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Josh Giddey's Oklahoma City Thunder can be grateful the Dallas Mavericks are also struggling to win as they battle desperately to keep their NBA playoffs hopes alive.
Australian guard Giddey scored 16 points and provided eight assists and nine rebounds but the Thunder fell to a 128-118 home loss to the star-studded Phoenix Suns on Sunday night.
Kevin Durant - once a hero in Oklahoma City after leading the Thunder to the 2012 Finals - was roundly booed as he led the Suns with 35 points while Devin Booker had 22, Deandre Ayton 19 and Chris Paul 16.
Phoenix remained fourth in the Western Conference standings.
Oklahoma City, who are battling for a spot in the Western Conference Play-In tournament, lost for the third time in their last four games despite 39 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
With three games remaining against Golden State, Utah and Memphis, the Thunder remain in the final play-in spot - 10th - a game ahead of Dallas, who suffered a heartbreaking 132-130 loss to the Atlanta Hawks in overtime.
"We've got a week left in the regular season, and if (we) bring the same level of focus, competitiveness, physicality, execution (and) game plan … we'll be able to lay our head on the pillow at night," Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said.
"I just thought we played at a really high level today and they were just a better team on this day."
Despite boasting superstars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the Mavericks (37-42) have lost three straight and seven of their last eight and also have three games left.
Hawks star Trae Young made two free throws with 1.8 seconds remaining in overtime to deny the Mavericks in Atlanta on Sunday. He had been fouled by Irving, who scored 41 points. Following Young's free throws, Doncic, who scored 22 points, missed a last-second 3-pointer attempt.
The Hawks (39-39) moved back into eighth place in the Eastern Conference play-in race.
"We know the position we're in," said Mavericks coach Jason Kidd. "We're playing catch-up. We've got to find a way to win and right now we're coming up short."
with The AP
