Magic ends losing streak vs Cavs; Grizzlies maul Warriors
Nikola Vucevic scored 23 points and the Orlando Magic snapped a 17- game losing streak against the Cleveland Cavaliers, routing the defending Eastern Conference champions 114-93 on Saturday night.
Orlando’s first win over Cleveland since Nov. 23, 2012, came in convincing fashion. The Magic never trailed and built a 21-point lead late in the first quarter. Orlando led 36-18 after the first, hitting 14 of 24 from the field.
The Magic, who made 14 of 35 3-pointers, took their biggest lead, 106-69, midway through the fourth quarter when both teams cleared their benches.
LeBron James scored 14 points in the first quarter and finished with 22 as the Cavaliers lost for the first time in three games.
In Memphis, Marc Gasol had 34 points and 14 rebounds, and Memphis built a 19-point third-quarter lead to beat Golden State, 111-101.
James Ennis III added 13 points, and Tyreke Evans had 12 as Memphis shot 47 percent compared to 39 percent for Golden State. The Warriors shot 12 of 38 from 3-point range.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 37 points, and Kevin Durant added 29 points and 13 rebounds. But both were ejected with 43.6 seconds left after arguing with officials — Curry first after throwing his mouthpiece, and then Durant as he followed Curry’s argument.
In Salt Lake City, Rudy Gobert had 16 points and 13 rebounds to lead Utah past Oklahoma City, 96-87.
The Jazz never trailed after taking a 13-12 lead in the first quarter.
Oklahoma City’s All-Star trio of Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony were bottled up in the first half by an active Utah defense. By the time George and Anthony got going, the come-from-behind climb was too steep. Anthony scored a game-high 26 and George added 22.
Westbrook was held to six points on 2-for-11 shooting. He was held to single digits just twice in the two previous regular seasons.
In Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 17 of his career-high 44 points in the fourth quarter, and he gave Milwaukee the lead for good on a breakaway dunk with 11 seconds left to beat Portland, 113-110.
With Portland leading 110109, the Trail Blazers lost the ball and Antetokounmpo’s thunderous dunk put the Bucks ahead. After a timeout, Damian Lillard found Jusef Nurkic running down the lane, but Antetokounmpo blocked his shot at the basket, sending the 7-foot center crashing to the floor.
Khris Middleton was fouled and made both free throws to close the scoring.
Lillard scored 16 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter. CJ McCollum also had 26. /