Field Level Media
Feb 8, 2021
Devin Booker scored 36 points and the Phoenix Suns had just enough without Chris Paul to finish off a 119-113 victory at home Monday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Mikal Bridges had 22 points while Deandre Ayton added 15 points and 16 rebounds as the Suns won their third consecutive game and sixth in the past seven.
Paul did not play on the back end of games on consecutive days due to a sore hamstring. The injury is not believed to be serious.
Collin Sexton scored 23 points and Darius Garland added 17 as the Cavaliers dropped their fourth consecutive game and sixth in the past seven. They were starting a five-game road trip.
The Suns were up by as many as 12 points in the second quarter, but the Cavaliers worked their way back into the game to lead 91-89 at the start of the fourth period.
Cleveland pushed its lead to 100-95 with 8:31 remaining on a jumper by Damyean Dotson before the Suns found a sense of urgency. E'Twaun Moore, Cameron Johnson and Booker all hit consecutive 3-pointers for the Suns in a 1:21 stretch.
The lead changed hands throughout the final quarter, with the Suns moving on top for good 114-113 on a 3-pointer by Johnson with 2:04 to play. Sexton had a turnover and a missed shot in the final minute, and Cleveland did not score a point over the final 2:26.
With Paul out, Moore made his first start for the Suns this season and just his seventh in the past two seasons. He scored a season-high 17 points. The Suns also were without Cameron Payne (foot), Dario Saric (ankle), Jae Crowder (foot) and Abdel Nader (ankle).
Andre Drummond had 15 points and 14 rebounds for the Cavaliers while Jarrett Allen had 14 points and Taurean Prince had 13.
The Cavaliers' JaVale McGee was ejected with 9:16 remaining after getting into a confrontation with the Suns' Frank Kaminsky.
In just his third start of the season, all in the past three games, Kaminsky had nine points. McGee had eight points in just over eight minutes off the bench.
--Field Level Media