NBA

It was the first home game for the Suns since they completed a trade with Brooklyn for Durant, who is recovering from a right knee injury and hasn’t played since Jan. 12.

The Kansas City Chiefs are the kings of the NFL after claiming the Lombardi Trophy by defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium, and the Phoenix Suns shocked the basketball world by pulling off a stunning trade with the Brooklyn Nets to acquire superstar Kevin Durant.

“Basketball is my life — a huge part of my life — always has been,” Ishbia said. “So when I realized I wasn’t good enough to be in the NBA, how can I one day maybe own a team?

"I’m going to spend a lot of time listening and learning, then make the adjustments to make this not only one of the best organizations in the NBA but also one of the best places to work," Mat Ishbia told The Associated Press.

Booker missed 21 games with left groin strain. The Suns had a stretch of nine losses in 10 games early in his absence but hung in well at the end and have won nine of 11.

Mortgage executive and former Michigan State guard Mat Ishbia is the new majority owner of the Phoenix Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, after the NBA’s board of governors approved his plan to purchase the controlling stake of those franchises from Robert Sarver.

Rowley’s departure was “shared internally” within the Suns organization on Monday.

Phoenix — with star guard Devin Booker close to returning from a groin injury — lost for just the second time in eight games.

The Suns are on a bit of roll despite missing Booker for the past several weeks.

Cam Johnson and Paul led the Suns with 22 points apiece. Deandre Ayton scored 19 points and grabbed 20 rebounds, but made just 6 of 20 shots. Paul added 10 assists.

Johnson was hot from the outset, scoring 16 points in seven minutes in the first quarter by making all six of his shots, including four 3-pointers.

The Suns have been hit hard by injuries over the past couple months. Now the team is starting to get its best players back, but the chemistry is a work in progress. Paul believes the adversity will help in the long run.

Cam Johnson got an All-Star-level ovation from the home crowd in the first quarter when he came to the scorer’s table, returning to the floor after losing 37 games to a knee injury.

The injury-depleted Suns have struggled as of late, losing nine of their last 10 games and falling to 12th place in the Western Conference.