Ibaka, Magic keep Raptors scuffling
Serge Ibaka scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds while Evan Fournier added 20 points and 10 rebounds to help the Magic beat the Toronto Raptors, 102-94, last night in Orlando, Fla.
It was the second time in less than a week that the struggling Magic have defeated Toronto. And like Sunday’s win, this one was close throughout and wasn’t decided until late. Ibaka made a 13-foot pullup jumper inside late to give the Magic a 95-89 advantage to seal the victory.
Toronto, which played without star guard DeMar DeRozan (ankle), lost for the second straight time and has now dropped seven of its last nine games. Jonas Valanciunas, Norman Power and Kyle Lowry each had 18 points for the Raptors.
Pacers 106, Nets 97 — Paul George scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, Jeff Teague had 24 points and Indiana won in Brooklyn.
Myles Turner and Al Jefferson each added 11 points for the Pacers, who have won five straight games.
Brook Lopez scored 23 points, Sean Kilpatrick had 18 and Joe Harris added 15 for the Nets, who have dropped eight straight and 11 in a row at home.
Thunder 114, Grizzlies 102 — Russell Westbrook scored 19 of his 38 points in the fourth quarter and had a triple-double to lead host Oklahoma City past Memphis.
Westbrook also had 13 rebounds and 12 assists. It was his 25th triple-double this season and the 62nd of his career. His season total is the most in the NBA since Wilt Chamberlain had 31 in 1967-68.
Rockets 121, Bulls 117 — James Harden had 42 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists to rally Houston past visiting Chicago in overtime.
Harden hit a step-back jumper over Paul Zipser with 36.1 seconds remaining in the extra period and was fouled. He made the free throw to give the Rockets a two-point lead they never relinquished.
The Bulls played without star forward Jimmy Butler, who was nursing a bruised heel.
Pistons 116, Timberwolves 108 — In Auburn Hills, Mich., Marcus Morris scored a career-high 36 points, and Detroit held off Minnesota.
Jon Leuer added a career-high 24 points for Detroit, which won despite 5-for-20 shooting from its starting backcourt of Reggie Jackson and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Mavericks 108, Trail Blazers 104 — Yogi Ferrell scored 32 points to help Dallas win in Portland. Ferrell, who signed a 10-day contract with the Mavericks six days ago, had 22 points at the half — shattering his previous careerhigh of 17. He’s scored 71 points so far this week.
Nuggets 121, Bucks 117 — Nikola Jokic returned to the lineup with the first triple-double of his career, and host Denver beat skidding Milwaukee, losers of 10-of-11.
Jokic had 20 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists after missing three games with a strained left hip. He nearly had his triple-double in the first three minutes of the second half, but went without another assist until late in the fourth quarter.
Suns 105, Kings 103 — Devin Booker scored 33 points and banked in a 20foot fadeaway over Matt Barnes to snap Phoenix’s five-game losing streak, toppling host Sacramento.
DeMarcus Cousins had a triple-double with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists for the Kings. It was Cousins’ sixth career tripledouble and second this season.
Elsewhere in the NBA — Golden State waived center Anderson Varejao to clear a roster spot on the NBA’s top team as it deals with depth issues and injuries.
The Warriors are gearing up for the return of David West from a nondisplaced fracture of his left thumb sustained Jan. 18 against Oklahoma City. . . .
The NBA fined Atlanta’s Taurean Prince and Miami’s James Johnson $25,000 each for their roles in a Wednesday scuffle.