Toronto Jan. 12 (Usa): Devin Booker scored 16 points, including the lightning basket with 1:02 remaining, and Chris Paul scored 15 points and 12 assists to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 99-95 victory over Toronto on Tuesday night. The Raptors’ longest winning streak this season is in six games.
Jae Crowder scored 19 points, Deandre Ayton 16 and Mikal Bridges added 12 as the Suns improved to 31-9, matching the franchise’s best record through 40 games, AP reports.
OG Anunoby scored 25 points, Pascal Siakam scored 22 points and Fred Vanfleet added 21 for the Raptors, who lost for the first time since December 28 against Philadelphia.
Chris Boucher scored 13 points and 16 rebounds for the Raptors, who played without injured starters Scotty Barnes and Gary Trent Jr.
Trent missed his second game in a row with a left ankle injury, while Barnes sat with pain in his right knee.
The Raptors led 83-81 after Boucher made a pair of free throws with 6:19 left, but Crowder and Bridges each hit a three-pointer before Eaton capped an 8-0 inning as Phoenix opened an 89-83 lead with 4:13 To go, the biggest thing in the game.
Sicam stopped running with a basket and added Anonobi 3 to make the score 89-88 with 2:36 to play.
Booker fouled Anunoby when they sped past a loose ball with the left 1:41, and the Toronto striker both put the Raptors ahead 90-89.
After three missed three-pointers by the Suns, Booker hit the green-light jumper with 62 seconds left, and after Siakam missed, Paul’s jump reached 93-90 with 32 seconds remaining.
Anonobi cut it to one with a driving basket, but Booker returned the three-point cushion with a pair of free throws.
Toronto’s Jim Birch and Paul converted a pair of free throws and sent the Suns Vanfleet to the goal line four seconds from the end of the game. He made the first goal and missed the second, but Phoenix’s Jalen Smith grabbed the rebound and pushed Eaton the lead to four with a pair of free throws.
Vanfleet scored 10 points initially as Toronto led 31-23 after one, but Crowder responded with 13 points per second as the Suns cut the lead to 48-46 at the end of the first half.
Sekam hit a tie-breaker jump with 8.8 seconds left in the third to give the Raptors a 71-69 lead heading into fourth.
Hints
Suns: F Cam Johnson (left ankle) was unavailable after taking him out in Saturday’s loss to Miami. … J. Landry Chamett is back after missing the past three matches while on health and safety protocols. …F Justin Jackson (Personal) has not traveled to Toronto. Phoenix coach Monty Williams said Jackson could return to the team Friday in Indiana. … F Ish Wainwright (Health and Safety Protocols) was not available. …Phoenix signed C. Bismack Piombo for the remainder of the season.
Raptors: Siakam scored four assists in the first quarter. finished with seven. …Utah Watanabe missed the previous four matches after entering health and safety protocols.
next one
Suns: Visit the Indiana Pacers on Friday.
Raptors: Start your five-game road trip in Detroit on Friday.