Rondo’s buzzer-beater saves drowning Lakers
BOSTON – Rajon Rondo hit a 20-foot jumper as time expired to lift the Los Angeles Lakers over the Boston Celtics, 129-128 on Thursday night.
LeBron James had 28 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists. Kyle Kuzma added 25 points and Rondo had 17 points and 10 assists to help Los Angeles bounce back after a 42-point loss at Indiana on Tuesday.
Rondo was in the right place at the right time for his final shot against the team he won an NBA title with in 2008. Brandon Ingram had his layup attempt blocked by Al Horford, but Horford whiffed on the rebound and the ball bounced into Rondo’s hands.
Kyrie Irving led Boston with 24 points and eight assists. Jayson Tatum added 22 points and 10 rebounds. Daniel Theis has 20 points off the bench but the Celtics had a five-game win streak snapped.
In Oklahoma City, Russell Westbrook had his eighth straight triple-double, and Oklahoma City rolled past depleted Memphis 117-95.
Westbrook finished with 15 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds. He now has the longest triple-double streak of his career and is one short of Wilt Chamberlain’s NBA record of nine straight set in 1968.
Paul George scored 27 points and Jerami Grant added 20 for Oklahoma City, which has won nine of 10.
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 27 points for the Grizzlies, who were reeling from the news that franchise cornerstone Marc Gasol was traded to the Raptors for three players.
In Atlanta, Pascal Siakam scored a careerhigh 33 points, Fred VanVleet added a careerbest 30 and Toronto rallied after trailing by 17 points in the first half to beat Atlanta 119-101.
The Raptors were short-handed after trading four players in two deals before the trade deadline. They used only nine players and relied heavily on Siakam, who also had 13 rebounds, and VanVleet with All-Star Kawhi Leonard resting.
Rookie Trae Young and Taurean Price each had 19 points for Atlanta.
Toronto, which began the night two games behind Eastern Conference leader Milwaukee, acquired center Gasol from Memphis before Thursday’s trade deadline for Jonas Valanciunas, C.J. Miles and Delon Wright.
In Portland, CJ McCollum had 30 points, including seven 3-pointers, and the Trail Blazers handed the Spurs their third straight loss.
Damian Lillard added 24 points and nine assists for the Blazers, who were coming off a loss at home to Miami.
In other NBA games it was Pacers 116, Clippers 92; Magic 122, Timberwolves 112.