Ball becomes youngest with triple-double
Charlotte’s Lamelo has 22 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists at age 19
Lamelo Ball became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, and the Charlotte Hornets beat the Atlanta Hawks 113-105 on Saturday night for their third straight win.
The 19-year-old Ball replaced Markelle Fultz as the youngest NBA player to record a tripledouble by 177 days.
Ball, the third overall pick in the NBA draft, was 9-for-13 from the field as the Hornets handed the struggling Hawks their fourth straight loss. He became only the fifth rookie in NBA history to record a triple-double and the first Hornets player ever to reach that plateau coming off the bench.
Terry Rozier scored 23 points for the Hornets.
Cam Reddish scored 21 points and De’andre Hunter had 20 for the Hawks. Atlanta’s Trae Young struggled all night, shooting 5-for-19 from the floor to finish with 15 points and 10 assists. Shenendehowa graduate Kevin Huerter had 11 points and six assists for the Hawks.
Nuggets 115, 76ers 103: Nikola Jokic had 15 points and 12 assists to lead Denver past Philadelphia, beating a 76ers team that had only seven available players because of injuries and COVID-19 protocols. The Sixers tipped without four regular starters — All-stars Ben Simmons (sore left knee) and Joel Embiid (back) due to injury, and Seth Curry and Tobias Harris over virus concerns. Coach Doc Rivers said he didn’t think the game should be played.
Heat 128, Wizards 124: Tyler Herro scored a career-high 31 points and Jimmy Butler nearly had a triple-double with 26 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists as Miami beat short-handed Washington. Washington played without the NBA’S leading scorer, Bradley Beal, who was a late scratch when he was placed in the NBA’S Health and Safety Protocol. They were also without their other starting guard, Russell Westbrook, out with a left quad injury.
Suns 125, Pacers 117: Mikal Bridges scored a career-high 34 points and Devin Booker added 25, leading Phoenix to a victory over Indiana. Phoenix pulled into a tie with the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers for the best record in the Western Conference at 7-3.
Bucks 100, Cavaliers 90: Khris Middleton scored 27 points and Milwaukee withstood the absence of twotime reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to beat Cleveland. Antetokounmpo sat out with back spasms after taking a hard fall one night earlier in a loss to Utah.
Spurs 125, Timberwolves 122 (OT): Demar Derozan scored 38 points, helping San Antonio beat Minnesota in Karl-anthony Towns’ return to the Timberwolves.
Mavericks 112, Magic 98: Tim Hardaway Jr. scored a season-high 36 points, Trey Burke did the same with 29 and Luka Doncic had another triple-double as short-handed Dallas beat Orlando.
Note: Boston could be without stars Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and other players because of coronavirus safety protocols when it faces Miami on Sunday. The Celtics are listing Tatum as doubtful and Brown as questionable for the rematch of the Eastern Conference final. Tristan Thompson, Grant Williams and Robert Williams have already been ruled out for that reason, and the status of Semi Ojeleye and Javonte Green is unknown. With Kemba Walker and Romeo Langford unavailable because of injuries, the Celtics could have the minimum eight players required.