Kaminsky sparks Hornets off bench
Frank Kaminsky scored 15 of his season high-tying 24 points in the first half to give the Hornets a jolt off the bench in a 109-91 victory over the New York Knicks last night in Charlotte, N.C.
Kaminsky didn’t miss a shot until the fourth quarter, finishing 10-of-13 overall and 4-of-6 on 3-pointers to provide a boost for a Hornets bench that has struggled so much lately that interim head coach Stephen Silas has shortened the playing rotation.
But the win was so comfortable Silas was able to use all 12 of his players in a game in which Charlotte led by as much as 27 points.
The Hornets snapped a three-game skid and ended the Knicks’ four-game winning streak.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist added 15 points and 10 rebounds, Marvin Williams scored 12 points and Dwight Howard finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds for Charlotte.
Michael Beasley scored 23 points for New York.
Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis missed his second straight game with left knee soreness. Coach Jeff Hornacek said Porzingis went through shootaround in the morning before the decision was made.
Porzingis is expected back on Thursday when the Knicks host the Celtics in Madison Square Garden.
Thunder 95, Nuggets 94 — Russell Westbrook scored 16 of his season-high 38 points in the fourth quarter, including the tiebreaking free throw with 2.3 seconds left, to lift host Oklahoma City past Denver.
Westbrook made the first of two free throws to put the Thunder ahead. He missed the second, and the Nuggets called timeout with 1.7 seconds left. Denver’s Gary Harris missed short on an off-balance 3-pointer as time expired.
Westbrook also had nine rebounds and six assists for the Thunder, who have won 7-of-10 to even their record at 15-15. Oklahoma City survived, despite just eight points from Paul George and four from Carmelo Anthony.
Rockets 120, Jazz 99 — Eric Gordon scored 17 of his season-high 33 points in the fourth quarter to power a huge run that put pushed Houston past visiting Utah for its 14th straight win.
Houston used a 15-0 run early in the fourth to take control as James Harden added 26 points, Clint Capela had 24 points and 20 rebounds and Gordon finished with a season-high seven 3-pointers.
Timberwolves 108, Trail Blazers 107 — Jimmy Butler powered through a recent bout of back spasms to score 37 points, sinking two free throws that gave Minnesota the lead with 2.5 seconds left in a victory against Portland in Minneapolis.
Jamal Crawford pitched in a season-high 23 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter to spur a rally from 10 points down with 7A minutes remaining. The Wolves completed their third comeback win this season from a double-digit deficit.
Hawks 110, Heat 104 — Taurean Prince scored 24 points, Dennis Schroder added 23 and host Atlanta, the worst team in the NBA, beat injury-riddled Miami.
The Heat, down to just nine healthy players, were without leading scorer Goran Dragic, forward James Johnson and key reserve Justise Winslow. Miami center Hassan Whiteside missed his 10th straight game with a bruised left knee and 15th overall.
Miami had won 4-of-5 and was trying to move two games above .500 for the first time this season. Josh Richardson scored 26 points and Dion Waiters finished with 23 for Miami, which visits the Celtics at the Garden tomorrow.
Bulls 117, 76ers 115 — Nikola Mirotic and Kris Dunn each scored 22 points, and host Chicago topped Philadelphia for its sixth consecutive victory.
Mirotic and Dunn each hit huge shots down the stretch as Chicago rallied past Philadelphia with a big finish in the fourth quarter. Mirotic also grabbed 13 rebounds, helping the Bulls remain unbeaten since he returned Dec. 8 after missing the start of the season with facial fractures after he got into a fight with teammate Bobby Portis during practice.
Seven players scored in double figures for Chicago. Justin Holiday scored all 20 of his points in the first half.
Ben Simmons had 19 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists for the Sixers, who have lost six-of-seven.
Spurs 109, Clippers 91 — LaMarcus Aldridge scored 19 points and San Antonio beat undermanned Los Angeles in Kawhi Leonard’s home debut this season.
Tony Parker had 16 points and seven assists in 23 minutes, his second-longest stint after missing the first 19 games while recovering from left quadriceps tendon surgery.
Suns 97, Mavericks 91 — Alex Len had 14 points and 14 rebounds to help Phoenix rally past host Dallas for its second consecutive comeback victory.
TJ Warren scored 19 points and Isaiah Canaan added 17 as Phoenix improved to 2-0 on a threegame road trip despite playing without injured guard Devin Booker.
Warriors 116, Lakers 114 — Kevin Durant had 36 points, including the winning jumper with seven seconds left as visiting Golden State beat Los Angeles.
The loss came on the night the Lakers retired jersey Nos.8 and 24 for Kpbe Bryant.