FAST START PROPELS LAKERS
The Los Angeles Lakers came out with “an angry, nasty defensive disposition,” coach Frank Vogel said, two days after an embarrassing loss to the Clippers.
Hot shooting didn’t hurt, either.
The Lakers made 18 3pointers, including seven of their first eight attempts, in a 110-101 win over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night in Tampa, Fla.
“We had high-quality shots, didn’t settle for midrange, and as a result we hit a high percentage (45 percent),” Vogel said.
The Lakers built a 34point lead in the first 20 minutes and were never threatened in the second half.
Talen Horton-Tucker led seven Lakers in double figures with 17 points. Markieff Morris scored 15 before leaving the game with five fouls in the third quarter, and Marc Gasol had 13 points and nine rebounds.
“Some days you make shots, some days you don’t. You always have to keep that in perspective,” said Alex Caruso, who made 3 of 4 3pointers and finished with 13 points. “I think we were just playing through whatever they gave us defensively.”
Pascal Siakam scored 17 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter for Toronto after hitting just 2 of 11 shots in the first half. The Raptors were coming off a last-second win over the Washington Wizards.
The Raptors shot 5 for 33 from behind the arc.
The Lakers’ Montrezl Harrell and Toronto’s OG Anunoby were ejected with 2:24 left in the first quarter after Dennis Schroder fouled Anunoby’s layup attempt. Several players, including Harrell, were involved in an altercation after
Schroder squared off.
Clippers 133, Trail Blazers 116: Paul George scored 36 points and Kawhi Leonard had 29 as host Los Angeles jumped out to a big early lead and cruised home. Norman Powell scored 32 points to lead Portland, which trailed 47-32 after the first quarter.
Warriors 122, Bucks 121: Stephen Curry scored 41 points on 14-of-21 shooting as host Golden State rallied in the fourth quarter. Jrue Holiday had 29 points and Kris Middleton 28 for Milwaukee.
76ers 106, Celtics 96: Joel Embiid scored 35 points and visiting Philadelphia rolled past Boston. Danny Green added 17 points as the Sixers posted their third straight victory over the Celtics to sweep the season series.
Hawks 123, Pelicans 107: Trae Young scored 30 points and helped lead a thirdquarter 3-point barrage as and
Anunoby surging Atlanta beat visting New Orleans. The Hawks sank each of their 11 3-point attempts in the third, including four from Bogdan Bogdanovic, who had 21 points. Atlanta made 20 of 31 3s overall.
Nuggets 134, Pistons 119:
Nikola Jokic scored 27 points in 27 minutes and host Denver spoiled the return of Jerami Grant and Mason Plumlee by shellacking Detroit. Jokic also dished out 11 assists, his 83rd career double-digit assist game.
Grizzlies 124, Heat 112:
Dillon Brooks scored 28 points on 10 of 16 shooting and visiting Memphis defeated Miami for its third straight win. Jimmy Butler scored 28 points and Bam Adebayo had 18 for the Heat, who had won their past four.
Bulls 113, Pacers 97:
Nikola Vucevic took advantage of Indiana’s missing big men by posting 32 points and 17 rebounds in visiting Chicago’s win.