UNDATED (AP) — The Phoenix Suns are 15-1 in their last 16 games after easily winning a rematch of last year’s NBA Finals.
Deandre Ayton scored 27 points and Mikal Bridges added 18 as the Suns knocked off the defending champs, 131-107 over the Bucks. The game was tight throughout most of the first half but the Suns slowly pulled away in the third quarter, building a 97-77 advantage going into the fourth. Ayton had an efficient night, shooting 12 of 14 from the field on a variety of post moves and jumpers.
The Bucks had a four-game winning streak snapped. Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton led the Bucks with 21 points each. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 18 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in the loss.
Checking out Thursday’s other NBA action:
— Julius Randle scored 28 points and matched his season high with 16 rebounds as the Knicks won for only the third time in 13 games, a surprising 116-114 decision over the Warriors. Stephen Curry scored 19 of his 35 points in the first half and dished out 10 assists in Golden State’s second straight loss. The outcome was in doubt until Klay Thompson dribbled into the paint and missed a jumper at the buzzer.
— Ja Morant, Steven Adams and Desmond Bane highlighted the Grizzlies’ fourth straight win, a 132-107 rout of the Pistons. Morant scored 23 points to lead seven Memphis players in double figures. Adams provided 17 points and 14 rebounds to help the Grizzlies win for the seventh time in eight games.
— Luka Doncic poured in 28 of his career-high 51 points in the first quarter before the Mavericks completed a 112-105 victory over the Clippers. Doncic hit seven of his first nine 3s in the highest-scoring quarter of his career, regular season or playoffs. It also was the highest-scoring quarter of the NBA season.
— Bam Adebayo had 29 points and 10 rebounds, while Jimmy Butler also scored 29 in the Heat’s 122-97 win against the Pelicans. Kyle Lowry added 14 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds to help Miami win its fourth straight while snapping New Orleans’ four-game winning streak. CJ McCollum had 15 points in his New Orleans debut.
— The Raptors ran their winning streak to eight games as Gary Trent Jr. delivered a season-high 42 points in a 139-120 pounding of the Rockets. It was Trent’s seventh game with 30 points or more this season. Pascal Siakam added 30 points for his sixth 30-point game.
— The Nets’ 10th straight loss is a 113-112 setback at Washington. Kyle Kuzma had 15 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for his first career triple-double. Kyrie Irving scored 31 points and Cam Thomas had 27 for the losers.
Nets send Harden to 76ers for Simmons
UNDATED (AP) — The NBA trade deadline passed on Thursday, and the biggest swap involved the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets.
The 76ers have acquired guard James Harden and forward Paul Millsap from their Atlantic Division rivals for forward Ben Simmons, guard Seth Curry, center Andre Drummond and a pair of first-round picks. Simmons hasn’t played since his offseason trade demand, and Curry gives the Nets another accurate outside shooter.
Harden missed his last three games as a Net but is averaging 22.5 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds this season.
The move came just five days after coach Steve Nash said the Nets wouldn’t trade Harden and only 13 months after they acquired the 2018 NBA MVP to play with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Harden could become a free agent at the end of the season.
In other NBA moves:
— The defending NBA champion Bucks added center Serge Ibaka as part of a four-team trade with the Clippers Pistons and Kings. The Pistons added Marvin Bagley III, who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 draft. The Kings added guard Donte DiVincenzo and forwards Trey Lyles and Josh Jackson. The Clippers received forwards Rodney Hood and Semi Ojeleye.
—The Mavericks are sending Kristaps Porzingis to the Wizards for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans. Porzingis has missed the past five games with a right knee injury and has been sidelined for 21 of 55 games this season because of various injuries and a positive COVID-19 test.
— The Hornets have acquired power forward/center Montrezl Harrell from Washington for veteran backup point guard Ish Smith, second-year forward Vernon Carey Jr. and a future second-round draft pick. Harrell averaged 14.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 46 games this season for the Wizards while shooting 64.5% from the field.
— The Celtics announced they’ve traded guard PJ Dozier and forward Bol Bol, along with a future second-round pick and cash to the Orlando Magic for a future second-round pick.
— Most of the deals were still pending NBA approval and confirmed to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity by people with knowledge of the details.
