ZION TURNS IT UP A NOTCH
Zion Williamson scored a season-high 36 points, CJ McCollum added nine of his 23 points in the fourth quarter on three timely 3-pointers, and the host New Orleans Pelicans beat the NBA-leading Minnesota Timberwolves 121-107 on Monday night.
Pelicans 121, T-wolves 107
The game was a character test for the Pelicans, coming off their 133-89 drubbing at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers in the semifinals of the NBA In-Season Tournament in Las Vegas on Thursday night.
Williamson was the object of ridicule by national NBA analysts after he scored 13 points on eight shots and finished with just three rebounds against the Lakers. Some said he appeared out of shape and others said he failed to raise his intensity level in the face of a LeBron Jamesled squad that appeared far more motivated.
Against the T-wolves, Williamson repeatedly scored on forceful drives to the basket, often finishing high off the glass to beat the long reach of Minnesota center Rudy Gobert.
Williamson’s highlights included a double-pump floater off the glass from left of the lane as he was fouled by Jaden McDaniels to make it 109-94 with 4:51 left. It was his third game this season with more than 30 points.
The Wolves played without leading scorer Anthony Edwards, who left Friday night’s win at Memphis with a right hip pointer.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the Timberwolves with 17 points and 12 rebounds, but he fouled out with 2:35 left and his team trailing by 14. Mike Conley and Naz Reid each scored 17 points for Minnesota, which had won nine of its previous 10 games.
Pacers 131, Pistons 123: Bennedict Mathurin scored 30 points and visiting Indiana handed Detroit its 20th straight loss.
Tyrese Haliburton had 14 points and 16 assists for Indiana. Miles Turner added 23 points.
Rockets 93, Spurs 82: Tari
Eason had a season-high 18 points and 14 rebounds off the bench as host Houston dealt San Antonio its franchiserecord 17th consecutive loss.
Top overall pick Victor Wembanyama had 15 points, 18 rebounds and five blocks, along with an overpowering dunk over Houston’s Alperen Sengun in the third period, but it wasn’t enough to get the Spurs back in the win column.
76ers 146, Wizards 101: Tyrese Maxey made three 3pointers in a game-opening 14-0 run that helped Philadelphia to a 29-point lead at halftime and Joel Embiid had 34 points and 10 rebounds in lopsided win over visiting Washington.
Heat 116, Hornets 114: Duncan Robinson had five 3-pointers and scored 24 points, Kevin Love provided a big boost off the bench with a season-high 19 points and Miami overcame a huge game from host Charlotte’s Terry Rozier for the win.
Rozier scored 34 points with eight 3-pointers for the Hornets, but his halfcourt heave at the final buzzer hit the backboard and bounced away.
Bucks 133, Bulls 129 (OT): Giannis Antetokounmpo had 32 points and 11 rebounds to
lead Milwaukee past visiting Chicago in overtime.
DeMar DeRozan had 41 points and Coby White scored 33 for Chicago, which had won four straight.
Magic 104, Cavaliers 94:
Paolo Banchero scored 20 points and Franz Wagner added 19 for Orlando as visiting Cleveland failed to recover from a dismal third quarter.
Darius Garland scored 36 points for the Cavaliers, who made only two of 17 shots in the third and scored 15 points. Donovan Mitchell added 22 points for the Cavaliers, who had won four straight on the road.
Knicks 136, Raptors 130:
Julius Randle scored 34 points, Quentin Grimes had a seasonhigh 19 and host New York shook off some bad injury news to beat Toronto.
RJ Barrett added 27 points and Jalen Brunson had 21 points and nine assists for the Knicks, who had a new starting center for the first time this season after Mitchell Robinson sustained a stress fracture in his left ankle. The injury will require surgery for the NBA leader in offensive rebounds and a recovery of at least two
months.
Nuggets 129, Hawks 122: Jamal Murray scored 29 points, Nikola Jokic added 25 and visiting Denver ended a three-game skid.
Bogdan Bogdanovic set career highs with 40 points and 10 3-pointers in the Hawks’ fourth consecutive loss.
Mavericks 120, Grizzlies 113: Luka Doncic scored 35 points, Dereck Lively II added 16 points and 16 rebounds, and host Dallas beat Memphis to extend its winning streak to three games.
Thunder 134, Jazz 120: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points in three quarters and Oklahoma City defeated visiting Utah.
Keyonte George, a rookie from Baylor, scored a seasonbest 30 points for the Jazz.
Clippers 132, Trail Blazers 127: Kawhi Leonard scored 34 points while Paul George and James Harden each had 20 for host Los Angeles.
Anfernee Simons led Portland with 38 points.
Kings 131, Nets 118: DeAaron Fox had 28 points and nine assists, and host Sacramento set a franchise record for 3-pointers with 25.