Pistons drown LeBronless Lakers
GIANNIS SCORES DOUBLE-DOUBLE FOR NBA-LEADING BUCKS
DETROIT – Langston Galloway scored 23 points off the bench, one shy of his season high, and host Detroit downed the depleted Los Angeles Lakers 111-97.
The Pistons snapped a two-game losing streak, while the Lakers lost for the seventh time in eight games. Reggie Jackson had 20 points, five rebounds and five assists, while Andre Drummond powered for 19 points and 23 rebounds for the Pistons.
The Lakers rested superstar forward LeBron James after he scored 29 points in a loss to Toronto on Thursday. Tyson Chandler (neck), Josh Hart (knee) and Lance Stephenson (toe) also sat out.
In Miami, the Milwaukee Bucks overcame a 23-point first-quarter deficit to rally past the Miami Heat 113-98 on Friday night.
Giannis Antetokounmpo tallied 33 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists, giving him his 49th double-double. Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe had 21 and 17points, respectively, for the Bucks, who top the NBA with 52 wins, including 25 on the road.
In Houston, James Harden recorded a double-double, with his final assist resulting in a critical basket that helped cement Houston’s 108-102 win over Phoenix.
Harden posted 41 points and 11 assists and finished a rebound shy of a triple-double. He added six steals, but his final assist, a pass that resulted in a Danuel House Jr. 3-pointer with just under a minute left, provided the Rockets a 105-100 lead and sealed their 10th win in 11 games.
In Philadelphia, all five starters scored 18 or more points, propelling Philadelphia over Sacramento 123-114.
Joel Embiid had 21 points and a game-high 17 rebounds, while teammate Jimmy Butler collected seven assists to complement a gamehigh 22 points as the 76ers (44-25) moved back into a tie with idle Indiana (44-25) for the No. 3 playoff position in the Eastern Conference.
In other NBA games, it was Spurs 109, Knicks 83; Trail Blazers 122, Pelicans 110; Clippers 128, Bulls 121; Hornets 116, Wizards 110.