Phoenix Suns' Austin Rivers (1) drives past New York Knicks' Emmanuel Mudiay (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 17, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Phoenix Suns' Austin Rivers (1) drives past New York Knicks' Emmanuel Mudiay (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 17, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) Credit: Frank Franklin II

New York — Devin Booker tied his season high with 38 points, T.J. Warren scored 17 of his 26 during Phoenix’s 41-point third quarter and the Suns beat the New York Knicks, 128-110, on Monday night for their third straight victory.

Phoenix outscored New York, 41-17, in the third and went on to win three consecutive games for the first time since March 2-5, 2017. The Suns won only four times in their first 28 games, but are 3 for 3 since.

Deandre Ayton finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds for the Suns in an impressive start to a five-game road trip, their longest of the season. Last-place Phoenix improved to 2-13 away from home.

Bucks 107, Pistons 104

Detroit — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 32 points and 12 rebounds, and Milwaukee held on to beat Detroit when Blake Griffin missed a last-second 3-pointer.

Griffin actually missed two 3s in the final 14 seconds. The Detroit star already had a triple-double after three quarters, but it was a quiet fourth for him. Griffin finished with 19 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, but he also had 10 turnovers.

Timberwolves 132Kings 105

Minneapolis — Karl-Anthony Towns had 14 points and 14 assists in just 21 minutes, Andrew Wiggins scored 17 and Minnesota got a big boost from its bench to beat road-weary Sacramento.

Derrick Rose added 13 points and a season-high 11 assists while starting for injured point guard Jeff Teague. Minnesota led by 36 in the first half against Sacramento, which was coming off a 120-113 victory at Dallas a night earlier.

Thunder 121, Bulls 96

Oklahoma City — Paul George scored 16 of his game-high 24 points in the final five minutes of the first half and Oklahoma City rolled over Chicago.

George’s scoring outburst came in the final 4:47 of the second quarter as Oklahoma City outscored the Bulls 23-7 and built a 64-44 lead by the break. He scored just one point in the second half.

Rockets 102, Jazz 97

Houston — James Harden scored 47 points to help Houston hold off Utah for its fourth straight win.

It was Houston’s first victory over the Jazz this season after dropping the first two meetings. The team’s current winning streak comes following a three-game skid.

Spurs 123, 76ers 96

San Antonio — Rudy Gay had 21 points and LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan each added 20 San Antonio defeated Philadelphia.

San Antonio bounced back after squandering a 21-point lead in a loss to Chicago on Saturday night. The Spurs held an opponent under 100 points for the fifth straight game.

J.J. Redick and Ben Simmons each had 16 points to lead the 76ers. Joel Embiid was limited to 13 points on 6-for-17 shooting and finished with 11 rebounds.

Aldridge added 10 rebounds and DeRozan had seven assists for the Spurs, who closed a six-game home stand at 5-1.

Philadelphia raced to a nine-point lead in the opening quarter behind Redick’s outside shooting and Embiid’s inside dominance. The duo combined to shoot 8 for 13 and scored nine points apiece in the first quarter, including a 3-pointer by Redick and a dunk by Embiid.

The Spurs rallied by limiting the 76ers to eight field goals and 17 points in the second quarter, and by forcing five turnovers.

The surge continued in the second half as the Spurs opened the third quarter with a 19-4 run.

Gay had 11 points in the third as he continued his solid play in his comeback from a ruptured left Achilles tendon two years ago. The 6-foot-8 forward is averaging 14 points this season, but has averaged 18.8 points in his last seven games.

Gay has scored 20-plus points five times through 27 games. He accomplished that feat in 57 games last season.

Both teams pulled their starters midway through the fourth quarter

TIP-INS

76ers: Philadelphia coach Brett Brown and assistant Monty Williams worked for the Spurs prior to joining Philadelphia. Brown spent 11 seasons as an assistant under Gregg Popovich from 2002-2013. Williams played for the Spurs from 1996-98 and returned to serve as vice president of basketball operations from 2016-18. . Embiid led the team in scoring in four straight games prior to Monday, averaging 30.3 points over that stretch.

Spurs: The Spurs held the 76ers to 17 points in the second quarter, which was two points shy of their season low of 15 for the period at Phoenix on Oct. 31. . Davis Bertans had 16 points, the most in four games since a two-game absence following the birth of his first child. . San Antonio’s bench outscored Philadephia’s 56-35.

UP NEXT

76ers: Host New York on Wednesday night.

Spurs: At Orlando on Wednesday night.

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