Six games were on the slate around the NBA on Sunday, and we take a look at three of the best:
Suns Cool Off Pistons Behind KD, Devin Booker
Kevin Durant and Devin Booker combined for 71 points to help the Phoenix Suns cool off the Detroit Pistons, 125-121, at Little Caesars Arena. It is the Suns’ fifth win in six games.
Despite Durant’s 36 (30 in the second half) and Bookers 35, the Pistons (21-21) still managed to hang tough all game long but just couldn’t upend the Suns (21-20) in the end. Newly acquired Nick Richards provided a boost off the Phoenix bench, going off for 21 points and 11 rebounds in his debut.
Cade Cunningham spearheaded Detroit’s attack, finishing with 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 11 assists, while Tobias Harris topscored with 21. Jalen Duren added 15 points and 10 boards.
Up next:
Suns vs. Cleveland Cavaliers on January 21
Pistons vs. Houston Rockets on January 21
Hawks Stun Struggling Celtics
Trae Young fired 28 points and dished off 12 dimes to lead the Atlanta Hawks (22-19) to a 119-115 overtime triumph over the Boston Celtics (29-13) at TD Garden.
Young also hit two the game-tying free throws in regulation to send the game to OT at 104 after getting intentionally fouled by Jrue Holiday. Dyson Daniels added 23 points for the Hawks and hit the go-ahead jumper in OT. Onyeka Okungwu, who hit the game-sealing freebies, finished with 19 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocks.
Jaylen Brown had 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists but was just 9-for-27 from the field. Jayson Tatum finished with 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists but was 7-for-21 overall. The Celtics are now 6-4 over their last 10 games.
Up next:
Hawks vs. New York Knicks on January 21
Celtics vs. Golden State Warriors on January 21
Cavs Beat Wolves as Donovan Mitchell Bounces Back
Donovan Mitchell scored 36 points on top of 8 rebounds and 7 assists to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers (35-6) to a 124-117 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves (22-20) at Target Center.
Mitchell was coming off an eight-point outing against the Oklahoma City Thunder as the Cavs lost big to the best team in the West the other day. Darius Garland backed up Mitchell with 29 points and 6 assists, George Niang and Ty Jerome chipped in 15 apiece of the Cavs bench.
Anthony Edwards topscored for the Wolves with 28 points but was a ghastly 9-for-22 from the field. Julius Randle had a near triple-double of 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 9 assists.
Up next:
Cavs vs. Suns on January 21
Wolves vs. Grizzlies on January 21
