New York Knicks' Comeback Tour Frozen By Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

Devin Booker's game-winning three-pointer denied the New York Knicks an upset victory over the Phoenix Suns.

Whereas their blue gridiron counterparts won through a missed late triple at MetLife Stadium on Sunday afternoon, similar luck evaded the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden hours later.

Devin Booker's three-pointer with less than two seconds left on the regulation clock proved to be the difference in a 116-113 victory over the hosting Knicks, ending their four-game winning streak on Manhattan hardwood.

Phoenix (11-6) won its seventh in a row to extend the Association's longest active winning streak (tied with Orlando) with Grayson Allen (illness), Bradley Beal (back), and Kevin Durant all sidelined due to various ailments. One triple from Booker, the last of 16 for the Suns and 28 points overall for the three-time All-Star, was enough to overcome five on 10 attempts from Jalen Brunson, whose outside showcase built a foundation for a Knicks-best 35 points.

Eric Gordon handled Phoenix's three-point duties for the first 47 minutes, sinking 6-of-9 en route to a season-best 25 points. Julius Randle (10-of-21 from the field) and Immanuel Quickley had 28 and 18 on their respective ledgers in defeat.

Sunday's game was near-deja vu for the Knicks (9-7), who welcomed in another scorching opponent after emerging clean on the other side of a 21-point deficit against the Miami Heat on Friday. Even with Durant, winner of 13 consecutive showdowns against the Knicks, removed at the last minute before tip-off, the struggle to contain Gordon's outside antics allowed the Suns to go up as much as 15. 

Gordon had 17 points primarily built by 4-of-6 shooting from deep while the Knicks' primary salvation was Brunson, who scored 20 points on 9-of-13 from the field. Knicks beyond Brunson were 12-of-30 in the first half but they nonetheless whittled the lead from 12 to eight by halftime. 

Devin Booker's sole triple of the night doomed the Knicks to a heartbreaking loss / Wendell Cruz, USA TODAY SPORTS

New York got the comeback started a bit earlier this time around, closing the third period out on a 26-11 run capped by Randle's successful and-one conversion. That gave the Knicks a brief lead before another Suns triple, this one sunk by Jordan Goodwin, set the stage for a fiery finale. 

Neither team led by more than six over the final dozen as each side had a response for a potential pull-away. MSG volume reached a fever pitch when Brunson's jumper tied the game at 113-all with just over 21 seconds remaining. Booker, however, was an instantaneous mute button, sinking the game-winner above the outstretched effort of Randle and RJ Barrett directly in front of the Knicks' bench. 

Knicks Get Sun Burned in Phoenix Despite 27 From Brunson

Brunson got a solid look in the aftermath but his potential tie-up clanked off the rim and doomed the Knicks to defeat. New York also fell to 2-6 in games against teams with active winning records and 2-3 in non-conference play with Sunday's defeat.

A rematch between New York and Phoenix will be staged in the desert next month. In the meantime, the Knicks' homestand continues on Tuesday night when they host the Charlotte Hornets in their In-Season Tournament group play finale (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG).