Knicks extend Lakers woes LA drops to 1-4 ABL without LeBron
Alapag resumes Alab duties vs Wolf Warriors
LOS ANGELES (AP/AFP) — Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 22 points, Trey Burke added 16 and the New York Knicks snapped their eight-game losing streak with a 119-112 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
Emmanuel Mudiay had 15 points and seven rebounds for the Knicks, who blew an early 17-point lead before rallying from a six-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Enes Kanter scored eight of his 16 points down the stretch as the Knicks pulled away, ending their first win since Dec. 14 on an 11-3 run.
The Lakers dropped to 1-4 without LeBron James, who is sidelined with a left groin strain. Los Angeles also played without second-leading scorer Kyle Kuzma, who has a bruised back.
James, who has already missed four games with a strained left groin, will miss at least three more before being re-evaluated, the Lakers announced Friday.
James suffered the injury on December 25 when the Lakers beat defending NBA champion Golden State 127-101. The Lakers have dropped three of four games without the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player.
James, who has been receiving daily treatment by the Lakers training and medical staff, is making progress on his recovery and will be re-evaluated in a week, making his availability for next Wednesday’s home game against Detroit unlikely.
New York capitalized on the Lakers’ injuries to earn just its second win in 15 games.
MILWAUKEE — Mike Budenholzer’s first game against the team he coached for five seasons was no contest as Milwaukee rolled to a 33-point halftime lead and coasted to their fifth straight victory.
Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists, and Khris Middleton scored 19 points while hitting all four of his 3-point attempts. Malcolm Brogdon also scored 19 points and point guard Eric Bledsoe added 14 points and eight assists.
Milwaukee (27-10) improved its NBAbest record and won for the ninth time in 10 games. The Bucks tied a season high for points in a game, equaling their total points against Sacramento on Nov. 4.
BOSTON — Gordon Hayward had 16 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, Jaylen Brown scored 21 points and shorthanded Boston beat Dallas.
Luka Doncic had 19 points and nine assists for Dallas. Harrison Barnes scored 20 points, and DeAndre Jordan had 12 points and 15 rebounds.
Dirk Nowitzki, who received two standing ovations, was scoreless and had two rebounds for Dallas. Celtics fans chanted “Dirk! Dirk!” in the final minute, hoping he would make a shot in what might have been his final appearance in Boston.
CHICAGO — Victor Oladipo made a 3-pointer from just above the top of the arc with 0.3 seconds left in overtime (OT) and Indiana beat Chicago for its sixth straight victory.
Game Today
(Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu)
7 p.m. – Alab Pilipinas vs Wolf Warriors
Jimmy Alapag resumes his role as coach of unbeaten San Miguel Alab Pilipinas tonight when they seek their fifth straight win against the struggling Zhuhai Wolf Warriors in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
Alapag is likely to guide the defending champions in the 7 p.m. match with renewed vigor after being appointed as an assistant coach of the San Miguel Beermen ahead of the PBA’s 44th season which starts on Jan. 13.
The former national team mainstay, however, remains focused on maintaining his team’s hot start as Alab begins a busy month that will see the squad play nine games, including its first-ever home appearance in Cebu.
Imports PJ Ramos and Renaldo Balkman are expected to produce the bulk of production as they did in the previous four games when Alab beat CLS Knights Indonesia, Formosa Dreamers and the Singapore Slingers.
The 7-foot-4 Ramos is averaging 21.8 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists while fellow Puerto Rican Balkman has produced 27.0 points, 14.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks.
Two-time Local Most Valuable Player Ray Parks Jr., whose