NEW YORK – Devin Booker scored 32 points and Kevin Durant finished with 28 and as the Phoenix Suns defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, 114-106, at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona on Tuesday (Wednesday Manila time).
Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee's scoring with 34 points, but he was unable to prevent the Bucks from falling to a fourth defeat in five games since new coach Doc Rivers took over last month.
In other games, the New York Knicks defeated the Memphis Grizzlies, 123-113, but were left sweating on a possible injury to Jalen Brunson.
Brunson scored 27 points and provided eight assists before he picked up what seemed to be an ankle injury when he was fouled with 5:31 left.
The short-handed Knicks, without Julius Randle and OG Anunoby, had been cruising after going in 70-46 up at the half but allowed the Grizzlies to score nine 3-pointers in the fourth to get within four points with two minutes to go.
But New York were able to rally and see out the win to the relief of head coach Tom Thibodeau.
"Second half our defense wasn't very good, they shot threes, we didn't challenge, they made them. But getting the win is the most important thing, just finding a way to win," he said.
Donte DiVincenzo top-scored for New York with 32 points.
Last year's beaten finalists Miami have struggled at home of late, winning just one of their last six games in South Florida, but they were too much for state rivals Orlando as they ran out 121-95 winners.
The Heat had seven players put up double figures in the game with Jimmy Butler top scoring with 23 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
Miami's defense was also strong, limiting their opponents to 43.8% shooting from the field and 10-of-35 from outside the arc.
"The grit on the defensive end, I think we brought tremendous energy from the beginning," said forward Caleb Martin.
"I like how we were sharing the ball and trusting one another out there," he added.
Pascal Siakam scored 29 points as the Indiana Pacers improved to 29-23 with a 132-129 win over the Houston Rockets.