Cameron Johnson drains game-winning buzzer-beater to beat Knicks / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: USA TODAY Sports - Scanpix Credit USA TODAY Sports - Scanpix

Cameron Johnson capped the best game of his career by hitting a long 3-pointer as time expired Friday night to complete Phoenix's 14-point, fourth-quarter comeback as the host Suns (51-12) edged the New York Knicks (25-38) 115-114 (26-24, 32-31, 23-38, 34-21).

Player of the Game EFF 34 Cameron Johnson Points 38 Accuracy 11-16 Rebounds 2 Assists 0

The Knicks, who lost their seventh straight, appeared on the verge of upsetting the NBA-leading Suns when Mitchell Robinson put back an RJ Barrett miss with 15.6 seconds left, and Cameron Payne missed a layup on the other end.

New York's Alec Burks was fouled with 7.1 seconds remaining, and he hit the first free throw but missed badly on the second. Mikal Bridges grabbed the rebound and dished to Payne, who passed back to Johnson. He capped his career-high, 38-point night when his 31-foot bank shot went in, setting off pandemonium.

Johnson had 21 points in the fourth quarter, and he finished with 14 more points than his previous career-high. He also was at the center of a near-brawl in the third quarter that resulted in the ejection of Knicks star Julius Randle.

Johnson shoved Randle after Evan Fournier's 3-pointer gave the Knicks their largest lead to that point at 86-76. Randle responded by bumping Johnson as officials and players from both teams intervened. The Knicks' power forward, who had 25 points and seven rebounds, then shoved aside an official and pushed Johnson.

Payne finished with 17 points and a career-high 16 assists, while Bridges (20 points), Jae Crowder (14 points) and Aaron Holiday (10 points) all scored in double figures as the Suns. Phoenix continued to play without Chris Paul (broken thumb) and Devon Booker (COVID protocol) in winning its second straight following a two-game losing streak.

Robinson had 17 points and 15 rebounds for the Knicks, while RJ Barrett had 20 points. Fournier and Alec Burks had 16 points apiece, while Immanuel Quickley added 13 points off the bench.

Points this season

48%113,8Points made:113,8Accuracy:48,2%Place in standings:5Record max:137Record min:95Best scorer:Devin BookerTeamNBAStatisticsSchedule

Neither team led by more than six until the Knicks mounted a 30-15 run spanning the third and fourth quarters to take a 95-81 lead.

Johnson and Payne combined for nine straight points to open a 23-9 run that ended with Johnson hitting a contested 3-pointer to tie the score at 104-104 with 3:13 left.

The Knicks took two more five-point leads before Crowder scored four straight points to give the Suns a 112-111 lead and set up the wild final 30 seconds.

Suns: Cameron Johnson 38 (9/12 3PT, 7/8 FT), Mikal Bridges 20 (3/7 2PT, 3/4 3PT, 5/6 FT, 6 REB, 4 AST), Cameron Payne 17 (6/13 2PT, 5/7 FT, 16 AST, 4 TO), Jae Crowder 14 (2/7 3PT, 7 REB), Aaron Holiday 10 (2/7 2PT, 4 AST).Knicks: Julius Randle 25 (8/16 2PT, 6/6 FT, 7 REB, 4 AST, 4 TO), R.J. Barrett 20 (5/19 2PT, 1/7 3PT, 7/10 FT, 5 REB, 5 AST), Mitchell Robinson 17 (8/8 2PT, 15 REB, 4 STL, 3 BLK), Evan Fournier 16 (4/7 3PT), Alec Burks 16 (4/6 3PT, 9 REB, 6 AST), Immanuel Quickley 13 (3/5 3PT, 8 REB).

Full game highlights:

The final minutes of the game:

Cameron Johnson's highlights:

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