WESTBROOK HITS WINNING JUMPER
dallas» Russell Westbrook hit a pull-up jumper with seven seconds left and the Thunder erased a 13-point deficit in the final four minutes to beat the Mavericks 92-91 on Monday.
Westbrook scored 37 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter, with 13 rebounds and 10 assists for his third straight tripledouble and 37th of the season.
The Thunder finished on a 14-0 run, capped when the team gained possession on a replay reversal with 13 seconds to go and Westbrook hit the decisive shot from just beyond the freethrow line. Westbrook scored 12 of the final 14 points.
MONDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
Kawhi Leonard scored 25 points as the Spurs dismantled the ailing Cavaliers 103-74 in a showdown that turned into a major letdown for the defending NBA champions. … DeMar DeRozan scored 36 points and Cory Joseph had 15 points and 13 assists as the Raptors defeated the Magic 131-112 for their sixth straight victory. … Derrick Rose scored 27 points, Kristaps Porzingis had 25 and the Knicks handed the Pistons another damaging defeat with a 109-95 victory. Carmelo Anthony returned from a two-game absence because of a sore left knee and added 21 as the Knicks snapped a five-game losing streak and avoided playoff elimination.
FOOTNOTE
Jeanie Buss in control for life. A battle over control of the Lakers is over after an agreement was reached to have Jeanie Buss serve as controlling owner of the storied NBA franchise for the rest of her life, making permanent the arrangement her late father and longtime Lakers owner Jerry Buss said in his will that he wanted. The agreement was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday and stated Jim and Johnny Buss agreed their sister will serve as the controlling owner. The filing ends weeks of uncertainty about control of the Lakers as the franchise tries to put several losing seasons behind it. Earlier this month, Jeanie Buss went to court seeking an order to control the team after her brothers called for a board meeting that she interpreted as a challenge to her power. That filing came days after she removed Jim Buss as the Lakers’ executive vice president of basketball operations.