SHAI Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points against his former team and Jalen Williams added 20 as the Oklahoma City Thunder continued to solidify their playoff standing Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) with a 101-100 victory over the host Los Angeles Clippers.
Josh Giddey scored 13 points and Isaiah Joe added 12 as the Thunder won for the eighth time in their past 10 games.
Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points and Paul George added 18 against his former team before departing with a knee injury. George appeared to hyperextend his right knee after he was fouled by Luguentz Dort on a rebound attempt with 4:38 remaining. He did not return to the game.
Leonard had a chance to give the Clippers the victory on the last possession after a rebound of a Williams miss. However, after dribbling near the 3-point arc for 21 seconds, he was unable to get a shot off in time.
In other games, it was the Celtics 132, Kings 109; Cavs115, Nets 109; Hawks 129, Pistons 107; Magic 122, Wizards 112; and Pelicans 119, Spurs 84.
Celtics 132, Kings 109
Jayson Tatum scored 36 points, Jaylen Brown added 27 and Boston beat host Sacramento to finish 4-2 on a cross-country trek.
Derrick White added 20 points for the Celtics, and Marcus Smart scored 17. White completed a double-double with a team-high 11 assists, while Tatum was Boston’s leading rebounder with eight boards.
Domantas Sabonis tallied 16 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists for the Kings, who lost their second straight. Sabonis’ triple-double was his 12th of the season. De’Aaron Fox led Sacramento with 18 points.
Cavs 115, Nets 109
Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points as Cleveland took control in the second quarter to beat Brooklyn in New York– the Cavaliers’ eighth win in 11 games.
Mitchell made 10 of 22 shots, including five of Cleveland’s 14 3-pointers. Former Net Caris LeVert added 18 points, while Darius Garland and Evan Mobley contributed 17 apiece for the Cavaliers, who shot 50.6 percent.
Day’Ron Sharpe scored 20 points to lead the Nets, who tied a season high with their fourth straight loss. Spencer Dinwiddie added 19 points and 11 assists, while Mikal Bridges contributed 18 points. — Field Level Media
