CLEVELAND, Nov. 25 (US): With The Suns’ long winning streak in grave danger, Devin Booker and Chris Paul knew exactly what to do.
Phoenix’s season is still on the rise.
Booker scored 35 points, Paul made 12 assists and made four free throws in the last 8.8 seconds, and the Suns extended their winning streak to 14 games by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 120-115 on Wednesday night, the Associated Press reported.
The Phoenix streak began with a home win over Cleveland on October 30, which came after the 1-3 season opener for the Western Conference champions. The increase also aligns with allegations of racism and misogyny against Robert Sarver, owner of Suns.
“It’s just a coincidence,” Paul said of the timing. “Our plan was not to start 1-3. We have a great group, a great dressing room. I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
Nearly a month ago, the Suns won several ways, and Wednesday improved the best road record in the NBA to 7-1.
It wasn’t easy.
The young Caves club gave everything they could handle, and if it wasn’t for Paul, there could have been two calls either way and Cleveland’s Ricky Rubio lost three free throws in the final seconds, the streak might have been over.
It was also the 100th victory with the Suns for coach Monty Williams, who is in his third season with the club.
“We know we can win ugly games,” Williams said. “We know we can win slugs. I hope we win by 30 every night. But they have a really good team. We are just looking for ways to win.”
Garrett Allen scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Sidi Othman added 23 points for Cleveland, who fell for the fifth time in a row. Darius Garland scored 19 goals before spoiling late.
Paul finished the season with 17 points and Gaval McGee added 13 points and 12 rebounds in 20 minutes from the bench.
Williams pointed out a main sequence along a stretch when Michal Bridges blocked Usman and Paul forced Garland to bite into a tearing move for his sixth character.
“The most important thing was just to get him out of the game because he’s so skilled,” Paul said. “When I’m at home, he’s one of the guys I like to watch.”
The Cleveland team was still at 117-114 when the Suns missed Rubio with 6.5 seconds left. The veteran point guard, who had more time with leading scorer Colin Sexton of the year, split the duo and Cleveland was forced to commit Booker’s foul.
The Suns star also made one of only two and brought Phoenix Rubio back to the test. He fouled two more times, the second on purpose before Paul sealed it by closing two free throws with 3.8 seconds left.
“Stay in the moment,” Paul said of his ability to stay calm in moments of pressure on the goal line. “I’ve missed a lot of them in my career, too.”
Phoenix’s winning streak is the third longest in club history, matched by 14 players by the club in 1992. The Suns won 17 in a row during the 2006-07 season.
Leading by just one point after three, the Suns outflanked the Cavs 13-4 to start the fourth inning and open a 100-90 lead by 6:56 from the left.
However, Phoenix couldn’t pull off as Usman kept Cleveland close by scoring nine consecutive points in one stretch and then buried a three-pointer to pull Cleveland within 105-104 with 3:49 remaining.
“We stayed there for 48 minutes,” Othman said. “This is what we do. We compete.”
Hint
Suns: Bridges played his 245th game in a row to start his career, the longest active streak in the league. Abdel Nader (Injury Management), who underwent surgery on his right knee on April 26, is out of his third game in a row. …F Frank Kaminsky (Right Knee Strain Reaction) missed five games in a row. … F Dario Saric (right knee surgery) last played in the opening game of the 2021 NBA Finals.
Cavaliers: In some ways, Cleveland has modeled its rebuilding after Phoenix’s rise by crafting wisely and supplementing the roster with clever free agent contracts. “That’s our goal,” said coach JB Bickerstaff. “To achieve the things they achieved and kind of build the way they built. We are going in the right direction.” … Shortly into the season, Cleveland still misses rookie F Evan Mobley (an elbow sprain), Sexton (season-ending knee injury) and J. Lamar Stevens (ankle sprain).
looks similar
Because of his height and athletic height, Mobley, who won’t be back until next month and has been a great start to him, has drawn comparisons to Chris Bosh among others.
The 20-year-old reminds William of a young Anthony Davis.
“They are tall and nimble, if that makes sense,” said Williams, who spoke to Cavs coach Bickerstaff about the pre-season No. 3 overall pick. “He can play basketball and is light on his feet.
“When I saw him pass with his left hand, that showed me what kind of playmaker he can be. Be careful putting him in that box because he is his own player and he is exceptional.”
the following
Suns: They continued their four-game run in New York on Friday against the Knicks.
Cavaliers: Host the Orlando Magic on Saturday.