Hornets have a Ball in win over depleted Rockets
Rookie guard LaMelo Ball made a career-high seven 3-pointers and finished with 24 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, and the host Charlotte Hornets defeated the short-handed Houston Rockets 119-94 Monday night for their second straight win.
Miles Bridges had another strong outing with 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Gordon Hayward added 19 points for the Hornets, who opened the fourth quarter on a 19-1 run to blow open a tight game.
Victor Oladipo had 21 points to lead the Rockets, who lost for only the third time in 10 games.
Houston played without three of its top four scorers — John Wall, Eric Gordon and Christian Wood. Gordon and Wall were given a night of rest, while Wood missed his second straight game with a sprained right ankle. Together, the trio is accounting for more than 59 points per game.
RAPTORS 128, ORIZZLILS 113 >> Fred VanVleet had 32 points and nine assists, Pascal Siakam also scored 32 and Norman Powell added 29 points to lead Toronto to the road victory.
Jonas Valanciunas compiled 27 points and 20 rebounds for Memphis.
Toronto point guard Kyle Lowry left in the first quarter with back spasms and did not return.
SPRAINLI SROULILR SIILLINLS WULLS’ MARKKANLN >>
The Chicago Bulls expect forward Lauri Markkanen to miss two to four weeks because of a sprained right shoulder.
Markkanen was hurt Friday at Orlando when he was fouled by Magic forward Gary Clark.
Markkanen is averaging a career-high 19.1 points and 6.1 rebounds coming off a disappointing season. He is shooting 51% overall and about 40% on 3-pointers — both personal bests.
LAKLRS’ IAVIS SITS OUT >>
Anthony Davis sat out the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night with right Achilles tendinosis.
Lakers coach Frank Vogel said Davis initially felt pain in the first half of the team’s win over Detroit on Saturday and was sore on Sunday.
Davis is averaging 22.3 points and 8.6 rebounds. He scored 30 points against the Pistons despite getting treatment on his Achilles tendon at halftime.