LUKA Doncic produced 14 points, five rebounds and four assists in his Los Angeles Lakers debut and LeBron James added 24 points, seven rebounds and eight assists as the newly formed star duo led the way to a 132-113 victory over the visiting Utah Jazz on Monday (Tuesday in Manila).
Austin Reaves logged 22 points and nine rebounds and Rui Hachimura added 21 points as the Lakers extended their winning streak to six games while coming out on top for the 10th time in the past 11 games. Jordan Goodwin scored 17 points in his second game with Los Angeles.
Doncic, acquired from the Dallas Mavericks in a blockbuster deal on Feb. 2, played for the first time since Christmas Day, having recovered from a left calf strain. He was on the court for 24 minutes and shot 5 of 14 from the floor, including 1 of 7 from 3-point range.
Lauri Markkanen and John Collins each scored 17 points and Jordan Clarkson added 16 as the Jazz saw their road losing streak reach nine games. Johnny Juzang scored 14 points as Utah lost its third consecutive game overall and fell for the 12th time in its last 14 contests.
In other games, it was the Thunder 137, Pelicans 101; Nuggets 146, Blazers 117; Hawks 112, Magic 106; Kings 129, Mavs 128 (OT); Celtics 103, Heat 85
Cavs 128, Wolves 107; Warriors 125, Bucks 111; Nets 97, Hornets 89; and Spurs 131, Wizards 121.
Thunder 137, Pelicans 101
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who hit a franchise-record 27 3-pointers en route to a 137-101 home win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Thunder extended their winning streak to six games, having prevailed in those games by an average of 25.8 points. The Pelicans’ losing streak was extended to nine.
Oklahoma City got four 3-pointers apiece from Gilgeous-Alexander, Aaron Wiggins (24 points) and Alex Caruso (12 points). Jalen Williams added 16 points.
New Orleans’ Zion Williamson, coming off a season-high 40-point outing in a Saturday loss at Sacramento, had 17 points and five assists.
Nuggets 146, Blazers 117
Nikola Jokic had 40 points, eight assists and seven rebounds as host Denver trounced Portland for its seventh straight win.
Christian Braun finished with 26 points for Denver. Julian Strawther scored 18 points, and Jamal Murray had 17 points and eight assists before being ejected early in the fourth quarter.
Rookie Donovan Clingan scored a career-high 21 points, Dalano Banton contributed 22 and Anfernee Simons posted 17 for Portland, which has lost two straight games after winning 10 of the previous 11.
