Kuzma spurs Lakers past Kings
Toronto gives Golden State worst loss of NBA season
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Kyle Kuzma scored 10 of his season-high 30 points in the fourth quarter and the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers thumped the Sacramento Kings 115-94 on Friday night.
Dennis Schroder had 17 points and eight assists as the Lakers bounced back from a 15-point loss to Milwaukee two nights earlier. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 13 points and 10 rebounds. Markieff Morris had 14 points and eight rebounds.
Already without LeBron James, Anthony Davis and newly signed center Andre Drummond, the Lakers lost reserve guard Wesley Matthews to injury in the first quarter. It hardly mattered. Los Angeles led by 13 in the first and stayed comfortably in front the remainder of the game. After Kuzma made his fourth 3-pointer early in the fourth, he converted a three-point play to make it 106-82.
Harrison Barnes had 26 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Kings. De’Aaron Fox, recently selected Western Conference player of the week, scored 12 points on 5-of-20 shooting.
SUNS 140, THUNDER 103: In Phoenix, Devin Booker scored 32 points, Chris Paul had 17 points and 12 assists, and Phoenix built a 30-point lead by the end of the first quarter en route to a victory over Oklahoma City.
The Suns won their fifth straight game, and this one was decided in a hurry. Booker shot 11 of 20 from the field, made three 3-pointers and added five assists. Paul made all eight of his field goal attempts.
Phoenix dominated from the opening tip, sprinting to a 22-5 lead in the first six minutes. The Suns shot 15 of 25 from the field (60%) and led 43-13 by the end of the quarter.
RAPTORS 130, WARRIORS 77: In Tampa, Fla., Pascal Siakam scored 36 points in three quarters a Toronto routed Golden State with the largest margin of victory in the NBA this season.
Toronto shot 53.4% in the game and won for just the second time in 15 games. The Raptors pushed their lead to 61 points when Malachi Flynn hit a short jump shot with 6:29 remaining.
Gary Trent Jr. finished with 24 points and OG Anunoby added 21.
The 53-point win was the biggest in the NBA this season, two points wider than the final margin of Dallas’ 124-73 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 27.
CELTICS 118, ROCKETS 102: In Boston, Jayson Tatum scored 26 points, Robert Williams had a career-high 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, and Boston defeated Houston.
Trade deadline acquisition Evan Fournier hit a career-best seven 3-pointers to finish with 23 points, and Jaylen Brown scored 22 to help the Celtics snap a two-game skid.
MAVERICKS 99, KNICKS 86: In New York, Luka Doncic scored 26 points and Dallas beat New York.
Doncic was one of five players to finish in double-figure scoring for Dallas, which has won three straight. Jalen Brunson had 15 points and Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr. each added 14.
HORNETS 114, PACERS 97: In Indianapo9lis, reserve guard Miles Bridges scored a season-high 23 points and short-handed Charlotte overcame another injury and beat Indiana.
The Hornets got double-digit scoring from seven players. Charlotte was without two starters and lost guard Gordon Hayward for the second half to a right foot sprain.
GRIZZLIES 120, TIMBERWOLVES 108: In Memphis, Tenn., Jonas Valanciunas had 19 points and 11 rebounds, eight Grizzlies scored in double-figures as Memphis beat Minnesota.
Grayson Allen added 15 points for Memphis.