RISING AND SHINING

Suns continue cementing hold of league’s top spot, notch seventh straight victory

Devin Booker scored 33 points and Chris Paul did well to adjust on the fly for his 27 points and 14 assists as the Suns won a seventh straight game on Monday night with a 115-109 victory over the Utah Jazz.

Paul scored 15 of his season-high total in the fourth quarter after making adjustments to his playing style.

“In the first half, we had too many turnovers. I was trying to pass too much so I just started being aggressive,” the 36-yearold guard said.

Paul made his first five shots in the fourth quarter, including two baskets from beyond the arc.

“Our staff always says to us ‘Let it fly. If you are open and got a shot, let it fly,’” Paul said.

The Suns seized control with a 14-2 final quarter run after the short-handed Jazz grabbed a 95-91 lead early in the quarter.

Utah was missing all-stars Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley Jr. The Jazz lost for the eighth time in 11 games.

Jordan Clarkson led the Jazz with 22 points, including three straight threes in the final quarter.

Elsewhere, Darius Garland nailed a clutch three-pointer with 83 seconds remaining in regulation as Cleveland held on to beat New York, 95-93.

Kevin Love scored a teamhigh 20 points for the Cavaliers,

Our staff always says to us ‘Let it fly. If you are open and got a shot, let it fly’

CHRIS PAUL Suns guard

who led by as many as 15 points in the fourth quarter before the Knicks came storming back.

Seven of eight

Rookie Evan Mobley finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds, and Isaac Okoro had 14 points for Cleveland, which has won seven of eight and was coming off a hard-fought win over Oklahoma City on Saturday. Garland finished with 13 points and 12 assists.

“I’ve tried to be one of the vets in his life to tell him what to do and what not to do,” Love said of Garland. “I’ve been telling him, keep leading us.”

RJ Barrett scored 24 points and Julius Randle 18 for the Knicks, who have lost four of their last five games.

In Oklahoma City, Nicola Vucevic had 26 points and 15 rebounds as Chicago withstood a late comeback by the Thunder to win, 111-110.

The Bulls led by 28 points in the third quarter, but the Thunder engineered a fierce comeback and had a chance to tie it in the closing seconds.

Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who led his team with 31 points, missed a three-pointer that would have evened the score with two seconds to play.

Rookie Ayo Dosunmu scored a season-high 24 points and Zach LaVine added 23 for the Bulls.