Booker has 35 points, Suns beat 76ers for 8th win in a row

Phoenix, March 28 (US): Jay Crowder’s 3-pointer wide open late in the last quarter of Sunday scored another win for the Phoenix Suns, who continue to clinch wins despite having made everything possible in the NBA regular season.

Motivation is not a problem for these people, who are hoping they are just getting started, the Associated Press reports.

Devin Booker scored 35 points, Chris Paul 19 points and made 14 assists, and the NBA leader Suns won their eighth game in a row by defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 114-104 on Sunday.

“The motivation comes from last year,” said Crowder, who was part of the Suns last season when they lost to Milwaukee in the NBA Finals. “Reaching the finals and not achieving the main goal – that’s the ultimate motivation. That’s all you need. You want to get back there, you want a different story.

“You can’t skip any steps.”

Sunday’s match was an exciting match between two teams with the focus on finals. The Suns finished as top seed in the Western Conference and a record best in the league, while 76 players battle Milwaukee, Boston and Miami for the top spot in the East. The loss left the 76ers tied with the Bucks, half a game behind the Celtics and the Heat.

Phoenix is ​​61-14, a victory shy of trying to record the victory in a franchise season. The team’s 76-game winning streak ended in three straight games despite another big game from Joel Embiid, who scored 37 points and had 15 rebounds.

“This is the best team in the league for a reason,” Embiid said. “They have a group of great players who play well together. They are connected offensively and defensively, and they are unwavering.”

Another Philadelphia star, James Harden, had a tough game, hitting 2 of 11 from the field. He had 14 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds.

Suns led 91-86 in the last quarter. They pushed that advantage to 101-90 by the middle of the quarter, but 76 players scored 10 consecutive points—most notably two 3-pointers from Tyrese Maxey—to get it back.

But Booker hit back with another big jump as he was fouled by Danny Green and the Suns ran away for victory. Booker fired 13 of 22 from the field, including 3 of 5 from a 3-point range, in one of his most efficient games of the season.

He said that playing against another team with aspirations to the finals helps with motivation.

“This is a talented team that we can finally see,” Booker said. We just want to make statements. Play with the right basketball brand and wear the teams.”

The 76ers advanced 39-37 in the second quarter despite Booker 22 points in the first on 8 of 11 shots. When Booker went to the bench to start the second quarter, 76 players responded by leading 12-0.

Philadelphia led the entire second quarter and went 64-60 at the break. Embiid scored 19 points and eight rebounds before the end of the first half, while Tobias Harris added 15 points. Harris finished 17.

coiled ankle

The 76ers had a scary moment late in the third quarter when Embiid rolled his ankle.

Embiid missed an easy corner kick but then hit the offensive rebound before landing at Booker’s foot. Embiid limped off the field to defend before being knocked out of the match. He eventually returned in the fourth quarter.

Hint

76ers: Maxi scored 18 points, but shot 7 of 21 from the field. … 76ers have six straight games against the Suns.

Suns: Cam Johnson missed his 12th game in a row with a right quadruple contusion. …JaVale McGee is discharged due to a non-COVID illness. … Scott Foster was among the three officials Sunday. Paul has been an outspoken critic of Foster in the past. …Shamit played part of the junior season in 2018-19 with the 76ers before moving to the Los Angeles Clippers. …hosted a selling crowd at the Footprint Center for the 24th game in a row.

next one

76ers: Host Milwaukee Tuesday night.

Suns: At Golden State on Wednesday night.