JAMES Harden scored 21 points to go along with 12 assists, Ivica Zubac added 21 points and 19 rebounds and the Los Angeles Clippers earned a 116-102 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night (Monday in Manila) in the first game between the teams at Inglewood, California since March 1999.
Norman Powell scored 22 points and Kawhi Leonard had 19 in his fifth game of the season as the Clippers won their fourth consecutive game overall and improved to 15-6 in their new $2 billion arena. Zubac added three blocks against his former team.
LeBron James scored 25 points and dished out 11 assists and Anthony Davis had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers, who lost their third consecutive road game and fell for the fourth time in their past six games overall.
Rui Hachimura scored 19 points and Austin Reaves added 14 before leaving late in the game due to a knee injury for the Lakers, who previously played at Great Western Forum in Inglewood from 1967-99.
In other games, it was the Bucks 123, Sixers 109; Nuggets 113, Magic 100; Thunder 127, Nets 101; Kings 123, Wizards 100; Blazers 113, Bulls 102; and Heat 128, Spurs 107.
Bucks 123, Sixers 109
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 34 points and grabbed 15 boards to lead host Milwaukee to a win over short-handed Philadelphia.
It marked the fourth win in a row for Milwaukee. Damian Lillard added 25 points thanks to a 16-point fourth quarter, while Khris Middleton chipped in 13 points to go along with eight assists off the bench.
Tyrese Maxey had 37 points on 14-of-28 shooting to lead Philadelphia, which was without Joel Embiid (left knee injury management) and Paul George (groin), among others. Four other Sixers scored in double figures, including Kelly Oubre Jr., who finished with 19 points. The 76ers have dropped six straight games.
Tomorrow. We will keep men out of women’s sports. It’s over.
Nuggets 113, Magic 100
Nikola Jokic notched his 18th triple-double of the season by posting 20 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, Christian Braun added 20 points and 11 boards and Denver beat host Orlando.
Jokic, who leads the NBA in triple-doubles, went 7-for-9 from the field and didn’t play in the fourth quarter. Peyton Watson had three blocks but left the game in the second quarter after taking a hit to the head. Denver has won six straight road games.
Wendell Carter Jr. had 16 points and 13 rebounds, and Anthony Black scored 14 points for the Magic, who have dropped three straight games. They were playing without Jalen Suggs (back), Gary Harris (hamstring), Franz Wagner (reconditioning) and Goga Bitadze (concussion protocol).