Leonard has 20 points, 11 rebounds as Raptors top Nets
TORONTO >> The Brooklyn Nets needed one more victory to match their best stretch in four years.
Instead, they stumbled in Toronto — again.
Kawhi Leonard had 20 points and 11 rebounds, Pascal Siakam scored 16 points and the Raptors beat the Nets 122-105 Friday night for their second seven-game home winning streak of the season.
“I rarely say this about our team, but I didn’t love the effort tonight,” Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said. “To beat an elite team on the road, our effort and execution was nowhere near where it needed to be. I think we got dominated all around.”
Brooklyn entered with 13 wins in their previous 17 games, a run that began with a 106-105 overtime victory over Toronto Dec. 7. The Nets last won 14 of 18 in the
2013-14 season.
Toronto has won 13 of the past 14 meetings with the Nets, including seven straight north of the border. Brooklyn hasn’t won in Toronto since Feb. 4, 2015.
Serge Ibaka added 14 points, OG Anunoby and Norman Powell each had 13, Delon Wright had 12 to help Toronto improve to 18-4 at home. They last lost at home Dec.
9 to Milwaukee.
Toronto set a season high with
105 shots and had 32 assists on 48 baskets.
“It’s what we’re looking for, a total team effort,” said guard Fred VanVleet, one of five Toronto reserves to score at least 10 points. The Raptors finished with 60 bench points, two shy of a season-high. ROCKETS 141, CAVS 113>> James Harden had 43 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists in three quarters to lead Houston to a rout of Cleveland.
After the Cavaliers won the first meeting with Houston this season, the Rockets were determined to take care of business this time. They did that, racing to a 28-point lead after scoring a season-high 77 points in the first half behind 24 points from Harden.
WIZARDS 113, BUCKS 106 >> Bradley Beal scored 32 points, and Tomas Satoransky had 18 points, a careerhigh 12 rebounds and 10 assists for his first career triple-double to help Washington beat Milwaukee.
With Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined by hip and quad injuries, Washington came out aggressively and never trailed after the opening two minutes. The Wizards finished with 18
3-pointers, matching the franchise record. Khris Middleton scored 25 points for the Bucks. MAVERICKS 119, TIMBERWOLVES
115 >> Luka Doncic scored 29 points and hit the go-ahead 3-pointer to lead Dallas poast Minnesota, spoiling rookie coach Ryan Saunders’ home debut. Doncic also had 12 assists and eight rebounds. He scored seven of Dallas’ final nine points. PACERS 121, KNICKS 106 >> Domantas Sabonis had 22 points and 15 rebounds to cap his sizzling season at Madison Square Garden, and Indiana beat New York.
Sabonis shot 9 for 14 from the field to finish 21 of 26 this season in two games in New York.
Grizzlies expect Brooks to miss remainder of season
MEMPHIS, TENN. >> Memphis Grizzlies guard/forward Dillon Brooks is expected to miss the remainder of the season because of a ruptured ligament in his right big toe.
The Grizzlies announced that Brooks underwent surgery Friday.