Devin Booker scored 24 points and the Phoenix Suns dominated the fourth quarter to finish off a 117-103 victory over the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City on Monday night.

Deandre Ayton added 14 points with eight rebounds, Chris Paul dished out 10 assists with nine points and three reserves scored in double figures — Terrence Ross (13 points), Cameron Payne (12) and Bismack Biyombo (11) — to help the Suns (40-35) keep momentum from a win over Philadelphia on Saturday.

The Jazz (35-40), paced by Lauri Markkanen’s 25 points and nine rebounds, erased a double-digit deficit and even took a lead late in the third quarter before falling apart in the fourth en route to their fourth loss in a row.

Utah was outscored 33-22 in the final 12 minutes at home after playing well in the middle quarters to turn the game competitive.

Walker Kessler contributed 18 points, eight rebounds and seven blocks, Kelly Olynyk had 10 points, seven rebounds and seven assists and Talen Horton-Tucker totaled 16 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in the loss.

Phoenix dominated the first quarter, going up by double digits after a 9-2 run and then taking a 37-26 lead into the second.

The Jazz used a 17-3 spurt to momentarily surpass the Suns late in the second quarter after a Horton-Tucker layup.

Phoenix bounced back to seize a 57-52 lead by halftime.

Utah briefly caught up to the Suns in the third quarter after Ochai Agbaji drained consecutive 3-pointers during a 10-0 run. The Jazz were up by three before Phoenix closed out the quarter by scoring six straight points for an 84-81 lead heading into the fourth.

Ross hit two jumpers and Payne drained three free throws as the Suns scored seven unanswered points to open the final stanza and reclaim their double-digit lead.

The Suns’ bench outscored Utah’s reserves 57-25 to help Phoenix overcome poor shooting marks from the field (42.6 percent) and from beyond the arc (30.6 percent).

–Field Level Media

Immanuel Quickley scored a career-high 40 points and the New York Knicks snapped a three-game losing skid with a 137-115 victory over the visiting Houston Rockets on Monday.

Quickley finished 14 of 18 and drilled five 3-pointers to lead the Knicks (43-33). He joined Julius Randle, RJ Barrett and Jalen Brunson in recording 40-point games for the Knicks this season.

Randle added 26 points while Barrett scored 19 to co-author the runaway win over Houston (18-58), which fell to 0-4 on its current five-game road trip. Brunson (hand) was unavailable.

Behind Quickley’s game-high nine assists, the Knicks finished with a season-high 35 helpers while shooting 58.1 percent.

Kevin Porter Jr. led Houston with 26 points while Jalen Green added 19 points and Kenyon Martin Jr. 18. Rookie Jabari Smith Jr. had a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds plus six assists.

Quickley and Randle scored 11 points in the Knicks’ 13-6 run to open the third quarter, a run that allowed the Knicks to push to a 79-67 lead. Quickley did not relent, scoring at will and in a timely fashion whenever the Rockets appeared poised to make a rally. He paired 15 points with five assists in the third, and when Randle beat the buzzer with a 3-pointer, the Knicks led 102-90.

When the Knicks opened the final period with a 10-0 burst, the rout was fully underway.

The Rockets were in the fight early, shooting 60 percent in the opening quarter to keep pace. There were 12 lead changes and four ties in the first, and while Martin led Houston with 11 points in the frame, Randle (15 points) and Quickley (13) combined for 28.

The Knicks appeared to seize control when they grabbed their first double-digit lead at 49-39 on a Josh Hart layup following a Houston turnover less than five minutes into the second quarter. Yet, despite the Rockets going nearly five minutes without a field goal, the Knicks failed to pull away. And when Green buried a 19-foot, step-back baseline jumper, Houston drew even at 49-49 with 5:12 remaining in the first half.

Quickley ended the Rockets’ 10-0 spurt with a 3-pointer before adding a steal and transition layup and a jumper with 12.6 seconds remaining in the second that provided the Knicks a 66-61 halftime lead. Barrett scored 12 points in the period to round out the Knicks’ scoring, with Quickley and Randle combining for 39 points prior to the intermission.

–Field Level Media

Luka Doncic scored 25 points and Jaden Hardy added 20 off the bench as the Dallas Mavericks snapped a four-game losing streak with a 127-104 rout of the short-handed Indiana Pacers on Monday in Indianapolis.

Kyrie Irving had 16 points, Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 13, Reggie Bullock added 11, and JaVale McGee had 10 for Dallas (37-39), which shot 56.6 percent from the field and 18 of 37 (48.6 percent) from 3-point range.

The Mavericks are in 11th place in the Western Conference, a half-game behind the Oklahoma City Thunder in the race for the final spot in the play-in tournament.

Indiana (33-43) trailed by as many as 31 and lost its third straight despite rookie Bennedict Mathurin’s 26 points. Andrew Nembhard scored 17 points, T.J. McConnell added 15 off the bench, and Jordan Nwora had 13 points and nine rebounds.

Indiana played without guards Buddy Hield (non-COVID illness) and Chris Duarte (sore left ankle), as well as All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton and center Myles Turner (injury management).

Doncic avoided a one-game suspension and was able to play after his 16th technical foul of the season was rescinded by the NBA league office on Monday afternoon. Players automatically receive a one-game suspension after 16 technical fouls each season.

After Irving scored 11 points in the first quarter to help Dallas to a 29-27 lead after 12 minutes, the Mavericks began to take control by opening the second quarter on a 14-2 run.

Dallas led by as many as 17 late in the second quarter, but Nwora hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to cut the deficit to 59-47 at the break. Nwora and Mathurin scored 10 points apiece in the first half for Indiana, which shot 2 of 13 from beyond the arc.

Doncic provided the highlight of the night late in the third quarter with a dazzling crosscourt pass around two defenders to Hardy, who drained a 3-pointer to extend the Mavericks’ lead to 89-72.

Dallas outscored Indiana 40-27 in the third quarter and carried a commanding 25-point lead into the final period.

Doncic, who finished with seven rebounds and six assists, rested for the entire fourth quarter as the Mavericks maintained their double-digit lead.

Jalen Smith scored 11 points and Oshae Brissett added 10 for Indiana, which split the season series against Dallas at a game apiece. Isaiah Jackson had a game-high 12 rebounds.

–Field Level Media

Khris Middleton poured in 34 points and the visiting Milwaukee Bucks continued their dominance over the Detroit Pistons with a 126-117 win on Monday night.

Milwaukee (54-21) has won 17 of the last 18 meetings against its Central Division rival and swept the four-game season series. Detroit (16-59) has lost its last six games and 17 of its last 18 outings.

Brook Lopez had 24 points and 14 rebounds, while Jevon Carter supplied 22 points for the Bucks. Bobby Portis added 21 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.

Jaden Ivey led the Pistons with 32 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Jalen Duren had 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Marvin Bagley III added 16 points and nine rebounds. James Wiseman and Killian Hayes chipped in 14 points apiece.

Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo missed the game with right knee soreness. Jrue Holiday took the night off due to personal reasons. The Pistons were once again missing numerous regulars due to a variety of injuries.

Milwaukee used a 14-3 second-quarter run to open up a 15-point lead but Detroit closed the half with an 11-2 run to cut its deficit to 57-51.

Middleton led four Bucks players in double figures with 17 points, while Ivey topped the Pistons with 11 first-half points.

Milwaukee continued to hold a single-digit advantage most of the third quarter. Isaiah Livers knocked down a 3-pointer to cut the Pistons’ deficit to five, 74-69. Bagley’s 3-pointer cut it to one, 78-77, with 5:12 left in the period.

Lopez had six points in the last four minutes of the quarter but Duren scored two inside baskets in the final minute and Detroit trailed just 94-90 entering the fourth.

Carter nailed a 3-pointer with 9:30 left to give the Bucks a 102-95 lead. Lopez’s layup less than a minute later nudged the advantage to double digits, 106-95.

Another Carter 3-pointer pushed the lead to 14 and forced Detroit to call timeout. The Pistons got it down into single digits again on two Ivey free throws with 3:29 remaining.

A three-point play by Middleton pushed the lead to 12 with 1:32 left.

–Field Level Media

Returning home after splitting a four-game West Coast road trip, the Oklahoma City Thunder face a critical two-game homestand in their pursuit of a playoff spot in the crowded Western Conference race.

The Thunder will host the bottom two teams in the Eastern Conference in back-to-back games, beginning with Tuesday’s visit from the Charlotte Hornets.

The Hornets have helped the Thunder’s cause over the last two games, knocking off Dallas twice to help lift Oklahoma City ahead of the Mavericks for the 10th spot in the Western Conference.

The Thunder have been the outmanned but plucky underdog over the last few seasons as they’ve undergone a major rebuild.

Now, Oklahoma City finds itself on the other side of things as it looks to knock off some teams that aren’t in serious contention for a playoff spot down the stretch.

The Thunder held off the Trail Blazers, 118-112, on Sunday in Portland to snap a two-game losing streak and remain in a play-in spot in the Western Conference.

Oklahoma City will face the Detroit Pistons following its meeting with Charlotte, and a sweep of the two-game set would put the Thunder (37-38) above .500 for the first time since early November.

“When guys get an opportunity, usually their energy level’s high,” Oklahoma City guard Josh Giddey said. “It’s a bit more loose with the way they play.”

The Thunder have won nine of their last 13 games, and Luguentz Dort’s defense has been a big reason for Oklahoma City’s recent success.

Dort kept the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard from getting off a final shot in the Thunder’s 101-100 win last Tuesday, then sealed Sunday’s win when he ripped the ball from Portland’s Shaedon Sharpe and dunked in the closing seconds.

“He just doesn’t get screened very easily,” Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said. “He’s not a speed athlete, but he’s a ground athlete, and he’s a fire hydrant physically. And so if you’re going to generate an advantage against him in pick-and-roll, you have to lay a screen on him.”

With six games to go, Hornets coach Steve Clifford said Monday that he would rotate centers Kai Jones, Nick Richards and Mark Williams the rest of the way.

“I want all the young guys to be able to play,” Clifford said. “Every third game, one of them is going to be sitting.”

Clifford said Williams would be the odd-man out Tuesday, saying it made more sense to split minutes between just two of the three instead of all three.

“This way, they play more normal minutes where they have a chance to play better,” Clifford said.

Williams had 15 points and 16 rebounds in Sunday’s victory over the Mavericks.

Tuesday’s game marks the second and final meeting of the season between the teams.

The Hornets (25-51) won the first contest 121-113 in Charlotte on Dec. 29. Charlotte has won four consecutive games in the all-time series.

The Thunder haven’t beaten the Hornets in Oklahoma City since Nov. 23, 2018.

The Hornets’ Terry Rozier (foot) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (shoulder) have each missed the last two games. Rozier will not play against the Thunder, while Oubre is questionable.

Oklahoma City was without Lindy Waters III in Sunday’s win due to plantar fasciitis.

–Field Level Media

Ja Morant is back in the starting lineup for the Memphis Grizzlies, who carry a six-game winning streak into Tuesday’s matchup against the visiting Orlando Magic.

Morant made his first start since serving an eight-game suspension in Sunday’s 123-119 win over the Atlanta Hawks. The two-time All-Star played 29 minutes and scored 27 points as he continues to ramp up his conditioning.

“I’m getting there,” Morant said. “I’m getting a lot more comfortable. Getting my legs under me a little bit. My staff is preparing me the right way, having me ready for games each and every night. I believe in them 100 percent in how they’re managing me and ramping me back up.”

Desmond Bane added 25 points in the win over Atlanta, while Jaren Jackson Jr. and Xavier Tillman each had 15 points and eight rebounds. Memphis (47-27) is second in the Western Conference with eight games remaining.

The Grizzlies have received a welcome boost from guard Luke Kennard, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers on Feb. 9. Kennard matched his career high with 30 points in last Friday’s win over the Houston Rockets and is quickly growing more comfortable with the team’s offense.

“I was passing up some shots once I first got here, and the coaches were on me,” Kennard said. “As soon as I came out of the game, they were letting me know. I was watching film with one of our guys during practices like, ‘Why didn’t I shoot this?’ Now it’s in my head as soon as I step on the floor. Any kind of space that I have, I’m going to let it go.”

The Grizzlies are returning to FedEx Forum, where they have won 11 straight games and boast the NBA’s best home record at 32-5. They’re facing an Orlando (32-43) team that has won three straight.

Orlando is looking to avenge a 123-115 loss to Memphis on Jan. 5, when Morant and Jackson combined for 63 points.

The Magic beat the Brooklyn Nets 119-106 on Sunday. Orlando outscored Brooklyn 58-38 in the paint, and Cole Anthony had 21 points to lead eight Magic players in double figures.

“Tonight we did it by committee. That’s the message that we continue to sell,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “Eight guys in double figures, 30 assists. Our ability to do it together is the most important thing for this group.”

The Magic also welcomed back guard Jalen Suggs (16 points), who had missed the previous four games with a concussion. Suggs, who has missed 29 games this season due to injury, played 24 minutes against Brooklyn and finished 6-of-9 shooting from the floor.

“I was so eager to get back on the court,” Suggs said. “I think I’ve missed my fair share of time now.”

Anthony has recorded at least 14 points and five rebounds in eight straight games for the Magic, who are 13-24 on the road compared to 19-19 at the Amway Center.

Anthony has played a key role in Orlando’s rejuvenated offense this month. The Magic are averaging 117.2 points over the last 13 games while scoring at least 110 points in 12 of those games.

–Field Level Media

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss Monday night’s game against the host Detroit Pistons due to right knee soreness.

This is reportedly the first time Antetokounmpo has been sidelined by his right knee this season. He has missed other games due to left knee soreness. Overall, the contest will mark the 16th that the two-time MVP has missed.

Antetokounmpo played 31 minutes in Saturday’s 129-106 road loss to the Denver Nuggets. He had 31 points and nine rebounds.

Antetokounmpo is averaging a career-high 31.1 points along with 11.7 rebounds in 59 games.

He is considered one of three leading NBA MVP candidates along with reigning two-time winner Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid.

Fellow Bucks All-Star Jrue Holiday (personal reasons) will also miss the game. He is averaging 18.9 points and 7.3 rebounds in 62 games.

Milwaukee (53-21) has the best record in the NBA. The Bucks are 1 1/2 games ahead of the second-place Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference.

–Field Level Media

The Cleveland Cavaliers are back in the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2018, while the situation for the Atlanta Hawks keeps getting more complicated.

Atlanta and Cleveland will complete their three-game season series on Tuesday at Atlanta.

The Cavaliers (48-28) are No. 4 in the Eastern Conference and clinched their spot in the playoffs with a 108-91 win over the Houston Rockets on Sunday. Cleveland missed the playoffs in each of the previous four seasons.

The Hawks (37-38) are tied with Toronto for the eighth spot in the East, three games out sixth place with six games remaining, and appear headed for the play-in tournament for the second consecutive year.

Atlanta has alternated wins and losses for seven straight games and fell to the Memphis Grizzlies 123-119 on Sunday. Four of Atlanta’s final seven games are at home.

“We can’t look too far ahead,” Atlanta’s Trae Young said. “We’ve got to take this next one before we go back on the road. We can control it. That’s all that matters.”

Cleveland and Atlanta split the first two meetings of the season. The Cavaliers won 114-102 on Nov. 21 at Cleveland and the Hawks prevailed 136-119 on Feb. 24 at Atlanta. The Hawks have won the last four meetings in Atlanta.

Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen scored 24 points on Sunday, while Donovan Mitchell scored 22 points on Sunday.

Mitchell is trying to become the fourth player in NBA history to average 27 points, 1.5 steals and make 200-plus 3-pointers on 37 percent shooting. He would join Stephen Curry (2015-16), Paul George (2018-19) and James Harden (2014-15). Mitchell is averaging a career-high 27.4 points, 1.5 steals and is shooting 37.9 percent on 3-pointers.

Mitchell was acquired in September in a trade with Utah. In addition to his offensive skills, he also brings playoff experience. The Jazz qualified for the playoffs each of Mitchell’s five seasons with the team and he has become a vocal leader for the Cavs.

“I told the guys, this is what you should just come to expect,” Mitchell said. “You made your first one. Appreciate and enjoy it. Celebrate it for the city, for the organization, for you individual guys who have made it. We should come to a point now where that’s expected of us making the playoffs and continuously being here and continuously pushing forward.”

Atlanta has gotten stellar post play of late from Clint Capela and reserve Onyeka Okongwu. In the last two games, Capela produced 17 points and 17 rebounds against the Indiana Pacers and 18 points with 16 rebounds against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Okongwu has totaled 25 points and 13 rebounds, eight of them offensive, over that span. He has had six games with four-plus offensive rebounds over the last eight games.

“(Okongwu) has been really good, particularly on the offensive glass,” Atlanta coach Quin Snyder said. “He is impacting the game so much on the glass. He has been tenacious rebounding and, as much as anything, I like the way he competes and he’s hungry to learn.”

–Field Level Media