James has triple-double, Lakers sink Kings
Clippers beat Timberwolves
SACRAMENTO, Calif, Feb 2, (AP): The Lakers say they are fully prepared for the steady stream of tributes for Kobe Bryant that they will surely see the rest of the season.
LeBron James welcomes it, calling it a therapeutic and needed part of the Lakers’ healing process.
James had another triple-double despite an off-night shooting, Anthony Davis scored 21 points and Los Angeles thumped the Sacramento Kings 129-113 on Saturday, its first win since Bryant’s death.
James had 15 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds while helping Los Angeles end a two-game skid. James shot 6 of 15 and missed three of four 3-pointers but made up for it with his 11th triple-double of the season and the 92nd of his career.
The Lakers were playing the second half of a back-to-back, one night after an emotional 127-119 loss to Portland at Staples Center in their first game since Sunday’s helicopter crash that killed Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others.
During the first timeout less than four minutes into the game, a video of both Bryant and Gianna playing basketball was shown on the giant scoreboard as members of both the Lakers and Kings watched. The numbers 8 and 24 flashed on the court as Bryant’s voice echoed through the building.
Tributes continued to play throughout the game as fans - many wearing Bryant’s jerseys - repeatedly chanted his name.
Avery Bradley added 19 points, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 15 and Rajon Rondo had 13 points and eight assists for Los Angeles.
James capped a fast break with a twohanded dunk in the second quarter that drew roars from the crowd, then made a long bounce pass to Caldwell-Pope for a layup. James followed that with another dunk, and Rondo added a 3-pointer.
Clippers 118 Timberwolves 106 In Los Angeles, The Los Angeles Clippers have their entire roster healthy for the first time this season and it showed against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Led by Kawhi Leonard’s 31 points, the Clippers had five other players in double figures in a 118-106 victory Saturday. Leonard posted his ninth straight game with at least 30 points, the longest such streak in the NBA this season.
Paul George added 21 points in 26 minutes and Lou Williams had 17 points for the Clippers, who have won seven of nine.
The Wolves closed within four points in the third on two free throws by Robert Covington after Towns scored five points in a row.
The Clippers dominated the rest of the third thanks to a big effort by the reserves, including six points from Williams sandwiched between Leonard’s dunk and a basket by George. They took a 98-86 lead into the fourth. The Clippers’ bench outscored the Wolves’ reserves, 46-33.
Trail Blazers 124 Jazz 107 In Portland, Ore., Damian Lillard’s hot streak continued with 51 points, including nine 3-pointers, and 12 assists, and the Portland Trail Blazers handed the Utah Jazz their fourth straight loss with a 124-107 victory Saturday night.
It was Lillard’s NBA-record sixth straight game with at least six 3-pointers.
Lillard has scored 40 or more points in five of his last six games, averaging 48.8 points over the span. It was his fourth straight double-double, a career best.
When Lillard went to the line to shoot a free throw that gave him 50 points, the crowd at Moda center chanted “MVP! MVP!” He made his second free throw before heading to the bench with 2:15 left.
Spurs114 Hornets 90 In San Antonio, The San Antonio Spurs are hitting the road as inconsistent as ever. At least they’re starting this nearly month-long trip on an upswing.
DeMar DeRozan had 24 points and the Spurs overcame a 19-point deficit to beat the Charlotte Hornets 114-90 Saturday night in their final home game for 3 1/2 weeks.
Miles Bridges had 25 points for Charlotte, which has lost 10 of 11.
Poeltl added 17 points and seven rebounds in 18 minutes for the Spurs.
San Antonio plays its next eight games on the road as the AT&T Center hosts the city’s annual Stock Show & Rodeo. Its next home game is Feb. 26 against Dallas.
The Spurs outscored the Hornets 5015 during a stretch bridging the third and fourth quarters to win their second straight after losing three in a row.
Warriors 131 Cavaliers 112 In Cleveland, The Golden State Warriors have the worst record in the NBA, but Steve Kerr hasn’t lost his sense of humor.
The Warriors coach grew accustomed
Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox, (left), goes to the basket as Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis tries to block the shot during the second
half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif, Feb 1. The Lakers won 129-113. (AP)
to dealing with a media throng when Golden State played NBA Finals games in Cleveland every season from 2015-18. Kerr couldn’t resist making a joke when he saw the number of reporters jammed into a small interview room Saturday night before a 131-112 victory over the Cavaliers.
Kerr had plenty to smile about during the game as the Warriors recorded their biggest margin of victory this season. Glenn Robinson III scored 22 points, Draymond Green tied a career high with 16 assists and the Warriors dominated the second half night in a matchup between teams at the bottom of the NBA standings.
Celtics 116 76ers 95 In Boston, when he didn’t make the All-Star Game, Jaylen Brown decided he’ll use the break to rest up for what he hopes will be a long postseason run.
Brown added nine rebounds, and Jayson Tatum – who was voted as a reserve in the All-Star Game in Chicago on Feb. 16 - scored nine of his 25 points in a 99-second span that gave Boston the lead for good. Playing without injured point guard Kemba Walker, the Celtics won for the sixth time in seven games and avoided a season sweep by the 76ers.
In his fourth NBA season, Brown is averaging 20.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists - all career highs. But he was left off the list of East All-Stars when the reserves were announced on Thursday. Walker was selected as a starter, and Tatum will come off the bench.
Ben Simmons scored 23 and ex-Celtic Al Horford had nine points and nine rebounds for the Sixers, who lost for the third time in five games. Joel Embiid scored 11, making just 1 of 11 shots and missing all four of the 3-pointers he attempted.
Wizards 113 Nets 107 In Washington, Kyrie Irving limped off the court after hurting his right knee, his latest injury coming just 24 hours after his best performance of the season.
A night after scoring a season-high 54 points, Irving was forced to leave in the fourth quarter of the Brooklyn Nets’ 113-107 loss to the Washington Wizards on Saturday.
Irving, who missed nearly two months with a shoulder injury earlier in his first season with the Nets, has a history of injuries to his left knee. This mishap occurred with 5:31 remaining in the fourth quarter as he and Washington’s Bradley Beal got tangled up on a held ball.
Irving was on the floor for several minutes, holding his right knee. After coming to his feet and remaining on the court for a jump ball - in which he didn’t jump - Irving left the floor with a sprained right knee and a season-low 11 points.
Mavericks 123 Hawks 100 In Dallas, Dallas coach Rick Carlisle described the first game without top scores Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis as a great challenge.
The rest of the Mavericks accepted that challenge.
Jalen Brunson scored 27 points in his ninth start of the season, Dorian FinneySmith matched a career high with 22 points and Maxi Kleber added 18 as Dallas beat the Atlanta Hawks 123-100 in a game between teams with depleted rosters.
Doncic sprained his right ankle in Thursday’s practice and isn’t expected back until Feb. 10 at the earliest. Porzingis sat out the second of a back-toback while recovering from a left knee injury. Carlisle said sitting Porzingis was decided before the Mavericks played on Friday night at Houston, where Porzingis scored a season-high 35 points in 36 minutes.
Brunson scored 19 points in the first half, nearly surpassing his previous season high of 21. He scored 13 in the second quarter as the Mavericks took control.
Seth Curry left in the fourth quarter with tightness in his left knee. Dallas had lost another starter, Dwight Powell, for the season on Jan. 21 with a torn right Achilles.
Knicks 92 Pacers 85 In Indianapolis, Marcus Morris provided the boost down the stretch that New York needed to finish.
Morris scored 12 of his 28 points in
Utah Jazz center Ed Davis (right), scores next to Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore Feb 1. (AP)
the fourth quarter, including 10 of the Knicks’ final 12, in a 92-85 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night.
Julius Randle had 16 points and a season-best 18 rebounds, and Taj Gibson added 10 points and seven rebounds to lead the Knicks (14-36). They snapped a two-game skid and won in the series after losing seven straight, including four losses on the road.
New York last won at Indiana 109103 on Jan. 23, 2017.
Domantas Sabonis had 25 points and eight rebounds. Myles Turner had 12 points and six rebounds after missing the last two games with an illness, and Jeremy Lamb added nine points for the Pacers (31-18), who have lost two of three games.
Heat 102 Magic 89 In Orlando, Fla., Miami got 24 points from Jimmy Butler and a big boost from rookie Tyler Herro on Saturday night. But it was a big game from center Meyers Leonard that put the Heat over the top in a 102-89 victory over the Orlando Magic.
Herro came off the bench with six 3-pointers and 23 points. Herro and Leonard combined for 10-of-19 shooting from 3-point range to help the Heat beat Orlando for the second time this week and stretch their lead in the Southeast Division to 12 1/2 games.
Aaron Gordon scored 24 for the Magic, who lost their fifth straight. Nikola Vucevic added 21 points and nine rebounds.
The Magic shot 39.8%. It was the fourth straight game in which they shot 40 percent or worse.
Miami led 57-49 at halftime despite a big first half by Gordon, who was 4 of 6 on 3s and scored 16 points.
Herro, bumped out of the starting lineup by the return of fellow rookie Kendrick Nunn, hit three 3-pointers and scored 12 points in the first half.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Leonard stretched Miami’s lead to double digits early in the second half, and the Heat led 73-60 when Butler converted a threepoint play late in the third quarter.