basketball
T-Wolves overcome Harden’s 42 to top Houston
PORTLAND, Ore, Feb 14, (AP): Damian Lillard scored 29 points and the Portland Trail Blazers snapped Golden State’s five-game winning streak with a chippy 129-107 victory Wednesday night that included the late ejection of Warriors coach Steve Kerr.
Jake Layman added 17 points off the bench for the Blazers, who had eight players in double figures. The win snapped a two-game skid.
Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry each had 32 points for the Warriors, who rested DeMarcus Cousins following a victory at home over Utah the night before.
After a tight three quarters, Layman’s long jumper gave Portland a 104-101 lead in the final period before Zach Collins blocked Damion Lee’s layup on the other end.
Collins and Klay Thompson exchanged words, and the frustration spilled over to players from both sides. The two players were given offsetting technical fouls.
Timberwolves 121, Rockets 111
In Minneapolis, Jeff Teague scored 27 points, Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 and the Minnesota Timberwolves overcame James Harden’s 42 points to beat the Houston Rockets 121-111.
Harden had his 31st consecutive game with 30 or more points, tying Wilt Chamberlain for the second-longest streak in league history.
The NBA’s leading scorer passed the 30-point mark on his 15th fourpoint play of the season, getting Josh Okogie in the air with one of his trademark step-back 3s to put Houston up 74-67 midway through the third.
Nets 148, Cavaliers 139, 3OT
In Cleveland, D’Angelo Russell scored 14 of his 36 points in the third overtime and Brooklyn outlasted Cleveland.
DeMarre Carroll’s desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer of the second overtime tied the game, and Nets carried the momentum into the third extra session.
Russell, who is headed to play in his first All-Star Game, had two points in the first half and scored Brooklyn’s first 11 points in third overtime, including two 3-pointers.
Raptors 129, Wizards 120
In Toronto, Pascal Siakam scored a career-high 44 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, OG Anunoby scored a careerbest 22 points, and Toronto beat Washington for its sixth straight win.
Serge Ibaka had 10 points and 13 rebounds, and Kyle Lowry had 14 points and 13 assists as the Raptors used a big third quarter to overcome a 12-point deficit and post their fifth straight victory over the struggling Wizards. Jeremy Lin played 25 minutes in his Toronto debut after signing earlier in the day.
Nuggets 120, Kings 118
In Denver, Nikola Jokic tipped in a basket with less than a second remaining, Isaiah Thomas hit two big 3-pointers in his long-awaited Denver debut and the Nuggets held off Sacramento.
Jokic finished with 20 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists for his 28th career triple-double, and Paul Millsap matched a season high with 25 points as Denver overcame a 17-point first-half deficit.
76ers 126, Knicks 111
In New York, Joel Embiid had 26 points, 14 rebounds and one flying leap over an award-winning actress into the crowd, and Philadelphia handed New York its 18th straight loss.
Tobias Harris scored 25 points and Ben Simmons had 18 for the 76ers, who bounced back from their 112-109 home loss to Boston on Tuesday, sending themselves into the All-Star break with a 37-21 record.
Bucks 106, Pacers 97
In Indianapolis, Giannis Antetokounmpo started fast and finished strong, picking up a triple-double to help Milwaukee rally late for a victory over Indiana.
The three-time All-Star had 33 points, 19 rebounds and 11 assists, leading the Bucks back from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit.
NBA-leading Milwaukee has won eight of nine overall and seven straight on the road – its longest road winning streak since 1984-85.
Heat 112, Mavericks 101
In Dallas, Dwyane Wade scored 22 points in what figures to be his final game on the court where he won his first championship, helping Miami beat Dallas.
The 37-year-old who has already said this is his final season was a little better despite one of the stronger games of the season for Dirk Nowitzki, his two-time NBA Finals foe whose record 21st season with the same franchise has the feel of an unofficial farewell tour.
Celtics 118, Pistons 110
In Boston, Jayson Tatum scored 19 points and Gordon Hayward finished with 18 to help Boston hold off Detroit.
Hayward added eight assists and five rebounds in his first start since Dec 21.