Knicks kick Nuggets
Brunson’s return keys NY victory
NEW YORK — Jalen Brunson felt good enough to blow by the Denver Nuggets early and hang around to make some big plays at the end.
The New York Knicks needed their point guard to get by the best in the West, and Brunson was glad his sore left foot was healthy enough to deliver.
He had 24 points in his return to the court, leading the Knicks to a 116-110 victory on Saturday.
“Everything feels good when you win,” Brunson said.
Brunson had 16 points in the first quarter to get the Knicks off to a quick start, then finished strong to help them come back after trailing by 13 in the second half. New York was protecting a two-point lead when he made two free throws with 43 seconds remaining, then pushed the ball up the court and threw a lob that Mitchell Robinson slammed down to make it 116-110 with 24 seconds to go.
Brunson had missed five of the last six games and made it through only half of the one game he did play when he thought he was ready. With their point guard back, the Knicks won their third straight and improved to 42-30, guaranteeing just their second winning record in the last 10 seasons.
RJ Barrett added 21 points and Julius Randle had 20 for the Knicks, including the tiebreaking basket with 2:21 left. Robinson grabbed nine rebounds.
Nikola Jokic had 24 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Nuggets, who lost for the fifth time in six games. Jamal Murray scored 25 points.
JAZZ 118, CELTICS 117: In Salt Lake City, Lauri Markkanen scored 28 points and Walker Kessler had a gamesaving block to help Utah to a comeback win over Boston.
Grant Williams, who had 23 points and a career-high seven 3-pointers, was driving for a potential gamewinner but ran into Kessler, who blocked his shot just before the final buzzer.
Talen Horton-Tucker had 19 points and Ochai Agbaji added 16 for the Jazz, who overcame a 19-point deficit to win and stay in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race.
Jaylen Brown scored 25 points, Malcolm Brogdon had 16 and Jayson Tatum finished with 15, but was shut out in the second half as the short-handed Celtics were playing their third game in four nights.
MAGIC 113, CLIPPERS 108: In Los Angeles, Markelle Fultz scored 12 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, Wendell Carter Jr. had 27 points and 12 rebounds, and Orlando snapped its two-game skid with a victory over the Clippers.
Franz Wagner scored 20 points and hit a gutsy 3-pointer with 40 seconds to play for the Magic, who had lost five of six before taking the lead in the fourth quarter and holding on.
Paul George scored 30 points for the Clippers, whose four-game winning streak ended on the last contest of a five-game homestand. Ivica Zubac had 16 points and 16 rebounds for LA on his 26th birthday, grabbing his 3,000th career rebound in the first half. Kawhi Leonard skipped the game to rest his right knee, sitting out for the 29th time in the Clippers’ 71 contests this season.
76ERS 141, PACERS 121: In Indianapolis, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey each scored 31 points and Tobias Harris added 24 as Philadelphia routed Indiana to match its season high with an eighth consecutive victory.
In a matchup of teams missing All-Stars — Philadelphia’s James Harden and Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton — the 76ers shot 61% from the field, led by as many as 24 points and never looked back after overcoming an early eight-point deficit. De’Anthony Melton started in Harden’s place and finished with 14 points, five assists, five rebounds and six steals. Embiid chipped in seven assists and seven rebounds, while Maxey had seven assists.
Aaron Nesmith led the Pacers with 25 points and six rebounds, Andrew Nembhard scored 20 points, and Myles Turner finished with 20 points.
RAPTORS 122, TIMBERWOLVES 107: In Toronto, former New Mexico State star Pascal Siakam had 27 points and 10 rebounds and Toronto extended its season-high home winning streak to seven by beating Minnesota.
Jakob Poeltl had 14 points and 11 rebounds, matching his career high with his fourth straight doubledouble, to help the Raptors improve to 24-4 all-time in home meetings with Minnesota.
KINGS 132, WIZARDS 118: In Washington, Domantas Sabonis had 30 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, and Terence Davis II provided an early spark off the bench and added 21 points as Sacramento beat the Wizards.
Six players scored in double figures for the Kings.
Kyle Kuzma scored 33 points and Bradley Beal added 20 for the Wizards, who have lost seven of their last nine.
GRIZZLIES 133, WARRIORS 119: In Memphis, Tenn., Jaren Jackson Jr. had 31 points and four blocks and Memphis used a fourth-quarter push to defeat Golden State.
Desmond Bane added 26 points for Memphis and Dillon Brooks finished with 18 points while shooting 7 of 10, including all four of his 3-point attempts.
Jonathan Kuminga matched his season high with 24 points to lead the Warriors. Jordan Poole had 21 points, and Stephen Curry scored 16, but was 5 of 15 from the field.
BULLS 113, HEAT 99: In Chicago, DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points to lead a balanced Bulls offense and Chicago held off a late surge by Miami.
DeRozan shot 9 of 12 from the floor to help the Bulls sweep the season series from the Heat.