PHOENIX (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 42 points and the Phoenix Suns defeated the suddenly struggling Cleveland Cavaliers 123-112 on Friday night.
It was the Suns’ third straight win and kept them in a tie with Dallas for the final play-in spot in the West at 34-37.
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Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) drives on Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) drives around Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker loses the ball in front of Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) and guard Ty Jerome (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives on Cleveland Cavaliers forward De'Andre Hunter during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn (0) dunks over Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) drives by Cleveland Cavaliers forward De'Andre Hunter during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Devin Booker scored 17 points and Tyus Jones scored 16. Royce O'Neale had 15 points on five 3-pointers for Phoenix.
Cleveland, which saw its 16-game winning streak snapped by Orlando on Sunday, has now lost a season-high four in a row to fall two games behind Oklahoma City for the NBA’s best record. Their 56-14 mark still leads the East comfortably.
Darius Garland scored 18 points for Cleveland. Evan Mobley had 16 points and 12 rebounds and former Sun Ty Jerome also scored 16 for the Cavs. All-Star Donovan Mitchell scored just seven points.
The Suns were without Bradley Beal (hamstring) and their top two centers, Nick Richards (calf) and Mason Plumlee (quad). Third-stringer Oso Ighodaro played a game-high 44 minutes and had a team-high 13 rebounds.
Cavaliers: Cleveland looked out of sync most of the night and continued to struggle on their five-game West Coast swing after losses at the Clippers and Kings.
Suns: A critical win in a mostly disappointing season for Phoenix as they try to qualify for the play-in round in the West. The Suns have 11 games remaining and all but one are against teams currently in playoff position.
O’Neale hit consecutive 3-pointers early in the second quarter to put the Suns ahead 47-38 and they maintained the lead from then on. They led 62-51 at the half.
Mitchell missed his first seven shots from the field and was 2 of 18 for the game, missing all eight tries from 3-point range.
Cavaliers at Utah on Sunday; Suns host Milwaukee on Monday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) drives on Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) drives around Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker loses the ball in front of Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) and guard Ty Jerome (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives on Cleveland Cavaliers forward De'Andre Hunter during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn (0) dunks over Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) drives by Cleveland Cavaliers forward De'Andre Hunter during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills joined the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams in advancing to the divisional round of the NFL playoffs.
Allen led the Bills to a 27-24 comeback victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first of three wild-card playoff games on Sunday.
The San Francisco 49ers (12-5) took on the Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) in the middle game and the New England Patriots (14-3) will host the Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) in the nightcap.
Allen scored on a 1-yard run late in the fourth quarter and Cole Bishop intercepted Trevor Lawrence's pass to secure Buffalo's first playoff win on the road since the 1992 AFC championship game at Miami.
The No. 6 seed Bills will wait to find out their next opponent. It's the sixth straight season under coach Sean McDermott that Buffalo has reached the second round of the playoffs.
On Saturday, the NFL playoffs kicked off with two wacky games.
The Bears (12-6) trailed the Green Bay Packers 21-3 at halftime and 27-16 with just under seven minutes left in the fourth quarter before Caleb Williams threw a pair of touchdown passes. His 25-yard TD toss to D.J. Moore put Chicago ahead 31-27 with 1:43 remaining. Then Jordan Love's desperation heave into the end zone from the Bears 28 was knocked down as time expired to secure Chicago's first playoff win since the 2010 season.
Williams finished with 361 yards passing, two TDs and two interceptions for the No. 2 seed Bears, who will host the Rams (13-5) or Eagles next weekend.
In the opener on wild-card weekend, Matthew Stafford threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson in the final minute and the Rams rallied to beat the Carolina Panthers 34-31 in a game that was much closer than expected.
The Rams were double-digit favorites on BetMGM Sportsbook against the Panthers (8-10). The Rams jumped to a 14-0 lead, but couldn’t take advantage of first-half turnovers and allowed Carolina to get within 17-14 at halftime.
Stafford, who earned All-Pro honors for the first time in his 17-year career on Saturday, threw for 304 yards, three TDs and had one pick. Puka Nacua, who was a unanimous All-Pro selection, had 10 catches for 111 yards and one TD and also had a 5-yard TD run.
The Rams are back in the divisional round for the second straight season. Last year, they were 13 yards away from eliminating Philadelphia before a sack and an incomplete pass ended their season with a 28-22 loss.
No. 5 seed Los Angeles will face No. 1 seed Seattle if the Eagles lose to the 49ers.
Bryce Young’s 7-yard TD pass to Jalen Coker put the Panthers ahead 31-27 with 2:43 remaining but Stafford drove the Rams 71 yards in two minutes. Parkinson made an outstanding, tightrope catch for the winning score and the defense held.
Behind coach Dave Canales and improved QB Bryce Young, the Panthers have reason to be optimistic about the future after winning a weak NFC South and nearly pulling off a major upset.
The Packers (9-8-1) finished the season with five straight losses. They were 9-3-1 before All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons tore his ACL in a loss to Denver on Dec. 14.
On Monday night, Mike Tomlin, Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) host DeMeco Ryans, C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans (12-5).
The Denver Broncos (14-3) are the AFC’s No. 1 seed and the Seahawks (14-3) got the top seed in the NFC. Each team earned a bye and will host the lowest remaining seed next weekend.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) celebrates his touchdown with tight end Dawson Knox (88) during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams looks to throw during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)
Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams celebrates after an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) reacts after a first down during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Carolina Panthers, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson, center left, celebrates his touchdown catch with wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Carolina Panthers, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws a pass during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Carolina Panthers, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)
