Stabroek News

NBA roundup: Ivica Zubac’s historic night helps Clippers down Pacers

-

Ivica Zubac scored 31 points and grabbed 29 rebounds, the most for a Clipper in a single game in more than 34 years, as host Los Angeles cruised past the Indiana Pacers 114-100 on Sunday.

Zubac led a Clippers side playing once again without All-Stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, with his career high in rebounds highlighti­ng an all-around stellar performanc­e. The 29 boards were the franchise’s most since Michael Cage snared 30 in a game in April 1988. He also shot a blistering 14 of 17 from the floor, falling just one point short of matching his career high in scoring before fouling out.

Los Angeles held rookie sensation Bennedict Mathurin to nine points, just over 10 points under his season average coming into Sunday’s contest. Myles Turner was also limited to nine points, and Buddy Hield finished with 10 on just 3-of14 shooting from the field.

Jalen Smith led the Pacers with 23 points, while Tyrese Haliburton recorded his eighth double-double in the last 10 games with 15 points and 11 assists.

Nets 111, Trail Blazers 97

Kevin Durant scored 31 points as Brooklyn opened a seven-game homestand by pulling away in the fourth quarter for a victory over Portland.

Durant made 12 of 20 shots as the Nets completed their first season sweep of Portland since the 2012-13 season. Unlike their two-point win in Portland decided on Royce O’Neale’s tip-in in the final second on Nov. 17, the Nets surged ahead after the game featured 16 lead changes and nine ties through the opening three quarters.

Jerami Grant followed up his careerhigh 44 points in Friday’s overtime win over the Knicks by leading Portland with 29 points. Jusuf Nurkic collected 17 points and 14 rebounds, but Anfernee Simons was held to 15 on 4-of-14 shooting after scoring 38 Friday night as Portland shot 44.3 percent.

Warriors 137, Timberwolv­es 114

Stephen Curry heated up quickly with 13 of his team-high 25 points in a firstquart­er flurry and Golden State coasted to a victory over Minnesota in Minneapoli­s.

Jordan Poole went for 24 points and Klay Thompson 21. Draymond Green had 19 points and a game-high 11 assists for the Warriors, who led by 23 in the game’s ninth minute and ran up 47 points in the first period. Golden State had six scorers in double figures and won a third straight, recording a season-high point total in the process.

Anthony Edwards had a game-high 26 points for the Timberwolv­es, who lost a second straight after a five-game winning streak. Towns had 21 points, Jaylen Nowell 16, Russell 15 to complement a team-high six assists and Bryn Forbes 10 for Minnesota, which allowed a seasonhigh point total.

Heat 106, Hawks 98

Bam Adebayo scored 32 points and Tyler Herro came up with his first career triple-double to help Miami extend its winning streak to three games with a victory over Atlanta.

The win ended a seven-game road losing streak for Miami, which won only its second game away from home. Adebayo was 13-for-20 from the floor, 6-for-6 at the foul line and added eight rebounds. Herro, who has been playing with a sprained left ankle, had 11 points on 3-for13 shooting, with 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

Atlanta was led by John Collins, who finished with 23 points and 14 rebounds, and Trae Young, who had 22 points and 14 assists. But Young was only 4-for-16 from the floor and the Hawks shot just 39.8 percent from the field. De’Andre Hunter scored 18 points.

Celtics 130, Wizards 121

Jaylen Brown scored a game-high 36 points to propel Boston past visiting Washington for its eighth consecutiv­e home win.

Six other Boston players logged between 12 and 17 points, including Malcolm Brogdon, who scored 17 off the bench.

Bradley Beal had 30 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals for Washington, which has lost three straight. Kristaps Porzingis contribute­d 21 points, and Monte Morris finished with 16.

Cavaliers 102, Pistons 94

Donovan Mitchell poured in 32 points to lead visiting Cleveland past depleted Detroit.

Evan Mobley had 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds while Darius Garland supplied 19 points and 10 assists for the Cavaliers. Marvin Bagley III topped the Pistons with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Alec Burks had 17 points, while Killian Hayes contribute­d 16 points and eight assists.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Guyana