth that lasted until the final minute. Bridges hit two free throws to give the Suns a 117-113 lead with 17.2 seconds left.

Cleveland has been one of the NBA’s worst offensive teams this season but it didn’t look that way yesterday. The Cavs’ young backcourt of Darius Garland and Collin Sexton continually carved through the Suns defence, which has been among the better ones in the league. Sexton led the Cavs with 23 points while Garland had 17. Andre Drummond added 15 points and 14 rebounds.

Booker poured in 17 points in the first quarter on 7-of-10 shooting. Langston Galloway had a steal and made a short jumper at the buzzer to give the Suns a 34-28 lead heading into the second.

The Suns took a 64-61 into the halftime. Both teams were getting lots of close, uncontested looks. Phoenix shot 60 percent from the field and had 40 points in the paint before the break while the Cavaliers shot 56.5 percent and got 23 points from their bench.

SHORT-HANDED SUNS

The Suns played without five players who are in their normal rotation, including All-Star point guard Chris Paul.

Paul missed his first game of the season with right hamstring soreness after starting the first 22. He’s averaging 16.4 points and more than eight assists per game.

Phoenix also didn’t have forwards Abdel Nader (ankle), Jae Crowder (foot) and Dario Saric (ankle), along with guard Cameron Payne (foot).

TIP-INS

Cavaliers: JaVale McGee was ejected early in the fourth quarter after getting into a heated argument with Suns forward Frank Kaminsky.

Both players were quickly assessed technicals and then McGee got another one when the yelling continued. He blew kisses to the 1,500 fans at Phoenix Suns Arena as he was booed off the court. McGee finished with eight points in 8 minutes.

Suns: E’Twaun Moore got his first start of the season with Paul out. He finished with 17 points in 40 minutes.

Deandre Ayton finished with 15 points and 16 rebounds.

UP NEXT

Cavaliers: Continue their five-game trip against Denver on Wednesday.

Suns: Continue their seven-game homestand against Milwaukee on Wednesday.