Pelicans end 6-game skid
Anthony Davis had 32 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks in his best game since spraining his right elbow nearly two weeks ago, and the New Orleans Pelicans ended a six-game skid with a 107-98 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.
After missing four of his first five shots, Davis hit his next eight, including two 3s and a two-handed reverse alley-oop jam, while on his way to his first 30-plus point game since New Orleans beat the Los Angeles Clippers on Oct. 23.
Jrue Holiday had 17 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists while being guarded primarily by brother Justin. Julius Randle and Wesley Johnson each scored 12 points for New Orleans.
Zach LaVine scored 22 and Jabari Parker had 20 points and 13 rebounds for Chicago, which has dropped five of six games. Justin Holiday and Wendell Carter Jr. each had 17 points, and Carter had 11 rebounds.
LAKERS 114, TIMBERWOLVES 110
In Los Angeles, LeBron James had 24 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, and Kyle Kuzma scored six of his 21 points in the final minutes of Los Angeles’ victory over Minnesota.
Josh Hart scored 21 points and Brandon Ingram added 20 for the Lakers, who avenged a loss at Minnesota nine days earlier with a tenacious finish at Staples Center.
Kuzma’s fourth 3-pointer put the Lakers up 111-104 with 1:51 to play for their biggest lead of the night. Derrick Rose promptly hit back-to-back 3-pointers for the Wolves, trimming the lead to one with 1:06 left.
Kuzma hit one of two free throws with 9.5 seconds left after two huge offensive rebounds by Tyson Chandler, who had nine boards in an auspicious Lakers debut. Rose missed a 3 under heavy defensive pressure from Chandler, and Hart hit two free throws to seal it.
Rose scored 31 points and Jimmy Butler added 24 for the Timberwolves, who dropped to 0-7 on the road this season with their fourth consecutive loss overall. Minnesota had won five straight over the Lakers.
James fell just shy of his 75th triple-double, but scored nine points in the fourth quarter.
RAPTORS 114, KINGS 105
In Sacramento, Kawhi Leonard had 25 points and 11 rebounds in his return from an ankle injury, and Toronto beat Sacramento to improve the NBA’s best record to 11-1.
Pascal Siakam scored 21 points, Serge Ibaka had 14 points and 14 rebounds, and Kyle Lowry added 16 points and eight assists for the Raptors.
Toronto has won five straight since its lone loss this season at Milwaukee on Oct. 29.
Leonard sat out the previous two games and got off to a sluggish start early against the Kings before helping Toronto pull away.
The two-time All-Star scored 10 points in the second quarter and 10 in the third, including a soaring, one-handed dunk through traffic. Toronto has won three straight against the Kings. /