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Tag: NBA basketball

  • Austin Reaves hits 7 3-pointers, Lakers stun Celtics 114-105 without LeBron James, Anthony Davis

    Austin Reaves hits 7 3-pointers, Lakers stun Celtics 114-105 without LeBron James, Anthony Davis

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    BOSTON — LeBron James has been pleading for weeks for the Lakers’ supporting cast to provide him and fellow All-Star Anthony Davis some help as they fight to keep pace in a tight Western Conference playoff race.

    With the two franchise cornerstones watching from the bench, they finally got their wish.

    Austin Reaves scored a season-high 32 points and hit a career-high seven 3-pointers to help a Los Angeles team missing its biggest stars stun the Boston Celtics 114-105 on Thursday night.

    “We’re all talented players. And this was an opportunity to show the world what you can do,” Reaves said. “Before the game we come to together and was like, ‘Look, the least we can do is we can do is go out there and play as hard as we can and live with the results.”

    The result was perhaps the Lakers’ best victory of the season.

    The anticipated nationally televised meeting between the longtime rivals was tempered when James was ruled out because of a left ankle injury and Davis by an Achilles tendon issue and left hip spasms.

    That sentiment that the game would be a mismatch didn’t affect the remainder of the Lakers’ young roster.

    Reaves was 7 of 10 from beyond the arc. He also was fouled on one of the misses and made all three free throws. The Lakers hit 19 of 36 3-pointers, holding off the NBA-leading Celtics to end a two-game losing streak.

    D’Angelo Russell added 16 points, 14 assists and eight rebounds for the Lakers. Jaxson Hayes had 16 points and 10 rebounds.

    Jayson Tatum scored 23 points for the Celtics, who had 15 turnovers. Boston has lost three of its last five at home since starting the season 20-0 in TD Garden.

    “It just happens. Stretches of bad basketball happen,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “We can’t sit here and act like we’re too entitled for it to happen to us. It happens. And it’s a matter of how we respond to it and how we work through it.”

    Boston never got closer than seven points in the fourth quarter.

    Lakers big man Jarred Vanderbilt had 10 points, seven rebounds and three steals in 16 minutes. But he limped off the floor in the final minute of the first half as he tried to turn up court following a strip of Tatum. He sat out the rest of the game with what the team said was right foot soreness.

    The Celtics came alive with a 12-2 run in the third quarter that included four straight 3s to cut it to 77-71. Tatum brought the crowd to its feet during the surge after he dove onto the floor to tie up Rui Hachimura to force a jump ball.

    Thursday marked the first time this season both James and Davis have sat out the same game for Los Angeles, The Lakers began the day in ninth place in the West standings.

    Ham said before the game that the injuries are things both players have dealt with throughout the season. It is unclear how long either will be sidelined. James has played 44 of of 49 games this season. Davis has appeared in 46 games.

    Reaves said there’s no secret what they need to do when James and Davis return.

    “If you remember Bron’s quote the other night — ‘Go out and do your job.’ And I feel like that’s just what we did tonight,” Reaves said. “It wasn’t nothing special. It wasn’t like we was out there running a million set plays. We went out there and competed our (butts) off. We gave it 110% on the defensive end. We competed. We didn’t foul much. Just bringing those two back, we need to continue to do the same thing.”

    UP NEXT

    Lakers: At New York on Saturday night.

    Celtics: Host Memphis on Sunday night.

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  • Kevin Durant scores 33 points in Brooklyn return, leads Suns to 136-120 victory over the Nets

    Kevin Durant scores 33 points in Brooklyn return, leads Suns to 136-120 victory over the Nets

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    NEW YORK — Kevin Durant was cheered before the game, then booed when it started.

    His return to Brooklyn was on track be a noisy one, until he and the Phoenix Suns took the crowd out of the game with some relentless offense.

    “I love to shut the crowd up. Even though I love these people here, I love to shut them up,” Durant said after scoring 33 points to lead the Suns to a 136-120 victory Wednesday night.

    Durant added eight assists in his first game in Brooklyn since being traded to Phoenix nearly a year ago. He got a mixed reception early before leaving Nets fans little to cheer with 11 points in the third quarter, when the Suns outscored the Nets 42-26 after leading by three at halftime.

    “He put the team first, went out and competed, played team-first basketball, had eight assists and several other plays where made the extra pass and allowed his teammates to play through his double-teams and played a team-first type of game and ended up with 33 and eight,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said. “Hell of a performance.”

    Durant’s return earned the game a national-TV slot but it wasn’t much of a contest in the second half. The Suns, with Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, are trying to build a title contender, while the Nets — who not long ago had their own Big 3 with Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden — are 19-28 and outside playoff position.

    Jusuf Nurkic added 28 points and 11 rebounds for the Suns, overwhelming an undersized Nets team as the Suns won for the ninth time in 11 games. They improved to 3-2 on a trip that has stops remaining in Atlanta and Washington, Beal’s former home.

    “It’s tough. With a team like that you know they’re going to shoot well, just those three guys at a high level, so we had to pick our battles tonight,” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said.

    Booker finished with 22 points and Eric Gordon had 17. The Suns shot 62% from the field and 50% from 3-point range.

    Cam Thomas scored 25 points for the Nets, who had won two straight games. Mikal Bridges, who came to the Nets in the Durant trade, had 21 and Lonnie Walker IV added 19.

    The Nets played a tribute video for Durant — who had wrote on social media that he didn’t want one — before he was announced first among the Suns starters. He received cheers then, though was booed when he touched the ball in the early minutes.

    “That wasn’t going to stop me from just doing my job, regardless of how I was honored,” Durant said of the video, calling the Nets a classy organization for the way they treat former players.

    The swing of emotions was fitting, as Durant had said earlier this week that fans didn’t know how to feel about him. He brought hope of a first NBA championship to the Nets when he and Irving signed together in 2019, but left without ever getting close. Brooklyn won just one playoff series during that time in 2021, but Durant was disappointed with the way the Nets played while he was hurt the following season and asked for a trade in the summer of 2022.

    The Nets held onto him then, but moved him to Phoenix before last year’s trade deadline after Durant renewed his request after Irving had been moved to Dallas.

    The Nets were without Ben Simmons, who was sidelined with a bruised left knee just one game after returning from a 38-game absence with a pinched nerve in his lower back. Simmons came down awkwardly after blocking a shot in the fourth quarter Monday and Vaughn said the No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft’s knee was swollen, though an MRI exam showed no structural damage.

    The Suns broke it open in the third quarter with a 10-0 run that pushed an eight-point lead to 99-81. Durant had the first five points, and after Nurkic dunked, Durant scored while being fouled by Thomas, who is listed as 7 inches shorter. Durant stared for a few moments across the baseline toward the crowd, then held his fingers close together to indicate that Thomas was too small.

    The entire Nets team was too small. With Dorian Finney-Smith and Day’Ron Sharpe also sidelined, there was no ability to match up inside and Phoenix outrebounded Brooklyn 42-27.

    Phoenix played without starting forward Grayson Allen, who sprained his right ankle Monday in a victory in Miami.

    UP NEXT

    Suns: At Atlanta on Friday night.

    Nets: At Philadelphia on Saturday night.

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  • Trae Young scores 26 points, Hawks hand Lakers another double-digit defeat, 138-122

    Trae Young scores 26 points, Hawks hand Lakers another double-digit defeat, 138-122

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    ATLANTA — Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks knew the Los Angeles Lakers would be a bit weary after playing 24 hours earlier in Houston.

    So they came out running and gunning, handing LeBron James and the Lakers their second double-digit loss in as many nights.

    Young scored 26 points, knocking down his first six attempts from 3-point range, and the Hawks raced past Los Angeles 138-122 on Tuesday.

    “We knew they played last night, so we knew we needed to get up and down and run, play in transition and play fast,” Young said. “We knew as the game would go on, they would tire down. That’s what they did.”

    The Hawks seized control by ripping off three straight baskets to start the second half, pushing their lead to 17 points and forcing the Lakers to call a quick timeout.

    It didn’t help. Atlanta stretched the margin to 20 points and the Lakers never got any closer than 10 the rest of the way in a matchup of teams that reportedly have been in talks ahead of next week’s trade deadline.

    The Lakers, playing without Anthony Davis after a 135-119 loss at Houston on Monday, slipped back below .500 at 24-25. Austin Reaves scored 28 points and James added 20 in a lackluster performance before a standing-room-only crowd.

    “We could, on any given night, beat any team in the NBA,” James said. “But, on any given night, we can get our (butt) kicked by any team in the NBA. What’s our record? Under .500? There you go.”

    Dejounte Murray, who had 24 points for the Hawks, knocked down mid-range jumpers on three straight possessions midway through the fourth quarter to turn back any thoughts of a Lakers comeback.

    The Hawks guard has been mentioned as someone who might be moved with his team mired seven games under .500 despite its second straight victory.

    Jalen Johnson chipped in with 19 points for the Hawks, while Bogdan Bogdanovic and Saddiq Bey had 18 apiece. Seven players scored in double figures for Atlanta, which made 16 of 38 from beyond the arc and finished 52% from the field on 101 attempts.

    “We were making shots,” Young said. “Sometimes when you don’t make shots, it allows them to stay in the game, have a rhythm, feel good about themselves. But nights like tonight, when you make shots, they can’t have that feeling.”

    Davis missed his third game of the season, sitting out with what the Lakers listed as left hip and Achilles tendon issues. Jaxson Hayes started in his place and had six points and six rebounds.

    That was a far cry from the production of Davis, who is averaging 24.9 points and 12.1 rebounds per game.

    The Lakers also missed Davis at the defensive end.

    “You’ve got to have more communication through the course of the possession, because you’re gonna have a little slippage,” James said. “When A.D. is out there, he protects us on that third line of defense. When he’s not out there, there has to be constant communication.”

    There also were questions about whether the 39-year-old James would play on consecutive nights. But he went through his pregame routine and was in the starting lineup.

    “When I’m healthy enough to go out there and play, I just try to perform at a high level, help my teammates do great things out there on the floor, try to be productive,” James said. “Win, lose or draw, be satisfied with the way I approach the game.”

    He wasn’t satisfied with the way he shot from the free-throw line, going 4 of 9.

    “I’ve gotta be better,” said James, who had nine rebounds and eight assists.

    Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter played for first time since Dec. 20, coming off the bench to score six points in 16 minutes. He missed 19 games with right knee inflammation.

    Young hopes Hunter’s return signals better days ahead for the underachieving Hawks.

    “Any team can do it one night or two nights in row. We’ve just got be consistent with it,” Young said, “Hopefully we can string together some wins that propel us forward to where we want to go and need to be.”

    UP NEXT

    Lakers: Continue a six-game trip Thursday night at Boston.

    Hawks: Host Phoenix on Friday night.

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  • Jokic gets triple-double, Nuggets spoil Doc Rivers’ debut as Bucks coach with 113-107 win

    Jokic gets triple-double, Nuggets spoil Doc Rivers’ debut as Bucks coach with 113-107 win

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    DENVER — Doc Rivers saw the same thing coaching from the sideline Monday night as he did watching from his couch all season — a talented Milwaukee team that just needs a little more time to take shape.

    Also, that Nikola Jokic continues to be next-level at everything he does.

    Jokic spoiled Rivers’ debut as Milwaukee coach by recording his 14th triple-double of the season to help the Denver Nuggets surge by the Bucks, 113-107.

    “They’re great,” Rivers said of his new squad. “They’re a very coachable team.”

    Jokic finished with 25 points, 16 rebounds and 12 assists. Jamal Murray scored 35 for the Nuggets, who gained separation during a late 8-0 run.

    The game was a chance for Rivers to size up his built-to-win-now club. Bucks players made an instant impression with him — and he on them.

    “He did a great job commanding the team, leading the team,” forward Khris Middleton said. “It’s going to take time for us to get used to him and him to see what we’ve been doing and how we’ve been successful so far this season and in the past.”

    Rivers was lured out of his role as an analyst to take over for first-year Bucks coach Adrian Griffin, who was fired after 43 games and a 30-13 record.

    Embarking on his 25th season as an NBA head coach, Rivers alternated between arms folded, hands on his knees and hands on hips in moving up and down the sideline. He kneeled at times, clapped, consulted with Joe Prunty, the interim coach before Rivers’ arrival, and even showed frustration over a foul called on Brook Lopez late in the game for an illegal screen.

    Rivers watched his new team squander an early 13-point lead, fall behind by nine and then fight back before Aaron Gordon ended the comeback by blocking Damian Lillard’s layup attempt with 24.7 seconds remaining.

    The game featured 12 ties and nine lead changes.

    “I mean, that’s why I play — to play these kinds of games, to play under the pressure, to play tight games,” Jokic said. “I like to play under those circumstances.”

    The win was a milestone for Michael Malone — victory No. 400 as coach of the Nuggets.

    The significance?

    “It means that I’ve been here a long time,” Malone cracked.

    Giannis Antetokounmpo had 29 points and 12 rebounds for the Bucks, who began a five-game trip. The “Greek Freak” played nearly 37 minutes despite dealing with an illness that had his availability up in the air leading into the game. Had he missed the contest, it would’ve been the second straight game in which an NBA MVP didn’t play at Ball Arena. On Saturday, reigning MVP Joel Embiid was a late scratch for Philadelphia because of a balky left knee.

    But Antetokounmpo treated the capacity crowd to a high-flying exhibition (and was called for a 10-second violation on a free throw that electrified fans). He was named the NBA player of the week for the East earlier in the day.

    “I try to thrive in those moments as much as I can,” Antetokounmpo said of going against players such as Jokic. “And learn as much as I can.”

    Lopez had 19 points, including five of Milwaukee’s 16 3-pointers. Lillard finished with 18 points.

    Rivers conceded it will take a minute to settle in on the bench as he steadily meshes his style with the way the Bucks already play. He wants them flowing along and not overthinking.

    One thing he doesn’t have to remind them of — just how good they are. The Bucks feature several holdovers, led by Antetokounmpo, from the team that won the NBA championship in 2020-21.

    “They already know what the goal is,” Rivers said. “And they all know that the only way you reach that goal is it has to be ‘We’ — as a group.”

    UP NEXT

    Bucks: Lillard returns to Portland on Wednesday to face his former team. He spent 11 seasons with the Trail Blazers.

    Nuggets: Play at Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

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  • Grant has 27 and Blazers beat the 76ers 130-104 as Embiid nurses sore left knee

    Grant has 27 and Blazers beat the 76ers 130-104 as Embiid nurses sore left knee

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    PORTLAND, Ore. — Jerami Grant scored 27 points and the Portland Trail Blazers took advantage of reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid’s absence to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 130-104 on Monday night.

    Malcolm Brogdon added 24 points and nine assists for the Blazers, who had lost four of their previous five games. Rookie Scoot Henderson had 22.

    Kelly Oubre Jr. had 25 points for the 76ers, who lost their third straight as Embiid watched from the bench with a sore left knee. Philadelphia was also without Tyrese Maxey.

    Matisse Thybulle’s 3-pointer put Portland up 98-78 as Philadelphia struggled without Embiid, who was out for a second consecutive game. The Blazers led by 26 points in the final quarter.

    Embiid, who is averaging 36 points and 11.4 rebounds a game, also sat out of the 76ers’ game against Denver on Saturday. He appeared to injure the knee last Thursday against Indiana.

    It was Embiid’s 12th missed game this season. He can only miss five more to remain eligible for the league’s awards, including MVP, which he won last year.

    Maxey missed a second straight game because of a sprained left ankle.

    Tobias Harris, who missed the last two games with the flu, closed the first quarter with a 16-foot-jumper to give Philadelphia a 28-20 lead.

    Grant’s layup pulled the Blazers to 36-35 but Portland couldn’t pull in front until Deandre Ayton’s dunk late in the first half made it 54-53.

    The Blazers led 58-55 at the break and Grant led all scorers with 20 points.

    Portland pushed the lead to 73-63 on Jabari Walker’s layup. Brogdon put the Blazers up 80-63 with a layup midway through the third quarter.

    Patrick Beverley finished with 14 points for the Sixers, who pulled their starters midway through the final quarter. Only three Philadelphia players reached double figures.

    UP NEXT

    Sixers: Visit the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night.

    Trail Blazers: Host the Milwaukee Bucks and former teammate Damian Lillard, who was traded in the offseason.

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  • Saddiq Bey’s last-second dunk gives Hawks 126-125 win over Raptors

    Saddiq Bey’s last-second dunk gives Hawks 126-125 win over Raptors

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    ATLANTA — Saddiq Bey dunked in a Trae Young miss with 1.1 seconds left to lift the Atlanta Hawks to a 126-125 win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night.

    It was the fifth straight loss was for the short-handed Raptors.

    The Raptors had taken a one-point lead when a Young turnover in the backcourt led to a Scottie Barnes dunk with seven seconds remaining.

    Bey finished with a season-high 26 points and he also grabbed 13 rebounds. Young had 30 points and 12 assists as the Hawks overcame a night where they shot just 6 for 27 (22%) from 3.

    Clint Capela finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds for Atlanta and Jalen Johnson had 17 points and 12 rebounds.

    The Raptors were without three double-digit scorers in RJ Barrett (knee swelling , 19.2 ppg), Immanuel Quickley (quadriceps contusion, 15.5 ppg) and Jakob Poeltl (ankle sprain, 10.6 ppg).

    The absence of the 7-foot-1 Poeltl was particularly felt early, as the Hawks had five dunks in the first quarter and attacked the lane regularly. Atlanta finished with a 76-52 advantage in points in the paint and outrebounded the Raptors 51-46.

    Jordan Nwora had 24 points, nine rebounds and six assists off the bench for the Raptors in his third game since being acquired in a trade with the Pacers. He only scored three points in his first two games with the Raptors.

    Scottie Barnes had 24 points and eight assists for Toronto and Gary Trent Jr. added 16.

    Hawks guard Dejounte Murray was ruled out with hamstring soreness shortly before tipoff. The former All-Star who is averaging a career-high 21.2 points per game has been the subjects of trade talks. He had started all 45 games prior to Sunday.

    UP NEXT

    Raptors: Visit the Bulls on Tuesday for the second of a six-game road trip.

    Hawks: Host the Lakers on Tuesday.

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  • De’Aaron Fox scores 34 as Kings cool off Luka Doncic and beat Mavericks 120-115

    De’Aaron Fox scores 34 as Kings cool off Luka Doncic and beat Mavericks 120-115

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    DALLAS — De’Aaron Fox scored 34 points and Harrison Barnes had 20 to lead the Sacramento Kings to a 120-115 win over Dallas on Saturday night, cooling off the Mavericks’ Luka Doncic who had 28 points the night after scoring a franchise-record 73.

    “Fox was joking to me to just, ‘Don’t let (Doncic) put 70 on your head tonight,’ ” said Keegan Murray, who was the Kings’ primary defender on Doncic and scored 15 points. In the locker room afterward, Murray posed while wearing the team’s defensive player of the game crown.

    The Kings had a 23-point lead that dwindled to 114-108 with two minutes to play before Fox scored on a layup and a pair of free throws. Maxi Kleber converted his own follow with seven seconds left to pull Dallas within three. Barnes hit two free throws with 4.4 seconds to go.

    “When you have a lead like that, it’s natural that you just want to waste some time,” Fox said. “We’ve got to be able to finish a game better than that.”

    Kevin Huerter scored 18 and Domantas Sabonis had 17 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for his 27th consecutive double-double as the Kings won their third straight following a season-worst four-game losing streak. They’ve won the first two games of a season-long seven-game road trip.

    The Mavericks split their back-to-back after beating Atlanta 148-143 on Friday night when Doncic tied for the fourth most points in a game in NBA history behind only Wilt Chamberlain and Kobe Bryant.

    Doncic also had 17 assists and 10 rebounds on Saturday for his ninth triple-double this season, third in the NBA behind Nikola Jokic’s 13 and Sabonis’ 12.

    “With the depth that we have, he’s out there trying to do it by himself,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “That’s who he is. He loves to take on the world.”

    Grant Williams scored a career-high 27 points, matching a career best with seven made 3’s, and Tim Hardaway Jr. had 19 for Dallas.

    Doncic played a season-high 46:09 minutes after playing 44:43 on Friday night. He shot 9 of 26, hitting his first 3-pointer on nine attempts with 17 seconds to go. It was his lowest output since scoring 25 points in 32 minutes in a 16-point home loss to the Kings on Nov. 19.

    “I’m tired. I can’t wait to go to sleep, honestly,” Doncic said. “I thought we fought well. I’m proud of how this team fought. Obviously, we couldn’t get the win, but we fought really well.”

    Doncic was called for a technical foul early in the second quarter after being blocked twice within five seconds by Murray. At that point, his 4-of-12 shooting from the floor matched his total of missed field-goal attempts on Friday when taking 33 shots.

    The Kings had a season-high 10 blocks, nine in the first half.

    Dallas’ Kyrie Irving missed his third straight game after spraining his right thumb on Monday. He has missed 19 games this season. It was the 24th time in 46 games that Dallas has played without one or both of its stars.

    UP NEXT

    Kings: Visit Memphis on Monday night.

    Mavericks: Host Orlando on Monday night.

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  • Vassell, Wembanyama key rally as Spurs overcome Edwards’ big game to edge Timberwolves, 113-112

    Vassell, Wembanyama key rally as Spurs overcome Edwards’ big game to edge Timberwolves, 113-112

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    SAN ANTONIO — A wild night in San Antonio got even wilder as the Spurs upended the Minnesota Timberwolves.

    Devin Vassell had 25 points, Victor Wembanyama added 23 points and 10 rebounds and San Antonio rallied to beat Minnesota 113-112 on Saturday night in a game delayed five minutes by a bat buzzing the court.

    Anthony Edwards had 32 points and 12 rebounds as Minnesota had a two-game winning streak snapped.

    “They wanted it more,” Edwards said. “They got every loose ball. They got the loose ball that determined the game at the end. They just wanted it a lot more than we did.”

    Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns had 19 points each. Towns missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

    Minnesota (32-14) entered the game with a share of the Western Conference lead. San Antonio still has the West’s worst record even after two straight wins.

    Spurs coach Gregg Popovich called it the “The best win we’ve had” this season. It certainly was the strangest.

    Officials halted play two minutes into the game when a bat descended on the court seconds after Wembanyama made a 3-pointer.

    The Spurs’ mascot, The Coyote, captured the bat with a net after numerous failed attempts, much to the delight of Wembanyama and Jeremy Sochan. The Coyote had previously corralled two bats, and Manu Ginobili swatted another to the court with his bare hand in November 2009.

    The Spurs scattered each time the bat buzzed the court, except for Jeremy Sochan, who Popovich had to pull back at one point. Others hid, like Keldon Johnson.

    “I know my lane,” Johnson said. “Like, I’m borderline scared of the dark … so, the bat? That’s something like, nah that ain’t really up my alley. I was more scared. ”

    Wembanyama’s 3-pointer gave San Antonio a 112-107 lead with two minutes remaining, but he missed two free throws with the Spurs up 112-110. Johnson hit one of two free throws to put San Antonio up 113-112 to set up Town’s final shot.

    Johnson finished with 14 points for the Spurs.

    Doug McDermott’s 3-pointer put San Antonio up 93-92 with 8:40 remaining for their first lead since the opening minutes.

    The Spurs finished 13 for 30 on 3-pointers and had 35 assists on 46 baskets.

    “They play fast,” Edwards said. “Tre Jones pushed the tempo every single time he touches the ball. So, that’s great for them.”

    San Antonio outscored Minnesota 33-22 in the fourth quarter. Sochan and Vassell had seven points each in the fourth quarter and Wembanyama had three.

    Sochan finished with 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting. Sochan has scored 44 points in his last two games after being held to two points in a 140-114 loss to Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

    “I tell him I’m so proud of him because I feel like it has been an up and down year for him,” Johnson said. “Just to see him flourish, there’s nothing that makes me happier to see after all adversity. He’s persevering and shining and to see the smile and the energy that he’s bringing to the team, it’s really contagious. It makes me smile, man.”

    UP NEXT

    Timberwolves: At Oklahoma City on Monday night.

    Spurs: Host Washington on Monday night.

    ___

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  • Doncic scores franchise-record 73 points, tied for 4th in NBA history, as Mavs edge Hawks 148-143

    Doncic scores franchise-record 73 points, tied for 4th in NBA history, as Mavs edge Hawks 148-143

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    ATLANTA — Dallas coach Jason Kidd had no worries about Luke Doncic’s scoring spree disturbing the Mavericks’ game plan.

    “He is the game plan,” Kidd said.

    On a record-setting night, it was a winning plan.

    Doncic scored a franchise-record 73 points, tied for the fourth-most in NBA history and surpassed only by Wilt Chamberlain and Kobe Bryant, to power the Mavericks to a 148-143 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.

    Doncic blew past his personal best and team-record 60 points after scoring a team-record 41 points in the first half.

    His record night came only four days after Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid scored a franchise-record 70 points, then the most in the NBA this season, in the 76ers’ 133-123 win over San Antonio on Monday night.

    Through it all, Doncic kept looking for his teammates and contributing more than points. He grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds and led the Mavericks with seven assists.

    “The three assists are what he’s probably thinking about in the locker room to have a triple-double,” Kidd said.

    Doncic insisted the win was the biggest reason to celebrate after he overcame constant extra attention from Atlanta’s defense.

    “You’ve got to continue to play and have trust in your teammates,” Doncic said.

    A three-point play with 2:58 remaining gave Doncic 70 points. With Dallas leading 140-136, Doncic added another three-point play to cap his night.

    Against the team that drafted him in 2018, Doncic joined Chamberlain and David Thompson among players who scored 73 points. Chamberlain, who owns the NBA record with 100 points, also had a 78-point game, while Bryant finished with 81 points.

    “Those names are special,” Doncic said. “It’s unbelievable.”

    Doncic’s teammates doused him with a water shower in the locker room, as cheers were heard from the hallway.

    The Mavericks rode Doncic’s big game to end their three-game losing streak while handing the Hawks their fourth straight loss. Doncic made 25 of 33 shots from the field, 8 of 13 3-pointers and 15 of 16 free throws. The field goals made set another personal record.

    “He was hot. He was going,” said Trae Young, who led Atlanta with 30 points. “We were trying everything. We were trying to trap him.”

    Josh Green scored 21 points for Dallas, but Doncic carried the offense.

    “I’ve never seen anything like that,” Green said.

    Young’s 3-pointer with 5 seconds remaining trimmed the Dallas lead to 146-143. Jalen Johnson added 25 points and Bogdan Bogdanovic had 24 for Atlanta.

    Doncic scored 23 points in the second quarter after opening with 18 in the first.

    Doncic, who averages 33.6 points, nailed a 3-pointer with 4:48 remaining in the third quarter, giving him a season-high 51 points. He then took aim at his career high of 60 points, also the Dallas record, set against the New York Knicks on Dec. 27, 2022.

    The Hawks had no answer for Doncic. Jalen Johnson opened as Atlanta’s primary defender on the 6-foot-7 guard. Saddiq Bey, Dejounte Murray and others tried without success to slow Doncic’s high-scoring pace.

    Doncic’s milestone game came in his original NBA home — at least for a few minutes.

    Doncic was selected by the Hawks with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft before having his draft rights traded to Dallas for Young with the No. 5 pick and a 2019 first-round pick used to select Cam Reddish.

    Doncic scored 41 points in the first half to set a franchise record for points in any half. He made 17 of 22 shots from the field, including 6 of 9 3-pointers, in the half.

    The Mavericks’ previous high mark for points in a half was 34 by Dirk Nowitzki in the second half against Utah on Nov. 3, 2009.

    Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving missed his second consecutive game with a sprained right thumb. He was injured against Boston on Monday.

    Dallas forward Derrick Jones Jr. sprained his left wrist with 30 seconds remaining in the first half and did not return.

    Young cleared the concussion protocol after missing two games.

    The rematch between the teams, originally scheduled for April 5 in Dallas, has been moved to April 4, the league announced Friday.

    UP NEXT

    Mavericks: Host Sacramento Kings on Saturday. The Kings, who are one spot ahead of eighth-place Dallas in the Western Conference, won the first meeting between the teams, 129-113, on Nov. 19 at Dallas.

    Hawks: Host Toronto on Sunday.

    ___

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  • Ex-NBA guard Kevin Porter Jr. reaches plea deal, avoids jail time in NYC domestic assault case

    Ex-NBA guard Kevin Porter Jr. reaches plea deal, avoids jail time in NYC domestic assault case

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    NEW YORK — Former Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. has reached a plea deal in a New York City domestic assault case that will keep him out of jail if he completes a court-ordered treatment program and stays out of trouble.

    Porter, 23, pleaded guilty Tuesday to misdemeanor assault and a harassment violation in connection with an incident last September at a Manhattan hotel. Prosecutors have said Porter attacked his girlfriend, leaving her covered in blood with a deep cut above her right eye. She has since denied that, accusing prosecutors of pushing a “false narrative.”

    Under the agreement, Porter must complete a 26-week Abusive Partner Intervention Program or an equivalent program with a private counselor. He must also abide by a limited order of protection, attend all court dates and have no further arrests.

    If Porter complies, he’ll be able to withdraw his assault plea in a year and will be sentenced at that time to time served for the non-criminal harassment count, prosecutors said, effectively clearing his criminal record.

    “The resolution will allow Mr. Porter to put this incident, which involved false felony allegations and false facts, behind him with no criminal record and move forward,” Porter’s lawyers, Phillip Jobe and Stephanie Kelemen, said in a statement.

    Porter has not played since his arrest and is no longer on an NBA roster. The Rockets traded him in October to the Oklahoma City Thunder, which immediately cut him.

    Porter was arrested Sept. 11 after police say his girlfriend, former WNBA player Kysre Gondrezick, told them he repeatedly punched her in the face with a closed fist, causing an inches-long gash above the right eye, bruising and substantial pain to her face.

    Police said Gondrezick also alleged that Porter wrapped his hands around her neck and strangled her, causing her to have difficulty breathing, redness, bruising to her neck, and loss of motion to her left arm.

    Gondrezick disputed that account, saying her injuries “don’t support any of those claims.” She said prosecutors were slow to correct “false information,” pointing to the since-withdraw allegation in Porter’s initial charges that he had fractured one of her neck vertebrae.

    Messages seeking comment were left with Gondrezick’s lawyer and the Manhattan district attorney’s office.

    Gondrezick told the New York Post in October that she and Porter argued “for not even 10 seconds” in their room at the Millennium Hilton near the United Nations. She told TMZ in November that her injuries were the result of falling and hitting her head when Porter startled her awake when he came back to the room after a night out.

    “He didn’t hit me. He never balled his fists up and hit me,” Gondrezick told the Post. “And he definitely didn’t punch me in the face numerous times. That is a lie. I don’t have any injuries to support that.”

    Porter and Gondrezick started dating in February 2022, according to an anniversary message she posted on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter. She told TMZ that the Manhattan district attorney’s office’s handling of the case has “compounded my trauma even more than the actual experience.”

    Last season, Porter averaged 19.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game, earning a lucrative four-year extension with Houston.

    In November 2020, while playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Porter was arrested after police said they found a loaded handgun and marijuana in his car after a single-vehicle crash. Porter claimed he didn’t know the gun was there, and the charges were eventually dismissed.

    A 2019 first-round draft pick from the University of Southern California, Porter was traded from Cleveland to Houston a few months later after he reportedly blew up at the Cavaliers’ general manager after finding out that his locker had been moved to make room for a newly acquired player.

    In April 2021, the NBA fined Porter $50,000 for violating the league’s COVID-19 health and safety rules by visiting a Miami strip club. In January 2022, the Rockets suspended Porter for a game after then-coach Stephen Silas said the player had a “spirited debate” and “lost his temper” at halftime.

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  • Kristaps Porzingis scores 32 points, NBA-leading Celtics beat Rockets 116-107

    Kristaps Porzingis scores 32 points, NBA-leading Celtics beat Rockets 116-107

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    HOUSTON — Kristaps Porzingis scored 32 points and the NBA-leading Boston Celtics beat the short-handed Houston Rockets 116-107 on Sunday night.

    The Celtics improved to 33-10, rebounding from their first home loss of the season Friday night against Denver. Boston is 20-1 at home and 13-9 on the road.

    “Each night, it can be a different guy who has a good game,” Porzingis said. “We have that trust in each other that we’re willing to sacrifice to get a guy the ball if he’s having a good night, and tonight was my night. We just took advantage of the mismatches.”

    Porzingis was 11 of 20 from the field and 6 of 11 from 3-point range. He added five blocks. Derrick White had 21 points and 12 rebounds, Jayson Tatum scored 18 points on 4-of-17 shooting, and Jaylen Brown had 13 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his third career triple-double.

    “Teams are switching on- and off-ball and pressuring us so the ability to play in the post is something we have to continue to develop for the long-term success of this team,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “I thought he was great, and he stepped up tonight and played a great game.”

    Dillon Brooks led Houston with 25 points, hitting 5 of 15 from 3-point range. Alperen Sengun had 24 points and Jalen Green added 16. Rookie Amen Thompson finished with 15 points and a career-high 13 rebounds.

    Less than 24 hours after beating Utah 127-126 in overtime, Houston played without Fred VanVleet (lower back), Jabari Smith Jr. (ankle), Jeff Green (calf), Reggie Bullock (lower back) and Tari Eason (leg).

    “We played hard and played together,” Brooks said. “It’s good to know we have it in us to play at that level against one of the great teams in the NBA. We’ve got to figure out how to do it for 48 minutes.”

    Boston was without Al Horford (rest) and Jrue Holiday (right elbow sprain). Holiday’s brother, Aaron, had 12 points and five assists off the bench for Houston.

    The Celtics once again beat up on former coach Ime Udoka’s new team. The Celtics routed the Rockets 145-113 in Boston on Jan. 13.

    “We had our chances,” Udoka said. “Our focus and attention to detail was better on certain guys. We did a decent job on Jaylen Brown and Jayson all night — it was just that the others hurt us, especially offensive rebounds from some of their bigs.”

    The Celtics outrebounded the Rockets 56-49 and had 17 offensive rebounds, helping them outscore the Rockets 23-10 in second-chance points.

    “It’s something we’ve stressed this year, and it’s something we’ve gotten better at,” Mazzulla said. “On nights like this, it keeps baskets alive and gives us extra possessions.”

    UP NEXT

    Celtics: At Dallas on Monday night.

    Rockets: Host Portland on Wednesday night.

    ___

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  • Devin Booker scores 52 points, Suns rout Pelicans 123-109

    Devin Booker scores 52 points, Suns rout Pelicans 123-109

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    NEW ORLEANS — As Devin Booker’s hit his sixth 3-pointer of the night to eclipse the 50-point plateau, he turned and looked up about 15 rows behind the Phoenix Suns’ bench, where his father and grandfather were sitting.

    Booker scored a season-high 52 points in 37 minutes on the court — his second straight 50-point game against New Orleans — and the Phoenix Suns beat the Pelicans 123-109 on Friday night for their fourth straight victory.

    “I got 50 folks out there and I’m about to go see them,” said Booker, who played in high school on the Mississippi coast. “That’s where my main motivation comes, from all my family that’s here. They drive over every time I play here and I like to put no a show for them.”

    The last time Booker — who had 25 points in the first quarter — was in the Suns’ lineup against New Orleans he scored 58 points in a victory in Phoenix on Dec. 17, 2022. On Friday, he was 18 of 30 from the field, 6 of 11 on 3s and made 10 free throws without a miss.

    Booker reached 50 points for the sixth time in his career. He had a career-high 70 at Boston on March 24, 2017.

    “The guy’s just got an incredible killer instinct,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said. “He had that look in his eyes tonight.

    “It was a great team win, but Book was spectacular,” Vogel added. “He was able to torch these guys, but when the double-teams came, he shared it.”

    Kevin Durant added 26 points and Jusuf Nurkic grabbed 15 rebounds for Phoenix. The Suns shot 49.5% (46 of 93) and led by 30 points in the second half.

    Zion Williamson scored 24 points for the Pelicans, who didn’t shoot well enough to keep up with Booker and Co. New Orleans missed 32 of 42 3-point shots — two nights after making a franchise-record 25 from deep in a blowout victory over Charlotte.

    “They kind of knocked us on our heels early,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “Once they did, it was just hard for us to get back into a rhythm.”

    More than his team’s off night shooting from the outside, Green was bothered by his starters’ defensive effort.

    “That’s where their biggest struggles are. We have talked about it and had honest discussions,” Green said. “They can score, but we’ve got to guard.”

    The arena was packed to the top row of the upper deck for what looked to be a matchup between a pair of ascending teams in the Western Conference.

    Revved up from the opening tip, the crowd exploded when Ingram hit a 15-foot pullup in the opening minute for the games’ first points. The was the largest Pelicans lead they saw all night, and it was short-lived.

    Booker responded with a 3 and went on to hit nine of his first 11 shots on a mix of pull-ups, turnarounds, fades, floaters and three 3s to reach 25 points before the first quarter ended.

    “When he starts off aggressive, looking to score, that just opens the floor up for everybody,” Durant said. “I expect this from him when we go out there — I’m not saying 50 points — but that aggressiveness, the shot-making.”

    The Pelicans, by sharp contrast, missed 17 of their first 19 3-point attempts.

    Phoenix led by 23 in the second quarter before the Pelicans managed to trim their deficit to 17 by halftime at 69-52, thanks for a 7-0 run the featured Trey Murphy III’s 3 and Williamson’s alley-oop dunk.

    But Booker went about squelching any momentum the Pelicans hoped to have gained in the second half. He scored 20 points in the third quarter, and the Suns led 100-80 heading into the final period.

    UP NEXT

    Suns: Host Indiana on Sunday night.

    Pelicans: Host Utah on Tuesday night.

    ___

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  • Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević, 46, dies in Salt Lake City after heart attack

    Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević, 46, dies in Salt Lake City after heart attack

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    Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević, a mentor to two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and a former star player in his native Serbia, died Wednesday in Utah after suffering a heart attack, the team announced. Milojević, part of the staff that helped the Warriors win the 2022 NBA championship, was 46.

    Milojević died in Salt Lake City, where he was hospitalized Tuesday night after the medical emergency happened during a private team dinner. The Warriors had been scheduled to play the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night, a game the NBA postponed.

    “We are absolutely devastated by Dejan’s sudden passing,” coach Steve Kerr said in a statement released by the team. “This is a shocking and tragic blow for everyone associated with the Warriors and an incredibly difficult time for his family, friends, and all of us who had the incredible pleasure to work with him.”

    Milojević’s death elicited a massive and immediate outpouring of sympathy from the basketball community, and moments of silence were held Wednesday before NBA games. Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra called the news “horrific.” Atlanta forward Bogdan Bogdanovic — a Serbian, like Milojević — politely declined comment Wednesday before the Hawks’ game, saying “I’m sorry. I can’t talk about it right now. I feel so bad,” while tapping his chest. San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich raved about how good a coach Milojević was.

    “You changed my life in such a short time,” Warriors rookie Brandin Podziemski wrote on social media. “The most important thing you ever told me was to just smile! Your joy and laughs will forever be missed. Shine down on us from heaven.”

    Milojević was in his third season with the Warriors. He previously coached in Serbia — where he once worked with a young Jokic before the now-Denver Nuggets star came to the United States — along with Montenegro, plus had been an assistant coach for the Serbian national team alongside current Atlanta assistant Igor Koskoskov.

    “The NBA mourns the sudden passing of Golden State assistant coach Dejan Milojević, a beloved colleague and dear friend to so many in the global basketball community,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said.

    Milojević worked closely with Jokic, Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac, Orlando center Goga Bitadze and Houston center Boban Marjanovic, among others, during his time as a coach in Europe. With the Warriors, he worked primarily with the big men like Kevon Looney, who raved about Milojević’s attention to detail.

    “Rest in peace, Deki,” Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic wrote on social media.

    Kerr said he originally learned of Milojević from Kent Lacob, the son of Golden State owner Joe Lacob. And when the Warriors went through some staffing changes in 2021, Kerr decided to pursue Milojević. It took some convincing, but Milojević finally agreed to take the offer. Kerr was thrilled.

    “I immediately saw what Kent was talking about,” Kerr said in a video produced by the Warriors last year. “He was so great to be around. At the same time, he had this amazing basketball background both as a player and a coach. It made so much sense for us to bring Deki in.”

    Milojević won three consecutive MVP awards in the Adriatic League, taking those trophies in 2004, 2005 and 2006 when the 6-foot-7, 240-pound power forward was at the peak of his playing career. Jokic was MVP of that league in 2015, a year after current Golden State forward Dario Saric was MVP.

    His potential in the game came early: Shortly after he began playing, Milojević scored 141 points in a game as a 14-year-old in 1991.

    “I teach all my players that basketball is not a job, but that they should enjoy the game,” Milojević told Bosnian radio-television outlet RTV in a 2018 interview. “Because if you want to do something for the next 20 years, then you have to love it a lot. It’s not easy to endure all these efforts if you don’t like something. Only those who have a sincere love for the game can handle everything with great success.”

    Before joining the Warriors, Milojević had NBA experience through Summer League assistant coach stints with Atlanta, San Antonio and Houston.

    Toronto coach Darko Rajaković said he had known Milojević since he was a teenager.

    “He was a role model as a player, as a man, as a husband, as a coach — somebody that I really admired and have a lot of respect for,” Rajaković said. “Unfortunately, last night, his heart stopped working and he left his wife and two kids behind and a big, big legacy.”

    Added former Golden State assistant and current Sacramento head coach Mike Brown: “Not only was he an extremely talented coach, he was an even better person.”

    A rescheduled date for the Warriors-Jazz game was not immediately announced. The Jazz said tickets for Wednesday night would be honored at the rescheduled game. Golden State is next scheduled to play at home Friday against Dallas.

    Milojević is survived by his wife, Natasa, and their children, Nikola and Masa.

    “Their loss is unfathomable,” Kerr said.

    ___

    AP Sports Writer Paul Newberry in Atlanta and Associated Press Writer Ian Harrison in Toronto contributed to this report.

    ___

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  • Devin Booker scores 34 points, Suns hold off Trail Blazers 127-116

    Devin Booker scores 34 points, Suns hold off Trail Blazers 127-116

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    PORTLAND, Ore. — Devin Booker had 34 points and the Phoenix Suns held off the Portland Trail Blazers 127-116 on Sunday night for their second straight victory.

    Bradley Beal added 23 points, Kevin Durant had 21 and Grayson Allen 20. The Suns, whose biggest lead was 17 points, let Portland narrow the gap to four points midway through the final quarter.

    Rookie Scoot Henderson had a career-high 33 points and nine assists for the short-handed Trail Blazers. They have lost four straight and eight of 10. The skid includes a 139-77 loss at Oklahoma City that tied for the fifth-worst setback in NBA history.

    Henderson had a fast-break layup and Rayan Rupert added a 3-pointer to pull Portland to 111-107 with 6:33 left, but the Suns answered with a 10-2 run and the Trail Blazers couldn’t get any closer.

    “We just got sloppy with the basketball,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said. “When you have a lead in the fourth the other team is going to turn up the pressure, and we’ve got to handle it better than we did tonight.”

    Beal agreed.

    “I think the biggest thing is just staying aggressive,” Beal said. “Too passive, too lax, too comfortable — just be aggressive man, keep putting our foot on the gas. Close out games a lot better than we have.”

    Booker was 14 of 22 from the field — with five of the misses coming on 1-of-6 3-point shooting — and made all five of his free throws. He also had seven assists and six rebounds and no turnovers.

    Portland had just eight available players. The Blazers announced before the game that Jerami Grant and Matisse Thybulle would not play because of illness.

    They joined an already sizable list of unavailable players, among them Deandre Ayton (knee) Ibou Badji (hip) Malcolm Brogdon (adductor soreness) and Shaedon Sharpe (adductor soreness).

    Portland coach Chauncey Billups said Ayton, who played for the Suns before coming to the Blazers in the offseason, is close to a return. He has missed 11 games.

    “We were incredibly undermanned, obviously, in the game, but I told the guys, `Play fast, play fun, share the ball and help each other on defense. Just play free.′ And they did that and it was just fun,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. “It was fun watching them, it was fun coaching. So many guys played well.

    The Suns were without Bol Bol, who was sore after practice Saturday and will be reevaluated Monday.

    Phoenix was coming off a 127-109 road victory over the Lakers on Thursday night.

    Despite the absences, Portland led by 33-26 in the first quarter after Rupert’s 3-pointer. It was close until the Suns began to pull away midway through the second quarter, when Allen’s running 3-pointer put Phoenix up 57-49.

    The Suns went into the half ahead 71-62, led by Allen and Booker with 15 points apiece.

    Allen’s 3-pointer gave Phoenix a 100-85 lead in the third quarter and Booker scored 15 of his points during the period.

    Anfernee Simons’ 3-pointer closed the gap for Portland to 106-95 early in the final period. The Blazers got within single digits when Rupert’s 3-pointer made it 109-102 with 8:29 left.

    Jusuf Nurkic, who was traded from the Blazers to the Suns last summer, finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds.

    It was the fourth and final meeting between the two teams this season. The Suns won three.

    The crowd for the game was spotty due to wintery weather in Portland that shut down the city’s light rail system.

    UP NEXT

    Suns: Host Sacramento on Tuesday night.

    Trail Blazers: Host Brooklyn on Wednesday night.

    ___

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  • Thompson scores 30, lifting Warriors to 140-131 win over Bulls

    Thompson scores 30, lifting Warriors to 140-131 win over Bulls

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    CHICAGO — Klay Thompson scored 30 points and Stephen Curry scored 15 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter as the Golden State Warriors used a big second-half turnaround to beat the Chicago Bulls 140-131 on Friday night.

    Thompson and Curry started slow, missing a combined 10 of their first 11 shots from the field. But the tide turned at halftime, with Thompson making five 3-pointers and scoring 17 as the Warriors pulled to a 16-point lead entering the fourth.

    “It’s nice to win a game like that where I know individually I can shoot the ball better but we won a game collectively,” Curry said. “We have a standard that we want to live up to for ourselves. The disappointment is you know you can play better. It doesn’t mean we’re going to win every game, but you just want to play better. I think we did that tonight.”

    Curry finished 8 of 24 from the field, but had nine assists as the Warriors needed just over five minutes in the third quarter to erase a 13-point halftime deficit. Andrew Wiggins finished with 17 points and eight assists for Golden State, who had dropped their last two games at home. Jonathan Kuminga chipped in 24 points off the bench.

    “This was a game we felt we had to win, especially with the upcoming road trip,” Thompson said. “When our spirit is right, things tend to go our way.”

    DeMar DeRozan scored 39 points to lead the Bulls, who lost while shooting a 58.1% from the field. Only one team gives the ball away less often than the Bulls on average, yet the Warriors won the turnover battle 12-3. Zach LaVine scored 25 points with eight rebounds and seven assists in the first game the Bulls have lost since he returned from injury.

    Coby White scored 21 of his 25 points in the first half, including a 29-foot jumper with 1.1 seconds remaining to send the Bulls into halftime ahead 75-62, their highest-scoring half of the season.

    White’s driving layup with 2:57 left in the game drew the Bulls within four, but they got no closer.

    “They did a great job adjusting, coming out changing up the game plan,” DeRozan said of the Warriors. “You can never count them out no matter how big of a lead we have.”

    The Bulls recognized 13 franchise luminaries as well as the 1995-96 championship team during a Ring of Honor ceremony at halftime. But the affair was marred by United Center fans booing former general manager Jerry Krause, leaving his widow, Thelma, visibly upset.

    The Warriors played without four regulars, with guard Moses Moody expected to miss the entire four-game road trip with a left calf strain. Chris Paul is out with a left hand fracture, Gary Payton II is recovering from a left hamstring strain, and Draymond Green is still ramping up conditioning after his suspension.

    “I can’t wait until Draymond is back,” Thompson said. “We’re not the Warriors without him. Hopefully within these next couple of games, maybe Memphis or Utah would be great. I think he makes the biggest impact defensively.”

    UP NEXT

    Warriors: Continue a four-game road trip in Milwaukee on Saturday night.

    Bulls: Facing the Spurs at San Antonio on Saturday night.

    ___

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  • Jalen Johnson stars as Hawks outlast Embiid-less 76ers, 139-132 in overtime

    Jalen Johnson stars as Hawks outlast Embiid-less 76ers, 139-132 in overtime

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    ATLANTA — Jalen Johnson hit two tying free throws in overtime and then added a go-ahead 3-pointer with 39 seconds remaining, sending the Atlanta Hawks to a 139-132 victory over Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night.

    Johnson, who had 25 points and 16 rebounds, added two more free throws with 13 seconds remaining to help close it out.

    Maxey had 35 points, nine assists, eight rebounds and four steals. Tobias Harris added 32 points for the 76ers, who played without Joel Embiid and suffered their third straight loss.

    Trae Young’s 3-pointer in the opening minute of the fourth quarter gave Atlanta its first lead of the second half. The Hawks stayed in front until Maxey’s jam gave the 76ers a 122-121 lead. Maxey added a 3-pointer that pushed the advantage to four points.

    Trailing 125-124, Atlanta called a timeout with 15 seconds remaining in regulation. Maxey was called for a foul on Young’s drive to the basket with 12.1 seconds to go. A review upheld the foul. Young missed the first free throw but made the second. Maxey missed a late chance to end the game in regulation.

    The Hawks snapped a two-game losing streak with their first win over the 76ers in three tries this season. Young scored 28 points and Dejounte Murray had 25.

    Each team held out its starting center because of an injury. Embiid, the reigning NBA MVP, missed his second consecutive game with swelling in his left knee. Paul Reed was the fill-in starter.

    Atlanta’s Onyeka Okongwu had 19 points and 11 rebounds as the fill-in starter for Clint Capela (right Achilles tendon soreness). Hawks small forward De’Andre Hunter (right knee inflammation) missed his ninth consecutive game.

    Embiid did not travel with the team to Atlanta but worked on the court in Philadelphia. When asked if he expects Embiid to play against Sacramento on Friday, coach Nick Nurse said: “I’m hoping so. We’re still kind of going day to day.”

    The Hawks emphasized Okongwu early as they attempted to take advantage of Embiid’s absence. Okonguw, whose career high is 21 points, scored 11 of Atlanta’s first 18 as Reed was called for two early fouls.

    Philadelphia forward Robert Covington also did not play due to swelling in his left knee.

    The Hawks played the first of five consecutive home games. Atlanta’s 14 home games before Wednesday night were the fewest in the league. The Hawks had not played so few home games in their first 35 overall games since their 1967-68 inaugural season in Atlanta.

    UP NEXT

    76ers: Host the Kings on Friday night.

    Hawks: Host Indiana Pacers on Friday night.

    ___

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  • Warriors forward Draymond Green committed to playing without 'antics' that have plagued him

    Warriors forward Draymond Green committed to playing without 'antics' that have plagued him

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    SAN FRANCISCO — Draymond Green is vowing a commitment to playing without the “antics” that have plagued him on the court throughout his career, working over the past month on ways to control his emotions and not let hostility take over.

    Oh, yes, he still plans to compete on the edge and isn’t promising he will be perfect during this process.

    “Antics isn’t something that got me here, and so when I look back on these situations it’s like, ‘Can you remove the antics?’ I’m very confident I can remove the antics,” Green said, “and I’m very confident that if I do remove the antics, no one’s worried about how I play the game of basketball. Nobody’s worried about how I carry myself in the game of basketball but it’s the antics. So that’s my focus.”

    Through therapy, Green said he has learned techniques to better deal with tense moments during games when he has previously lost his cool, embracing the idea of improving himself after being disciplined by the NBA with an indefinite suspension last month.

    “As far as not crossing the line with a referee, yes, that’s a big point of emphasis for me, and knowing and understanding where that line is,” Green said, speaking for more than 35 minutes Tuesday following his first formal practice since being reinstated Saturday from a 12-game league suspension.

    He added it’s about “developing a practice, developing a routine” — and the NBA, Warriors and others supported him in how that might look.

    Still, Green insists he has “cost my team enough” and feels a sense of urgency to get back on the court and help the Warriors. He doesn’t have a return date: “Not yet but I’m pushing to make that as soon as possible.”

    “Accepting what the league handed down was the easy part from a personal standpoint,” Green said.

    He noted that a positive of the indefinite timeline was focusing on “being in a better space” without the stress of focusing on an immediate return to basketball. He even contemplated retirement and didn’t touch a ball for “the first 10 days because it was the least important thing to me.”

    For now, Green will prepare for how he handles himself going forward.

    “Going into anything, you can only best prepare yourself for what moments you may face and then you’ll be put to the test,” he said. “What is real is preparing yourself and doing a lot of self work so that when you are in these moments you know where you can turn to.”

    Coach Steve Kerr said he has spoken to Green about finishing this special run with the Warriors on a positive note. They also discussed the idea of “no more buts,” such as giving an apology without explanation and then moving forward — a combination of humility with his bravado.

    “Let’s do it the right way, let’s do it with dignity, let’s do it with competitive desire, let’s do it joyfully,” Kerr shared of his message.

    “He’s obviously still a huge part of this thing.”

    Green rejoined the Warriors on Sunday for a walk-through and then sat on the bench for a loss to Toronto. It wasn’t clear when he would return to game action — but Kerr said Green would need to do some scrimmaging to determine his status.

    Green said he received applause from teammates as he reintegrated into a film session that was appreciated but not necessarily deserved.

    He served his second suspension this season, this time for hitting Phoenix center Jusuf Nurkic in the face on Dec. 12.

    The fiery Warriors forward also had previously served a five-game suspension in November for putting a chokehold on Minnesota big man Rudy Gobert.

    Last season during training camp, Green took a leave of absence from the 2022 NBA champions in what Kerr called a “mutual decision” after he violently punched then-teammate Jordan Poole in the face.

    The league announced Saturday the end of Green’s indefinite suspension, saying he “demonstrated his commitment to conforming his conduct to standards expected of NBA players” during the penalty that began Dec. 14. Green has met with a counselor as well as having multiple joint meetings with representatives of the league, the Warriors and the National Basketball Players Association.

    The 33-year-old Green, a key member of four Warriors championships, was ejected for the 18th time in his career — most among active NBA players — during that 119-116 loss at Phoenix.

    Green noted he also wants his children to see him trying to be a better example and exhibiting growth from the mistakes he has made.

    “If I can help one person grow, great,” Green said. “My goal is that a lot of people can learn from it. My goal most importantly is to grow. … I’ll probably mess up along the way and that’s all a part of growing.”

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  • Draymond Green back on the practice floor with Warriors after suspension

    Draymond Green back on the practice floor with Warriors after suspension

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    SAN FRANCISCO — Draymond Green returned to the practice floor Sunday with the Golden State Warriors, one day after being reinstated by the NBA following a 12-game suspension.

    He was also on the bench as the Warriors hosted the Toronto Raptors, involved in the huddles during timeouts.

    “It was great, we missed him dearly and we’ll never be the same until he’s in the lineup,” Klay Thompson said after a 133-118 loss. “We are eager for his return on the court and he is obviously the backbone of this team and heart and soul, so I’m looking forward to just playing and be out there with Draymond again. He’ll be a difference maker.”

    Coach Steve Kerr wasn’t sure when Green might be ready to play in a game again after the prolonged time away working on himself in the wake of hitting Phoenix center Jusuf Nurkic in the face on Dec. 12.

    “He’s here, he looks good, he’s excited to be here,” Kerr said before the game. “We just had our walkthrough, so he took part in the walkthrough. Good to have him back.”

    For now, Green will begin his regular shooting routine again and work daily with vice president of player health and performance Rick Celebrini to determine his fitness and readiness for game action. That will include a ramp up of scrimmaging in a similar way the Warriors do with a player coming back from injury.

    “We’ll just see,” said Kerr, who doesn’t know how much Green might have played basketball during the absence. “I have no idea when that will be.”

    The emotional Warriors forward also had previously served a five-game suspension in November for putting a choke hold on Minnesota big man Rudy Gobert.

    The league announced Saturday the end of Green’s indefinite suspension, saying he “demonstrated his commitment to conforming his conduct to standards expected of NBA players” during the penalty that began Dec. 14. Green has met with a counselor as well as had multiple joint meetings with representatives of the league, the Warriors and the National Basketball Players Association.

    The 33-year-old Green, a key member of four Warriors championships, was ejected for the 18th time in his career — most among active NBA players — during that 119-116 loss at Phoenix.

    Kerr and the Warriors are hoping Green can come back and still be the fiery player that makes him so good but do so without crossing the line and going too far. He brought an energy and lift of the spirits just being back at Chase Center.

    “For sure,” Kerr said. “Everybody’s excited to see him, it’s great to have him back. He’s one of our leaders and he’s happy to be back, so it’s a good vibe in there.”

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  • Banchero records 1st triple-double, hits go-ahead free throws as Magic hold off Nuggets 122-120

    Banchero records 1st triple-double, hits go-ahead free throws as Magic hold off Nuggets 122-120

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    DENVER — Paolo Banchero was pleased with his first career triple-double. What made it even better was its central role in a stirring comeback.

    Banchero hit a pair of go-ahead free throws with 9.7 seconds remaining and the short-handed Orlando Magic rallied Friday night for a 122-120 win over the Denver Nuggets.

    The young Magic forward finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. He hit four free throws in the last 34.6 seconds in a game where the Magic trailed by as many as 18 points in the third quarter.

    “Just the power of just positive energy and just pushing each other,” said Banchero, who was 15 of 19 from the free throw line. “We just told each other, ‘We’re all we got. We’re going to live with the result, whatever it is, but we’re not just going to roll over and let these guys blow us out.’”

    With the game tied at 120, the Nuggets had a chance to take the lead. But Moritz Wagner stole a pass from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and fed it to Banchero, who drew a foul and made the free throws.

    The final play of the game was designed to go to either Jamal Murray or Nikola Jokic, but the Magic defended it well. Murray’s 10-foot floater rimmed out at the buzzer.

    “Sometimes, we miss,” Jokic explained. “Sometimes, we make.”

    Like the night before, when the Nuggets rallied from an 18-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Golden State Warriors on Jokic’s buzzer-beating 40-foot jumper.

    Trailing 78-60 midway through the third, the Magic found their rhythm against a Nuggets team that showed signs of fatigue down the stretch. Orlando hit 17 3-pointers and went 23 of 34 from the free-throw line.

    “We lost this game in the third quarter,” said Nuggets coach Michael Malone, whose team was outscored 41-31 in the pivotal quarter. “It’s back-to-back nights where our third-quarter defense has been just completely nonexistent. … As I told our guys, whatever you’re doing at halftime, it’s not working — individually and collectively.

    “Disappointing outcome.”

    Jalen Suggs had a career-high 27 points for an Orlando team that went 1-3 in a four-game swing out West.

    The Magic had a lengthy list of players sitting out Friday, including Markelle Fultz (left knee), Gary Harris (right calf), Wendell Carter Jr. (right knee), Joe Ingles (left ankle), Jonathan Isaac (right hamstring), Goga Bitadze (illness) and Franz Wagner (right ankle).

    “It speaks volumes to the character that we have on this team,” said Suggs, who was 7 of 9 from 3-point range. “Not only next man up, but the confidence to trust and believe in each other. We weren’t walking out there like, ‘Oh, let’s just get it over with and go back home.’ We wanted to go win the game.”

    Jokic led Denver with 29 points in a game where Malone utilized 11 players to spread out the minutes. Michael Porter Jr. had 22 and Murray 20. They’re still working on getting everyone involved within the flow of the offense.

    “It’s tough, because we do have a lot of guys who game-to-game, it could be a different hot hand,” Porter said. “That’s a blessing and a curse, sometimes. Maybe the answer is staggering a couple starters with the bench unit. I don’t really know the answer. I do feel like there are times in the game where Aaron (Gordon) doesn’t touch the ball for an extended period of time. Or myself … It’s definitely a tough balance to find.

    “That’s really up to the coaches. That’s their job. That’s not our job. So we just do what we’re told, try to space the floor the right way, play through big fella. That’s all we can do. As the season goes on, we’ll continue to get better and better at finding that balance.”

    UP NEXT

    Magic: Return home to play Atlanta on Sunday night.

    Nuggets: Host the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night.

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  • Tyler Herro scores 21 points, Heat pull away in 4th quarter to beat Lakers 110-96

    Tyler Herro scores 21 points, Heat pull away in 4th quarter to beat Lakers 110-96

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    LOS ANGELES — Tyler Herro scored 21 points, Duncan Robinson had 11 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter and the Miami Heat beat the Los Angeles Lakers 110-96 on Wednesday night.

    Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 16 points and Nikola Jovic and Bam Adebayo scored 15 apiece as all eight Miami players who saw action scored in double figures. Kevin Love had a season-high 14 rebounds along with 10 points.

    The Heat led most of the game, but Christian Wood’s driving layup and free throw to complete a 3-point play got Los Angeles to 74-72 with 10:46 remaining in the fourth quarter.

    Miami responded with a 10-2 run that included 3-pointers by Robinson and Jaquez. Robinson’s perimeter shot from the corner near the Lakers’ bench extended the lead to 77-72 and was the catalyst that got the Heat going the rest of the way.

    “Duncan’s first half 3s were more wide open than the one that he hit in front of their bench at the end of the clock. I think that’s where he’s dangerous. He’s ignitable. He sees one go and I think that’s where it changed for him,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We ended up basically running our offense through him and Bam on the catch and shoot off ball movements in the fourth quarter because of that.”

    The Heat then put it out of reach and snapped a two-game losing streak with a 15-6 run during a four-minute stretch midway through the fourth quarter.

    Miami shot just 39.1% from the field the first three quarters, but was 14 of 24 in the fourth, including 6 of 11 on 3-pointers.

    “Tonight was a better late than never situation. I was pretty non-existent for three quarters but came around and kept on letting it fly,” Robinson said. “It was a good fourth. We had good activity on both ends and made it difficult for them to guard.”

    The Lakers were just 4 of 30 on 3-pointers and committed 15 of their 22 turnovers in the first half.

    Anthony Davis had 29 points and 18 rebounds for Los Angeles. Davis added six assists and five blocks to join Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid as the only players this season to record at least 25 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and five blocks in a game.

    Austin Reaves scored 24 points. LeBron James was 6 of 18 from the field and finished with 12 points.

    Wednesday night began a stretch where the Lakers play 11 of 12 games in Los Angeles, including a “road game” against the Clippers. However, they have dropped three straight and gone 3-9 since winning the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament.

    “It’s a little bit of everything right now and if we keep on this trend, it’s not going to be good for us.” Davis said after the Lakers fell to 17-18. “It’s kind of obvious that we’ve got to figure it out sooner than later.”

    Love’s layup off a steal gave the Heat a 43-31 lead with 4:22 remaining in the first half.

    Miami had a 43-35 advantage at halftime before the Lakers slowly started coming back in the second half.

    Miami was without Jimmy Butler for the sixth time in seven games because of irritation in his right foot.

    UP NEXT

    Heat: Conclude five-game trip against Phoenix on Friday night.

    Lakers: Host Memphis on Friday night.

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