LUKA Doncic had 32 points and 10 rebounds, LeBron James scored 25 points and the visiting Los Angeles Lakers beat the Nuggets 123-100 on Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) to end Denver’s nine-game winning streak.
Doncic logged 31 minutes in his fourth game since being traded to Los Angeles, which won for just the second time in its last 15 games against Denver, including the playoffs. Austin Reaves scored 23 points and RuiHachimura contributed 21 points for the Lakers. Los Angeles has won 14 of 18.
Nikola Jokic had 12 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for his 26th triple-doubles, but also committed six of the Nuggets’ 20 turnovers. Aaron Gordon scored 24 points, Jamal Murray added 19, Russell Westbrook finished with 17, Michael Porter Jr. scored 13 and Christian Braun contributed 10.
The Lakers led 63-54 at halftime behind 19 points from Doncic. They also capitalized on 12 Denver turnovers that led to 23 points.
In other games, it was the Nets 105, Sixers 103; Blazers 141, Hornets 88; Jazz 124, Rockets 115; and Suns 121, Bulls 117.
Nets 105, Sixers 103
Nic Claxton put in an offensive rebound at the buzzer as Brooklyn slipped past host Philadelphia.
After Tyrese Maxey tied it with a 3-pointer, the Nets opted not to call timeout. Brooklyn’s Keon Johnson missed a 3-pointer from the wing with two seconds remaining, but Claxton hustled to the rebound, caught it in mid-air along the left side of the lane and shot it in as the horn sounded.
Cameron Johnson led Brooklyn with 23 points and Claxton added 16 points, nine rebounds and three blocks for the Nets, who have won seven of their last nine. Maxey paced the Sixers with 31 points and Joel Embiid had 14 points on 4-of-13 shooting from the field as Philadelphia lost its seventh in a row.
Blazers 141, Hornets 88
Anfernee Simons scored 25 points as Portland posted the largest winning margin in franchise history with a steamrolling of visiting Charlotte.
ToumaniCamara recorded 20 points, 10 rebounds and six assists and Shaedon Sharpe scored 20 points off the bench as Portland surpassed its 50-point victory over the Cavaliers (129-79) on Nov. 21, 1982. The Trail Blazers snapped a four-game losing streak and have won 16 of the last 17 matchups at home.
Miles Bridges scored 17 points for the Hornets, while Charlotte star LaMelo Ball had just five points on 1-of-10 shooting. Nick Smith Jr. scored 14 points, JusufNurkic had 11 points and eight rebounds off the bench and Mark Williams had 10 points. The Hornets have lost 13 of their last 16 games.
