The Phoenix Suns’ hopes of making the West play-in took a blow with a 148-109 loss to the Houston Rockets, and the loss of superstar Kevin Durant with an ankle injury in the third quarter.
Durant stepped on the foot of Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr. on a drive to the basket and rolled his left ankle, dropping to the court in pain. He was helped to the sideline and didn’t return.
The Warriors boosted their chances of claiming an automatic berth after thrashing the San Antonio Spurs 148-106 on the road in Texas to remain in sixth place.
The Timberwolves are in seventh after a stormy 123-104 win over the Detroit Pistons. The game was notable for a brawl in the second quarter which saw seven players and two coaches — including Detroit head coach J.B. Bickerstaff — ejected.
The Rockets, second in the West, were already up 92-57, unfazed by the second-quarter ejection of Dillon Brooks after he fouled Durant and wouldn’t let go, then berated a game official in the wake of the scuffle.
Jalen Green poured in 33 points to lead eight Houston players to score in double figures while Devin Booker scored 28 to lead the Suns.
In the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks dominated the Milwaukee Bucks 145-124 to improve to 36-38, with Zaccharie Risacher scoring a game-high 36 points.
At Madison Square Garden the third-placed New York Knicks outlasted the Portland Trail Blazers 110-93.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Chris Coduto/Getty Images
