LeBron James’ return from a five-game absence helped push the Los Angeles Lakers to their first road victory of the season.
James scored 21 points, Anthony Davis had 25 points and 15 rebounds, and the Lakers beat the San Antonio Spurs 105-94 on Friday night.
‘It felt pretty good to get out there on the court with my guys,’ James said, ‘and make some plays and help them get the win.’
LeBron James’ return helped push the Los Angeles Lakers to their first road victory
San Antonio lost its seventh straight, the second-longest losing streak in the NBA this season. The Spurs have lost 13 of 14 after a 5-2 start.
James wasted no time returning to form following a strained left adductor, hitting a 16-foot jumper 17 seconds in for the game´s first points. James finished eight for 17 from the field and had eight rebounds and five assists.
‘He was a real force for his first game back after missing five, especially down the stretch,’ Davis said.
James had eight points, four rebounds, two assists and only one turnover in the final quarter as the Lakers outscored the Spurs 26-19 to close out their first road win in seven games.
With James and Davis sitting, San Antonio closed the third quarter on an 11-2 run in cutting Los Angeles´ lead to 79-74. James led an 11-0 run after the Spurs closed to 81-78.
‘That changed the whole dynamic of the game,’ Lakers guard Lonnie Walker IV said about James’ return. ‘When you have someone that can close it night in and night out, puts ease in the heart for everyone else. He certainly turned it up to a whole another level.’
James (6) celebrates during against the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center
Davis, who averaged 31.8 points and 17.4 rebounds during James´ absence, was five points shy of his fifth straight 30/15 game.
The teams will meet again in San Antonio on Saturday night.
‘Strong possibility I play tomorrow,’ James said. ‘I just sat out two weeks. I´m good.’
Tre Jones had 19 points for San Antonio. Devin Vassell added 18 and Keldon Johnson had 15.
Walker had 18 points in his return to San Antonio after signing with the Lakers in the offseason.
San Antonio opened the game two for 19 on three-pointers, finishing a season-low six for 33.
‘We didn´t back down tonight when we went down 20,’ Jones said. ‘We continued to fight, continued to claw back into the game and give ourselves a shot. I think we just ran out of gas because we didn´t get out to a hot start.’
James glides through the air as he scores at the rim against the San Antonio Spurs
BUCKS 117- CAVS 102
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 38 points and the Milwaukee Bucks used a 23-2 run in the first eight-plus minutes of the third quarter to rally past the Cleveland Cavaliers 117-102 on Friday night.
The Bucks came back from a 16-point deficit and snapped Cleveland´s four-game win streak by outscoring the Cavaliers 35-10 in the third period. The Cavaliers hadn´t scored below 15 points in any quarter this season before Friday.
Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points and Darius Garland added 20 for Cleveland.
Cleveland´s Jarrett Allen played only 12 minutes and scored one point before leaving with a hip injury.
The Cavaliers hadn´t lost since their last visit to Milwaukee, a 113-98 Bucks victory on November 16.
Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo reacts to a three-point basket against the Cavaliers
CELTICS 122, KINGS 104
Jayson Tatum scored 30 points and the NBA-best Celtics pulled away for the victory.
Jaylen Brown added 25 points and Derrick White had 16 for Boston (15-4), which won for the 11th time in 12 games. Al Horford finished with 13 points, and Tatum had eight rebounds.
De´Aaron Fox led Sacramento with 20 points. Domantas Sabonis had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Davion Mitchell scored 13. The Kings have lost two straight after a seven-game winning streak.
Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives to the basket against Kings guard Kevin Huerter
76ERS 107, MAGIC 99
Shake Milton had 24 points, a career-high 10 assists and nine rebounds, lifting the short-handed 76ers to the win.
Tobias Harris added 23 points for Philadelphia, and reserve Georges Niang made five three-pointers on his way to 18 points. It was the Sixers´ ninth straight win against the Magic.
Philadelphia played without Joel Embiid, James Harden and Tyrese Maxey because of injuries.
Franz Wagner scored 24 points for Orlando, which has dropped three straight.
Magic forward Paolo Banchero, one of the NBA´s top rookies, played for the first time since November 7 after missing seven games with a sprained left ankle. He finished with 19 points, four rebounds and three assists in 36 minutes.
Shake Milton #18 of the Philadelphia 76ers attempts a lay up during the second half
PACERS 128, NETS 117
Buddy Hield scored 26 points, sending the balanced Pacers to the win.
Myles Turner added 23 points, Tyrese Haliburton had 21 and Bennedict Mathurin finished with 20 for the Pacers. Haliburton also had 15 assists.
Brooklyn star Kevin Durant scored 36 points, including 20 in the fourth quarter. Ben Simmons made all eight shots and scored 20 before fouling out in the final minute. Kyrie Irving also had 20.
Brooklyn closed the deficit to 110-107 when Durant sank a 3-pointer, was fouled and converted the four-point play. But Indiana pulled away again.
Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers shoots against the Brooklyn Nets
THUNDER 123, BULLS 119, OT
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points for Oklahoma City, including five straight free throws in the final minute of overtime.
Josh Giddey had 10 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists as Oklahoma City stopped a three-game slide. Aleksej Pokusevski scored 15 points.
The Thunder were down 119-118 when Gilgeous-Alexander was fouled by DeMar DeRozan on a 3-point attempt with 27.1 seconds remaining in OT. After an unsuccessful challenge by Bulls coach Billy Donovan, Gilgeous-Alexander hit all three free throws.
DeRozan scored 30 points for Chicago, which was coming off encouraging victories over Boston and Milwaukee.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots against the Chicago Bulls
HEAT 110, WIZARDS 107
Bam Adebayo scored a season-high 38 points, powering Miami to the victory.
Caleb Martin added 20 points and Tyler Herro had 11 points and 10 assists for the Heat, who won their second straight at home against Washington after their 113-105 victory Wednesday.
Bradley Beal´s three-point attempt with one second left bounced off the rim.
Beal and Kyle Kuzma each scored 28 points for Washington. Kristaps Porzingis added 18 points.
Heat star Jimmy Butler missed his fifth straight game because of right knee soreness.
Bam Adebayo (13) of the Miami Heat celebrates after being fouled during the second half
ROCKETS 128, HAWKS 122
Jalen Green scored 30 points, and Houston rallied for the win.
Kenyon Martin Jr. and rookie Jabari Smith Jr. each had 21 points for the Rockets.
Atlanta wasted stellar performances by Trae Young and Dejounte Murray. Young had a season-high 44 points and Murray set career highs with 39 points and eight 3-pointers in a game where big man Clint Capela didn´t play because of dental pain.
Jalen Green (4) of the Houston Rockets controls the ball during the second half
TRAIL BLAZERS 132, KNICKS 129, OT
Jerami Grant scored a career-high 44 points, Anfernee Simons had 38 and the Trail Blazers outlasted the Knicks.
Simons´ three-pointer gave Portland an eight-point lead in the extra period and the Blazers held on when Grant made just enough of his 28 free throws, most by an NBA player this season. He hit 21, going four of six in OT.
Jusuf Nurkic finished with 20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Blazers, who snapped a four-game losing streak.
Jalen Brunson scored 32 points and Julius Randle had 23 for the Knicks.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (9) shoots over Knicks forward Obi Toppin (1)
SUNS 108, PISTONS 102
Suns center Deandre Ayton had 28 points and 12 rebounds, and Devin Booker added 21 points.
The Suns have won three straight games and four of five.
Ayton´s putback slam on Booker´s missed layup gave the Suns a 102-97 advantage with 1:34 left. Ayton shot 11 of 13 from the field and 6 of 7 on free throws. Cameron Payne added 16 points and 10 assists.
Bojan Bogdanovic had 19 points for Detroit, and Killian Hayes added 17.
Deandre Ayton (22) of the Phoenix Suns prepares to shoot a free throw against the Pistons
GRIZZLIES 132, PELICANS 111
Dillon Brooks scored 25 points and Ja Morant had 23 points and 11 assists, powering Memphis to the win.
Jaren Jackson Jr. had 20 points and three blocks for Memphis. Steven Adams, who was questionable before the game with a non-COVID-19 illness, added 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Trey Murphy III led New Orleans with 21 points. Zion Williamson had 14 points, going 6 of 12 from the field.
The Pelicans were without CJ McCollum, who sat out under the NBA´s health and safety protocol. New Orleans lost Brandon Ingram in the second quarter when he sprained his left big toe.
Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) drives to the basket as Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III
HORNETS 110, TIMBERWOLVES 108
Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 28 points, and Charlotte stopped Minnesota´s five-game win streak.
Terry Rozier had 22 points and eight assists, helping the Hornets (6-14) win back-to-back games for the first time this season. P.J. Washington scored 16 points, and reserve Theo Maledon finished with 14 points and seven rebounds.
Edwards scored 25 points for the Timberwolves (10-9), who shot 22 percent from three-point range. D´Angelo Russell had 20 points and 10 assists, and Rudy Gobert finished with 17 points and 17 rebounds.
Kelly Oubre Jr. (12) of the Charlotte Hornets takes a three point shot against the Timberwolves
WARRIORS 129, JAZZ 118
Stephen Curry scored 33 points with six 3-pointers to lead all five Golden State starters in double figures, and the Warriors beat the Utah Jazz 129-118 on Friday night.
Andrew Wiggins added 20 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals coming off a season-best 31 points in a 124-107 win against the Clippers on Wednesday.
Klay Thompson hit back-to-back there-pointers late in the third quarter and six on the night to finish with 20 points and six rebounds, while Kevon Looney contributed 10 points and 12 rebounds. Draymond Green scored 13 points.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles against Utah guard Collin Sexton (2)
NUGGETS 114, CLIPPERS 104
Aaron Gordon carried the load for the Denver Nuggets in their victory against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Gordon had 29 points, to go along with a 21-point effort from Jamal Murray, and 19 from reigning MVP Nikola Jokic.
The Clippers severely missed the impacts of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George who missed the game injured.
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