Pacers rally to spoil Booker’s 62-point night
Harden records 75th career triple-double in Clippers’ win
INDIANAPOLIS — Obi Toppin broke a tie on a putback with 3.4 seconds left and the Indiana Pacers spoiled Devin Booker’s 62-point night, overcoming a 17-point deficit to beat the Phoenix Suns 133-131 on Friday.
Booker broke his own Phoenix record for points in a quarter with 29 in the first. He had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but he slipped on the inbounds pass and wasn’t close with a contested 3-pointer. The Suns had won seven straight.
Booker had 50 or more points for the second time this season and seventh time in his career. He had a career-high 70 at Boston in March 2017. On Jan. 19, he had 52 at New Orleans.
Pascal Siakam scored 31 points to help Indiana win its second straight — both without All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton. Toppin had 23 points and 11 rebounds.
The Suns extended the franchise record for consecutive games with 40-point scorers to five.
MAVERICKS 148, HAWKS 143:
In Atlanta, Luka Doncic scored a franchise-record 73 points, tied for the fourth-most in NBA history, to power Dallas over Atlanta.
Doncic scored a team-record 41 points in the first half. A three-point play with 2:58 remaining gave Doncic 70 points. With Dallas leading 140-136, Doncic added another three-point play to cap his night.
CLIPPERS 127, RAPTORS 107:
In Toronto, James Harden had 22 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds for his 75th career triple-double, Paul George added 21 points and Los Angeles beat Toronto for its fourth consecutive victory.
Russell Westbrook scored 20 points and Kawhi Leonard had 16 against his former team as Los Angeles won for the 12th time in 14.
ROCKETS 138, HORNETS 104:
In Charlotte, N.C., Jalen Green scored 36 points, rookie Cam Whitmore had a career-high 24 and Houston routed Charlotte.
Fred VanVleet had 14 points and Amen Thompson added 13 for the Rockets, They shot 30 of 40 from the field in the second half and outscored the Hornets 83-51.
CAVALIERS 112, BUCKS 110:
In Milwaukee, Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points, Jarrett Allen had 24 points and 14 rebounds and Cleveland beat Milwaukee for its ninth victory in 10 games.
The Cavaliers gained a measure of revenge after their eight-game winning streak ended with a 126116 loss at Milwaukee on Wednesday, one night after the Bucks had fired Adrian Griffin as coach.
Joe Prunty, an assistant on Griffin’s staff, worked as interim head coach for those two games. The Bucks announced in the final minute of the game Friday game that they have hired Doc Rivers as Griffin’s permanent replacement.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 22 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists for Milwaukee. Damian Lillard also had 22 points.
THUNDER 107, PELICANS 83:
In New Orleans, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points and Oklahoma City routed New Orleans to improve itsr NBA-leading road record to 15-8.
Chet Holmgren added 20 points and 13 rebounds to help the Thunder win their fourth straight on the road.
Herb Jones and Jonas Valanciunas each had 14 points for New Orleans.
GRIZZLIES 107, MAGIC 106:
In Memphis, Tenn., Jaren Jackson Jr. had 30 points and eight rebounds, reserve Ziaire Williams added 17 points and Memphis held off Orlando.
Luke Kennard finished with 15 points — all on 3-pointers — and six assists to help the Grizzlies win their third straight.