PHOENIX (AP) — Make it 18 wins in a row for the Golden State Warriors over the Phoenix Suns.
The latest, though, was no cakewalk for the reigning NBA champions.
Stephen Curry shook off a poor shooting performance by scoring 10 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and the Warriors finally broke open a tight game to beat the Suns 117-107 on Friday night.
Klay Thompson scored 25 points for the Warriors. Kevin Durant added 21 points and DeMarcus Cousins 18.
PHOENIX (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks were in a touchy situation in the final minutes against the ever-struggling Phoenix Suns.
Then their two best young players pulled them out of danger.
John Collins matched his career high with 35 points and fell one shy of his career best with 16 rebounds, and the Hawks handed the Suns their 10th straight loss, 118-112 on Saturday night.
Trae Young scored 17 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, when the Hawks pulled away.
TORONTO (AP) — The Phoenix Suns figured Toronto guard Kyle Lowry was going to take the decisive shot. Pascal Siakam and the Raptors had other plans.
Siakam scored the winning basket just before time expired, leading the Raptors to a 111-109 victory over the Suns on Thursday night.
Serge Ibaka put Toronto up 109-107 on a hook shot with 47 seconds left, but Mikal Bridges tied it with a pair of free throws with 13 seconds remaining.
PHOENIX (AP) — There was no getting around the pain in his right ankle, so Jamal Murray figured out a way to deal with the injury.
"I was trying not to move as much, kind of relied on my shot," Murray said.
He's rarely shot it better than he did Saturday night.
Murray scored 46 points and made a career-high nine 3-pointers, carrying the Western Conference-leading Denver Nuggets to a 122-118 victory over the Phoenix Suns, the adrenaline from a big night helping him deal with the ankle.
PHOENIX (AP) — Tobias Harris scored 33 points and Patrick Beverley made two free throws with 33.3 seconds left in overtime to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 123-119 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Monday night.
Avery Bradley sealed the Clippers' 17th victory of the season with a pair of free throws with 1.6 seconds left, after he hustled to control a loose ball off jump ball and was fouled.
Danilo Gallinari scored 16 of his 25 points in the second half and Harris added eight rebounds.
PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Suns were locked in their tightest game of the season, and Devin Booker made good on his chance to get his struggling team a much-needed win.
Booker's 17-foot jumper with 1.7 seconds left capped a fourth-quarter comeback by Phoenix, and the Suns snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 102-100 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night.
VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) — The banner for Villanova's 2018 national championship was dropped from the rafters as "We Are The Champions" roared during the grand opening of the program's $65 million renovated arena.
It couldn't be missed.
As for the Wildcats who helped lead them to their second title in three seasons, well, they'll be a bit harder to find around campus.
PHOENIX (AP) — Since the heady days of Steve Nash came to an end, there have been few signs of joy from a dwindling fan base that watched the Phoenix Suns tumble to the bottom of the NBA standings and miss the playoffs for the eighth year in a row.
NEW YORK (AP) — Tyneeha Rivers walked into Barclays Center for the NBA draft with her son, Mikal Bridges.
Like any parent, she was full of emotions: pride, excitement — just a bundle of nerves.
But Rivers had somewhat of a parental advantage, she works for an NBA team, the Philadelphia 76ers. So when her son — who starred at Villanova — was taken by the 76ers with the 10th overall pick, she couldn't believe it.
CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers listed Zhaire Smith as their 1-B choice on their draft board.
The Sixers landed the Texas Tech guard — they just had to give up their 1-A to get him.
The Sixers acquired Smith from the Phoenix Suns for Villanova standout Mikal Bridges in a swap of first-round picks that gives the blossoming Eastern Conference playoff team one more rotation played needed toward completing "The Process."
NEW YORK (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers have traded Mikal Bridges to the Phoenix Suns for Zhaire Smith in a swap of first-round draft pick.
Bridges was picked 10th overall and the Villanova standout answered questions at Barclays Center about his move down the road before he was swapped to the Suns. The Suns had picked Smith, a forward from Texas Tech, with the 16th overall pick. The Sixers also acquired an unprotected 2021 first-round pick in the trade.
VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) — Jalen Brunson, The Associated Press men's college basketball player of the year, has declared for the NBA draft after winning two national titles at Villanova.
The star guard will forego his final season after helping lead the Wildcats to their second national championship in three years. Brunson averaged 18.9 points and 4.6 assists per game in 40 games for the Wildcats this season.
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Mikal Bridges isn't worried about the numbers of shots he's getting within Villanova's highly efficient attack. And he doesn't always jump out when watching the Wildcats as he glides through that rolling-right-along offense.
That makes him possibly the embodiment of why this Villanova team is preparing to play Michigan for its second national championship in three seasons.
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Mikal Bridges isn't worried about the numbers of shots he's getting within Villanova's highly efficient attack. And he doesn't always jump out when watching the Wildcats as he glides through that rolling-right-along offense.
That makes him possibly the embodiment of why this Villanova team is preparing to play Michigan for its second national championship in three seasons.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jay Wright had some late-night restlessness because he could not turn off the TV as long as Virginia and UMBC were still playing. He met his Villanova team in the morning and the players at the breakfast tables were buzzing over basketball's biggest upset.
The reverberation from the 16-over-1 stunner was felt by another tourney top seed.
"There was a lot of attention with that," guard Donte DiVincenzo said. "We're a 1 seed so it was more attention for us."
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The fear naturally seeps into the thinking of players on top-seeded teams in the NCAA Tournament. Could we be the ones that finally lose to a 16 seed?
"I can't say it doesn't cross our mind at all," Big East player of the year Jalen Brunson said.
The answer from Villanova was an emphatic one: not a chance.
Brunson scored 16 points and No. 1 seed Villanova hit 14 3-pointers in an 87-61 romp over Radford in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday night.
NEW YORK (AP) — As confetti fluttered down on a court still simmering from an epic title game, Jay Wright wrapped his arms around several Wildcats. While his current crop of stars got ready to climb a ladder and snip the net again, Wright celebrated with NBA All-Star Kyle Lowry and a slew of other former players who had sat behind the bench in a scene that bridged the start of Villanova's ascent into a powerhouse with this season's Big East Tournament champions.
NEW YORK (AP) — Phil Booth insisted he was so focused on defense and finding open teammates that he never glanced at the scoreboard.
"I didn't even notice the score was 19-0," he said.
Villanova was rolling, and if a game can be over in the opening 5 minutes, this was the one.
The second-ranked Villanova scored the first 19 points and cruised toward its fourth straight trip in the Big East Tournament championship game in an 87-68 win over Butler on Friday night.
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — With a week to go until the conference tournament, No. 4 Villanova and Seton Hall showed everyone what Big East basketball is all about.
It's not pretty. It was ugly at times, but it was hard-fought, low-scoring, physical and it had the crowd of 13,711 at the Prudential Center on their feet most of the night. And it was fun.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Phil Booth returned to Villanova's lineup, and it looked as if he never left.
Booth had 14 points in his comeback from a broken right hand that sidelined him for seven games, and Mikal Bridges scored 27 points to lead No. 3 Villanova to a 93-62 victory over DePaul on Wednesday night.
Eric Paschall had 16 points, and Jalen Brunson added 11 points and seven assists to help the Wildcats (25-3, 12-3 Big East) beat DePaul for the 16th straight time.
CINCINNATI (AP) — With the Big East's bragging rights at stake, Villanova showed it's not ready to relinquish its reign.
Mikal Bridges led an early 3-point shooting spurt that put Villanova in control, and the third-ranked Wildcats beat No. 4 Xavier 95-79 on Saturday in a showdown for control of the league.
As it has nearly every time, this one went to 'Nova.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Collin Gillespie squeezed a stress ball in his dorm room to improve the grip on his injured left hand. Now he has a hold on the role as Villanova's sixth man — healthy and hopeful he can do his part to lead the Wildcats to yet another Big East title.
Mikal Bridges scored 21 points and Jalen Brunson had 19 to lead No. 1 Villanova to its eighth straight win, 98-78 over Creighton on Thursday night.
CHICAGO (AP) — In his 17 seasons at Villanova, Jay Wright can't recall coaching a more efficient offense. The way the Wildcats are clicking, it's not hard to see why he feels that way.
Mikal Bridges scored 20 points, Phil Booth added 17 points and six assists, and No. 1 Villanova made it look easy, beating DePaul 103-85 on Wednesday night in the Big East opener for both teams.