NBA roundup: Lakers get the better of Bucks
LeBron James had 37 points, eight rebounds and eight assists and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the visiting Milwaukee Bucks 113-103 on Friday in a matchup of clubs with the NBA’s best records.
Anthony Davis scored 25 of his 30 points in the second half for the Lakers, who won their third in a row and 10th in the past 11 contests. Davis also had nine rebounds. Kyle Kuzma added 11 points and eight rebounds.
James hit 12 of 21 shots from the floor but missed six of his seven 3-point attempts. He also had three steals.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 32 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for the Bucks, who lost for the second time in three games. Donte DiVincenzo scored 17 off the bench while Brook Lopez contributed 13 points before fouling out with 1:11 left. Khris Middleton had an off night, scoring 12 points on 5-for-19 shooting. Eric Bledsoe finished with 11 points.
Phoenix Suns 127 - Portland Trail
Blazers 117
Short-handed Phoenix rode the hot hand of backup center Aron Baynes to end a fourgame losing streak with a win over visiting Portland.
Baynes, starting in place of Deandre Ayton (ankle), made a career high nine 3pointers — five in first quarter — and scored a career-high 37 points with 16 rebounds. Baynes’ previous career bests were 26 points and four 3-pointers.
CJ McCollum’s 25 points led the Blazers, who got 23 points and 20 rebounds from Hassan Whiteside. Damian Lillard added 24 points for Portland.
Oklahoma City Thunder 126 - New
York Knicks 103
Danilo Gallinari scored a game-high 22 points to lead six Oklahoma City players in double figures during a win at New York.
Chris Paul had 21 points and 12 assists for the Thunder, who won for the seventh time in nine games. Steven Adams finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Shai GilgeousAlexander
scored 18 points.
Elfrid Payton (18 points, nine rebounds, eight assists) flirted with a triple-double for the Knicks, who have lost eight of 10. RJ Barrett had 17 points while Julius Randle finished with 12 points and eight rebounds. Utah Jazz 99 - Boston Celtics 94
Mike Conley scored 25 points on a hot 3point shooting night as visiting Utah overcame a poor performance from Donovan Mitchell to beat banged-up Boston.
Jordan Clarkson added 17 points off the bench as the Jazz won their fourth straight despite Mitchell scoring just 11 on 3-of-15 shooting. Mitchell had torched the Celtics for 37 points in a 114-103 loss at Utah last week. Marcus Smart had 29 points on his 26th birthday, and Jayson Tatum added 18 as the Celtics lost for the third time in four games and for the third straight time at home. Gordon Hayward (knee) and Jaylen Brown (hamstring) sat out for Boston.
New Orleans Pelicans 110 - Miami
Heat 104
Josh Hart had a double-double and Brandon Ingram made two clutch jumpers in an otherwise poor shooting night as host New Orleans ended a three-game losing streak by defeating Miami.
Hart came off the bench to score 19 points and grab 12 rebounds for the Pelicans. Jrue Holiday led the way with 20 points, and rookie Zion Williamson scored 17, breaking his string of 13 straight games with at least 20 points. Lonzo Ball added 16 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
Jimmy Butler scored 28 for Miami, Duncan Robinson scored 24 on 8-for-14 3point shooting, Goran Dragic scored 15 and Andre Iguodala had 10 for the Heat, whose four-game winning streak ended.
Orlando Magic 132 - Minnesota
Timberwolves 118
Nikola Vucevic recorded 28 points and 12 rebounds to help Orlando end a three-game losing streak with a win over Minnesota in Minneapolis.