The Phoenix Suns, NBA Championship finalists last season, don’t stop. They are undefeated since October 31 and won a 15th consecutive success on Friday, on the floor of the New York Knicks (118-97). The Arizona franchise is only two wins away from its record (17), which dates from the 2006-2007 season. But Phoenix is barely halfway through the NBA record, held by the Los Angeles Lakers with 33 straight wins in the 1971-1972 season.
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Phoenix not worried in New York
At Madison Square Garden, the Suns have never been embarrassed by their opponent. They broke away at the end of the first quarter (38-27, 13th) and were up to 24 points ahead (104-80, 41st). Devin Booker carried Phoenix again, with 32 points (14/27 shooting including 4/9 three-point), two days after passing 35 points in Cleveland.
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Chris Paul and DeAndre Ayton have signed a double-double: 14 points and 10 assists for the first, 14 points and 13 rebounds for the second. From the bench, Cameron Payne, for his part, scored 13 points in 18 minutes. The New York Knicks leaned on Kemba Walker (17 pts) and Immanuel Quickley (16). Evan Fournier was less lively than against the Lakers on Tuesday, with 11 points (4/15 shooting). Hit in an ankle, Derrick Rose did not play.
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Milwaukee overwhelms Denver
Defending champions, but only sixth in the Eastern Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks outclassed the Denver Nuggets (120-109), in Colorado, thanks to Giannis Antetokounmpo. The “Greek Freak” scored 24 points, took 13 rebounds and delivered seven assists. Full of confidence, Antetokounmpo even attempted – and missed for once – a dunk after a pass for himself against the board during the third quarter. And Milwaukee followed with a sixth straight victory.
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Opposite, Denver struggled well like Aaron Gordon (18 points), but seemed too limited to overthrow the Bucks, in the absence of three major players in their workforce. MVP last season, Nikola Jokic has been arrested since November 18, due to wrist pain. Michael Porter Jr has a back injury and could miss the rest of the season, while Jamal Murray is still recovering from his cruciate ligament injury in his knee, which he sustained last year.
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The Denver Nuggets, who finished third in the Western Conference last season, suffered their sixth straight loss and are only seventh in the standings. And they have to go challenge the Miami Heat, second in the East, next Monday.
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