Obi Toppin scored 13 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter and drained the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:27 left for the visiting New York Knicks, who overcame a 12-point deficit to beat the undermanned Philadelphia 76ers 106-104 on Friday night.
Jalen Brunson scored 23 points and Julius Randle (17 points, 10 rebounds) had a double-double for the Knicks, who snapped a three-game losing streak. RJ Barrett finished with 22 points while Cam Reddish added 11 points off the bench.
Tyrese Maxey scored 31 points and Tobias Harris had 23 points for the 76ers, who have lost two straight. Philadelphia was without defending NBA scoring champion Joel Embiid, who missed a third straight game with a non-COVID illness, as well as James Harden, who suffered a right foot tendon strain Wednesday night that is expected to sideline him the remainder of the month.
Montrezl Harrell had 14 points and De’Anthony Melton added 12 points for the 76ers.
The 76ers held a trio of seven-point leads in the first quarter before the Knicks took a pair of eight-point leads, one late in the second quarter and one early in the third. Philadelphia went on a quarter-spanning 14-2 run — a span in which New York went 0-for-7 with four turnovers — and took its biggest lead at 86-74 on a 3-pointer by Furkan Korkmaz 1:22 into the fourth.
Toppin, who opened the final quarter by missing two 3-pointers and committing a turnover, began the comeback by draining a 3-pointer with 10:15 left for the Knicks, who outscored the 76ers 32-18 the rest of the way. Philadelphia was 5-of-20 from the field with five turnovers following Korkmaz’s 3-pointer.
The Knicks got within one point twice before Toppin’s go-ahead 3-pointer. After a turnover by Maxey, Brunson converted an old-fashioned 3-point play to extend the lead to 100-96 with 1:05 left. The teams then combined to hit 10 of 12 free throws before Georges Niang drilled a 3-pointer with 9.1 seconds left to pull the 76ers within 105-104.
Brunson converted the second of two free throws and Melton missed a 3-pointer with 3.3 seconds left. Brunson tossed the subsequent inbounds pass well beyond half-court to Reddish, who dribbled the clock out.
New York Knicks’ Obi Toppin, top right, dunks over Philadelphia 76ers’ Shake Milton to help his team snap their losing run
New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) shoots against Golden State Warriors forward Anthony Lamb (40)
The defending champion Golden State Warriors fell to 0-6 on the road, losing 114-105 to Brandon Ingram and the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins sidelined.
Ingram scored 26 points in his return from a four-game absence because of a concussion and reserve Larry Nance Jr. scored 20 points for the Pelicans, including several fourth-quarter dunks that kept Golden State at bay. CJ McCollum scored 20 points and Zion Williamson added 16 for New Orleans.
Jordan Poole had 20 points and nine assists for the Warriors. Kevon Looney was the only regular starter in uniform for Golden State’s second game in two nights at the end of a winless five-game trip.
The Warriors are 3-7 overall. Among Western Conference teams, only Houston (1-8) has more losses.
Curry, Thompson, Green and Wiggins all were scratched after playing the previous night in a loss at Orlando.
The Warriors are not playing Thompson on back-to-back nights because of his anterior cruciate ligament and Achilles tendon injuries in 2019 and 2020. Green is under similar limitations because of a back injury last season. Curry was being rested because of elbow soreness and Wiggins because of a sore left foot.
A starting lineup that instead included Poole and fellow guard Moses Moody, along with forwards Anthony Lamb and Jonathan Kuminga, made the game competitive into the fourth quarter.
Ty Jerome, who scored 18 points, hit a 3 to pull the Warriors within 99-96 before the Pelicans steadily pulled away during the final six minutes.
Trey Murphy III’s 3-pointer capped a 7-0 Pelicans spurt that began with Nance’s dunk and layup and made it 111-101 with two minutes to go. Ingram, who also had five rebounds, five assists and two blocks, received a standing ovation when he checked out of the game in the final minute.
New Orleans led by as many as 11 in the second quarter when Jose Alvarado intercepted Poole’s pass and found Williamson for a breakaway, windmill dunk.
But the Warriors chipped away and trailed 50-49 on James Wiseman’s putback dunk.
Nance scored the final four points of the quarter on a finger roll and dunk, putting the Pelicans up 61-54 at halftime.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe (17) dunks against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA basketball game
Jerami Grant scored a season-high 30 points, including a baseline jumper at the buzzer, to lift the short-handed Portland Trail Blazers over the Phoenix Suns 108-106 on Friday night.
The Blazers had just 1 second left when Justise Winslow lofted a high in-bounds pass to Grant, who grabbed the ball and tossed a high-arching 13-foot jumper in the air. It rattled through the net and after a review, the officials confirmed it left his hands in time.
Grant’s clutch shot capped a back-and-forth final minute.
Devin Booker made a 3-pointer to put the Suns ahead 106-104 with about 30 seconds left, just moments after Jusuf Nurkic sank his own 3 to put the Blazers up 104-103.
Nurkic tied the game at 106-all with his putback after an offensive rebound with 23 seconds left. The Suns looked like they would have the final possession of regulation but Mikal Bridges was called for traveling. That gave the Blazers enough time to set up their winning play.
Portland led for most of the night and built a 15-point lead midway through the third quarter, but settled for an 86-80 advantage heading into the fourth.
That’s about the time the cold-shooting Suns finally started hitting some shots. Damion Lee made three 3-pointers in the fourth, including one from the corner with 4:15 left that tied the score at 97.
Grant shot 10 of 17 from the field. Nurkic added 14 points and eight rebounds.
Portland is now tied with Phoenix atop the Western Conference at 6-2. The Suns’ two losses both came against the Blazers.
Booker led the Suns with 25 points, while Deandre Ayton added 24 points and eight rebounds.
The Blazers were playing without the high-scoring backcourt of Damian Lillard (right calf strain) and Anfernee Simons (left foot inflammation). The two have combined to average 53 points per game this season.
Russell Westbrook (0) dribbles the ball against Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley (11) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena for the Lakers
Lauri Markkanen had 27 points and 12 rebounds, Jordan Clarkson added 20 points, and the Utah Jazz continued their remarkable start to the season with a 130-116 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
Kelly Olynyk had 18 points and Mike Conley added 15 points and 10 assists for the first-place Jazz, who are off to a 7-3 start to a season in which they were widely expected to struggle. Utah blew most of a big lead in the third quarter, but surged to victory down the stretch while getting at least seven points from eight players.
Russell Westbrook had 28 points and six assists in another strong performance in a reserve role for the Lakers, who dropped to 2-6 after their two-game winning streak ended. Los Angeles has not won three consecutive games since Jan. 7.
LeBron James had 17 points and 11 rebounds in a strained effort while still recovering from an illness and dealing with pain in his left foot. Anthony Davis scored 20 of his 22 points in the first half.
The Jazz were widely expected to have a rough year after parting ways with Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert in the offseason, but their roster full of longtime NBA supporting talent has been the surprise of the league through 10 games. With aggressive play and gritty scoring across its lineup, Utah has beaten a series of higher-regarded teams under first-year coach Will Hardy.
The Lakers have been a solid defensive team during their terrible start to the season, but they couldn’t keep up with Utah’s pace or shooting accuracy in the first half. The Jazz hit more than 60% of their shots — including nine 3-pointers — and committed just three turnovers with their up-tempo, balanced attack.
Utah went up by 16 in the third quarter before Westbrook led the Lakers nearly all the way back, scoring nine points and leading a 24-10 run while keying Los Angeles’ effort on both ends.
Westbrook was a target of many Lakers fans’ ire last season, but they serenaded him with chants of “M-V-P!” at the free throw line and “We want Westbrook!” when he was on the bench in the fourth quarter.
Indiana Pacers guard Buddy Hield (24) looks to pass over Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) during the second half of an NBA game in Indianapolis
Buddy Hield scored 25 points, Bennedict Mathurin had 23 points and Tyrese Haliburton scored 22 to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 101-99 victory over the Miami Heat on Friday night.
Haliburton added nine points and nine rebounds.
Tyler Herro, who missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds left, led the Heat with 29 points. Bam Adebayo scored 18 points and Max Strus added 17 points.
Miami played its second consecutive game without leading scorer Jimmy Butler (hip tightness).
The Heat tied the game at 94-all on a 3-pointer by Gabe Vincent with 5:35 remaining. Hield´s 3-pointer put the Pacers ahead 97-94 with 3:22 left.
Leading 100-97, Pacers center Myles Turner was called for defensive goaltending with 10 seconds left, but the call was overturned. Herro was fouled and hit two free throws to make it 100-99 with 8.4 seconds left.
Mathurin hit one of two free throws with 7.6 seconds to go.
Turner finished with 16 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots for the Pacers.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Caris LeVert (3) drives on Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart (28)
Kevin Love had 21 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds as the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons 112-88 on Friday night for their seventh straight win.
Jarrett Allen scored 22 points and Cedi Osman added 15 as the Cavaliers had a 54-21 edge in bench scoring and a 58-24 edge in points in the paint.
The Cavaliers played without guards Darius Garland (knee) and Donovan Mitchell (ankle), who were both injured in an overtime win over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday.
Cade Cunningham had 19 points for Detroit, but scored only three in the second half. Bojan Bogdanovic, who came into the game leading the Pistons in scoring at 21.8 points, scored six on 2-for-9 shooting.
The Pistons have lost three straight and eight of nine. Their last three games have come against teams with a combined record of 17-1.
Without Garland and Mitchell, the Cavaliers took their offense inside, outscoring Detroit 34-10 in the paint in the first half. Both teams were under 30 percent on 3-pointers in the half, but Cleveland’s ability to get to the rim let it lead by as many as 21 points on the way to a 57-39 halftime advantage.
Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum reacts after making a 3-point basket during the first half
Jayson Tatum had 36 points and 12 rebounds, including some late free throws to help the Boston Celtics hold on for a 123-119 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night.
Malcolm Brogdon added 25 points on 9-of-10 shooting and Jaylen Brown scored 16 points for Boston, which has won two of three.
DeMar DeRozan had a season-high 46 points for Chicago. Nik Vucevic added 24 points and 12 rebounds and Zach LaVine finished with 16 points. Chicago was denied its first three-game winning streak of the season.
Boston took a 93-87 lead into the fourth quarter and increased it to 105-91 with just over seven minutes to play.
A 3-pointer by Vucevic capped a 12-4 run to help the Bulls cut their deficit to 109-103.
Brogdon scored on a driving layup, was fouled and completed the three-point play to briefly give the Celtics some breathing room.
Chicago stayed close and another 3 by Vucevic trimmed it to 114-110, followed by a miss by Boston´s Al Horford.
DeRozan was fouled by Derrick White and hit a pair of free throws. White responded on Boston´s next possession, drilling a 3 from the wing with 1:06 remaining.
Vucevic was good again from 3 on Chicago´s next trip to make it 117-115. Horford missed a corner 3, but Tatum pulled down the rebound and was fouled by LaVine.
Tatum made only one of his free throws, giving the ball back to Chicago. Tatum got a steal, but his outlet pass was picked off by LaVine. Patrick Williams misfired, it was gathered and tossed to Tatum, who was fouled.
This time he was good on both free throws and Boston was able to close it out at the foul line.
Los Angeles Clippers guard Paul George (13) shoots over San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan
Paul George scored 33 points and the Los Angeles Clippers rallied to beat the San Antonio Spurs 113-106 on Friday night for their third straight victory.
John Wall had 15 points and six assists for the Clippers, who are 5-4 after losing four of their first six games.
Devin Vassell had a career-high 29 points for the Spurs while playing limited minutes following a four-game absence due to a sore left knee. Vassell made his first eight shots, including three 3-pointers, and finished 4 for 5 from long range.
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard missed his sixth straight game as he rehabilitates from offseason knee surgery.
Vassell and Keldon Johnson returned and helped San Antonio stay competitive after its worst home loss in franchise history, a 143-100 defeat against Toronto.
After trailing by 17 points, the Spurs closed the first half on an 8-0 run to take a 58-54 lead, capped by Zach Collins swatting away Norman Powell’s 15-foot driving layup at the buzzer. Collins opened the run with a 15-foot jumper followed by 3-pointers from Vassell and Johnson.
Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks helped his team to a solid win over the Hornets
Dillon Brooks scored 23 points, matching his career-high with six 3-pointers, and the Memphis Grizzlies ran past Charlotte Hornets 130-99 on Friday night.
Desmond Bane finished with 19 points as eight Grizzlies players reached double figures. Steven Adams had 13 points and 19 rebounds, controlling the paint as Memphis built a big lead in the first half and continued to extend it after halftime.
Kelly Oubre Jr. led Charlotte with 17 points, but was 5 of 12 from the floor – part of the Hornets shooting 38%. James Bouknight scored 14 points, and Bryce McGowens added 12. P.J. Washington had 10 points on 2-of-15 shooting, including 1 for 7 on 3s.
The Hornets, dealing with injuries to key players, entered the game winning only one of their last five games. In addition to the continued absence of point guard LaMelo Ball (left ankle sprain), Charlotte was also without Gordon Hayward (left shoulder contusion) and leading scorer Terry Rozier (right ankle sprain) – dealing a considerable blow to the offense.
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The Grizzlies’ accurate shooting early allowed them to build a 20-point lead. By halftime, Memphis had pushed the advantage to 71-47 while shooting 53%.
While Brooks connected on his first five shots, it was Adams dominating on the inside before the break. He had 13 points and 16 rebounds at halftime, including 10 offensive boards.
Oubre´s 15 points at halftime led the Hornets.
Memphis’ lead reached 38 late in the third quarter. By the time the margin was 40 early in the fourth, Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins had put in his deep reserves.
Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 26 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, Jrue Holiday scored 29 points and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 115-102 on Friday night to improve to 8-0, the best start to a season in franchise history.
Bobby Portis Jr. added 18 points off the bench for the Bucks, the NBA’s only undefeated team. Milwaukee started 7-0 in both 2018-19 and 1971-72.
Minnesota has dropped three straight to fall to 4-5. Anthony Edwards paced the Wolves with 24 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns added 22 points and 11 rebounds.
The Timberwolves couldn’t overcome a 22-point third-quarter deficit. Minnesota cut Milwaukee’s lead to eight at 97-89 on Naz Reid’s transition dunk in the fourth quarter after Reid blocked Antetokounmpo at the other end.
Antetokounmpo came alive after that. He threw down a thunderous dunk, and later hit a 3 from the top of the key that pushed Milwaukee’s advantage back to 13. Two possessions later, including a finger roll by Antetokounmpo, the Bucks led 108-91.
His triple-double was his first this season and 30th of the two-time MVP’s career.
