Indiana Pacers (10-33, 15th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (22-18, seventh in the Eastern Conference)
Philadelphia; Monday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia 76ers host the Indiana Pacers in Eastern Conference play Monday.
The 76ers are 17-15 in conference play. Philadelphia averages 116.8 points while outscoring opponents by 1.1 points per game.
The Pacers have gone 7-21 against Eastern Conference opponents. Indiana averages 13.5 turnovers per game and is 8-16 when committing fewer turnovers than opponents.
The 76ers average 116.8 points per game, 1.6 fewer points than the 118.4 the Pacers allow. The 76ers average 110.2 points per game, 5.5 fewer points than the 115.7 the 76ers allow to opponents.
The teams square off for the second time this season. In the last meeting on Dec. 13 the 76ers won 115-105 led by 39 points from Joel Embiid, while Pascal Siakam scored 20 points for the Pacers.
TOP PERFORMERS: Tyrese Maxey is averaging 30.3 points, 6.7 assists and 1.9 steals for the 76ers. Embiid is averaging 24.4 points over the last 10 games.
Jay Huff is scoring 8.7 points per game with 3.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists for the Pacers. Siakam is averaging 22.0 points and 6.9 rebounds while shooting 49.4% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: 76ers: 6-4, averaging 120.2 points, 41.8 rebounds, 24.1 assists, 10.0 steals and 6.8 blocks per game while shooting 47.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.7 points per game.
Pacers: 4-6, averaging 110.7 points, 41.7 rebounds, 29.0 assists, 8.6 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.2 points.
INJURIES: 76ers: None listed.
Pacers: Bennedict Mathurin: day to day (thumb), Obi Toppin: out (foot), T.J. McConnell: day to day (elbow), Andrew Nembhard: day to day (back), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Sacramento will try to keep its four-game home win streak alive when the Kings face Portland.
The Kings are 8-24 in conference games. Sacramento has a 5-20 record in games decided by 10 or more points.
The Trail Blazers are 17-14 in Western Conference play. Portland allows 118.4 points to opponents and has been outscored by 2.2 points per game.
The Kings are shooting 46.6% from the field this season, 0.6 percentage points lower than the 47.2% the Trail Blazers allow to opponents. The Trail Blazers average 116.2 points per game, 4.4 fewer than the 120.6 the Kings give up to opponents.
The teams meet for the third time this season. The Trail Blazers won 98-93 in the last matchup on Dec. 21.
TOP PERFORMERS: DeMar DeRozan is averaging 19.1 points and 3.9 assists for the Kings. Russell Westbrook is averaging 16.6 points over the last 10 games.
Shaedon Sharpe is averaging 21.6 points and 1.5 steals for the Trail Blazers. Deni Avdija is averaging 19.9 points and 4.9 assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Kings: 4-6, averaging 107.2 points, 39.5 rebounds, 23.7 assists, 6.0 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 47.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.8 points per game.
Trail Blazers: 7-3, averaging 114.3 points, 45.3 rebounds, 24.1 assists, 8.2 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.6 points.
INJURIES: Kings: Keegan Murray: out (ankle), Keon Ellis: day to day (knee).
Trail Blazers: Scoot Henderson: out (hamstring), Deni Avdija: day to day (back), Matisse Thybulle: out (thumb), Blake Wesley: out (foot), Kris Murray: out (back), Damian Lillard: out for season (achilles).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers host Scottie Barnes and the Toronto Raptors in a non-conference matchup.
The Lakers have gone 11-8 in home games. Los Angeles is 11-15 in games decided by 10 or more points.
The Raptors are 12-8 on the road. Toronto is eighth in the Eastern Conference with 11.5 offensive rebounds per game led by Jakob Poeltl averaging 2.7.
The Lakers score 116.5 points per game, 4.2 more points than the 112.3 the Raptors give up. The Raptors are shooting 47.1% from the field, 1.8% lower than the 48.9% the Lakers' opponents have shot this season.
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Lakers won 123-120 in the last matchup on Dec. 5. Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 44 points, and Barnes led the Raptors with 23 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: James is averaging 22.6 points, six rebounds and 6.9 assists for the Lakers. Luka Doncic is averaging 3.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Immanuel Quickley is shooting 42.3% and averaging 16.5 points for the Raptors. Brandon Ingram is averaging 1.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Lakers: 4-6, averaging 114.3 points, 40.2 rebounds, 25.8 assists, 7.9 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 48.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.5 points per game.
Raptors: 6-4, averaging 112.6 points, 44.6 rebounds, 28.6 assists, 7.4 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 44.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.2 points.
INJURIES: Lakers: Deandre Ayton: day to day (knee), Luka Doncic: day to day (groin), Jaxson Hayes: day to day (hamstring), Austin Reaves: out (calf), Adou Thiero: out (knee).
Raptors: Jakob Poeltl: out (back), RJ Barrett: out (ankle), Ja'Kobe Walter: out (hip), Jamison Battle: day to day (ankle), Immanuel Quickley: day to day (back).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Denver hosts the Charlotte Hornets after Jamal Murray scored 42 points in the Denver Nuggets' 121-115 win over the Washington Wizards.
The Nuggets have gone 12-6 in home games. Denver is 5-5 in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Hornets are 8-15 on the road. Charlotte is eighth in the NBA with 45.3 rebounds per game led by Moussa Diabate averaging 8.4.
The 122.5 points per game the Nuggets average are 5.4 more points than the Hornets allow (117.1). The Hornets average 15.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.2 more made shots on average than the 13.2 per game the Nuggets allow.
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Nuggets won the last matchup 115-106 on Dec. 7, with Murray scoring 34 points in the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Peyton Watson is shooting 51.3% and averaging 14.0 points for the Nuggets. Murray is averaging 21.4 points over the last 10 games.
Kon Knueppel is averaging 19.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists for the Hornets. LaMelo Ball is averaging 20.7 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 44.9% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Nuggets: 7-3, averaging 112.4 points, 38.7 rebounds, 24.6 assists, 6.0 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.1 points per game.
Hornets: 4-6, averaging 120.0 points, 47.3 rebounds, 27.8 assists, 5.9 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.6 points.
INJURIES: Nuggets: Cameron Johnson: out (knee), Tamar Bates: out (foot), Nikola Jokic: out (knee), Jonas Valanciunas: out (calf), Christian Braun: day to day (ankle).
Hornets: Mason Plumlee: out (groin), Moussa Diabate: day to day (hamstring).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: New York comes into the matchup against Dallas after losing three straight games.
The Knicks have gone 16-5 at home. New York is seventh in the league averaging 118.4 points and is shooting 46.9% from the field.
The Mavericks are 4-15 on the road. Dallas is 8-15 against opponents with a winning record.
The Knicks average 15.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.3 more made shots on average than the 11.7 per game the Mavericks allow. The Mavericks average 114.2 points per game, 0.7 fewer than the 114.9 the Knicks give up to opponents.
The two teams square off for the second time this season. The Knicks defeated the Mavericks 113-111 in their last matchup on Nov. 20. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 28 points, and Naji Marshall led the Mavericks with 23 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 20.9 points and 11.5 rebounds for the Knicks. Brunson is averaging 19.2 points and 3.7 assists over the past 10 games.
Cooper Flagg is averaging 18.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Mavericks. Klay Thompson is averaging 3.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 2-8, averaging 110.6 points, 44.2 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 7.3 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 44.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.7 points per game.
Mavericks: 5-5, averaging 116.5 points, 44.5 rebounds, 27.1 assists, 7.3 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 48.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.6 points.
INJURIES: Knicks: Jalen Brunson: day to day (ankle), Josh Hart: day to day (ankle).
Mavericks: Daniel Gafford: day to day (ankle), P.J. Washington: day to day (personal), Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Cooper Flagg: day to day (ankle), Kyrie Irving: out (knee), Dante Exum: out for season (knee), Anthony Davis: out (hand), D'Angelo Russell: day to day (illness).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Los Angeles Clippers (18-23, 10th in the Western Conference) vs. Washington Wizards (10-31, 14th in the Eastern Conference)
Washington; Monday, 3 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles seeks to keep its five-game win streak alive when the Clippers take on Washington.
The Wizards are 6-13 on their home court. Washington has a 2-2 record in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Clippers are 7-14 in road games. Los Angeles has a 2-6 record in one-possession games.
The Wizards' 12.6 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.8 fewer made shots on average than the 13.4 per game the Clippers allow. The Wizards average 112.5 points per game, 11.4 fewer points than the 123.9 the Wizards give up.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Clippers won 119-105 in the last matchup on Jan. 15.
TOP PERFORMERS: Bub Carrington is scoring 9.5 points per game and averaging 3.8 rebounds for the Wizards. Alex Sarr is averaging 15.6 points and 6.2 rebounds over the last 10 games.
James Harden is averaging 25.8 points and 8.1 assists for the Clippers. Kawhi Leonard is averaging 3.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Wizards: 3-7, averaging 111.3 points, 42.9 rebounds, 24.4 assists, 8.8 steals and 6.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.4 points per game.
Clippers: 8-2, averaging 115.4 points, 39.4 rebounds, 23.8 assists, 9.2 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 48.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.0 points.
INJURIES: Wizards: Tristan Vukcevic: day to day (knee), Bilal Coulibaly: out (back), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), Trae Young: out (quad).
Clippers: Kawhi Leonard: day to day (ankle), Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), Derrick Jones Jr.: out (knee), Bogdan Bogdanovic: out (hamstring).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Miami Heat (22-20, eighth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Golden State Warriors (24-19, eighth in the Western Conference)
San Francisco; Monday, 10 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Golden State hosts Miami trying to prolong its three-game home winning streak.
The Warriors are 16-6 in home games. Golden State ranks seventh in the NBA with 28.6 assists per game. Draymond Green leads the Warriors averaging 5.3.
The Heat are 7-13 on the road. Miami ranks eighth in the NBA with 28.5 assists per game led by Davion Mitchell averaging 7.3.
The Warriors are shooting 46.1% from the field this season, 0.1 percentage points higher than the 46.0% the Heat allow to opponents. The Heat score 6.2 more points per game (119.5) than the Warriors allow their opponents to score (113.3).
The two teams match up for the second time this season. The Heat defeated the Warriors 110-96 in their last meeting on Nov. 20. Norman Powell led the Heat with 25 points, and Brandin Podziemski led the Warriors with 20 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Stephen Curry is averaging 27.6 points and 4.9 assists for the Warriors. Moses Moody is averaging 2.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Kel'el Ware is shooting 53.5% and averaging 11.5 points for the Heat. Powell is averaging 3.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Warriors: 7-3, averaging 120.0 points, 40.8 rebounds, 30.9 assists, 8.8 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 48.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.9 points per game.
Heat: 5-5, averaging 117.3 points, 44.5 rebounds, 28.5 assists, 9.0 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.5 points.
INJURIES: Warriors: Gui Santos: day to day (ankle), Jimmy Butler III: day to day (personal), Seth Curry: out (back).
Heat: Jaime Jaquez Jr.: day to day (knee), Tyler Herro: day to day (toe), Davion Mitchell: day to day (shoulder).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Prophet Johnson scored 21 of his 30 points after halftime, Mark Lavrenov had 17 points and 17 rebounds, and Sacramento State beat Northern Colorado 93-89 in overtime Saturday night.
Jahni Summers also scored 17 points for Sacramento State (6-11, 2-3 Big Sky Conference) and Shaqir O'Neal added 11.
Quinn Denker made 11 of 18 from the field, hit 7 of 8 from the free-throw line, and finished with 29 points, 11 assists, six rebounds and four steals for Northern Colorado (11-8, 1-5). Vincent Delano scored 13 points and Ring Nyeri 11.
The Bears have lost three in a row and seven of their last nine.
Johnson made a 3-pointer to open the scoring in OT and the Hornets led the rest of the way.
Nyeri's dunk with 15 seconds left in regulation made it 82-all and eventually forced overtime. Johnson missed a potential winning layup before the buzzer.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Tristan Jarry made 31 saves for his first shutout for Edmonton, Jack Roslovic and Kasperi Kapanen each scored twice and the Oilers routed the Vancouver Canucks 6-0 on Saturday night.
Vancouver has lost 10 in a row (0-8-2) to fall to 16-27-5. The Canucks last lost 10 straight in the 1997-98 season.
The Oilers scored all six goals in the second period, four goals on four shots in a 4:52 span. Zach Hyman and Vasily Podkolzin also scored and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had two assists in his 999th regular-season game.
Jarry had his 23rd career shutout and his first since Edmonton acquired him Pittsburgh on Dec. 12 for fellow goalie Stuart Skinner.
Vancouver has lost 10 in a row (0-8-2) to fall to 16-27-5. The Canucks last lost 10 straight in the 1997-98 season.
Nikita Tolopilo made 29 saves.
Edmonton played without star forward Leon Draisaitl, with the Oilers saying he returned to Germany to attend to a family illness and is expected to rejoin the team next week.
Up next
Oilers: Host St. Louis on Sunday night to open an eight-game homestand.
Canucks: Host the New York Islanders on Monday night.
Lakers star LeBron James, right, drives past Portland center Donovan Clingan during the first half of the Lakers' 132-116 loss Saturday. James finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. (Amanda Loman / Associated Press)
Before the Lakers took the court Saturday night, they added two more starters and a key reserve to the injured list. But the Lakers still had LeBron James and they hoped he could carry them past Portland.
Starters Luka Doncic (left groin soreness) and Deandre Ayton (left knee soreness) did not play. In the fourth quarter, Marcus Smart went down amid a pile of players in the lane and eventually limped to the locker room never to return.
As for James and the rest of the Lakers, all of the injuries were too much to overcome in a 132-116 loss to the Trail Blazers at the Moda Center.
Smart had 25 points before he went to the locker room. James had 20 points but was just six for 16 from the field. He had nine rebounds and eight assists for a Lakers team that has lost five of its last six games.
Drew Timme was a positive for the Lakers, scoring a career-high 21 points. Rui Hachimura and Maxi Kleber each had 11 points.
“At the end of the day, nobody is feeling sorry for us, nor are we looking for it,” James said. “The guys that are available, we got to go out there and play our game, play the way we want to play offensively and defensively and just try to right the ship until we get whole.”
Shaedon Sharpe led Portland (21-22) with 25 points. Jerami Grant and Caleb Love each scored 22 points and Donovan Clingan finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Lakers guard Marcus Smart shoots over Portland center Donovan Clingan in the first half Saturday. (Amanda Loman / Associated Press)
Doncic, who underwent an MRI and is listed as day-to-day, was dealing with the injury all of last week despite playing against the Kings, Hawks and Hornets.
“I think it was an accumulation of a longer week, more lingering, if anything,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said before the game.
The Lakers (24-16) aren't sure if Ayton will play against Toronto on Sunday. The center is day-to-day with left knee soreness.
“He took a hit in his knee and there was no swelling, just some soreness,” Redick said.
The Lakers were also without backup center Jaxson Hayes, who didn’t play against the Trail Blazers because of left hamstring tendinopathy. Redick said there's a chance Hayes could play Sunday.
With so many starters out, Redick said he liked his team’s competitive “spirit” against the Trail Blazers.
Still, it's been hard to win consistently with so many key players out.
“This has been our season,” Redick said. “You get one guy healthy, another guy gets injured. You get one guy back and another guy gets injured. Two guys go out tonight and you play without your two centers. So, it’s been our season.”
James missed his first five shots in the first quarter, finishing the frame going one for seven from the field for just two points.
The Lakers were called for 13 fouls in the first quarter alone, leading to 22 free-throw attempts for the Trail Blazers — a big reason why they opened a 40-27 lead after the first 12 minutes.
“I thought the whistle was very shot in the first quarter,” James said. “I think there were like maybe 17, 18, 20 free throws in the first quarter. It’s hard to set your defense with that type of situation. But we gave ourselves a chance a couple of times, but it was an uphill battle.”
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Anthony Roy scored 23 points, Vyctorius Miller was fouled on a corner 3-point shot with 2.8 seconds left and hit all three free throws and Oklahoma State beat Kansas State 84-83 on Saturday night.
Parsa Fallah had 17 points, nine rebounds and two steals for Oklahoma State and Kanye Clary had 12 points and six assists. Andrija Vukovic added 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting and Miller finished with nine points, seven rebounds and four assists.
The Cowboys (14-4, 2-3 Big 12) are 24-0 under coach second-year coach Steve Lutz when they score at least 81 points. The 53-year-old Lutz earned his 100th career win in four-plus seasons.
Kansas State (9-9) is 0-5 in conference play for the first time since the 1996-97 season.
PJ Haggerty scored 14 of his 21 points in the second half for the Wildcats and Abdi Bashir Jr. added 15, which included 5 3s. Khamari McGriff scored 14 points on 7-of-7 shooting before he fouled out with 6:02 remaining. Nate Johnson also scored 14.
Haggerty made a running floater that gave Kansas State a two-point lead with 49 seconds to play. Kanye Clary missed back-to-back 3-point shots but Miller secured OSU's second consecutive offensive rebound on a tie-up with 4.0 seconds remaining. Miller then caught the inbounds pass in the corner and was fouled.
Clary and Miller each hit a 3 as Oklahoma State scored eight of the first 11 second-half points to push its lead into double figures with 17:22 left in the game.
The Lakers were routed by the Portland Trail Blazers, 132-116, on Saturday night.
Without Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes, the Lakers were forced to go deep into their bench. While there were some standout offensive performances, the Lakers ultimately could muster little resistance defensively.
It was a Maxi Kleber takeover from the start as he scored nine of the first 14 points. With Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes out, Kleber was the lone center available, and he took advantage of the opportunity.
Marcus Smart was the other Laker scoring well with five points. LeBron James and Jake LaRavia combined for four assists. Portland had taken a lead by four, but Drew Timme subbed in and scored five quick points to put LA up by one.
The Blazers then took control of the game. Los Angeles sent Portland to the line 22 times in the period. LA’s offense became stagnant, unable to put together any consistent scoring.
Lakers were whistled for 13 1st Q fouls. Five players had 2 apiece.
LeBron’s first bucket of the game came at the 28-second mark. It was the only Lakers basket in a 12-2 Blazers run to end the first and take a 13-point lead into the second.
Gabe Vincent opened the second period with a much-needed 3-pointer. Donovan Clingan answered with a triple of his own. Timme continued his impressive offensive showing with five more points, making him the first Laker in double figures with 12.
Los Angeles had made it a six-point game after a surge in scoring thanks to LeBron and Smart, but Portland immediately responded with Jerami Grant scoring five straight. LA had no answer for Caleb Love, who had 11 points and was three for four from behind the arc.
Grant and Love combined for 26 points off the bench for the Trail Blazers. At halftime, the Lakers were down by 10.
Smart opened the second half with two 3-pointers. Despite those shots, Los Angeles was still down by double digits as the Blazers continued to score at ease, shooting 55% from the field. Smart was the only Laker who looked good in the quarter, pushing his total to 23 points.
The defensive breakdowns were hurting Los Angeles as they continued to have no answers for Portland’s sharpshooters. The Lakers were down by 19 with 5:33 left in the third period.
Rui Hachimura knocked down a badly needed 3-pointer. He also knocked down a pair of midrange jumpers. LA put together a small 8-2 scoring run as the quarter was winding down to help trim the deficit down to 12 before everything went bad all over again and Portland opened up a 17-point lead going into the fourth period.
Third quarter: Blazers 107, Lakers 90
Marcus Smart has 25 points — he scored 14 in the 3rd and has been great off the dribble. Rui Hachimura got going with a few jumpers. Difference tonight has been the gap in 3s and FTs. The Lakers’ lack of rim protection has been glaring.
Despite starting the final frame with some spirited attempts at a comeback, LA did not have enough juice in the tank to stop the blazing hot Trail Blazers.
Key Player Stats
LeBron ended with 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Smart ended with 25 points and two rebounds. Timme had a strong showing with 21 points, two rebounds and three assists. Kleber had his best game as a Laker with 11 points and five rebounds. Hachimura notched 11 points with two steals.
The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday at 6:30 PM PT.
The New York Knicks came up short again Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, falling 106-99 to the Phoenix Suns. Missed opportunities? Check. Turnovers? Double check. No late-game execution? Triple check.
Devin Booker returned after missing one game for the Suns, but Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart couldn’t say the same. Book dropped 27 points, Brunson and Hart combined for an egg, sitting out the game.
Grayson Allen added 16 points for Phoenix, Mark Williams finished with 14, and the Suns found the best possible dance partner to snap a two-game skid in the New York Knicks. Damn, son.
"He was a little sore, we held him out. We'll hear what Medical staff has to say tomorrow, make a decision…"
– Mike Brown to @IanBegley on Josh Hart status Monday v Mavs
Hart a gameday scratch with sore right ankle––same ankle he just missed 8 games due to Christmas sprain pic.twitter.com/Pp2WIEQ2XK
Brunson and Hart, both sidelined with ankle injuries, were all the Knicks needed to generate at least a tiny bit of offense. Wouldn’t be the case, as Karl-Anthony Towns and Miles McBride each scored 23 points, while OG Anunoby added 21, but you know, good-not-great they say.
The Knickerbockers shot 40 percent from the field, turned the rock over 17 freaking times, and fell to 16-5 at MSG.
NYK started well, hitting three of their first four attempts from beyond the arc and taking a 27-19 lead after one quarter. Phoenix responded in the second with a 12-0 run, because why not, but New York answered behind McBride’s strong outing on both ends of the floor, going into halftime up 56-55.
Momentum went back and forth in the third quarter. The Suns opened the half on a 10-3 run, only for the Knicks to respond with a 16-0 burst that gave them a sweet double-digit cushion. Phoenix closed the quarter strong, however, tying the game at 77 before Booker converted an and-one at the buzzer to give the Suns a three-point edge entering the fourth. Tension.
The final period was sloppy and ultimately, a bummer. Both teams tried hard, Allen appeared to injure his nose in one collision (me enjoys). Phoenix separated itself with an 8-0 run. New York seemed to only know how to miss buckets and second-chance opportunities.
Alas, an 87-87 tie turned into a 95-87 lead for the visiting Hot Spheres and that was that.
The loss dropped the Knicks to three straight defeats and eight losses in their last 10 games. They next host the Dallas Mavericks on Monday. It’s a 5 p.m. tipoff, so let’s flip this thing and say it’s never too soon for a change.
DENVER (AP) — Jamal Murray scored 42 points on 15-for-24 shooting and the Denver Nuggets pulled away in the final minutes for a 121-115 win over the Washington Wizards on Saturday night.
With the game tied at 110, Murray hit a 3-pointer with 2:12 to play to put the Nuggets ahead to stay. He then added another jumper and a pair of free throws to extend the lead to 117-110.
Tim Hardaway Jr. had a season-high 30 points and Peyton Watson scored 21 as Denver, still playing without the injured Nikola Jokic (left knee bone bruise), won its fourth in a row and for the sixth time in its last seven games.
Kyshawn George had 29 points to lead the Wizards, who lost their sixth in a row including all four on this road trip. Khris Middleton and Alex Sarr scored 16 each.
The Nuggets shot 53% from the floor in the game including 40% from 3-point range.
The Nuggets made 14 3-pointers compared to the Wizards 11.
Murray scored 23 points in the first half and the Nuggets went into the break trailing 63-62. The Wizards held onto the lead through the third and entered the fourth up 86-83. Murray’s 16-point fourth quarter helped the Nuggets finish off the victory.
Up next
Wizards: Return home to face the Clippers on Monday.
The Golden State Warriors Saturday night game against the Charlotte Hornets got off to an odd start. Or rather, it became odd before it even started.
Shortly before the game tipped off, the Hornets announced their starting five … and All-Star LaMelo Ball was not in it. And then, despite normal introductions for the Warriors in the minutes before the game began, the starting five that took the floor was not the starting five that had been announced … instead, Will Richard was on the court, and Jimmy Butler III was nowhere to be found.
It was an odd beginning that was later explained. Ball was, indeed, active, and is just having his minutes monitored, so he came off the bench for the second time this year, due to Charlotte having another game on Sunday. As for Butler, who wasn’t on the bench, it was announced that he would not be playing due to personal reasons. According to coach Steve Kerr, the Warriors didn’t find that out until after the opening introductions; more importantly, Kerr revealed that everything is fine with Butler, and the All-Star is expected to play on Monday.
With those oddities behind us all, the game began, and from there it was surprisingly normal. While fans surely kept one eye on the 49ers score (no spoilers here, don’t worry), and with new Giants coach Tony Vitello in attendance, the Warriors took an early lead and never relinquished it, coasting to a 136-116 win, and never once trailing.
The absences may have been ominous, but the actual start was encouraging: Moses Moody picked up where he left off on Thursday by draining a three on the very first possession of the game. After just two minutes, the Dubs led 8-2, and then pushed the lead to 14-5, with an unlikely source starring on offense: Draymond Green.
Simply put, the offense looked absolutely gorgeous. The ball was flying around, players were cutting and screening, and the team was springing free for open jumpers. It was beautiful, and an absolute joy to watch. They couldn’t really pull away though, because the Hornets started to find some offensive rhythm as well, following their cold start. With Butler absent, the Warriors struggled late in the quarter after Steph Curry went to the bench. But, thanks to some big minutes from Buddy Hield — who returned to the rotation with Butler and Gui Santos out — the Warriors figured things out late, and held a comfy 39-28 lead after the first quarter.
They were rolling to start the second, but Kon Knueppel — who is have an utterly superb rookie campaign — kept Charlotte in the game. Golden State would build the lead up, but the Hornets would reliably attack it, though they could never fully erase it. The non-Steph minutes were a bit smoother in the second quarter in the first, and the Dubs kept the energy and effort level very high, even when things weren’t working well.
Above all else, the depth — which Kerr praised effusively after the game — kept the Warriors ahead, as there were contributions from up and down the roster (per Danny Emerman, the Warriors became the first team in NBA history to have 10 different players make a three pointer in three consecutive games).
Both teams ended the half with highlights. With just 1.6 seconds remaining, Green made a brilliant pass to Brandin Podziemski, who sank a three from straightaway, giving the Warriors their largest lead of the night at 15. But the Hornets would respond, with Miles Bridges sinking a three-quarter court shot at the buzzer. Golden State led 69-57 at the break, and things were looking good.
There would be a brief scare to start the second half, though. Behind Brandon Miller, the Hornets started to close the gap in the third quarter. The Warriors responded, but Charlotte again started to close the gap. And then, finally, Golden State was able to turn a lead into total control, as they exploded for a high-energy 17-3 run, which gave them their largest lead of the night. They were surging on both ends of the court, and red-hot from deep.
Another superb performance from De’Anthony Melton was punctuated at the end of the third quarter, when he scored, then picked Ball’s pocket with just a few seconds remaining, dribbled the length of the court to try to beat the buzzer, and drew a foul with 0.2 seconds remaining. He would make both free throws, allowing the Warriors to carry a 112-94 lead into the fourth quarter.
It was a drama free final frame. Curry only played a handful of minutes, and both teams emptied their benches about halfway through. And the Warriors waltzed their way to a 136-116 victory.
It was one of the most balanced games of the year for the Warriors. Melton came off the bench to lead the team with 24 points on 8-for-16 shooting, while adding six rebounds and three assists. He’s fully finding his groove, as this was the fourth time in the last six games that he’s netted at least 19 points. The Hornets dared Green to score on them all night, and he responded — almost always to stop a Charlotte run — finishing with 20 points on 8-for-14 shooting, with three rebounds and six assists. In total, eight different Warriors scored in double figures: Melton and Green, plus Podziemski (16), Curry (14), Hield (14), Moody (12), Richard (11), and Al Horford (11).
As a team, the Warriors shot 44.2% from deep (23-for-52), as they got clean look after clean look. Remarkably, despite Curry shooting just 2-for-8 and Klay Thompson playing for Dallas, the Dubs set a franchise record by making 20 or more threes for the third straight game. Go figure!
Golden State made Charlotte look disjointed, but the Hornets young talent certainly reminded viewers that the future can still be bright. Miller finished with 28 points, six rebounds, and five assists, while Knueppel had 24 points and 11 rebounds, while shooting 4-for-5 from three-point range. There’s a lot of exciting young talent on that team.
The surging Warriors are now 25-19, and are 5-1 on their eight-game homestand. They’ve won 11 times in their last 15 games, and firmly have their eyes on escaping the Play-In Tournament now that their schedule has eased up. They’ll be back in action on Monday night, when they host the Miami Heat at 7:00 p.m. PT.
