Kevin Durant scored 42 factors, together with a clutch 3-pointer that helped snuff out a late Cleveland rally, because the host Phoenix Suns scored their third straight win with a 123-112 defeat of the Cavaliers on Friday.
Durant’s 3-pointer with 70 seconds remaining in regulation got here as Cleveland (56-14) was threatening after trailing by as many as 21 factors.
Phoenix (34-37) led for a lot of the primary half, then used an 18-9 scoring benefit spanning practically seven minutes of the third quarter to construct a large cushion. Nonetheless, the Cavaliers — making an attempt to keep away from their first four-game dropping streak of the season — lower the hole to seven factors with two minutes to go within the fourth quarter.
Devin Booker answered a pair of Donovan Mitchell free throws, hitting a mid-range jumper beneath duress on the opposite finish to push the Suns lead again to 9 factors. Booker then rebounded a missed Evan Mobley 3-point try, and after drawing a double-team, whipped a cross-court cross to a wide-open Durant.
Durant swished the clear look, a part of his 4-of-9 efficiency taking pictures from past the 3-point arc. Booker dished yet another help to finish a double-double with 10, discovering Oso Ighodaro for an exclamation-point dunk.
Ighodaro’s flush accomplished an evening through which he scored six factors, grabbed 13 rebounds, and recorded a game-high plus-15 plus-minus ranking in additional than 40 minutes on the court docket.
Phoenix had a well-rounded efficiency total, with Booker scoring 17 factors and Collin Gillespie including 13. Royce O’Neale got here off the bench for 15 factors and Tyus Jones put up one other 16 in reserve responsibility.
Darius Garland led Cleveland with 18 factors, De’Andre Hunter scored 17 off the bench, and Mobley registered a double-double with 16 factors and 12 rebounds. Mitchell shot a dismal 2-of-18 from the ground, together with 0-of-8 from 3-point vary, and completed with seven factors.
–Discipline Stage Media