Kuzma leads Lakers to win over Suns, Mavericks take down Clippers, DeRozan stars as Spurs beat Trail Blazers
Monday 3 December 2018 08:26, UK
Jimmy Butler hit two free throws with 1:31 remaining and a jumper 41 seconds later to stave off a Memphis Grizzlies comeback, helping the Philadelphia 76ers to hang on for a fourth straight win.
Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid recorded double-doubles for the 76ers, who completed a 3-0 homestand as Butler finished with 21 points and JJ Redick a team-high 24.
Mike Conley had a team-high 21 points and five assists for the Grizzlies, who have lost four of their last five games.
The 76ers led most of the way, extending their margin to 52-40 late in the first half on the strength of a 10-0 run, which included six points from Simmons and a JJ Redick a 3-pointer.
The Grizzlies got as close as five on a three-pointer by Conley with 2:57 to play, then to within 93-89 when he made in a pair of free throws with 2:03 to go.
But Butler countered with his two free throws, then made it an eight-point game with just 49.6 seconds remaining as he drained a back-breaking jumper.
Simmons had 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Embiid went for 15 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
Jaren Jackson Jr. (17 points), JaMychal Green (14), Garrett Temple (12), MarShon Brooks (12) and Marc Gasol (12) joined Conley in double figures for Memphis, which opened a two-game trip with a double-overtime win at Brooklyn on Friday.
Kyle Kuzma scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers extended their win streak to three games with a victory over the Phoenix Suns.
LeBron James had 22 points, six rebounds and eight assists, while Brandon Ingram added 15 points and Michael Beasley scored a season-high 14 off the bench for the Lakers, who climbed a season-high five games above .500.
Richaun Holmes scored a season-high 15 points off the bench for Phoenix, Trevor Ariza and Josh Jackson scored 13 apiece, and top draft pick Deandre Ayton finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Suns, who have lost five in a row.
The Suns' leading scorer Devin Booker, who came into the game 12th in the league in scoring (24.5 ppg), left the game late in the first half after straining his hamstring while chasing down a loose ball.
Booker missed three games at the end of October with a hamstring injury and sat out a 99-85 loss to the visiting Orlando Magic on Friday night because of a sore foot.
The Lakers turned the game around by outscoring the Suns 40-15 in the second quarter and never relinquished the lead from that moment onward.
DeAndre Jordan torched his former team for 16 points and a season-high 23 rebounds as the Dallas Mavericks earned hard-fought victory over the high-flying Los Angeles Clippers.
Dennis Smith Jr., who had a front tooth knocked out in the third quarter, came up with a game-saving block to allow the Mavericks to earn their seventh consecutive home victory.
Jordan was pivotal in the victory, scoring on a late tip-in and then tipping and stealing a Lou Williams pass attempt with 19 seconds to go as Dallas tried to hold onto a 111-110 lead.
After the Mavericks went ahead 112-110, the Clippers called timeout and went inside to Tobias Harris. However, Smith blocked the shot and then made two free throws at the other end to seal the victory.
Smith amassed nine points, five assists, two steals and two blocks. Dallas got huge contributions from Harrison Barnes, who finished with a game-high 30 points and nine rebounds, and reserve J.J. Barea, who had a season-high 24 points along with four assists and five rebounds.
Montrezl Harrell led Los Angeles with 23 points while Williams and Danilo Gallinari had 21 apiece.
DeMar DeRozan scored a season-high 36 points -- including 15 straight in the third quarter -- as the San Antonio Spurs inflicted another defeat on the struggling Portland Trail Blazers.
LaMarcus Aldridge added 29 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the floor against his former team, who have now lost five of their last six games.
The Spurs snapped a two-game losing streak as Rudy Gay chipped in with 18 points, while Patty Mills added 15 from the bench.
Damian Lillard led all scorers with 37 points and added 10 assists for Portland, while CJ McCollum added 24 points.
Anthony Davis starred with 36 points, 19 rebounds and eight assists, as the New Orleans Pelicans claimed victory at the Charlotte Hornets.
The All-Star also had two steals and two blocks as the Pelicans secured just a third road victory of the season.
Jrue Holiday added 19 points, and Nikola Mirotic scored 16 for the Pelicans.
New Orleans won for just the second time in seven games while the Hornets lost for the fourth time in six games.
Frank Kaminsky had 19 points to lead a strong effort from the Hornets' bench, which had a combined 67 points.
Dwyane Wade made two crucial free throws with 3.2 seconds remaining to secure victory for the Miami Heat over the visiting Utah Jazz.
Donovan Mitchell had a chance to snatch a much-needed win for the struggling Jazz, but his three-point attempt from the left elbow bounced in and out.
On the winning play, Wade drove to his right with the game tied and drew a foul from imposing Jazz center Rudy Gobert, who went for the block.
Mitchell scored 18 points, but he finished the game shooting just 8 of 24 from the floor and missed six of his seven three-point tries.
Miami's Hassan Whiteside had a monster game with 23 points, 20 rebounds and three blocks. It was his 11th career 20-20 game and his third this season.
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