Walker helps Hornets past Suns; Bledsoe scores 30 points in Bucks win; Kings secure last-gasp victory vs Pistons
Sunday 20 January 2019 12:57, UK
Paul George scored the winning points in the dying seconds to give Oklahoma City Thunder a 117-115 win against the Philadelphia 76ers.
It is the 19th consecutive game that the Thunder have beaten the 76ers, the longest active win streak between NBA teams.
But the 76ers came agonisingly close to victory themselves - with 6.9 seconds remaining they took a 115-113 lead when Jimmy Butler intercepted a pass and Steven Adams drove for a layup.
But then the Thunder's George scored a three-pointer while being fouled by Butler, and added the free throw.
Desperately Butler tried to reply for the 76ers but this three-point effort bounced off the rim.
George shone with 31 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two steals for the Thunder.
Kemba Walker's 21-point haul led the Charlotte Hornets to their joint-highest points tally of the season.
Eight Hornets players finished with 10-plus points in a balanced performance - their total of 71 in the first half was the second-most in any NBA game this season. Their 109 after three quarters is the most.
The Hornets have won three games in a row for the second time this season.
Eric Bledsoe was the standout player for the Milwaukee Bucks - he scored a season-high 30 points.
Giannis Antetokounmpo added 25 points, 13 rebounds and five assists, and Malcolm Brogdon scored 18.
Nikola Vucevic replied with 27 for Orlando Magic but it wasn't enough.
The Bucks' season record of 33-12 is the best in the NBA.
Buddy Hields scored a running three-pointer on the buzzer to hand the Sacramento Kings a last-gasp win.
The Detroit Pistons were left raging because they thought Hields double-dribbled before scoring. Hields scored 31 points overall on 13-for-22 shooting.
The Pistons' Blake Griffin had racked up 38 points but his effort was in vain.
The Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic was ejected for the first time in his career in defeat to the Indiana Pacers.
Doncic was punished for kicking the ball into the crowd. In a disappointing night he scored just eight, and missed all five of his free-throws.
Darren Collison (16 points), Myles Turner (12) and Victor Oladipo (12) were the game-winners for the Pacers.
Miami Heat's Dwayne Wade handed his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls, a 10th consecutive defeat.
It was the final time that Wade will play in Chicago. Aged 37, he will retire at the end of this season. He had 14 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists off the bench.
Josh Richardson scored a game-high 26 for Miami, while Dion Waiters added 21 (his best tally of the season).
Marcus Smart was ejected then caused a fight but his Boston Celtics were still able to emerge victorious.
Smart feuded with DeAndre Bembry in the third quarter and left his team-mate Kyrie Irving looking exasperated.
Irving's 32 points eventually got the Celtics out of trouble.
Danny Green scored eight three-pointers and a total of 24, both his season-highs, to lead the Toronto Raptors.
Serge Ibaka added 18 and Pascal Siakham scored 17 for the Raptors who have now won nine a row.
They had to make do without their star man, Kawhi Leonard, who sat out.
Nikola Jokic completed a triple-double inside three quarters for the Denver Nuggets. He ended with 19 points, 12assists and 11 rebounds in just 28 minutes of play.
Jokic stole the show in a straightforward win, with Jamal Murray also impressing for the Nuggets.
