CAMERON Johnson scored 18 points, including a clutch foul-line jumper over Luka Doncic with 59.6 seconds remaining as the Brooklyn Nets snapped a seven-game losing streak by holding on for a 111-108 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday (Wednesday in Manila) in New York.
Johnson made 6 of 14 shots, none bigger than the 14-footer he hit over Doncic to put the Nets ahead 106-100. Johnson’s shot gave Brooklyn some breathing room when Doncic sank an open 35-foot 3-pointer off an inbounds play with 11.5 seconds left to bring the Lakers within 108-106.
Following a three-point play by the Nets’ Noah Clowney, the Lakers’ Austin Reaves hit a layup with 3.2 seconds remaining, cutting the gap to three. Johnson then missed two free throws with 2.3 seconds left. The game ended when Doncic was well short on a 77-foot desperation 3-point heave.
Doncic recorded his second triple-double as a Laker by totaling 22 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists but shot 8-for-26. Gabe Vincent scored a season-high 24 as Los Angeles fell in the first game since LeBron James injured his left groin.
In other games, it was the Nuggets 140, Thunder 127; Raptors 119, Wizards 104; Celtics 114, Jazz 108; Hawks 132, Sixers 123; Knicks 133, Kings 104; Hornets 105, Heat 102; Rockets 97, Magic 84; Mavs 133, Spurs 129; Warriors 130, Blazers 120; Grizzlies 120, Suns 118; and Bulls 121, Pacers 103.
Nuggets 140, Thunder 127
Nikola Jokic scored 35 and Jamal Murray added 34 to lift Denver to a win at Oklahoma City.
The result snapped a seven-game winning streak for the Thunder and gave Denver a tie in the season series, with each team winning two games each. On Sunday, the Thunder earned a 127-103 home win over Denver.
Jokic added finished with 18 rebounds and eight assists. Luguentz Dort scored 26 points while Shai Gilgeous-ALeander added 25 points and seven assists for the Thunder, who saw Jalen Williams exit with a right hip strain.
Raptors 119, Wizards 104
Reserve A.J. Lawson set career bests with 32 points and 12 rebounds as Toronto defeated visiting Washington.
Immanuel Quickley added 15 points for the Raptors, who have won four of their past five games. Scottie Barnes had 14 points and 13 rebounds, RJ Barrett added 14 points and 10 rebounds and Orlando Robinson posted season highs of 13 points and 11 rebounds. Toronto had a 73-54 advantage in rebounds.
Jordan Poole and Alex Sarr each scored 16 points for the Wizards, who had won two straight. Sarr added 11 rebounds. Tristan Vukcevic contributed 15 points, Kyshawn George had 13 points and five blocks and Corey Kispert also finished with 13 points. – Field Level Media
