Murray sparks Nuggets to double-OT triumph
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Jamal Murray scored 23 points in his first game of the NBA restart, including the tying and go-ahead baskets, as the Denver Nuggets beat the Utah Jazz 134-132 in two overtimes Saturday.
The Nuggets overcame Donovan Mitchell’s 35 points for Utah, including a 3-pointer with 4.2 seconds remaining in the second overtime. But he missed a desperation heave from near half-court as the game ended.
Murray, playing his first game since March 11 after missing four games with left hamstring tightness, sank a fallaway jumper for a 123-all tie and then beat the shot clock with a go-ahead 3pointer. He had 12 rebounds and eight assists.
Clippers 122,
Trail Blazers 120
Clippers coach Doc Rivers rested Kawhi Leonard and sat Paul George for the final five minutes following Los Angeles’ plan to restrict playing time.
They still pulled out a big win Saturday over Portland after Trail Blazers All-Star Damian Lillard, an 89% career free-throw shooter, missed a couple of them late.
“We still feel we should we win regardless of who’s in the game,” George said.
Rodney McGruder hit a 3-pointer with 26.5 seconds left to give the Clippers the lead.
Portland had a chance to ensure a play-in for the Western Conference’s final playoff berth and eliminate Sacramento with a win. The Trail Blazers led much of the game, but the NBA’s topscoring team inside the bubble was outscored 12-5 in the final 96 seconds.
George finished with 21 points for the Clippers. Landry Shamet scored 19, Reggie Jackson added 17, Marcus Morris Sr. 15, JaMychal Green 13 and Lou Williams 12.
CJ McCollum led Portland with 29 points, hitting 6 of 13 3-pointers. 76ers 108, Magic 101
Tobias Harris had 23 points and 15 rebounds, Joel Embiid turned in a strong second half and finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds, and Philadelphia held off Orlando in the Sixers’ first game without All-Star Ben Simmons, who injured his knee Wednesday.
Pelicans 118, Wizards 107
Jrue Holiday scored 28 points as New Orleans, with rookie star Zion Williamson resting, improved its chances of earning a Western Conference playoff spot. New Orleans, with three games remaining, is one game behind ninth-place Portland with three games remaining. To force a play-in, a team must be in ninth place and within four games of the eighthplace team, now Memphis.
Rui Hachimura scored 23 points, Thomas Bryant scored 22 and Troy Brown Jr. added 20 points and 10 rebounds for Washington, which fell to 0-5 in the restart.
Celtics 122, Raptors 100
Jaylen Brown scored 20 points, Jayson Tatum added 18 and Boston never trailed. Kemba Walker scored 17 points in 23 minutes for the Celtics. Fred VanVleet scored 13 for Toronto.