Mavericks Cruise To Defeat Kings
The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Sacramento Kings, 105-99, at American Airlines Center on Sunday afternoon.
The Mavericks (4-2) delivered an impressive performance Sunday to take care of the Kings (3-3), as they grabbed the lead in the first half and never looked back. In fact, Dallas established the tone of the game rather quickly and grabbed a nine-point lead following the first 12 minutes of action (31-22), though the Kings responded and won the second quarter by a 25-22 score. Dallas won the third quarter by four points (29-25) and were up by 10 points with only 12 minutes left, an advantage they'd never relinquish the rest of the way. Even though the Kings won the final 12 minutes of action by a 27-23 score, it wasn't enough to threaten Dallas' lead. The Mavs improved to 4-2 and bounced back from their ugly loss against Denver the last time out, while the Kings remain extremely inconsistent.
Luka Doncic was the best player for Dallas in this game and came close to posting a triple-double, as he ended with 23 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, while Tim Hardaway Jr. had a productive game with 16 points, three boards and three dimes. Dorian Finney-Smith recorded 13 points and six rebounds, while Dwight Powell mustered 12 points. Frank Ntilikina mustered 12 points off the bench.
Richaun Holmes ended with 22 points and 13 rebounds, and he was the team's best player by a wide margin. Harrison Barnes also had a double-double since he ended with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while adding five assists and three steals. De'Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton both chipped in with 14 points and four assists, though Fox also added eight rebounds. Tristan Thompson ended with 13 points.
The Mavericks (4-2) delivered an impressive performance Sunday to take care of the Kings (3-3), as they grabbed the lead in the first half and never looked back. In fact, Dallas established the tone of the game rather quickly and grabbed a nine-point lead following the first 12 minutes of action (31-22), though the Kings responded and won the second quarter by a 25-22 score. Dallas won the third quarter by four points (29-25) and were up by 10 points with only 12 minutes left, an advantage they'd never relinquish the rest of the way. Even though the Kings won the final 12 minutes of action by a 27-23 score, it wasn't enough to threaten Dallas' lead. The Mavs improved to 4-2 and bounced back from their ugly loss against Denver the last time out, while the Kings remain extremely inconsistent.
Luka Doncic was the best player for Dallas in this game and came close to posting a triple-double, as he ended with 23 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, while Tim Hardaway Jr. had a productive game with 16 points, three boards and three dimes. Dorian Finney-Smith recorded 13 points and six rebounds, while Dwight Powell mustered 12 points. Frank Ntilikina mustered 12 points off the bench.
Richaun Holmes ended with 22 points and 13 rebounds, and he was the team's best player by a wide margin. Harrison Barnes also had a double-double since he ended with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while adding five assists and three steals. De'Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton both chipped in with 14 points and four assists, though Fox also added eight rebounds. Tristan Thompson ended with 13 points.
Jazz Hand Bucks Third Straight Loss
By Dan Bruno
The Utah Jazz defeated the host Milwaukee Bucks, 107-95, at Fiserv Forum on Sunday evening.
The contest got out to a tight start, but the Jazz pulled away with a seven-point lead by the end of the first quarter. They pushed their lead to 13, early in the second, but the Bucks rallied back to make it a nine-point game by halftime. The Bucks could not find their rhythm in the third, as the Jazz pushed their lead to a game-high 17 points, before the Bucks cut it back to 15, heading into the final frame. The Bucks finally got on track in the fourth and made a push to make it a four-point game with 1:39 left. However, the Jazz closed the contest on an 8-0 run to secure the road win, while this marks the third straight loss for the Bucks.
Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz with 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting, in 33 minutes. Mike Conley followed up with 20 points, three rebounds and two assists, while Rudy Gobert totaled nine points, 13 rebounds, four blocks, two assists and a steal. The Jazz shot 47 percent from the field, including 12-of-37 from long range.
Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 25 points, seven rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocks, in 35 minutes. Grayson Allen followed up with 18 points and six rebounds, while Bobby Portis added 15 points and five rebounds, off the bench. The Bucks shot 41 percent from the field including 12-of-41 from deep.
The Bucks (3-4) will look to bounce back as they take on the Pistons in Detroit on Tuesday. The Jazz (5-1) play host to the Kings on Tuesday.
The contest got out to a tight start, but the Jazz pulled away with a seven-point lead by the end of the first quarter. They pushed their lead to 13, early in the second, but the Bucks rallied back to make it a nine-point game by halftime. The Bucks could not find their rhythm in the third, as the Jazz pushed their lead to a game-high 17 points, before the Bucks cut it back to 15, heading into the final frame. The Bucks finally got on track in the fourth and made a push to make it a four-point game with 1:39 left. However, the Jazz closed the contest on an 8-0 run to secure the road win, while this marks the third straight loss for the Bucks.
Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz with 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting, in 33 minutes. Mike Conley followed up with 20 points, three rebounds and two assists, while Rudy Gobert totaled nine points, 13 rebounds, four blocks, two assists and a steal. The Jazz shot 47 percent from the field, including 12-of-37 from long range.
Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 25 points, seven rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocks, in 35 minutes. Grayson Allen followed up with 18 points and six rebounds, while Bobby Portis added 15 points and five rebounds, off the bench. The Bucks shot 41 percent from the field including 12-of-41 from deep.
The Bucks (3-4) will look to bounce back as they take on the Pistons in Detroit on Tuesday. The Jazz (5-1) play host to the Kings on Tuesday.
Hornets Top Trail Blazers, 125-113
The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Portland Trail Blazers at Spectrum Center, 125-113, on Sunday night.
The Trail Blazers (3-3) hit the ground running early, extending a two-point first-quarter lead to a seven-point advantage by halftime. However, the deficit seemed to energize the Hornets (5-2), which clawed back to take a one-point edge into the fourth quarter. Portland remained close, but an 11-5 run by Charlotte over the final 2:54 sealed the win for the hosts.
C.J. McCollum led the Trail Blazers with 25 points, adding eight assists and two rebounds. Anfernee Simons poured in 19 points. Norman Powell and Damian Lillard posted matching 14-point tallies, with Lillard also dishing out 12 assists. Jusuf Nurkic generated a 13-point, 14-rebound double-double that also included one assist, two steals and one block.
LaMelo Ball paced the Hornets with 27 points, complementing them with nine rebounds, seven assists and one steal. Kelly Oubre, Jr. furnished 26 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals. Miles Bridges delivered 19 points, nine assists, six rebounds and one block. Terry Rozier made his return from an ankle injury and turned in 14 points, five assists, two rebounds and one steal. Gordon Hayward supplied 12 points and five boards.
The Trail Blazers remain on the road and visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night, while the Hornets host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night as well.
The Trail Blazers (3-3) hit the ground running early, extending a two-point first-quarter lead to a seven-point advantage by halftime. However, the deficit seemed to energize the Hornets (5-2), which clawed back to take a one-point edge into the fourth quarter. Portland remained close, but an 11-5 run by Charlotte over the final 2:54 sealed the win for the hosts.
C.J. McCollum led the Trail Blazers with 25 points, adding eight assists and two rebounds. Anfernee Simons poured in 19 points. Norman Powell and Damian Lillard posted matching 14-point tallies, with Lillard also dishing out 12 assists. Jusuf Nurkic generated a 13-point, 14-rebound double-double that also included one assist, two steals and one block.
LaMelo Ball paced the Hornets with 27 points, complementing them with nine rebounds, seven assists and one steal. Kelly Oubre, Jr. furnished 26 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals. Miles Bridges delivered 19 points, nine assists, six rebounds and one block. Terry Rozier made his return from an ankle injury and turned in 14 points, five assists, two rebounds and one steal. Gordon Hayward supplied 12 points and five boards.
The Trail Blazers remain on the road and visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night, while the Hornets host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night as well.
Nets Cruise To Blowout Win At Home
By Dan Bruno
The Brooklyn Nets defeated the visiting Detroit Pistons, 117-91, at Barclays Center on Sunday evening.
The contest got out to a competitive start, as the Nets led by three, after one quarter. They gathered momentum and pulled away in the second, where they outscored the visitors, 36-24, to take a 15-point lead by halftime. The Nets picked up where they left off in the third and pushed their lead to 22, after three quarters. The Pistons had no answers down the stretch, as the deficit grew as high as 30 points in the fourth, while the Nets cruised to their second straight win.
Kevin Durant led the Nets with 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting, in 27 minutes. James Harden logged a triple-double with 18 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds, while LaMarcus Aldridge added 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting, off the bench. The Nets shot 65 percent from the field, including 13-of-25 from deep.
Meanwhile, Cory Joseph was the high-point man for the Pistons, with 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting, in 21 minutes off the bench. Jerami Grant was the only other player to score in double digits for the Pistons, with 11 points on 5-of-15 shooting. The Pistons shot 40 percent from the field including 12-of-33 from long range.
The Pistons (1-5) will look to bounce back as they play host to the Bucks on Tuesday. The Nets (4-3) play host to the Hawks on Wednesday.
The contest got out to a competitive start, as the Nets led by three, after one quarter. They gathered momentum and pulled away in the second, where they outscored the visitors, 36-24, to take a 15-point lead by halftime. The Nets picked up where they left off in the third and pushed their lead to 22, after three quarters. The Pistons had no answers down the stretch, as the deficit grew as high as 30 points in the fourth, while the Nets cruised to their second straight win.
Kevin Durant led the Nets with 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting, in 27 minutes. James Harden logged a triple-double with 18 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds, while LaMarcus Aldridge added 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting, off the bench. The Nets shot 65 percent from the field, including 13-of-25 from deep.
Meanwhile, Cory Joseph was the high-point man for the Pistons, with 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting, in 21 minutes off the bench. Jerami Grant was the only other player to score in double digits for the Pistons, with 11 points on 5-of-15 shooting. The Pistons shot 40 percent from the field including 12-of-33 from long range.
The Pistons (1-5) will look to bounce back as they play host to the Bucks on Tuesday. The Nets (4-3) play host to the Hawks on Wednesday.
Lakers Roll Rockets, 95-85
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the visiting Houston Rockets, 95-85, at Staples Center on Sunday,
While this wasn't necessarily a wire-to-wire win for the Lakers, they held the lead for the final 45 minutes. That can be attributed to a 27-15 first quarter in favor of the Lakers and a 27-20 second quarter. They actually got their lead up to 28 points at times, holding a double-digit lead for the entirety of the second half. In fact, the 10-point final margin was the closest it got in since midway through the second quarter. Los Angeles recorded 15 steals and nine blocks while winning the turnover battle, 25-12.
The Rockets (1-5) were led by Eric Gordon, providing 17 points, two rebounds and two assists off the bench. Christian Wood led the starters with 16 points, 13 rebounds and two assists. Kevin Porter Jr accrued 13 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals. Jalen Green amassed seven points, five rebounds and five assists.
The Lakers (4-3) were led by Carmelo Anthony, amassing 23 points, three rebounds, two steals and four blocks off the bench. Russell Westbrook led the starters with 20 points, eight rebounds and nine assists. Anthony Davis compiled 16 points, 13 rebounds and two assists, while LeBron James had 15 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and four steals.
These teams will actually have a rematch in Los Angeles on Tuesday for their next outing.
While this wasn't necessarily a wire-to-wire win for the Lakers, they held the lead for the final 45 minutes. That can be attributed to a 27-15 first quarter in favor of the Lakers and a 27-20 second quarter. They actually got their lead up to 28 points at times, holding a double-digit lead for the entirety of the second half. In fact, the 10-point final margin was the closest it got in since midway through the second quarter. Los Angeles recorded 15 steals and nine blocks while winning the turnover battle, 25-12.
The Rockets (1-5) were led by Eric Gordon, providing 17 points, two rebounds and two assists off the bench. Christian Wood led the starters with 16 points, 13 rebounds and two assists. Kevin Porter Jr accrued 13 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals. Jalen Green amassed seven points, five rebounds and five assists.
The Lakers (4-3) were led by Carmelo Anthony, amassing 23 points, three rebounds, two steals and four blocks off the bench. Russell Westbrook led the starters with 20 points, eight rebounds and nine assists. Anthony Davis compiled 16 points, 13 rebounds and two assists, while LeBron James had 15 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and four steals.
These teams will actually have a rematch in Los Angeles on Tuesday for their next outing.