PHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker made a mid-range jumper with 2.4 seconds remaining to lift the Phoenix Suns over the Milwaukee Bucks 108-106 on Monday night for their fourth straight win.
It's a crucial victory for the Suns, who stayed in the final position for the Western Conference play-in tournament with 10 games remaining in the regular season. Kevin Durant scored 38 points, while Booker added 19, including the clutch 20-foot jumper after catching the in-bounds pass in the final moments.
Click to Gallery
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives past Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) and guard Kevin Porter Jr. (3) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 24, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) drives on Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 24, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, right, fouls Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 24, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker drives between Milwaukee Bucks guard AJ Green (20) and center Brook Lopez during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 24, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers reacts to a call against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 24, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. (5) drives against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, center left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 24, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. (5) drives on Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 24, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma (18) drives against Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 24, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Brook Lopez missed a turnaround jumper at the buzzer that could have tied it, ending a frantic final stretch. Milwaukee was led by Giannis Antetokoumpo, who scored 31 points. Lopez added 23.
Milwaukee's Kyle Kuzma hit a corner 3-pointer with 1:22 left while being fouled by Durant and completed the 4-point play for a 105-103 lead. Durant responded with a 3 with 26.2 seconds left to put the Suns up 106-105.
Lopez made 1 of 2 free throws with 10.7 seconds left to tie it at 106, setting up Booker's winner.
Durant scored 13 points in the third quarter to help the Suns take an 81-78 advantage into the fourth.
Bucks: It's a tough loss for the Bucks, who are fighting for the No. 3 through No. 6 playoff positions in the Eastern Conference with the Knicks, Pacers and Pistons.
Suns: Coach Mike Budenholzer has tinkered with the playing rotation all season in an effort to find a competitive group to put around Booker and Durant. The current mix of Nick Richards, rookie Ryan Dunn and Collin Gillespie isn't perfect, but its been better than most.
Dunn threw down a huge one-handed jam over Antetokounmpo in the third quarter for a 68-67 lead.
Phoenix had a 52-36 rebounding edge.
The Bucks are on the road against the Nuggets on Wednesday; The Suns host the Celtics on Wednesday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives past Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) and guard Kevin Porter Jr. (3) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 24, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) drives on Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 24, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, right, fouls Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 24, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker drives between Milwaukee Bucks guard AJ Green (20) and center Brook Lopez during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 24, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers reacts to a call against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 24, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. (5) drives against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, center left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 24, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. (5) drives on Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 24, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma (18) drives against Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 24, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of nurses in three hospital systems in New York City went on strike Monday after negotiations through the weekend failed to yield breakthroughs in their contract disputes.
The strike was taking place at The Mount Sinai Hospital and two of its satellite campuses, with picket lines forming. The other affected hospitals are NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.
About 15,000 nurses are involved in the strike, according to New York State Nurses Association.
“After months of bargaining, management refused to make meaningful progress on core issues that nurses have been fighting for: safe staffing for patients, healthcare benefits for nurses, and workplace violence protections,” the union said in a statement issued Monday. “Management at the richest hospitals in New York City are threatening to discontinue or radically cut nurses’ health benefits.”
The strike, which comes during a severe flu season, could potentially force the hospitals to transfer patients, cancel procedures or divert ambulances. It could also put a strain on city hospitals not involved in the contract dispute, as patients avoid the medical centers hit by the strike.
The hospitals involved have been hiring temporary nurses to try and fill the labor gap during the walkout, and said in a statement during negotiations that they would “do whatever is necessary to minimize disruptions.” Montefiore posted a message assuring patients that appointments would be kept.
“NYSNA’s leaders continue to double down on their $3.6 billion in reckless demands, including nearly 40% wage increases, and their troubling proposals like demanding that a nurse not be terminated if found to be compromised by drugs or alcohol while on the job," Montefiore spokesperson Joe Solmonese said Monday after the strike had started. "We remain resolute in our commitment to providing safe and seamless care, regardless of how long the strike may last.”
New York-Presbyterian accused the union of staging a strike to “create disruption,” but said in a statement that it has taken steps to ensure patients receive the care they need.
"We’re ready to keep negotiating a fair and reasonable contract that reflects our respect for our nurses and the critical role they play, and also recognizes the challenging realities of today’s healthcare environment,” the statement said.
The work stoppage is occurring at multiple hospitals simultaneously, but each medical center is negotiating with the union independently. Several other hospitals across the city and in its suburbs reached deals in recent days to avert a possible strike.
The nurses’ demands vary by hospital, but the major issues include staffing levels and workplace safety. The union says hospitals have given nurses unmanageable workloads.
Nurses also want better security measures in the workplace, citing incidents like a an incident last week, when a man with a sharp object barricaded himself in a Brooklyn hospital room and was then killed by police.
The union also wants limitations on hospitals’ use of artificial intelligence.
The nonprofit hospitals involved in the negotiations say they’ve been working to improve staffing levels, but say the union’s demands overall are too costly.
Nurses voted to authorize the strike last month.
Both New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani had expressed concern about the possibility of the strike. As the strike deadline neared, Mamdani urged both sides to keep negotiating and reach a deal that “both honors our nurses and keeps our hospitals open.”
“Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable,” Mamdani said.
State Attorney General Letitia James voiced similar support, saying "nurses put their lives on the line every day to keep New Yorkers healthy. They should never be forced to choose between their own safety, their patients’ well-being, and a fair contract.”
The last major nursing strike in the city was only three years ago, in 2023. That work stoppage, at Mount Sinai and Montefiore, was short, lasting three days. It resulted in a deal raising pay 19% over three years at those hospitals.
It also led to promised staffing improvements, though the union and hospitals now disagree about how much progress has been made, or whether the hospitals are retreating from staffing guarantees.
Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
FILE - A medical worker transports a patient at Mount Sinai Hospital, April 1, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)
