Around the Association: Suns Can't Lose, Warriors' Youth Shines, KAT Tops The Joker

This article is part of our NBA Daily Recap series.

Welcome to Around the Association!  Five days per week (Monday through Friday), this article will serve as a comprehensive recap of the previous night's NBA action, taking you through all of the biggest performances, notable box scores, injury updates and any other fantasy-relevant headlines from around the league.

It was an exciting seven-game slate last night. Here is all you need to know:

Nightly Notables 

Suns win 11th straight with dub over Brooklyn

• The Phoenix Suns are quietly completely taking over the league. The Brooklyn Nets came into town while James Harden also made his return to the team as well, but the Suns were still able to prevail by a score of 121-111. This marked Phoenix's 11th straight win and puts the Suns at an NBA-best 41-9.
• Devin Booker was unstoppable in the victory, totaling 35 points (13-23 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 6-7 FT), six rebounds, two assists and one steal over 40 minutes. The Kentucky product is on fire as of late, averaging 32.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
  • Chris Paul continues to serve up dimes. The veteran point guard recorded 20 points (5-12 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 9-9 FT), four rebounds, 14 assists and two steals in 39 minutes. Paul is averaging a casual 15.7 assists per game over his last three contests.
  • Deandre Ayton made his return to the Suns' lineup during the win, finishing with 12 points (5-7 FG, 2-2 FT), six rebounds and one steal across 28 minutes. The 23-year-old center missed the team's prior seven contests and his return just adds a whole another element to Phoenix's offense.
  • Mikal Bridges: 27 points (10-14 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 6-7 FT), eight rebounds, four assists, one block and two steals in 40 minutes.
• Harden missed the team's last two contests but found himself back with the Nets during Tuesday's loss. The All-Star guard totaled 22 points (6-19 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 7-9 FT), five rebounds, 10 assists and one steal over 37 minutes. It is encouraging to see him have no playing time restrictions as he looks to help get Brooklyn get back on the right track.
  • Kyrie Irving: 26 points (10-20 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 3-4 FT), four rebounds, three assists and one steal over 37 minutes. 

Depleted Warriors rally to beat Spurs

• The Golden State Warriors were without the likes of Stephen Curry (toe), Klay Thompson (injury management), Andrew Wiggins (knee) and Draymond Green (back) when they traveled to San Antonio. The Spurs got up to a 17-point lead in the second half, but the young Warriors stormed back in the fourth quarter.
• After a wacky loose ball play, Jordan Poole was able to drill a corner three to take the lead and the Warriors ultimately won 124-120. The Michigan product absolutely balled out and was huge in the clutch for Golden State. He finished with a game-high 31 points (9-24 FG, 4-13 3Pt, 9-9 FT), six rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block over 33 minutes. 
  • This game really shined a light on the Warriors' impressive pair of rookies. Jonathan Kuminga ended with 19 points (8-15 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 1-1 FT), three rebounds, three assists and one block over 28 minutes. Moses Moody started once again and totaled 20 points (6-12 FG, 6-10 3Pt, 2-2 FT), seven rebounds and one assist over 36 minutes. Moody has reached double figures in four out of the five games this season where he has played at least 20 minutes. I am genuinely curious how much we will see of Kuminga and Moody over the final couple months of the regular season.
  • Damion Lee: 21 points (7-15 FG, 5-10 3Pt, 2-2 FT), five rebounds, two assists and two steals over 37 minutes.
• Dejounte Murray was not to fault for the Spurs' loss. The All-Star candidate totaled 27 points (12-21 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 2-3 FT), nine rebounds, nine assists, two steals and one block over 37 minutes. Over his last 11 outings, Murray is averaging an impressive 23.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 10.0 assists and 1.9 steals per game.
  • Keldon Johnson: 21 points (8-10 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 2-4 FT), three rebounds and four assists over 35 minutes. 

KAT and the Wolves take down The Joker

• Nikola Jokic entered Tuesday's contest as questionable with a toe injury, but still suited up for Denver's contest against the Timberwolves. However, Minnesota was on fire throughout the contest and cruised to a 130-115 win. Karl-Anthony Towns was elite in the win, totaling 24 points (8-12 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 7-8 FT), 10 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and one block over 27 minutes of action. KAT has been unstoppable over his past two appearances, totaling 27.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game over that span.
  • Jarred Vanderbilt had a productive outing against his former team. The rebounding wing ended with 18 points (8-12 FG, 2-4 FT), nine rebounds, two assists and two steals over just 18 minutes of play.
  • Taurean Prince: 23 points (8-12 FG, 6-9 3Pt, 1-2 FT), nine rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block over 24 minutes.
• Despite the losing effort, Jokic continued his absolutely incredible season with another strong performance. The reigning MVP ended with 21 points (6-12 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 8-9 FT), 16 rebounds, eight assists and one steal over 30 minutes. Jokic has averaged an absurd 28.9 points, 13.0 rebounds, 10.0 assists and 1.9 steals per game over his last eight appearances. 

Raptors get the best of Miami yet again

• The Raptors and Heat squared off once again after last weekend triple-overtime battle. The Heat got off to a quick start and were up by double-digits during the first half. However, the Raptors stormed back late in the game and ended up winning 110-106. Gary Trent is in the midst of the best scoring streak of his short career as he ended with 33 points (11-20 FG, 6-10 3Pt, 5-8 FT), two rebounds, one assist and one steal over 40 minutes of action.
  • This marked Trent's FIFTH straight 30-point outing, while he is averaging 32.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.8 steals per game over that span.
    • Fred VanVleet: 21 points (6-10 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 1-1 FT), four rebounds, six assists, three steals and one block over 38 minutes.
• Bam Adebayo went off despite coming up short in the end. The center finished with an efficient 32 points (13-17 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 6-7 FT), 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block over 35 minutes. This only marked Adabeyo's second 30-point outing of the season.
  • Jimmy Butler missed the Heat's last contest but was able to make his return for Tuesday's loss. The veteran wing produced 16 points (3-10 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 10-10 FT), eight rebounds, 12 assists and two steals over 40 minutes. Butler's playmaking has really stood out to me as of late, as he is averaging 10.3 dimes per game over his last three showings.

Best and Worst of the Night

• Best of the Night: Devin Booker - 35 points (13-23 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 6-7 FT), six rebounds, two assists and one steal over 40 minutes. 
• Worst of the Night: Anthony Edwards - Five points (2-8 FG, 1-6 3Pt), two assists and one block across 25 minutes. 
• Rookie of the Night: Moses Moody - 20 points (6-12 FG, 6-10 3Pt, 2-2 FT), seven rebounds and one assist over 36 minutes.
   

Quick Hitters

• Giannis Antetokounmpo went off in Milwaukee's 112-98 win over the Wizards. The game got decently close in the fourth quarter, but the two-time MVP was able to help push his team to victory with 33 points (14-21 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 5-5 FT), 15 rebounds, 11 assists and two blocks over 37 minutes of action. This marked Antetokounmpo's fourth triple-double of the season.
  • Jrue Holiday: 22 points (9-16 FG, 4-5 3Pt), five rebounds, two assists and two steals over 36 minutes.
• Kyle Kuzma continues to be one of the few bright spots for Washington as Bradley Beal (wrist) remains out. The first-year Wizard finished with a team-high 25 points (9-19 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 4-6 FT), 11 rebounds, two assists, one steal and three blocks over 35 minutes.
  • Montrezl Harrell: 20 points (9-15 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 2-4 FT) and five rebounds across 26 minutes.

• The Bulls were able to hang onto a 126-115 win over the Magic, although the game was a bit closer than the final score indicted. DeMar DeRozan shined with 29 points (8-17 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 8-8 FT),10 rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block over 37 minutes.
  • Ayo Dosunmu continues to emerge as one of the best rookies out of his class. The Chicago native recorded 13 points (4-7 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 2-2 FT), one rebound, nine assists and one steal over 36 minutes while hitting two clutch shots as well.
  • Zach LaVine: 26 points (8-17 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 8-8 FT), five rebounds and three assists across 35 minutes.
• Wendell Carter seems to always go off when he faces his former team. The one-time Bull finished with 24 points (11-15 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 1-1 FT), eight rebounds and six assists over 34 minutes. Carter has averaged 21.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game over his first five contests against his former team.
  • Franz Wagner: 22 points (9-16 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 1-2 FT), two rebounds, three assists and one steal over 33 minutes.

• Brandon Ingram made his return to the Pelicans lineup after missing the team's last five games due to an ankle injury. He finished with 26 points (8-18 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 9-10 FT), three rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal in 32 minutes before being ejected for celebrating a block on his former teammate Frank Jackson.
  • Jonas Valanciunas: 13 points (4-9 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 5-6 FT), 13 rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block over 29 minutes.
• Jerami Grant also made his return after missing Detroit's last 24 games with a thumb injury. The forward ended with 17 points (6-13 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 2-3 FT), one rebound and one assist across 29 minutes in his first action back. It will not surprise me if Grant gets dealt to a real contender in the coming week.
  • Cade Cunningham left Tuesday's contest early with a hip-injury. Hopefully it is nothing serious as the No. 1 overall pick was starting to find his groove over his last few outings. 

A Look Ahead to Wednesday Night

• The Wizards and 76ers square off in Philadelphia while the rumors of a Ben Simmons and Bradley Beal trade are starting to heat up
• Ja Morant looks to continue his dazzling play, this time at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks.
• The Nuggets look to bounce back when they travel to Utah to match up against the Jazz, who are still without Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell