PHOENIX — Devin Booker made a mid-range jumper with 1.7 seconds remaining to lift the Phoenix Suns over the Milwaukee Bucks 108-106 on Monday night (Tuesday, March 25, 2025, PH time) for their fourth straight win.
It’s a crucial victory for the Suns, who stayed in the final position for the Western Conference play-in tournament with eight games remaining in the regular season. Kevin Durant scored 38 points, while Booker added 19, including the clutch 20-foot jumper after catching the in-bounds pass in the final moments.
Brook Lopez missed a turnaround jumper at the buzzer that could have tied it, ending a frantic final stretch. Milwaukee was led by Giannis Antetokoumpo, who scored 31 points. Lopez added 23.
Milwaukee’s Kyle Kuzma hit a corner 3-pointer with 1:22 left while being fouled by Durant and completed the 4-point play for a 105-103 lead. Durant responded with a 3 with 26.2 seconds left to put the Suns up 106-105.
Lopez made 1 of 2 free throws with 10.7 seconds left to tie it at 106, setting up Booker’s winner.
Durant scored 13 points in the third quarter to help the Suns take an 81-78 advantage into the fourth.
It’s a tough loss for the Bucks, who are fighting for the No. 3 through No. 6 playoff positions in the Eastern Conference with the Knicks, Pacers, and Pistons.
Suns coach Mike Budenholzer has tinkered with the playing rotation all season in an effort to find a competitive group to put around Booker and Durant. The current mix of Nick Richards, rookie Ryan Dunn and Collin Gillespie isn’t perfect, but its been better than most.
Dunn threw down a huge one-handed jam over Antetokounmpo in the third quarter for a 68-67 lead.
Phoenix had a 52-36 rebounding edge.
Raptors 112, Wizards 104
WASHINGTON — Jakob Poeltl had 21 points and 11 rebounds, and the Toronto Raptors beat the Washington Wizards 112-104 to stop a four-game slide.
Immanuel Quickley had 21 points and seven assists for Toronto. Scottie Barnes finished with 13 points, 10 boards, and eight assists.
Washington lost its fifth consecutive game. Jordan Poole scored 23 points for the Wizards and AJ Johnson had 17. Bob Carrington finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.
The Wizards lost Keyonte George after the guard sprained his left ankle early in the game. The 21-year-old George got hurt while going for a rebound.
Poeltl scored 12 points to lead Toronto to a 52-50 lead at the break. Jamison Battle made a jumper and a 3-pointer to make it 95-87 with 6:26 left in the game.
Elsewhere, the Indiana Pacers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 119-103, Dallas Mavericks routed Brooklyn Nets 120-101, Orlando Magic won 118-106 over Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans drubbed Philadelphia 76ers 112-99, Chicago Bulls beat Denver Nuggets 129-119, and the Boston Celtics triumphed 113-95 at Sacramento. / AP