Dillon Brooks scored 30 points as the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Phoenix Suns 122-114 in a match-up of the NBA’s top two teams, extending their winning streak to seven games.
Brooks converted a three-point play with 32 seconds left for an eight-point lead and the short-handed Grizzlies held on to snap the Suns’ nine-game winning streak.
Devin Booker led the Suns with 41 points, while Mikal Bridges added 18.
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The game settled into an exchange of leads early in the fourth until Memphis went on a 17-2 run to give the Grizzlies a 101-87 lead just before the midway point of the period.
The Suns have clinched the top seed and the Grizzlies the second spot in the Western Conference.
Memphis secured their seed with Wednesday’s win at San Antonio and took the opportunity to let some players relieve soreness or manage previous injuries.
In addition to leading scorer Ja Morant, who has missed the past seven games with a sore right knee, guard Desmond Bane, centre Steven Adams, Tyus Jones and forward Jaren Jackson Jr, all took the night off.
The Suns came with their full complement of starters, plus JaVale McGee and Cameron Johnson, the latter missing the 13 previous games with a right quad contusion.
Robert Covington scored a career-high 43 points and shot 11 of 18 from 3-point range to help the hot-shooting Los Angeles Clippers trounce the Milwaukee Bucks 153-119 as each team rested its top players.
Amir Coffey also had a career-high with 32 points for the Clippers, matching a career high with seven assists to go along with six rebounds.
Among the players sitting out were Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday, and the Clippers’ Paul George, Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris.
This marked the first time the Clippers had reached the 150-point mark since a 150-125 triumph over the Washington Wizards on December 1, 2019.
Killian Hayes scored a career-high 26 points and Frank Jackson also had 26 to lead the Detroit Pistons to a 110-101 victory over Oklahoma City in a match-up of teams near the bottom of the NBA standings.
Fred VanVleet and Scottie Barnes scored 19 points apiece, Pascal Siakam added 16 points and 11 rebounds as the Toronto Raptors beat the Orlando Magic 102-89 for their fifth straight win.
Kristaps Porzingis had 24 points and nine rebounds in his first game against his former team, helping the Washington Wizards defeat the Dallas Mavericks 135-103.
In other games, the Sacramento Kings beat the Houston Rockets 122-117 after playing playing each other for the second time in three days following the Kings’ 121-118 win on Wednesday.
The San Antonio Spurs maintained their hold on 10th place in the Western Conference by defeating the Portland Trail Blazers 130-111 while the Boston Celtics held off the visiting Indiana Pacers 128-123.
The Minnesota Timberwolves accounted for the Denver Nuggets 136-130.
– with Reuters
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism