On Sunday (Monday Manila time), Kevin Durant scored 41 points to lead the Phoenix Suns to a victory over the Detroit Pistons and former Suns coach Monty Williams, while O.G. Anunoby of Britain inspired Toronto to a surprising NBA comeback against San Antonio.
The Toronto Raptors came back from 22 points down to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 123-116 in overtime, and the Cleveland Cavaliers also played well, ending a 12-game losing streak to the Golden State Warriors in the regular season that dated back to Christmas 2016.
With Durant’s help, the Suns beat the Pistons 120-106 in Detroit. He also contributed five assists, four rebounds, three blocks, and a steal in the victory.
Suns head coach Frank Vogel praised his player, saying, “He was terrific, scored the ball every way you can, really wants it.” Simply put, a fantastic acting job. He’s got serious basketball skills, and he displayed them tonight.
Eric Gordon scored 21 points and dished out eight assists as the Suns beat the Pistons and end a three-game losing streak.
We’re ecstatic to get the win,” Durant added.
Cade Cunningham paced Detroit with 26 points in the first regular-season clash between the Suns and their former coach Williams.
Williams was hired by Detroit on a six-year, $78.5 million contract after he was ousted as coach of the Suns following their second-round playoff defeat from the previous season.
Both Bradley Beal (back spasms) and Devin Booker (calf strain) were unavailable for the Suns.
Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points, and Darius Garland added 24 more, as the Cavaliers defeated the Warriors 115-104 in Cleveland.
“The biggest thing for us is that we put together a full game,” stated Mitchell. To paraphrase, “We fought hard. A formidable squad, really. We’re aiming to be on par with their roster of championship-winning players. We need to keep up the pace we’ve set.
Evan Mobley added a game-high 16 rebounds for the Cavs.
“He was dominant,” Mitchell stated about the man.
Draymond Green scored 18 points and Stephen Curry scored 28 for the Warriors, but the team lost after a five-game winning streak.
Anunoby, a 26-year-old English forward, scored 24 points and shot a career-high seven three-pointers as the Raptors staged a stunning comeback against the Spurs and their star rookie French player, Victor Wembanyama, in San Antonio.
For Toronto, Scottie Barnes was a bright spot with 30 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks.
With a second left on the clock, Anunoby scored off a rebound to tie the game at 110 and force overtime. In overtime, he hit a 3-pointer to give Toronto a 118-112 lead.
Raptors’ point guard Dennis Schroder, a German, scored 24 points.
San Antonio’s Keldon Johnson scored 26 points, followed by Zach Collins’s 21 points and 11 rebounds and Wembanyama’s 20 points, 9 rebounds, 5 blocks, 4 assists.
Later games included a trip to Dallas for Charlotte and a matchup in Portland for winless Memphis.
