Cousins injured:
Pelicans All-Star hurts Achilles, likely out for season.
A fourth straight victory and seventh victory in eight games, coming against one of the NBA’s top teams, should have been reason to celebrate Friday night. But the New Orleans Pelicans’ locker room was filled with concern after AllStar center DeMarcus Cousins was helped to the locker room with less than 15 seconds left, unable to put any weight on his left foot after injuring his Achilles.
Officially, the team said an MRI exam will determine the severity of the injury.
A person familiar with the situation told the Associated Press that an MRI has confirmed an Achilles tear, ending Cousins’ season a little more than a week after he was voted an All-Star starter.
Cousins had already recorded a triple-double with 15 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists as the host Pelicans beat the Houston Rockets 115-113. Fellow All-Star starter Anthony Davis led New Orleans with 27 points.
Chris Paul scored 38 points before fouling out in the final seconds and nearly led Houston back from a 21-point, thirdquarter deficit. James Harden had 23 points and 11 assists, and Eric Gordon scored 27.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will select the All-Star replacement for Cousins.
Cavaliers James had 115, his 63rd Pacers career 108: tripledouble LeBron — overcoming 11 turnovers, six in the fourth quarter — and host Cleveland showed signs of ending its slump. James finished with 26 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds as the Cavs won for just the fourth time in 11 games. J.R. Smith added 23 points for Cleveland. Victor Oladipo scored 25 for Indiana.
76ers scored 97, 21 points Spurs and 78: Joel Ben Embiid Simmons had 18 and 14 rebounds as visiting Philadelphia held San Antonio to a season-low point total. Simmons added seven assists and five rebounds. The Spurs lost for just the fourth time at home this season.
Jazz made 97, a three-pointer Raptors 93: with Ricky four Rubio seconds left to lift visiting Utah. Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points and Rudy Gobert had 18 points and 15 rebounds for the Jazz. With Utah trailing 93-92, Rubio made his three for the 14th lead change of the game. Jonas Valanciunas had 28 points and 14 rebounds for Toronto.
Bucks 116, Nets 91: Giannis Antetokounmpo had 41 points and 13 rebounds for host Milwaukee in his return from sitting out two games to manage chronic pain in his right knee. Khris Middleton added 21 points in the Bucks’ second game, both wins, since coach Jason Kidd was fired Monday.
Clippers 109, Grizzlies 100: Lou Williams had 40 points and 10 assists as visiting Los Angeles snapped a three-game skid. Memphis center Marc Gasol had a triple-double with 13 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
Lakers 108, Bulls 103: Brandon Ingram scored 25 points, including eight in the final 3:18, as visiting Los Angeles rallied after losing a 12-point, fourth-quarter lead. The Lakers have won four straight and eight of 10.
Trail Blazers 107, Mavericks 93: Damian Lillard scored 28 points to lead visiting Portland, which has won four of its past five games. Harrison Barnes scored 21 points for Dallas.
Knicks 107, Suns 85: Enes Kanter scored 15 of his 20 points in the first quarter and Trey Burke scored 15 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter for visiting New York. Kristaps Porzingis added 19 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. 15 for the Knicks in the final stop of their seven-game trip.
Hornets Walker scored 121, Hawks 29 points 110: and Kemba made two key three-pointers down the stretch for host Charlotte. Nicolas Batum and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist each added 19 points, and Dwight Howard had 8 points and 15 rebounds. Kent Bazemore led Atlanta with 26 points.
Briefly: Celtics guard Marcus Smart will miss about two weeks after cutting his right hand hitting a picture frame. Smart is averaging 10 points and 4.7 assists this season . ... Pistons reserve center Jon Leuer had ankle surgery and will miss the rest of the season, the Detroit News reported . ... Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni will lead Team Stephen Curry in the NBA All-Star Game. Despite Friday’s loss, the Rockets clinched the best winning percentage in the Western Conference through Feb. 4 among teams with eligible coaches. The Warriors’ Steve Kerr is ineligible because he coached in the game last year.