Japanese point guard Yuta Tabuse made his third NBA game appearance Monday in his return from the injured list in the Phoenix Suns' 121-100 victory over the Orland Magic.
Phoenix improved to an NBA-best 18-3, its finest start in the franchise's 37-year history. The Suns have won 14 of 15 for the first time in eight seasons.
Tabuse, the first Japanese to play in the NBA, had no points after coming off the bench in the fourth quarter with 2 minutes, 18 seconds left in the game and the Suns leading 118-96.
Tabuse had been sidelined since early November with a quadriceps injury and was activated to the bench on Friday, replacing center Jake Voskuhl, who underwent an appendectomy last week.
Tabuse scored seven points in his NBA debut on Nov. 3 and played in another game three days later before being sidelined.