Surging Cavs surprise Bucks, Suns scorch Jazz

As the Miami Heat maintained their hold on top spot in the east with a 110-96 victory over the New York Knicks, the Cavs slipped ahead of the Bucks and into fourth with their eighth win in nine games.

They moved up another spot when the short-handed Brooklyn Nets fell to Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets 124-118.

It's not so tight at the top in the West, where the Phoenix Suns improved their league-leading record with a 105-97 victory over the Utah Jazz.

Devin Booker scored 43 points to lead the Suns, setting a franchise record with the 16th 40-point game of his career.

He signaled his intentions with 21 points in the first quarter, three more than the Jazz managed as the Suns took a 39-18 lead.

Utah responded and trailed by just two at halftime. Down by 10 heading into the fourth quarter, the Jazz cut the deficit to two points with 2:14 to play only for the Suns to pull away for an eighth straight win.

In Cleveland, Kevin Love scored 25 points, Cedi Osman added 23 and the Cavaliers drained 19 three-pointers as they continued their impressive run of form.

"It was huge," veteran Love said of the victory over the reigning champions. "We beat a very, very good team tonight."

"And if we stay true to our principles and true to who we are as a team, I think the sky's the limit for us," Love added.

Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a one-game injury absence to score 26 points for Milwaukee. But the Greek star had seven of the Bucks' 19 turnovers -- which led to 31 Cavaliers points.

Bobby Portis scored 22 points and Khris Middleton chipped in 21 for the Bucks, who led by 12 in the first quarter, trailed by eight at halftime and never led in the second half.

In Miami, Duncan Robinson led the Heat with