Knicks trounce Wizards
Six players score double digits as New York evens record
Julius Randle scored 37 points to spark the New York Knicks to a 131-113 rout of the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night.
The All-star was one of six players to finish in double figures for New York, which evened its record at 22-22. RJ Barrett scored 21, Alec Burks added 20 and Mitchell Robinson had 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Bradley Beal scored 22 points for the Wizards, who lost for the ninth time in 11 games.
Before the game, Washington coach Scott Brooks spoke passionately about the importance of his team stringing wins to make a push for the franchise’s first playoff berth since the 2017-18 season.
Instead, it was the Knicks who played with purpose and led by 20 at halftime following Robinson’s two-handed dunk off Barrett’s missed free throw. That ended a first half in which Randle scored 21 points and Barrett had 10 points, five assists, and grabbed four rebounds.
Nuggets 110, Magic 99: Nikola Jokic had 28 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for his 12th triple-double of the season, and Denver built a big lead before holding off Orlando.
Suns 110, Heat 100: The last time Phoenix won seven consecutive road games, Chris Paul had yet to become an NBA All-star, Devin Booker and Mikal Bridges were 10, and Deandre Ayton had not even started playing basketball. That was then. The Suns are rolling now, and Miami just keeps on sputtering as the trade deadline looms. Booker scored 23 points, Ayton finished with 17 points and 16 rebounds and the Suns added to Miami’s miserable stretch with a win.
Pelicans 128, Lakers 111: Brandon Ingram scored a season-high 36 points, Zion Williamson had 27 points and nine rebounds, and New Orleans defeated Los Angeles. The 20-year-old Williamson became the first NBA player younger than 21 to score at least 20 points in 21 straight games, and he did so with his usual crowd-pleasing array of alley-oop dunks and quick, powerful drives to the hoop.
Notes: The Hornets say rookie point guard Lamelo Ball underwent successful surgery on his fractured right wrist on Tuesday. Ball’s wrist will be immobilized and he’ll be reevaluated in four weeks, according a release from the team . ... Vaccinated fans will soon have their own sections at Miami Heat games. The Heat announced plans Tuesday to open two sections in their lower bowl only for fully vaccinated fans starting with an April 1 game against Golden State. Masks will still be required, even for the vaccinated fans, but social distancing rules will be slightly relaxed in those areas.