Raptors punch out Bulls in overtime
DeMar DeRozan had 42 points, and the Raptors snapped an 11-game losing streak against the Chicago Bulls by rallying for a wild 122-120 overtime win last night in Toronto.
DeRozan shot 17-of-38 from the floor and also collected eight assists. Cory Joseph had 19 points for the Raptors, and Serge Ibaka scored 16 before he was ejected for his role in a memorable fight with Robin Lopez during the third quarter. Lopez also was ejected.
Jimmy Butler had 37 points for the Bulls, and Rajon Rondo finished with 24. It was Chicago’s first loss to Toronto since Dec. 31, 2013.
Earlier in the day, the Bulls announced that Jerry Krause, the team’s general manager during the 1990s dynasty that included six NBA championships with Michael Jordan leading the way, had died. The Chicago native was 77.
Nets 98, Pistons 96 — In New York, Brook Lopez made a jumper as time expired to give Brooklyn the win against Detroit, which had wiped out a doubledigit deficit in the fourth quarter to tie the game on Tobias Harris’ follow shot with 2.4 seconds left.
Harris had 24 points for the Pistons, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope finished with 19. Andre Drummond had 13 points and 17 rebounds, but he left midway through the fourth quarter after appearing to injure his knee.
Heat 112, Suns 97 — Hassan Whiteside had 23 points and 14 rebounds before leaving late with blood on his right hand, and host Miami beat Phoenix.
Tyler Johnson finished with 17 points for the Heat, who had seven players in double figures. Goran Dragic scored 16, Josh Richardson had 14 and Willie Reed added 12.
Marquese Chriss scored 24 points for the Suns, who lost their fifth straight. Leandro Barbosa had 13 points, Alex Len scored 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and T.J. Warren also had 12 points.
Warriors 112, Mavericks 87 — Klay Thompson had 23 points with five 3-pointers and Golden State earned its 28th road win this season, beating host Dallas in a matchup of the Curry brothers.
Stephen Curry, two-time MVP and the older of the brothers, had 17 points and nine assists for the Warriors, the first team ever with 28 road wins in three consecutive seasons. Seth Curry, who was undrafted in 2013 and just this year became a starter with the Mavericks, had 10 points.
Pelicans 95, Grizzlies 82 — DeMarcus Cousins enjoyed his most prolific performance yet with New Orleans, with 41 points (five 3-pointers) and 17 rebounds in a win against visiting Memphis.
Cousins also blocked three shots and assisted on Anthony Davis’ crowdpleasing alley-oop dunk.
Spurs 100, Timberwolves 93 — In Minneapolis, Kawhi Leonard scored 20 of his 22 points in the second half and hit the go-ahead jumper with 54 seconds to play to help San Antonio to victory against Minnesota.
Bucks 93, Trail Blazers 90 — Khris Middleton scored 26 points, and visiting Milwaukee held off Portland.
Clippers 133, Lakers 109 — Chris Paul had 27 points, DeAndre Jordan added 12 points and 11 rebounds and the visitors rolled in the battle of Los Angeles rivals.