Davis, LeBron lead Lakers in marquee conquest of LA rivals Clippers

Anthony Davis had 30 points and eight rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers snapped the host Los Angeles Clippers’ six-game winning streak with a 112-103 victory on Sunday.

LeBron James added 28 points, nine assists and seven boards for the Lakers, who won their fourth straight and 11th in 12 games. Avery Bradley scored a season-high 24 points, connecting on six three-pointers. Kyle Kuzma finished with a game-high 10 rebounds to go along with eight points.

Paul George led the Clippers with 31 points and Kawhi Leonard had 27. Montrezl Harrell added 20 points for the Clippers, who lost for the first time to the Lakers in three contests this season.

The Lakers went up by as much as 12 midway through the fourth quarter before the Clippers pulled to within 107-100 after a foul shot by Marcus Morris with 1:35 remaining. James converted a pair of free throws 22 seconds later for a nine-point Lakers’ cushion and added a three-point play with 40.8 seconds left to seal it.

The Lakers took a 64-58 edge after Bradley’s 3-pointer with 6:45 left in the third quarter, but the Clippers came back with a 10-1 surge for 66-65 lead after a 3-pointer by George at 5:31. However, the Lakers seized an 85-81 lead heading into the fourth quarter. They never trailed again.

Suns 140, Bucks 131

Devin Booker scored 20 of his teamhigh 36 points in a 47-point first quarter for Phoenix as the host Suns took advantage of the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo to thump Milwaukee.

The Bucks announced before the game that an MRI exam taken on Antetokounmpo’s left knee, injured in Friday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, showed no significant damage, but that the Most Valuable Player candidate would be held out of at least two games nonetheless.

The Bucks (53-11) have lost two in a row for the first time this season and three of their past four.

The absence was Antetokounmpo’s seventh of the season. Milwaukee fell to 5-2 in those games after winning their first five without last year’s MVP.

Pelicans 120, Timberwolves 107

Jrue Holiday had a season-high 37 points as visiting New Orleans defeated Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Holiday added nine rebounds and eight assists, Zion Williamson scored 23 points while Brandon Ingram had 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. Lonzo Ball also scored 18 points with eight assists and Nicolo Melli had 11.

Thunder 105, Celtics 104

Chris Paul scored 28 points and Dennis Schroder added 27 off the bench to lift Oklahoma City to a road win over Boston.

Oklahoma City has won three in a row and 11 of its last 12 on the road. The Thunder were without guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the first time this season. Gilgeous-Alexander, who entered the game tied for the NBA lead in minutes played this season, was held out with a right hip contusion.

Magic 126, Rockets 106

D.J. Augustin scored 24 points and was one of six players to reach double figures for visiting Orlando, which dismantled the reeling Rockets.

Nikola Vucevic (16 points, 16 rebounds) and Aaron Gordon (19 points, 10 rebounds) posted double-doubles to pace the effort on the interior for the Magic. Point guard Markelle Fultz posted 18 points despite battling cramps in his right calf. Michael Carter-Williams and Terrence Ross (16 points apiece) teamed with Augustin to give Orlando a 61-39 advantage in bench points.

The Rockets have dropped four consecutive games and suffered a second successive blowout loss at home. Russell Westbrook and James Harden combined for 47 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, but that duo also totaled 12 turnovers.

Raptors 118, Kings 113

Norman Powell scored 31 points and Kyle Lowry added 30 as visiting Toronto defeated Sacramento.

Pascal Siakam scored 11 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter – including eight straight down the stretch – as the Raptors won their third straight game. Serge Ibaka had 15 points and 10 rebounds and OG Anunoby added 12 points for Toronto.

De’Aaron Fox had 28 points –18 in the fourth quarter – for Sacramento.

Knicks 96, Pistons 84

Julius Randle collected 22 points and 12 rebounds, and host New York clamped down defensively in the fourth quarter to post the victory over Detroit.

The Knicks won for the third time in their past 11 games and beat Detroit for the second straight time after losing the previous eight meetings. The Pistons lost for the fourth time in a row and for the 11th time in 12 games.

New York grabbed the lead for good midway through the third quarter and outscored the Pistons 24-13 in the fourth quarter. (Reuters)