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Booker scores 30 points, Durant has 27 as Suns rally to beat the Hornets 120-113

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Booker scores 30 points, Durant has 27 as Suns rally to beat the Hornets 120-113
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Booker scores 30 points, Durant has 27 as Suns rally to beat the Hornets 120-113

2025-01-13 12:37 Last Updated At:12:41

PHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker scored 30 points, Kevin Durant added 27 and the Phoenix Suns rallied in the final minutes to beat the Charlotte Hornets 120-113 on Sunday night.

The Suns have won three straight and four of five. Charlotte has lost 10 of 11.

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Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen, left, steals a pass intended for Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen, left, steals a pass intended for Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (5) looks to shoot over Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (5) looks to shoot over Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) drives between Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) and center Mason Plumlee (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) drives between Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) and center Mason Plumlee (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee, right, talks with center Mark Williams (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee, right, talks with center Mark Williams (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) has the ball tipped away by Charlotte Hornets guard Josh Green (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) has the ball tipped away by Charlotte Hornets guard Josh Green (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Suns center Oso Ighodaro, bottom, dives to keep the ball away from Charlotte Hornets forward Tidjane Salaun, rop, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Suns center Oso Ighodaro, bottom, dives to keep the ball away from Charlotte Hornets forward Tidjane Salaun, rop, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (5) goes in for a dunk against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (5) goes in for a dunk against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (24) drives to the basket against Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (24) drives to the basket against Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

The Hornets — who were trying to beat the Suns for the second time in a week — pushed to a 98-93 lead after the third quarter and led for much of the fourth. Durant hit a stepback jumper to give the Suns a 111-110 advantage with just over three minutes left.

Durant found rookie Oso Ighodaro for a dunk to take a 115-113 lead. Royce O'Neale hit a 3-pointer for an 118-113 advantage with 41.5 seconds left.

Charlotte hadn’t played since Tuesday night when it beat the Suns 115-104 at home. The Hornets were supposed to play the Lakers on Thursday and the Clippers on Saturday, but those games were postponed because of the wildfires in the Los Angeles area.

LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with 25 points. Mark Williams added a season-high 24 points and 16 rebounds, including 22 points and 13 rebounds in the first half.

Hornets: It's a tough loss for Charlotte, which controlled much of the game. The Hornets had some questionable shot selection down the stretch.

Suns: Phoenix struggled for much of the game, but played well in the final minutes to pull out a win. Grayson Allen scored 13 points in the first half, but didn't play in the second because of left knee soreness.

Durant's confidence to give the ball to Ighodaro for a dunk during a crucial possession is a good growth moment for the team.

Ighodaro scored eight points in the fourth quarter, giving the Suns a much-needed presence in the paint.

The Hornets are at Utah on Wednesday night. The Suns are at Atlanta on Tuesday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen, left, steals a pass intended for Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen, left, steals a pass intended for Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (5) looks to shoot over Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (5) looks to shoot over Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) drives between Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) and center Mason Plumlee (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) drives between Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) and center Mason Plumlee (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee, right, talks with center Mark Williams (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee, right, talks with center Mark Williams (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) has the ball tipped away by Charlotte Hornets guard Josh Green (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) has the ball tipped away by Charlotte Hornets guard Josh Green (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Suns center Oso Ighodaro, bottom, dives to keep the ball away from Charlotte Hornets forward Tidjane Salaun, rop, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Suns center Oso Ighodaro, bottom, dives to keep the ball away from Charlotte Hornets forward Tidjane Salaun, rop, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (5) goes in for a dunk against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (5) goes in for a dunk against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (24) drives to the basket against Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (24) drives to the basket against Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Much of the eastern U.S. braced for a renewed round of harsh, soggy weather on Saturday, while snowstorms were predicted in the Northeast and heavy winds brought the threat of tornadoes to the Mississippi Valley.

Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia and Arkansas were under flood warnings, and residents were warned by the National Weather Service to stay off roads. Parts of western Kentucky could face up to 8 inches of rain.

Gov. Andy Beshear preemptively declared a state of emergency in Kentucky, where flash flooding is expected on Saturday and into Sunday.

“We want to specifically put assets in places that flood and have flooded in the past,” Beshear said on social media.

The weather service said flash flooding is possible in the Mississippi, Tennessee and Ohio Valleys. In Tennessee on Saturday, flash flood warnings were alerted in some counties north of Nashville until Saturday evening.

The National Weather Service called the expected rain a "major, potentially historic, flash flood event.”

Heavy snow, meanwhile, was expected to blanket much of New England and then transition to sleet, making travel nearly impossible, the NWS said.

In northern New York, heavy mixed precipitation is expected throughout the weekend. Weather forecasters said residents should expect snow, sleet and ice accumulations of six to 13 inches and wind gusts as high as 45 mph (72 kph) late Saturday and Sunday.

“Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the ice and strong winds. Travel could be very difficult to nearly impossible, the NWS said.

Meteorologists warn that the U.S. is about to get its 10th and coldest polar vortex stretching event this season. Weather forces in the Arctic are combining to push the chilly air that usually stays near the North Pole into the U.S. and Europe. The latest projected cold outbreak should first hit the northern Rockies and northern Plains on Saturday and then stick around all next week.

In Denver, where temperatures are expected to dip as low as 14 degrees (minus 10 degrees Celsius) over the weekend, the city has extended its cold weather shelters for those living on the streets. The Denver Coliseum will be opened Saturday for additional space.

In the Rocky Mountains, skiers eager for the long Presidents’ Day weekend are already facing a closure on a section of Interstate 70 due to snow as officials warn of hazardous conditions on the mountain roads over the weekend.

Dry weather returned to southern California after the strongest storm of the year but the risk of rock and mudslides on wildfire-scarred hillsides continued Friday since dangerous slides can strike even after rain stops, particularly in scorched areas where vegetation that helps keep soil anchored has burned away.

Water, debris and boulders rushed down the mountain in the city of Sierra Madre on Thursday night, trapping at least one car in the mud and damaging several home garages with mud and debris. Bulldozers on Friday were cleaning up the mud-covered streets in the city of 10,000 people.

A storm in the Sierra Nevada mountains dumped 6 feet (1.8 meters) of snow over 36 hours. Two ski patrol staff from Mammoth Mountain were caught in an avalanche during avalanche mitigation work Friday morning, the resort said in a Facebook post. One was extracted and was responsive, while the other was taken to a hospital with serious injuries.

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Olga R. Rodriguez and Eugene Garcia in California contributed to this report.

An emergency vehicle is pulled out of the water a day after it was pushed into the surf by a debris flow caused by heavy rainfall, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

An emergency vehicle is pulled out of the water a day after it was pushed into the surf by a debris flow caused by heavy rainfall, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

A residents carries their dog past a mud-covered street after a storm Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Sierra Madre, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

A residents carries their dog past a mud-covered street after a storm Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Sierra Madre, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

A vehicle is dug out of the mud after a storm Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Sierra Madre, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

A vehicle is dug out of the mud after a storm Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Sierra Madre, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

An emergency vehicle is pulled out of the water a day after it was pushed into the surf by debris flow caused by heavy rain, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

An emergency vehicle is pulled out of the water a day after it was pushed into the surf by debris flow caused by heavy rain, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

A Dodge Challenger is seen buried in snow near Soda Springs, Calif., Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

A Dodge Challenger is seen buried in snow near Soda Springs, Calif., Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

A hillside is seen covered with snow amidst a winter snow storm in Soda Springs, Calif., Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

A hillside is seen covered with snow amidst a winter snow storm in Soda Springs, Calif., Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Ice builds up along the Lake Michigan shoreline Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in St. Joseph, Mich.(Don Campbell/The Herald-Palladium via AP)

Ice builds up along the Lake Michigan shoreline Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in St. Joseph, Mich.(Don Campbell/The Herald-Palladium via AP)

Scott Von hoses mud off his garage in his property after a storm Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Scott Von hoses mud off his garage in his property after a storm Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

A fire-damages vehicle is left in front of a beach front property after a storm Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

A fire-damages vehicle is left in front of a beach front property after a storm Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Motorists travel along a snow covered State Route 267 in Truckee, Calif., Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Motorists travel along a snow covered State Route 267 in Truckee, Calif., Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

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