Jock Landale has again demonstrated his value to NBA powers Phoenix as they advanced to a 5-1 season record with a 124-109 win over Houston.
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The Boomers big man scored all of his 16 points in the first half after coming off the bench and added seven rebounds in his 23 minutes on court in Sunday's home game before another sellout crowd.
The 27-year-old Australian has impressed Suns fans since arriving in an offseason trade less than two years after being named NBL grand final MVP with Melbourne United.
Devin Booker led the Suns scoring with 30 points while Cam Johnson added 19 as they won a fourth straight game, dropping the persistent Rockets to 1-6.
Booker shot 14 of 24 from the field on his 26th birthday, while fellow All-Star Chris Paul added a season-high 15 assists.
Landale is sure to see plenty of action this week as regular centre Deandre Ayton (left ankle sprain) missed his first game of the season and coach Monty Williams said he would be out for at least a week.
In Detroit, Saddiq Bey scored 28 points, Cade Cunningham was an assist short of a triple-double and Detroit beat defending champion Golden State 128-114 to end a five-game losing streak.
Steph Curry had 32 points and Jordan Poole added 30 for Golden State, who rested Klay Thompson and were coming off a 120-113 overtime loss in Charlotte on Saturday.
In Dallas, Luka Doncic became the first player since Michael Jordan in 1986 to score 30 or more points in each of his team's first six games as he bagged a season-high 44 for the Mavericks (3-3) in a 114-105 win over the Orlando Magic (1-6).
Doncic shot 17 from 26 from the field and had five assists and three rebounds.
"You could tell he was going to be ready to go," Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. "He came out and set the tone."
In Los Angeles, LeBron James scored 26 points and Anthony Davis added 23 to go along with 15 rebounds as their Lakers beat the Denver Nuggets 121-110 for their first win of the season.
Reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic had 23 points and 14 rebounds for Denver.
In Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell had 38 points and a season-high 12 assists to lead the Cavaliers (5-1) to a 121-108 win over the New York Knicks.
In Boston, Jaylen Brown scored 24 points and Jayson Tatum had 23 points, including five 3-pointers as their Celtics (4-2) downed the Washington Wizards (3-3) by 112-94.
Zion Williamson had 21 points and 12 rebounds in his return as his New Orleans Pelicans (4-2) routed the Los Angeles Clippers 112-91 in LA.
The San Antonio Spurs (5-2) beat the Minnesota Timberwolves (4-3) by 107-98 at home.
with AAP
Australian Associated Press
