Griz blitz Dubs › LeBron 1st forward to 7,000 dimes
The Memphis Grizzlies’ lead swelled to 30 points on Saturday night en route to a 11089 victory over the Golden State Warriors.
“We fear no one,” said Grizzlies coach David Fizdale, whose injury-depleted squad won its sixth straight game.
Tony Allen and Marc Gasol each tossed in 19 points to lead seven Grizzlies in double figures scoring.
Memphis stormed ahead by 11 points midway through the opening quarter and held a double-digit advantage for all but 32 seconds in the game. The Grizzlies’ largest lead was 68-38 in the third period after Gasol stole the ball from Stephen Curry.
The turnover led to Griz forward Troy Williams scoring on a dunk in transition.
Golden State entered the game with an 11-1 road record. But the Warriors never could match the Grizzlies’ energy and offensive proficiency. Memphis scored 30 points off of Golden State’s 23 turnovers.
Cavaliers 116, Hornets 106
LeBron James scored a season-high 44 points and became the first front-court player to pass for 7,000 assists as Cleveland topped Charlotte.
The milestone pass was vintage James, a skip pass down the lane to a streaking Tristan Thompson that few other players could even see, let alone complete.
It was his highest scoring regular-season effort since returning to Cleveland and matched the 44 points he scored in a Game 1 overtime loss against the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the 2015 Finals.
Clippers 133, Pelicans 105
Chris Paul scored 20 points and dished out a season-high 20 assists, and Los Angeles extended the woes of New Orleans with a rout at Staples Center.
Both clubs were without their main stars. Clippers forward Blake Griffin missed the contest with a sore knee, while the Pelicans were without Anthony Davis (rest) and Jrue Holiday (toe). Davis was schedule to return Sunday when the Pelicans visited Phoenix.
It was the first 20-20 game of Paul’s career, and he is the first player since at least 197778 – when turnovers were first recorded for individuals – to have 20 points, 20 assists and zero turnovers in a game.
Rockets 109, Mavericks 87
Trevor Ariza keyed an offensive awakening with four consecutive three-pointers and Houston shot its way to a home victory over Dallas.
The Rockets extended their winning streak to six games and added to their NBA record of games with at least 10 three-pointers. Houston finished 19-of-37 from behind the arc, with Ariza igniting a third-quarter run to clinch momentum.
Spurs 130, Nets 101
Kawhi Leonard scored 30 points in 27 minutes and San Antonio posted season highs for points in a quarter and in a game and total assists while rolling past hapless Brooklyn.
It was the 19th time this season and fifth straight game that Leonard led the Spurs in scoring. (Reuters)