Chris Paul, Mikal Bridges help Suns outlast Spurs

Chris Paul racked up 31 factors and 11 assists and Mikal Bridges added 25 factors, eight of them in additional time, because the visiting Phoenix Suns outlasted the San Antonio Spurs 128-118 on Saturday.

Phoenix led by 11 after three quarters after heading off a San Antonio rally halfway by the interval. The Spurs refused to surrender, clawing to inside some extent thrice within the remaining three minutes of regulation, the latter on Jeremy Sochan’s 3-pointer with 1:27 remaining.

Keldon Johnson’s three-point play with 47.8 seconds left tied the sport at 110. Both groups then missed photographs down the stretch to ship issues to an additional interval.

DeAndre Ayton and Paul hit photographs to offer the Suns a four-point lead early in additional time. Johnson answered with a floater earlier than Bridges hit back-to-back jumpers to increase the benefit to 118-112. After Johnson hit one other basket, Bridges had a three-point play to make it a three-possession recreation and Phoenix was capable of maintain on.

Ayton completed with 23 factors, Cameron Johnson had 15 and Dario Saric took 13 rebounds for the Suns, who received for the fifth time in six video games.

Keldon Johnson poured in 34 factors for San Antonio and Sochan scored a career-high 30 factors, with 14 of these coming within the third quarter. Keita Bates-Diop had 14 factors, Doug McDermott scored 10 and Jakob Poeltl grabbed 13 rebounds for the Spurs, who’ve dropped 5 straight video games and 10 of their previous 11.

The Suns performed with out injured guards Devin Booker, Landry Shamet and Cameron Payne, whereas San Antonio was lacking Josh Richardson and Romeo Langford.

Phoenix led by as a lot as 11 within the first quarter earlier than settling for a 33-26 benefit after 12 minutes of play.

The Spurs bought to inside 37-31 on McDermott’s driving layup with 9:42 to play within the second interval earlier than Phoenix reassumed the offensive, stretching its result in 12 factors after a Torrey Craig 3-pointer on the 3:35 mark. Keldon Johnson’s jumper with 27.5 seconds remaining within the interval reduce the San Antonio deficit to 55-48 on the break.

Ayton led the Suns with 14 factors earlier than halftime with Keldon Johnson matching that output to tempo San Antonio.

–Field Level Media/Reuters