BASKETBALL Rookie Kuzma helps LA end Rockets’ run
Rookie forward Kyle Kuzma set career highs with 38 points and seven 3-pointers, and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame 51 points from James Harden to end the Houston Rockets’ 14-game winning streak with a 122-116 victory Wednesday night.
It was Houston’s first loss since Nov. 14 and snapped a three-game skid for the Lakers.
The game was tied before Los Angeles scored 10 straight points — while Houston missed seven shots in a row — to go up 110-100 with about four minutes left.
Houston ended an almost four-minute scoring drought when Harden made a free throw, and he added three more after being fouled on a 3-point attempt a few seconds later to cut it to 110-104. But former Rocket Corey Brewer made a 3-pointer before Lonzo Ball hit two free throws to make it 115-104.
Harden powered Houston on a night when Chris Paul had just eight points before leaving early in the fourth quarter with a sore left leg.
HEAT 90, CELTICS 89
In Boston, Kelly Olynyk scored a career-high 32 points in his rousing return to Boston, and undermanned Miami hung on a victory.
On a night when the Celtics honored their former forward in his first game back, the popular Olynyk received a standing ovation from Boston fans and led the Heat to another win against the top team in the Eastern Conference. Josh Richardson had 19 points and six assists for Miami, which took two of three in the season series. The Heat ended Boston’s 16-game winning streak earlier this season with a victory at home.
Olynyk signed with Miami as a free agent during the offseason. His previous high was 30 points on Dec. 15, 2014.
Kyrie Irving paced the Celtics with 33 points, but missed a jumper from the right wing that bounced off the rim at the buzzer.
WARRIORS 97, GRIZZLIES 84
In Oakland, Klay Thompson scored 27 of his 29 points in the first half and made his first nine field goal attempts, leading undermanned Golden State past Memphis for its 10th straight win.
Kevin Durant added 22 points and eight rebounds for the defending NBA champions, who were down five regulars again. Two-time MVP Stephen Curry sat out his sixth straight game with a sprained right ankle.
Thompson shot 10 for 16 overall and didn’t miss until a 3-point try with 6:10 left before halftime. /