Lakers decimate Kings
Durant, Cook lift Curry-less Warriors past Nets
SACRAMENTO — LeBron James scored 25 points and recently signed Tyson Chandler had 12 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Sacramento Kings, 101-86, Saturday night (Sunday, PHL time).
The Lakers, who began the season with three straight losses, moved to .500 (6-6) for the first time this season by holding the Kings, who entered the game averaging 118 points per contest, to their lowest scoring total of the season.
It was only the second time Sacramento has been held below 100 points this season, and it marked the first time Los Angeles had held an opponent below 100.
James hit three 3-pointers and had seven rebounds. He only had two assists, though he often fed teammates for open shots that missed — including Lonzo Ball, who was 2 for 10 from the field.
Chandler, playing in his second game with the Lakers, logged 23 minutes and scored three points. Los Angeles has won four of its last five.
De'Aaron Fox had 17 of his 21 points in the first half to lead the Kings, who shot 35 percent from the field and went 6-for-25 on 3-pointers.
The Lakers were ahead by six points at the half and held a 76-65 lead entering the fourth quarter. They built that lead to 20 points at 88-68 before the Kings responded with a 10-0 run,
but Sacramento got no closer.
WARRIORS 116, NETS 100
Kevin Durant had 28 points and 11 assists, Quinn Cook scored a season-high 27 in place of injured Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors used another big run in the third quarter to pull away and beat the Brooklyn Nets.
Klay Thompson added 24 points on an uneven shooting night while Damian Jones had eight points and six rebounds. Two days after losing Curry to a groin injury in a 23-point home loss to Milwaukee, Golden State bounced back with little problem while their leading scorer sat at home watching.
Draymond Green also was missing from Steve Kerr's lineup but Durant made both absences a moot point while ending Brooklyn's three-game winning streak. The nine-time All-Star had 13 points in the first quarter, scored the final six of the second then came up big again in the third.
SPURS 96, ROCKETS 89
Houston is still "figuring it out" a month into the season and the Rockets did not gain any clarity against the San Antonio Spurs.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 27 points and 10 rebounds and San Antonio held on to beat Houston while holding the Rockets to 28 percent shooting in the final quarter.
After setting a franchise record for victories in finishing 65-17 last season, the Rockets have already dropped seven games as their offense continues to sputter despite having reigning MVP James Harden and Chris Paul.
Houston committed just eight turnovers against San Antonio but shot 33 percent from the field and 22 percent on 3-pointers in dropping their second straight.