LAURI Markkanen scored 31 points and Kelly Olynyk made a layup with 3.1 seconds left in overtime as the visiting Utah Jazz defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 122-121 on Sunday night (Monday in Manila).
Markkanen added 12 rebounds, Olynyk finished with 20 points, Jordan Clarkson scored 18 and Jarred Vanderbilt added 15 points as the Jazz prevailed in a pairing of teams that had both won their first two games.
CJ McCollum had 28 points and 12 assists to lead the Pelicans, who overcame a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to force the extra period despite losing Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson to injury.
Williamson scored 25 points before going to the bench for good midway through the fourth quarter after taking a hard fall and having his hip or back checked by trainers. Trey Murphy III had 16 and Larry Nance Jr. and Ingram had 10 each. Ingram, who had scored 28 points in each of the Pelicans’ first two games, left the game for good after colliding with a teammate early in the second quarter.
In other games, it was the Suns 112, Clippers 95; Blazers 106, Lakers 104; Cavs 117, Wizards 107 (OT); Hornets 126, Hawks 109; Wolves 116, Thunder 106; and Warriors 130, Kings 125.
Suns 112, Clippers 95
Devin Booker scored 35 points and Chris Paul added 11 assists against his former team as visiting Phoenix earned a victory over Los Angeles.
Deandre Ayton added 13 points for the Suns, who led by as many as 22 while bouncing back from an overtime defeat at Portland on Friday. Marcus Morris Sr. scored 22 points and John Wall added 17 for the Clippers.
With his first two assists of the game, Paul reached 11,000 for his career. The milestone pass led to an alley-oop dunk by Ayton as Paul became the first player in NBA history with at least 20,000 points and 11,000 assists.
Blazers 106, Lakers 104
Jerami Grant made a driving layup with three seconds left and visiting Portland held on for a win against Los Angeles.
LeBron James missed a fadeaway jumper at the buzzer for the Lakers, who are 0-3 for the second time since James arrived in Los Angeles before the 2018-19 season.
Damian Lillard scored 41 points and Grant had 16 for Portland, which is 3-0 for the first time since 2011. James had 31 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, Anthony Davis had 22 points and 10 rebounds and Lonnie Walker IV scored 15 points for the Lakers. — Field Level Media
