NBA: Suns sink Bucks behind season-high 24 3-pointers

Devin Booker scored 27 points and handed out seven assists to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 129-114 victory over the host Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night.

Phoenix knocked down a season-high 24 3-pointers on 51 attempts to start its six-game road trip with a third straight win. Jalen Green added 25 points, while Royce O’Neale contributed 21, and Collin Gillespie recorded 12 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists.

For Milwaukee, Kyle Kuzma had a season-best 33 points, shooting 6-for-10 from beyond the arc. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Myles Turner each scored 22 points, while Ousmane Dieng added a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The loss marked the Bucks’ sixth defeat in seven games.

The game started as an offensive showcase, with both teams hitting shots at a high rate. Phoenix opened on a 7-0 run, but neither side led by more than seven points in the first half. Both squads made nine 3-pointers before halftime and shot over 52% from the field. Milwaukee had a slight edge on the boards but committed nine turnovers compared to Phoenix’s six. Kyle Kuzma’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer gave the Bucks a 65-62 lead at the break.

The second half remained fast-paced. Kuzma scored 16 points in the third quarter, including three consecutive 3-pointers, but O’Neale outshone him with 18 points as the Suns outscored Milwaukee 38-32 to take a three-point lead into the fourth.

In the final quarter, Milwaukee struggled from long range, making just 1-of-9 3-pointers while scoring 17 points. Meanwhile, Phoenix continued to find its rhythm, hitting six of 12 shots from beyond the arc and pulling away to secure the win. The Bucks finished 16-for-38 on 3-pointers for the game.

Before Tuesday, Milwaukee had won seven straight home games against Phoenix, including matchups during the 2021 NBA Finals.

-Field Level Media/Reuters