LaVine scores 31 points, Bulls rally to beat Clippers 109-106 UP NEXT
CHICAGO — Zach LaVine scored 31 points and converted a decisive threepoint play in the Chicago Bulls’ 109-106 victory over the short-handed and weary Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night.
Chicago trailed by five points with less than two minutes to go. Tied at 106, the Bulls inbounded with 5.4 seconds left. LaVine got the ball near the 3-point line, drove to his right and was fouled by Montrezl Harrell as he scored with 2 seconds left.
Paul George then missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Lauri Markkanen had 13 points and 17 rebounds, Thaddeus Young scored 17 points, and Denzel Valentine had 16 for the Bulls.
Harrell had 30 points and George had 27 for Los Angeles. The Clippers had won four in a row.
Besides playing for the third time in four days at the end of a six-game trip, the Clippers were without Kawhi Leonard (injury management, left knee soreness), Lou Williams (right calf), Patrick Beverly (concussion) and JaMychal Green (tailbone contusion).
This was the eighth game Leonard has missed. He scored 42 points Friday night at Minnesota.
Los Angeles led by 15 points midway through the second quarter before Chicago closed the first half with a 19-6 run to pull to 57-55.
Clippers: Host Phoenix on Tuesday night.
BUCKS 125, CAVALIERS 108
MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 29 points and Khris Middleton had 24 to lead Milwaukee to its 18th consecutive victory.
The Bucks have won 22 of their last 23 and improved to 24-3, a half-game ahead of the idle Los Angeles Lakers for the best record in the league. The Bucks have not lost since Nov. 8 at Utah.
The streak is the second longest in franchise history. The Bucks won 20 consecutive games in the 1970-71 season on the way to winning their lone NBA championship.
Kevin Porter Jr. had 15 points and Jordan Clarkson scored 13 for Cleveland.
SPURS 121, SUNS 119, OT
MEXICO CITY — Patty Mills made a jumper from the free throw line with 0.3 seconds left and San Antonio outlasted Phoenix in overtime.
DeMar DeRozan pulled the Spurs even with a drive and fling — after a foul by Mikal Bridges — down the right side of the lane, but missed the free throw. The ball went out of bounds on a scramble after the missed free throw, and San Antonio kept the ball after a replay review.
Phoenix, with star guard Devin Booker sitting out because of a sore forearm, overcame a late seven-point deficit to force overtime on Kelly Oubre Jr’s 3-pointer from the corner in the final seconds.
Mills led the Spurs with 26 points. DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge and Dejounte Murray each added 18, and Lonnie Walker IV had 16.
RAPTORS 110, NETS 102
TORONTO — Pascal Siakam scored 30 points, Marc Gasol set season highs with 17 points and 15 rebounds and Toronto beat Brooklyn to snap a three-game home losing streak.
Norman Powell fouled out with 25 points and Kyle Lowry had 17 to help the Raptors win their ninth straight home game against the Nets and beat Brooklyn for the 16th time in 17 meetings.
GRIZZLIES 128, WIZARDS 111
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Dillon Brooks scored 27 points, rookie Brandon Clarke added 25 and Memphis sent Washington to its fourth straight loss.
Ja Morant added 18 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. had 16 to help the Grizzlies win for the third time in the last four. Bradley Beal led the Wizards with 29 points, but was 8 of 23 from the field.