NBA Recap: Phoenix Suns in control of Western Conference after win, Warriors lose ground
Pelicans defeat Knicks at MSG
The Western Conference leaders, Phoenix Suns, continued to lead the way in the Conference standings following a 109-101 win over the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center.
The Phoenix Suns, runners-up in the NBA last season, had to show their grit to come back from a poor first half in which they trailed 53-45 to go on an impressive scoring run in the fourth quarter of the game and run away with the win.
Devin Booker led the scoring for the Phoenix Suns with his tally of 28 points, five rebounds and six assists. Veteran Chris Paul also recorded 20 points and 11 assists for the Phoenix Suns in the game. Mikal Bridges and Cameron Payne recorded 12 points apiece for the Phoenix Suns, and Jae Crowder recorded 13 points.
Giant center Kristaps Porzingis recorded a double-double against the Phoenix Suns with 18 points and 11 rebounds in the game. Luka Doncic recorded 28 points for the Mavericks, and Jalen Branson finished with 19 points.
The Phoenix Suns have now won each of their last five games since losing to the Miami Heat on January 9th. The Suns are now 35-9 after a string of impressive performances this season in the NBA. The Phoenix Suns are on top of the Western Conference standings ahead of the Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies.
The Indiana Pacers claimed a second big scalp in 48 hours as they defeated the Golden State Warriors 121-117 after overtime at the Chase Center. The Pacers had defeated the Los Angeles Lakers just 24 hours earlier in the NBA.
Dominican rookie Chris Duarte led the scoring for the Pacers with 27 points in the game to go with seven rebounds and three assists. Justin Holiday and Jeremy Lamb contributed 16 and 14 points, respectively.
Steph Curry led the scoring for the Warriors with 39 points in the game. Klay Thompson recorded 12 points in his 23 minutes on the court as he works his way back to full fitness. Kevon Looney had a 13-point and 15-rebound double-double. It was the Warriors’ 12th defeat this season and puts them further behind the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference standings.
The New Orleans Pelicans picked up a 102-91 win over the New York Knicks at the Madison Square Garden. Jonas Valanciunas led the scoring with 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Pelicans as Josh Hart and Devonte Graham recorded 17 and 15 points, respectively.
RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson each recorded 17 points for the New York Knicks as they fell to defeat in the game.
