Devin Booker scored 35 points as Phoenix Suns edged Utah Jazz 117-113 in overtime on Wednesday in a Western Conference showdown between the two best teams in the NBA.
The Suns not only won their seventh straight game, but the nail-biting victory gives them an important psychological edge over the Jazz as the 72-game NBA season nears the final stretch. Donovan Mitchell scored a game-high 41 points for Jazz. Mitchell forced the overtime with a three-pointer.
Elsewhere, Kevin Durant scored 17 points in his timely return from injury absence as Brooklyn Nets clobbered New Orleans Pelicans 139-111 in New York.
It was a perfect shooting night for Durant whose return came after star point guard James Harden went out with a hamstring injury.
Boston Celtics beat New York Knicks 101-99 to break a seventh-place tie in the Eastern Conference standings.
The results: Hawks 113 lost to Grizzlies 131; Celtics 101 bt Knicks 99; Nets 139 bt Pelicans 111; Suns 117 bt Utah 113 (OT)
Nuggets 106 bt Spurs 96; Rockets 102 bt Mavericks 93; Thunder 102 lost to Hornets 113; Pacers 141 bt Timberwolves 137; Magic 116 lost to Wizards 131.
