Lakers Cruise To Win Over Cavaliers
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 116-97, at crypto.com Arena on Saturday afternoon.
The Lakers (45-33) remain hot and didn’t have problems securing the win over the Cavaliers (46-32) in front of 18,997 fans at home. The Lakers looked good in the early stages and raced to a 36-33 lead in the first quarter. The team bolstered its lead even further following a 29-23 score in the second quarter, making it a nine-point lead at the break. The Cavaliers tried to fight back in the second half, but the Lakers remained in control with absolute ease. Los Angeles won the third quarter by a 25-22 score and the final score by a 26-19 score. With the win, the Lakers moved to 28-12 at home, while the Cavaliers fell to 22-18 on the road.
D’Angelo Russell led the way for the Lakers with 28 points and five rebounds. LeBron James posted 24 points, 12 assists and five rebounds. Anthony Davis recorded 22 points, 13 rebounds, six blocks, four assists and three steals. Taurean Prince posted 18 points and four rebounds off the bench. The Lakers shot 56.3 percent from the field and 43.2 percent from deep.
Darius Garland led the way for the Cavaliers with 26 points, two assists and five steals. Jarrett Allen had a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds. Donovan Mitchell finished with 10 points (4-13 FG), five rebounds, seven assists, three steals and two blocks. Caris LeVert notched 21 points and seven rebounds coming off the bench. The Cavaliers shot 43.3 percent from the field and 31.4 percent from deep.
The Lakers (45-33) remain hot and didn’t have problems securing the win over the Cavaliers (46-32) in front of 18,997 fans at home. The Lakers looked good in the early stages and raced to a 36-33 lead in the first quarter. The team bolstered its lead even further following a 29-23 score in the second quarter, making it a nine-point lead at the break. The Cavaliers tried to fight back in the second half, but the Lakers remained in control with absolute ease. Los Angeles won the third quarter by a 25-22 score and the final score by a 26-19 score. With the win, the Lakers moved to 28-12 at home, while the Cavaliers fell to 22-18 on the road.
D’Angelo Russell led the way for the Lakers with 28 points and five rebounds. LeBron James posted 24 points, 12 assists and five rebounds. Anthony Davis recorded 22 points, 13 rebounds, six blocks, four assists and three steals. Taurean Prince posted 18 points and four rebounds off the bench. The Lakers shot 56.3 percent from the field and 43.2 percent from deep.
Darius Garland led the way for the Cavaliers with 26 points, two assists and five steals. Jarrett Allen had a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds. Donovan Mitchell finished with 10 points (4-13 FG), five rebounds, seven assists, three steals and two blocks. Caris LeVert notched 21 points and seven rebounds coming off the bench. The Cavaliers shot 43.3 percent from the field and 31.4 percent from deep.
Nets Dispose Of Pistons, 113-103
The Brooklyn Nets defeated the Detroit Pistons, 113-103, at Barclays Center on Saturday night.
The battle of the two non-contenders began with the Pistons (13-65) looking surprisingly dominant with strong play on both ends of the floor, resulting in a 35-23 lead over the Nets (31-47) after one. Brooklyn was only able to lop four points from its deficit over the middle periods, still leaving Detroit in seemingly good position heading into the fourth quarter. However, the hosts then played their best basketball of the night by far in the final period, outscoring the visitors by a 38-20 margin in the last 12 minutes.
Chimezie Metu led the Pistons with 20 points, supplementing them with seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Marcus Sasser supplied 18 points, six assists, one rebound and one steal. Jaden Ivey generated a 16-point, 10-assist double-double that included four rebounds and two steals. Troy Brown Jr. furnished 15 points, two rebounds and one steal. Jaylen Nowell finished with 12 points, four rebounds and one block.
Cam Thomas paced the Nets with 32 points, adding six rebounds, five assists and one steal. Dennis Schroder totaled 24 points, six assists and five rebounds. Noah Clowney recorded 17 points, six rebounds and four blocks. Mikal Bridges delivered 13 points, three assists, two rebounds and one steal. Jalen Wilson supplied 10 points, four boards, one assist and one steal.
The Pistons remain on the road and visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night, while the Nets remain home and host the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night.
The battle of the two non-contenders began with the Pistons (13-65) looking surprisingly dominant with strong play on both ends of the floor, resulting in a 35-23 lead over the Nets (31-47) after one. Brooklyn was only able to lop four points from its deficit over the middle periods, still leaving Detroit in seemingly good position heading into the fourth quarter. However, the hosts then played their best basketball of the night by far in the final period, outscoring the visitors by a 38-20 margin in the last 12 minutes.
Chimezie Metu led the Pistons with 20 points, supplementing them with seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Marcus Sasser supplied 18 points, six assists, one rebound and one steal. Jaden Ivey generated a 16-point, 10-assist double-double that included four rebounds and two steals. Troy Brown Jr. furnished 15 points, two rebounds and one steal. Jaylen Nowell finished with 12 points, four rebounds and one block.
Cam Thomas paced the Nets with 32 points, adding six rebounds, five assists and one steal. Dennis Schroder totaled 24 points, six assists and five rebounds. Noah Clowney recorded 17 points, six rebounds and four blocks. Mikal Bridges delivered 13 points, three assists, two rebounds and one steal. Jalen Wilson supplied 10 points, four boards, one assist and one steal.
The Pistons remain on the road and visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night, while the Nets remain home and host the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night.
Sixers Cruise Past Grizzlies
By Dan Bruno
The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the host Memphis Grizzlies, 116-96, at FedEx Forum on Saturday evening.
The 76ers jumped out to a quick 10-point lead, but the Grizzlies battled back to make it a five-point game entering the second. The visitors turned up their play in the second and outscored the the Grizzlies, 34-19, to claim a 20-point cushion by halftime. The hosts brought a better effort in the third, but they could only trim it to a 16-point game going into the final quarter. The Sixers reclaimed momentum in the fourth and confidently closed out their fourth straight win. This also marks the end of a three-game win streak for the Grizzlies.
Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 30 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks, in 23 minutes. Kelly Oubre followed up with 17 points, five rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block, while Paul Reed logged six points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals.
Meanwhile, Scotty Pippen led the Grizzlies with 24 points, two rebounds, five assists and two steals, in 30 minutes. GG Jackson followed up with 17 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals, while Maozinha Pereira turned in 13 points, 11 rebounds and a steal.
The Grizzlies (27-51) will look to bounce back as they play host to the Spurs on Tuesday. The 76ers (43-35) take on the Spurs in San Antonio on Sunday.
The 76ers jumped out to a quick 10-point lead, but the Grizzlies battled back to make it a five-point game entering the second. The visitors turned up their play in the second and outscored the the Grizzlies, 34-19, to claim a 20-point cushion by halftime. The hosts brought a better effort in the third, but they could only trim it to a 16-point game going into the final quarter. The Sixers reclaimed momentum in the fourth and confidently closed out their fourth straight win. This also marks the end of a three-game win streak for the Grizzlies.
Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 30 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks, in 23 minutes. Kelly Oubre followed up with 17 points, five rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block, while Paul Reed logged six points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals.
Meanwhile, Scotty Pippen led the Grizzlies with 24 points, two rebounds, five assists and two steals, in 30 minutes. GG Jackson followed up with 17 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals, while Maozinha Pereira turned in 13 points, 11 rebounds and a steal.
The Grizzlies (27-51) will look to bounce back as they play host to the Spurs on Tuesday. The 76ers (43-35) take on the Spurs in San Antonio on Sunday.
Nuggets Defeat Hawks, 142-110
The Denver Nuggets defeated the visiting Atlanta Hawks, 142-110, at Ball Arena on Saturday.
Denver won all four individual quarters by at least six points apiece, taking command with a 42-30 third quarter. They led by at least 15 points for the closing 18 minutes, getting their lead up to 32 points at times. The Nuggets shot 60 percent from the field and 56 percent from three-point range while holding the Hawks to 43 percent from the field and 32 percent from long range. Denver also out-assisted Atlanta, 38-30, while out-rebounding them, 52-41.
The Hawks (36-42) were led by Clint Capela, collecting 19 points, 12 rebounds and three assists. Bogdan Bogdanovic amassed 18 points, two rebounds and two assists, De'Andre Hunter accrued 18 points and two assists, while Jalen Johnson generated 17 points, six rebounds and four assists. Dejounte Murray had 12 points, two rebounds and 12 assists.
The Nuggets (54-24) got a triple-double from Nikola Jokic, finishing with 19 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists and two steals. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope provided 24 points, two rebounds and two steals. Michael Porter Jr totaled 20 points, three rebounds and two assists, while Jamal Murray accumulated 16 points, three rebounds and six assists. Reggie Jackson led the bench with 18 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Both teams return to action on Tuesday, with Atlanta returning home to play the Miami Heat and Denver traveling to face the Utah Jazz.
Denver won all four individual quarters by at least six points apiece, taking command with a 42-30 third quarter. They led by at least 15 points for the closing 18 minutes, getting their lead up to 32 points at times. The Nuggets shot 60 percent from the field and 56 percent from three-point range while holding the Hawks to 43 percent from the field and 32 percent from long range. Denver also out-assisted Atlanta, 38-30, while out-rebounding them, 52-41.
The Hawks (36-42) were led by Clint Capela, collecting 19 points, 12 rebounds and three assists. Bogdan Bogdanovic amassed 18 points, two rebounds and two assists, De'Andre Hunter accrued 18 points and two assists, while Jalen Johnson generated 17 points, six rebounds and four assists. Dejounte Murray had 12 points, two rebounds and 12 assists.
The Nuggets (54-24) got a triple-double from Nikola Jokic, finishing with 19 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists and two steals. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope provided 24 points, two rebounds and two steals. Michael Porter Jr totaled 20 points, three rebounds and two assists, while Jamal Murray accumulated 16 points, three rebounds and six assists. Reggie Jackson led the bench with 18 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Both teams return to action on Tuesday, with Atlanta returning home to play the Miami Heat and Denver traveling to face the Utah Jazz.