KEVIN DURANT SCORES 43, HITS GAME-WINNER AS SPURS TOPS BULLS

 

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Kevin Durant knocked down a tiebreaking 17-footer with 1.6 seconds left to give the Phoenix Suns a 115-113 victory over the visiting Chicago Bulls on Monday night.

Durant scored a season-high 43 points to reach 40 for the second straight game as the Suns won their sixth consecutive game. Bradley Beal scored 18 points for Phoenix, and Devin Booker added 16.

DeMar DeRozan missed a contested 3-point attempt as time expired, leaving the Bulls with their ninth straight head-to-head loss against Phoenix.

Coby White had 26 points, matched his career high of 10 rebounds and had nine assists while DeRozan scored 21 for Chicago. Nikola Vucevic added 19 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists and Alex Caruso had 15 points for the Bulls, who lost for just the third time in nine games.

Durant matched his season best of six 3-pointers to help Phoenix recover from a 23-point deficit.

Durant nailed a straightaway 3-pointer to give Phoenix a 113-111 lead with 29.3 seconds remaining. DeRozan hit a 10-footer in the lane to tie it with 22.9 seconds left.

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Patrick Williams and Ayo Dosunmu had 13 points apiece for Chicago, which played without Zach LaVine (ankle) for the second straight game.

Drew Eubanks added 10 points and eight rebounds for the Suns, who shot 51.8 percent from the floor, including 14 of 34 from 3-point range. Eric Gordon (wrist) sat out for Phoenix.

Phoenix trailed by 23 points a little less than four minutes into the third quarter, cut the deficit to seven entering the final stanza and took a 95-94 edge with 6:58 left thanks to Durant's personal 7-0 run.

Chicago shot 48.4 percent from the floor and 14 of 37 from behind the arc.

The Bulls made 15 of 23 shots -- including 7 of 14 from 3-point range -- while taking a 37-22 lead after one quarter.

Chicago led 66-49 at halftime.

DeRozan's 3-pointer made it 79-56 with 8:06 remaining in the third quarter before the Suns scored 27 of the final 38 points in the period.

Phoenix received a big boost when Durant hit back-to-back 3-pointers as it crept within 84-70 with 4:10 left in the third quarter.

Later, Durant finished a 13-point quarter with a jumper with 7.1 seconds to go as the Suns trailed 90-83 entering the final stanza.

- Reuters