SATURDAY’S GAMES
HOME team in caps.
ROCKETS 102, Kings 94: John Wall scored 28 points and the Houston Rockets beat the Sacramento Kings despite playing without an injured James Harden. Harden, who sat out with a sprained right ankle, was not listed on the injury report and coach Stephen Silas did not mention his injury in his pregame availability. The Rockets scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter to extend their lead to 92-81 with about 8½ minutes left. Eric Gordon led the team in that stretch, making a 3-pointer and three free throws.
Thunder 108, MAGIC 99: Darius Bazley had a season-high 19 points, George Hill scored 13 of his 18 points in the third quarter and Oklahoma City beat Orlando. The Thunder ended a three-game losing streak and bounced back nicely from a 33-point loss to New Orleans two nights earlier. Oklahoma City also avenged a 118-107 home loss against the Magic five nights ago. Bazley converted a driving, left-handed dunk with 4:37 left to give the Thunder a 99-91 lead, their largest of the night up to that point.
Knicks 106, PACERS 102: Austin Rivers
made the go-ahead 3-pointer with 3:23 left and finished with 15 points to help the Knicks rally past the Pacers. The Knicks have won three of four to pull to
.500 after six games under new coach Tom Thibodeau. R.J. Barrett scored a team-best 25 points. Malcolm Brogdon led the Pacers with a career-high 33 points.
76ERS 127, Hornets 112: Joel Embiid had 19 points and 14 rebounds and Tobias Harris scored 24 points to lead the 76ers to a win over the Hornets. Ben Simmons had 15 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists to help the Sixers beat the Hornets for the 12th straight time. Terry Rozier scored 35 points for the Hornets.
Raptors at PELICANS (late): and the Toronto Raptors take on Brandon Ingram and the New Orleans Pelicans in a nonconference matchup. New Orleans went 30-42 overall with a 15-21 record at home in the 2019-20 season. The Pelicans averaged 26.8 assists per game on 42.6 made field goals last season.
Cavaliers 96, HAWKS 91: Collin Sexton scored 27 points, Andre Drummond had 12 points and 11 rebounds and the Cavaliers wiped out a 15-point deficit in the third quarter and beat the Hawks. JaVale McGee, who finished with 14 points, scooped in a runner to help the Cavs reclaim the lead at 84-83, and Sexton made it a three-point lead with a 17footer on the next possession.