SUNDAY’S GAMES
HOME team in caps.
HORNETS 119, Wizards 97: Terry Rozier had 26 points with five 3-pointers, Gordon Hayward added 25 points and the Charlotte Hornets beat the Washington Wizards 119-97 on Sunday. LaMelo Ball followed up a career-best 34-point effort against the Utah Jazz with another strong game, finishing with 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists as the Hornets handed the Wizards their seventh loss in the last nine games.
Heat 109, KNICKS 103: Bam Adebayo had 24 points and 11 rebounds, Jimmy Butler had a big second half and just missed a triple-double and the Miami Heat beat the New York Knicks 109-103 on Sunday in the opener of a home-and-home series. Butler finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. He shot just 3 for 11 from the field but scored 12 points after halftime. Kendrick Nunn and Tyler Herro each added 16 points for the Heat, who won their second straight after dropping seven of eight.
Jazz 103, PACERS 95: Donovan Mitchell had 27 points and 11 assists as the redhot Utah Jazz improved their NBA-best record with a 103-95 road win over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. The Jazz (19-5), who have won 15 of 16, flowed through their All-Star guard, who also
had nine rebounds. Mitchell ensured a fast start with 11 first-quarter points. When he wasn’t driving past defenders, he was pulling up for uncontested jumpers.
SUNS 100, Celtics 91: Mikal Bridges scored 19 points, Devin Booker had 18 points and 11 assists and the Phoenix Suns held on to beat the Boston Celtics 100-91 on Sunday. Phoenix improved to 13-9 this season and has won five of its past six games. Cam Johnson added 17 points off the bench while Deandre Ayton had 16 points and 11 rebounds. Phoenix built a 17-point lead midway through the third quarter, but Boston rallied to cut the deficit to 76-68 entering the fourth.
Kings 113, CLIPPERS 110: De’Aaron Fox scored 36 points, Buddy Hield added 22 and the Sacramento Kings beat the Los Angeles Clippers 113-110 on Sunday for their fourth straight victory. The Kings are 7-1 since suffering a 19-point drubbing by the Clippers on Jan. 20. Lou Williams scored 23 points off the bench for the Clippers, who dropped two in a row for the first time this season. Kawhi Leonard had 20 points and 10 rebounds as LA played without injured Paul George. The Clippers’ reserves outscored the starters, 57-53.