Clarkson, Jazz beat up on Hawks

Thunder come all the way back to beat Lakers, again

ATLANTA — Jordan Clarkson bounced back from his worst game of the season, scoring 30 points to lead the Utah Jazz to a 116-98 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday night despite the absence of Donovan Mitchell.

Utah’s star guard did not dress because of a sprained right ankle, but Clarkson picked up the slack off the bench to give the Jazz their eighth victory in nine games this season.

THUNDER 107, LAKERS 104: In Los Angeles, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 11 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, and Oklahoma City rallied from a 19-point deficit to beat the Los Angeles Lakers for the second time this season.

Kenrich Williams scored nine of his 13 points in the final period for the Thunder, who haven’t beaten anybody in their eight games this season except the vaunted Lakers — both times while rallying from enormous deficits, and both times with LeBron

James sidelined. James sat out the rematch with an abdominal strain.

76ERS 109, PISTONS 98: In Detroit, Seth Curry scored 23 points, Tyrese Maxey added 20 and short-handed Philadelphia beat the Pistons.

The Sixers, playing for the second straight night, only used eight players. Furkan Korkmaz (wrist) sat out, while former Pistons forward Tobias Harris remained sidelined due to COVID-19 protocols.

CELTICS 95, HEAT 78: In Miami, Jaylen Brown scored 17 points to lead six Boston players in double figures, and the Celtics played airtight defense for a second consecutive night on the way to easily beating the Heat.

SUNS 123, ROCKETS 111: In Phoenix, Devin Booker scored 27 points, Landry Shamet added 19 and the Suns pulled away late to beat Houston.

Phoenix has won three straight to reach 4-3. Houston has dropped five straight overall and five in a row to the Suns. Booker added nine rebounds and five assists.

Kevin Porter Jr. scored a season-high 20 points for the Rockets.