Tue Mar 25 04:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Suns Sink Struggling Cavaliers, Keep Play-In Hopes Alive

**PHOENIX, AZ** – Kevin Durant’s 42-point performance powered the Phoenix Suns to a 123-112 victory over the slumping Cleveland Cavaliers Friday night. The win marks the Suns’ third consecutive victory, keeping them tied with Dallas for the final Western Conference play-in spot with a 34-37 record.

The Cavaliers, who saw their 16-game winning streak end last Sunday, have now lost four straight, their longest losing streak of the season. Despite the setbacks, Cleveland remains comfortably atop the Eastern Conference with a 56-14 record, but now sits two games behind Oklahoma City for the league’s best mark.

Durant’s scoring prowess was complemented by Devin Booker’s 17 points and Tyus Jones’ 16. Royce O’Neale added 15 points, hitting five 3-pointers for Phoenix. The Suns overcame the absences of Bradley Beal (hamstring) and centers Nick Richards (calf) and Mason Plumlee (quad), with Oso Ighodaro stepping up to grab a game-high 13 rebounds in 44 minutes of play.

For Cleveland, Darius Garland led the team with 18 points, while Evan Mobley contributed 16 points and 12 rebounds. Former Sun Ty Jerome also scored 16, but All-Star Donovan Mitchell struggled, finishing with just seven points on a dismal 2-of-18 shooting, including 0-of-8 from beyond the arc.

The Cavaliers appeared out of sync throughout the game, extending their struggles on their current West Coast road trip. The Suns, meanwhile, secured a crucial win in what has been a largely disappointing season, needing to navigate a tough remaining schedule featuring mostly playoff-contending teams in their quest for a play-in berth. Their next game is against Milwaukee on Monday, while the Cavaliers face Utah on Sunday.

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