Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, left, celebrates with forward Yuta Watanabe following the team’s NBA basketball in-season tournament game against the Utah Jazz on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 38 points and Devin Booker had 24 points and a career-high 15 assists to boost the Phoenix Suns to a 131-128 win over the Utah Jazz in an NBA In-Season Tournament game Friday night.
Durant’s 3 lifted the Suns to a 124-115 lead before the Jazz rallied to get within one point in the final minute. Durant struck again with his sixth 3 with 18 seconds left.
Durant also collected nine rebounds and nine assists. He has scored at least 25 points in 11 straight games for the longest active streak in the NBA.
Jordan Clarkson scored a season-high 37 points for Utah. He has four straight games with 26 or more points, the longest such streak of his career.
Lauri Markkanen scored 21 points for Jazz, and John Collins had 15 points and 14 rebounds.
The Suns (6-6) improved to 1-1 in West Group A while the Jazz (4-8) dropped to 2-1.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — James Harden hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer while getting fouled with six seconds to play, sending the Clippers to their first victory since his arrival and snapping their six-game losing streak.
Harden dramatically drew the foul from Jae’Sean Tate and drilled his vintage 26-footer from atop the key before completing the four-point play to secure the win for the Clippers, who had lost their first five games since acquiring Harden from Philadelphia.
Kawhi Leonard scored 26 points for the Clippers. Harden had a season-high 24 points, nine rebounds and seven assists against the Rockets, his team for nine seasons from 2013-21.
TORONTO (AP) — Derrick White made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 26.8 seconds remaining, lifting Boston to the victory in an In-Season Tournament game.
Jaylen Brown scored 23 points and Kristaps Porzingis added 14 points and 12 rebounds as the Celtics won their sixth straight meeting with Toronto. Jayson Tatum scored 17 points for Boston, Jrue Holiday had 14 and White 13.
Boston improved to 2-0 in tournament play after beating Brooklyn last Friday.
Toronto’s Scottie Barnes got open for a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left that would have tied the game, but his shot bounced off the rim.
Pascal Siakam and Dennis Schroder each scored 23 points for the Raptors. Gary Trent Jr. and Barnes both scored 14 points.
ATLANTA (AP) — Joel Embiid had 32 points, eight assists and seven rebounds, leading Philadelphia to the victory in an NBA In-Season Tournament game.
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