The Tribune

By DAVID BRANDT

AP Sports Writer

PHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker scored 34 points, Deandre Ayton added 19 and the Phoenix Suns kept rolling with a 132-100 win over the Portland Trail Blazers last night.

Ayton also had five rebounds, two assists, a steal and two blocks.

Phoenix has won nine of its past 10 games and put this one away late in the third quarter.

Booker made a 3-pointer with two seconds remaining and then — following a quick Portland turnover — Cam Johnson hit another 3 at the buzzer to give the Suns a 100-71 lead.

The 32-point win was the Suns’ largest margin of victory this season.

Portland has lost two straight following a six-game winning streak. The Suns improved to 20-10 on the season while the Trail Blazers fell to 18-12.

Booker poured in points all night, scoring 17 as the Suns pushed ahead 32-26 in the first quarter.

The sixth-year guard was up to 22 points by halftime, including an off-balance 17-footer at the buzzer that gave Phoenix a 63-54 advantage. He finished 12 of 17 from the field and hit both his 3-point attempts. He was also 8 for 8 at the free throw line.

Damian Lillard led the Trail Blazers with 16 points in the first half and finished with 24. Nassir Little added 18 off the bench.

COOLING OFF, A LITTLE

Phoenix entered on an incredible shooting roll from long range, breaking the franchise record with 24 3-pointers in a win Saturday against Memphis. That came one night after tying the franchise record with 22 3s against the Grizzlies.

It was the fourth time in NBA history that a team made at least 22 3s in back-to-back games. The Suns were very good again on Monday from long range, but not quite as prolific. They shot 16 of 33 on 3-pointers (48.5%).

TIP-INS

Trail Blazers: Portland got good minutes from its bench in the first half. Rodney Hood had nine points and Carmelo Anthony added eight. ... Anthony got a technical foul in the third quarter for elbowing Suns forward Jae Crowder in the face.

Suns: Booker scored the team’s first six points and made six of his first seven shots. ... The Suns’ bench scored 64 points. Dario Saric had 14 and Johnson added 13.

UP NEXT

Trail Blazers: Travel to face Denver on Tuesday.

Suns: Host the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday.