Gobert helps Jazz breeze past Spurs
Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points, Rudy Gobert had 21 points and 13 rebounds and the Utah Jazz beat the San Antonio Spurs 125-105 on Saturday in Salt Lake City.
Royce O’neale tied his season high with 17 points and made all four of his 3-point attempts to help the Jazz claim their third win in their last four games.
Ricky Rubio, who took to social media to celebrate surviving the trade deadline to stay with Utah, tallied 16 points, six rebounds and six assists.
Demar Derozan scored 23 points and Lamarcus Aldridge had 15 for the Spurs, who have lost four in a row on their eight-game trip while their home arena hosts a 17-day stock show and rodeo.
Knotted at 32, the Jazz scored nine consecutive points, including two baskets at the rim by Gobert, to gain command. The Jazz got to the rim repeatedly and outscored the Spurs 22-2 in the paint during the second quarter and led 62-48 at the half.
This was the finale of the teams’ three-game series. The Jazz own the tiebreaker and moved a full game ahead of the Spurs in the jumbled Western Conference standings.
Aldridge, who was chosen for the All-star Game while Gobert was snubbed — prompting Jazz coach Quin Snyder to call for a different way of selecting participants — went 5 of 16 from the field and had 10 rebounds.
Gobert has 45 double-doubles, tied for the league lead with Joel Embiid. CLIPPERS 123, CELTICS 112: Montrezl Harrell forced two turnovers in the final two minutes and Patrick Beverly hit a pair of 3-pointers to help Los Angeles overcome a 28-point, first-half deficit and beat Boston. The Celtics collapse corresponded to the loss of Kyrie Irving, who left with a sprained knee in the second quarter, when the game seemed comfortably in hand. RAPTORS 104, KINICKS 99: Marc Gasol had seven points and six rebounds in his Toronto debut and the Raptors sent New York to its 16th straight loss. Acquired from Memphis before Thursday’s trade deadline, Gasol played 19 minutes.
WIZARDS 134, BULLS 125: Bradley Beal scored 31 points to help Washington beat Chicago in the first meeting between the teams since they swapped three forwards in a multiplayer trade. Zach Lavine scored 26 points for Chicago.
GRIZZLIES 99, PELICANS 90: Joakim Noah had season highs of 19 points and 14 rebounds to lead new-look Memphis past New Orleans. Julius Randle led the Pelicans with 21 points, and Jrue Holiday added 15. Anthony Davis had 14 points and 16 rebounds in his second game returning to the lineup after seeking a trade. PISTONS SIGN ELLINGTON: The Detroit Pistons signed guard Wayne Ellington and waived 2016 firstround draft pick Henry Ellenson. The 6-foot-5 Ellington averaged 8.4 points with Miami this season before he was traded to Phoenix and then waived. Ellenson, who was drafted with the 18th pick in 2016, has averaged 3.8 points in 59 NBA games.