Grizzlies send 76ers to 18th straight loss
LOS ANGELES: Zach Randolph posted a double-double while point Mike Conley scored a game-high 20 points as the Memphis Grizzlies defeated Philadelphia, sending the 76ers to their 18th consecutive loss this season. The 76ers tied the NBAís mark for most losses to begin a season, set in 2009 by the New Jersey Nets. It was Philadelphiaís 28th consecutive defeat dating back to last season, the longest by a team in any major North American sport.
As has happened several times during the streak, the 76ers could not hold a fourth-quarter lead. They went up 76-71 on a pair of free throws from guard Isaiah Canaan at the 7:38 mark. However, the Grizzlies went on an 18-3 run to go up 89-79 with 2:22 remaining.
Hornets 87, Bucks 82
Guard Nicolas Batum hit a threepointer with 45.9 seconds remaining for the go-ahead basket as the Charlotte Hornets went on to an 87-82 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. Batumís three-pointer broke an 80-80 tie as the Hornets wound up outscoring the Bucks 7-2 in the final minute with guard Kemba Walker tacking on a jumper and two free throws in the final 24.7 seconds. Walker led the Hornets with 22 points and Batum finished with 15, though the Hornets lost center Al Jefferson seven minutes into the game with a calf injury.
Clippers 107, Timberwolves 99
Forward Blake Griffin had 26 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, in leading the Los Angeles Clippers to a 107-99 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Point guard Chris Paul scored 20 points and recorded nine assists for the Clippers. Forward Andrew Wiggins scored 21 points, guard Zack LaVine contributed 18 points and seven assists while center Karl-Anthony Towns registered 17 points and eight rebounds for the Timberwolves.
Nets 87, Pistons 83
Thaddeus Young scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Brooklyn to a come-from-behind victory over Detroit. Brook Lopez shook off a horrid start to score 15 points for the Nets, including one clutch free throw with 29.8 seconds left. The win was just the third in the last nine games for the Nets and snapped a three-game losing streak. The Pistons got 20 points and 18 rebounds from Andre Drummond.
Magic 110, Celtics 91
Victor Oladipo had 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists in leading Orlando to their third consecutive victory. Orlandoís Nikola Vucevic had 18 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out with 2:07 remaining. Tobias Harris had 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Andrew Nicholson had 14 points and eight rebounds. Isaiah Thomas led the Celtics with 20 points and seven assists. Avery Bradley added 17 points.
Suns 107, Raptors 102
Eric Bledsoe scored 20 points and added 11 assists as Phoenix defeated Toronto. Bledsoe made two key free throws with two minutes to play as the Suns snapped a four-game losing streak. DeMar DeRozan scored 29 points and had seven assists for the Raptors, who got 17 points from Kyle Lowry.
Rockets 116, Knicks 111 (OT)
Guard James Harden scored 26 points and the Houston Rockets rallied from a 14-point deficit in the final eight minutes of regulation to pull off an 116-111 overtime victory over the New York Knicks. Reserve guard Marcus Thornton added seven of his 18 in overtime while forward Clint Capela also had 18. Trevor Ariza added 16 and center Dwight Howard contributed 14 for the Rockets, who won for the third time in their last 10 games. Guard Arron Afflalo scored a season-high 31 points for the Knicks, who lost their fourth successive game. — Reuters