NBA roundup: Grizzlies get by Wolves for 11th straight win
Desmond Bane scored 21 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 20 points and five blocks to lift the surging Memphis Grizzlies to a 116108 victory over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday.
John Konchar collected 15 points and 17 rebounds and Brandon Clarke added 14 and eight as the Grizzlies extended their franchisebest winning streak to 11 games. Memphis, which has won 21 of its last 25 games, also avenged a 138-95 shellacking at the hands of Minnesota on Nov. 20.
Ja Morant recorded 16 points, nine assists and eight rebounds despite nursing an apparent back injury. He left the contest after committing his third foul late in the second quarter, but he returned to start the third. Anthony Edwards scored 30 points and D’Angelo Russell made six 3-pointers to highlight his 29-point performance for the Timberwolves, who have dropped two in a row.
Nuggets 140, Trail Blazers 108
Will Barton scored 21 points and Nikola Jokic had 20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as host Denver pounded Portland.
Jeff Green scored 19 points, Facundo Campazzo had 18 points and 12 assists, Bones Hyland added 17 points and Zeke Nnaji amassed 16 points and nine rebounds for Denver, which recorded season highs in points and 3-pointers (21). Barton left with a neck strain in the third quarter.
Ben McLemore scored 18 points and Dennis Smith Jr. had 17 points and eight assists for the Trail Blazers. Nassir Little scored 14, Trendon Watford finished with 11 and Robert Covington and Nurkic had 10 each. Nurkic added eight rebounds and six assists.
Thunder 130, Nets 109
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander totaled 33 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists as Oklahoma City snapped a five-game losing streak by routing host Brooklyn.
Gilgeous-Alexander made 11 of 18 shots and notched his second straight game with 30 points. Luguentz Dort added 27 points and hit six of Oklahoma City’s season-best 20 3pointers. Rookie Josh Giddey added 19 points as the Thunder shot a season-best 51.6 percent and also set season highs for points, first-quarter points (38) and first-half points (70).
James Harden paced the Nets with 26 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. Rookie Cam Thomas added 21 points as the Nets lost for the sixth time in seven home games.