Deandre Ayton scored 27 points (20 in the paint), and the Phoenix Suns beat the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks 131-107 for their fourth straight win.
The Suns led by as many as 27, pulling away with a 23-9 run bridging the second and third quarters.
Chris Paul had 17 points (9 in the second quarter) and 19 assists. The Suns had 7 players in double-digit scoring. Paul assisted on 8 of Ayton’s 12 baskets, 2 of them in the fourth quarter.
For the Bucks, Jrue Holiday scored 21 points, and Pat Connaughton went 1 for 7 from 3. Khris Middleton scored 21 points on 9 for 15 shooting.
The Suns shot 56.7% from the field and 30.0% from 3 to the Bucks’ 45.5% and 26.3%. The Bucks forced 8 turnovers, about 6 fewer than usual for this many possessions. The Suns outscored the Bucks 68-50 in the paint.