Pacers halt Lakers’ double winning streaks
Nets overcome Pelicans in OT • Knicks dominate Hawks • George, Kawhi power Clippers over Suns
Domantas Sabonis had 26 points and 10 rebounds to lift the Indiana Pacers to a 105-102 win against the Lakers on Tuesday night in Indianapolis, snapping Los Angeles’ seven-game overall winning streak and 14-game road winning streak.
Myles Turner had 16 points, Malcolm Brogdon scored 14 and T.J. Warren finished with 12 for the Pacers, who stretched their victory streak to four games.
LeBron James had 20 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, Dwight Howard made all 10 of his field-goal attempts and scored a season-high 20 points, and Avery Bradley added 13 points for the Lakers, who came in with the best record in the NBA at 24-3.
Los Angeles star Anthony Davis sat out after spraining his right ankle on Sunday at Atlanta.
Nets 108, Pelicans 101 (OT)
Spencer Dinwiddie scored six of his game-high 31 points in overtime, and Brooklyn handed host New Orleans its franchise-worst 13th straight loss.
Dinwiddie scored at least 20 points for the fifth straight game and his eighth in Brooklyn’s last nine. Joe Harris added 24 points, Jarrett Allen had 12 points and 14 rebounds, and David Nwaba scored 12.
Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Jrue Holiday scored 21 points.
Knicks 143, Hawks 120
Rookie R.J. Barrett scored a season-high 27 points while Marcus Morris Sr. and Mitchell Robinson added 22 apiece for New York, who routed visiting Atlanta.
Julius Randle added 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks, who shot 55.8 percent from the floor, the first time they reached 50 percent this season. Kevin Knox II scored a season-high 17 points, Bobby Portis added 11 points, and Robinson pulled down 13 rebounds to go along with his career-high point total.
Atlanta star Trae Young led all scorers with 42 points, his third 40-point game this season. It was hardly enough as the Hawks dropped their fifth straight contest, fell to 2-16 in their past 18 games and allowed at least 140 points for the third time.
Clippers 120, Suns 99
Paul George scored 24 points and Kawhi Leonard added 20, guiding Los Angeles to a victory over visiting Phoenix.
Lou Williams, who returned from a twogame absence caused by a sore calf, had 20 points and eight assists for the Clippers, who are 14-1 at home and winners of five of their past seven contests. Williams converted 5-of-7 three-point attempts and made 7-of-13 shots from the floor.
Kelly Oubre Jr. had 19 points for the Suns, who lost their fourth consecutive contest. Deandre Ayton, who returned from his 25-game suspension for testing positive for a diuretic, finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds, seven of those on the offensive end.
Former commissioner Stern remains in serious condition
Former NBA commissioner David Stern remains in serious condition following last week’s emergency surgery to address a sudden brain hemorrhage.
“He is receiving great care and surrounded by his loved ones,” the league said in a statement. “The Stern family and everyone at the NBA appreciate the incredible outpouring of support. Our thoughts and prayers remain with David and his family.” Stern, 77, underwent surgery last Thursday after collapsing at a New York City restaurant.
He was NBA commissioner from 19842014 before he was succeeded by current commissioner Adam Silver.
Stern has been credited with building the model for a modern professional sports in league in terms of operations, public service, global marketing, television distribution and digital technology.
During his 30 years as commissioner, the league added seven new franchises and experienced more than a 30-fold increase in revenues, according to the league. The WNBA and the NBA Development League also were created during his tenure
Stern was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014 and the International Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. He currently holds the title of the NBA’s “Commissioner Emeritus.”