Davis leads Lakers past banged-up Mavs
ANTHONY Davis had 23 points and nine rebounds as the host Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Dallas Mavericks, 108-95, on Sunday night at Staples Center.
Kentavious CaldwellPope scored 19 points, converting 5 of 9 shots and 4 of 5 3-pointers, off the bench for the Lakers, while Dwight Howard scored all 15 of his points in the first half. On the eve of his 35th birthday, LeBron James finished with 13 points and 13 assists.
Luka Doncic, who entered the contest as the NBA's third-leading scorer at 29.1 points per game, had 19 points on 5-of-14 shooting to go with seven assists. He was 0 for 6 on 3-pointers. Delon Wright added 14 points off the bench, while Kristaps Porzingis managed 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting.
The Lakers outshot the Mavericks 48.7 percent to 36 percent.
Balanced offense leads Grizzlies past Hornets
Dillon Brooks scored 20 points and the Memphis Grizzlies found numerous sources of offense to defeat the visiting Charlotte Hornets, 117-104, on Sunday night.
Brandon Clarke tallied 18 points, Jonas Valanciunas had 16, Grayson Allen matched a season-high mark with 15 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. supplied 14 and 12 rebounds for the Grizzlies.
Memphis shot 17-for-17 on free throws.
The sour-shooting Hornets have lost five games in a row.
Malik Monk led Charlotte with 18 points off the bench, while PJ Washington and Devonte’ Graham both chipped in with 16. Cody Zeller provided 14 points and Bismack Biyombo had 10.
Nuggets rely on balanced attack to hold off reeling Kings
Rookie Michael Porter Jr. had a season-high 19 points in his first career start, Will Barton also had 19 points, and the host Denver Nuggets beat the Sacramento Kings, 120-115, on Sunday night.
Jerami Grant scored 18, Nikola Jokic had 17, Mason Plumlee had 15 off the bench and Jamal Murray had 13 points and seven assists for Denver.
Nemanja Bjelica had 27 points, Buddy Hield scored 20, De’Aaron Fox added 18 points and 13 assists and Richaun Holmes also scored 18 for the Kings, who have lost seven straight.
The Nuggets played without guard Gary Harris (left shin contusion) and forward Paul Millsap (left knee contusion).
With Harden, Westbrook out, Rockets have nothing for Pelicans
Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball scored 27 points each as the host New Orleans Pelicans defeated the shorthanded Houston Rockets, 127-112, on Sunday night
Jrue Holiday and E’Twaun Moore added 25 each and Derrick Favors had 12 points and 16 rebounds as the Pelicans won for the fifth time in six games. They outscored the Rockets, 41-19, in the fourth quarter.
The Rockets played without James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Coach Mike D’Antoni said Harden, averaging a league-best 38.3 points, could have played but was held out to rest a sprained toe and a sore knee. Westbrook was inactive on the back end of a back-to-back after host Houston beat New Jersey, 108-98, on Saturday.