Mikal Bridges scored 29 factors, Deandre Ayton recorded a double-double of twenty-two factors and 13 rebounds, and the host Phoenix Suns scored its sixth win within the final seven video games, holding off the Toronto Raptors 114-106 in a back-and-forth contest on Monday.
Phoenix and Toronto exchanged the lead 16 occasions, with neither holding a bonus of greater than 10 factors at any juncture. The Suns pulled forward for good with 3:02 remaining, nevertheless, when Bridges scored on back-to-back buckets off of assists from Ayton.
Fred VanVleet scored two of his team-high 24 factors in response, pulling the Raptors again inside a degree. On the following possession, Torrey Craig snared the rebound on a Bridges miss, then discovered a wide-open Chris Paul for a 3-pointer with 1:30 to go that proved to be the dagger at 106-102.
Paul scored seven of his 19 factors within the closing 90 seconds, tacking on 4 free throws after his clutch 3-pointer. He additionally dished 9 assists, grabbed 4 rebounds and blocked two photographs.
VanVleet matched Paul’s game-high with 9 assists, whereas Gary Trent Jr. scored 21 factors. The Toronto backcourt duo shot a mixed 5 of 18 from 3-point vary, nevertheless, because the Raptors limped to a 9-of-33 capturing efficiency (27.3 p.c) from past the arc as a staff.
Toronto shot 40 of 89 from the ground general (44.9 p.c). Phoenix was additionally beneath 50 p.c capturing from the sphere at 43 of 87 (49.4 p.c), together with 11 of 28 (39.3 p.c) from 3-point distance.
Paul led the way in which at 4 of seven from deep and Bridges went 3 of 4. Damion Lee got here off the bench to shoot 2 of 6 on 3-point makes an attempt en path to 11 factors.
Dario Saric, who shot 4 of 6 from the ground, added one other 11 factors.
Pascal Siakam scored 19 factors for Toronto, which fell to 2-2 on its seven-game highway swing with Monday’s loss. Precious Achiuwa posted 11 factors and a team-high 12 rebounds for his third consecutive double-double and fifth within the Raptors’ final six video games.
