Page 20 - ARUBA TODAY

A20 SPORTS
Friday 22 december 2017
Kuzma, Lakers overcome Harden’s 51 to end Rockets’ streak

By The Associated Press lost its sixth in a row. with 30 points. Plumlee
HOUSTON (AP) — Rookie Facing the league’s fourth- added 17 points and 10 re-
forward Kyle Kuzma set worst scoring defense, bounds, and Jokic had 22
career highs with 38 points the Bulls took a 43-27 lead points, six rebounds and 10
and seven 3-pointers, and with 9:05 left in the second turnovers.
the Los Angeles Lakers quarter on Mirotic’s layup, THUNDER 107, JAZZ 79
overcame 51 points from one of many easy baskets. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) —
James Harden to end the SPURS 93, TRAIL BLAZERS 91 Russell Westbrook had 24
Houston Rockets’ 14-game PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — La- points and 10 rebounds to
winning streak with a 122- Marcus Aldridge scored 22 help the Oklahoma City
116 victory Wednesday points, and Pau Gasol had Thunder roll past the Utah
night. 20 points and a season- Jazz 107-79 on Wednesday
It was Houston’s first loss high 17 rebounds in San night.
since Nov. 14 and snapped Antonio’s victory over Port- Westbrook made 10 of 13
a three-game skid for the land. shots and had seven assists
Lakers. Aldridge hit 10 of 17 shots and four steals. Oklahoma
The game was tied be- against his former team. City has won eight of 11 af-
fore Los Angeles scored Gasol and Aldridge each ter a rough start to the sea-
10 straight points — while scored 16 points during the son. The Thunder (16-15)
Houston missed seven shots first half to help the Spurs are above .500 for the first
in a row — to go up 110-100 (22-10) win their third con- time since early November.
with about four minutes left. secutive game. Paul George scored 10
Houston ended an almost The short-handed Spurs of his 18 points in the third
four-minute scoring drought were without Kawhi Leon- quarter and Carmelo An-
when Harden made a free ard and Tony Parker. Both thony also scored 18 for
throw, and he added three were rested on the first Oklahoma City.
more after being fouled on night of a back-to-back. Rodney Hood scored 17
a 3-point attempt a few Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) drives into Los Leonard and Parker are re- points for the Jazz, who
seconds later to cut it to Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball (2) in the second half of an covering from quadriceps have lost six of seven.
110-104. But former Rock- NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in Houston. injuries. Breakout rookie Donovan
et Corey Brewer made a Associated Press Portland, coming off a 3-2 Mitchell sat out with a right
3-pointer before Lonzo Ball winning streak earlier this game with a sprained right road trip, lost its fifth con- big toe contusion.
hit two free throws to make season with a victory at ankle. secutive home game. The RAPTORS 129, HORNETS 111
it 115-104. home. Thompson shot 10 for 16 Trail Blazers (16-15) are the CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) —
Harden powered Houston Olynyk signed with Miami overall and didn’t miss un- only NBA team with a win- DeMar DeRozan scored
on a night when Chris Paul as a free agent during the til a 3-point try with 6:10 left ning overall record but a 18 of his 28 points after
had just eight points before offseason. His previous high before halftime. losing mark at home. halftime and Toronto over-
leaving early in the fourth was 30 points on Dec. 15, Marc Gasol had 21 points, Damian Lillard led Portland came a slow start to beat
quarter with a sore left leg. 2014. nine rebounds and five as- with 17 points. C.J. McCol- Charlotte for its fourth
HEAT 90, CELTICS 89 Kyrie Irving paced the sists for Memphis, which lum shot 5 of 22. straight win.
BOSTON (AP) — Kelly Celtics with 33 points, but started a stretch with seven TIMBERWOLVES 112, NUG- Serge Ibaka scored 15 of his
Olynyk scored a career- missed a jumper from the of eight games on the road. GETS 104 24 points in the first half for
high 32 points in his rousing right wing that bounced off The Grizzlies were 10 of 44 in DENVER (AP) — Karl-Antho- Toronto, and OG Anunoby
return to Boston, and un- the rim at the buzzer. the second half and com- ny Towns had 25 points and shot 6 of 7 from beyond the
dermanned Miami hung on WARRIORS 97, GRIZZLIES 84 mitted 17 turnovers overall. 10 rebounds, Jimmy Butler arc while scoring 20 points.
a victory. OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — BULLS 112, MAGIC 94 also scored 25 and Minne- Toronto has won 10 of 11
On a night when the Celt- Klay Thompson scored 27 CHICAGO (AP) — Denzel sota beat Denver. and is in third place in the
ics honored their former of his 29 points in the first Valentine had 16 points Jamal Crawford added 20 Eastern Conference.
forward in his first game half and made his first nine and 10 rebounds, Nikola points and seven assists off The Hornets got a career-
back, the popular Olynyk field goal attempts, lead- Mirotic had 15 points and the bench for the Timber- best 32 points from reserve
received a standing ova- ing undermanned Golden 10 rebounds, and Chicago wolves, who rallied from Jeremy Lamb but lost for
tion from Boston fans and State past Memphis for its beat Orlando for its sev- 14 down to end Denver’s the 11th time in 13 games.
led the Heat to another win 10th straight win. enth straight win. eight-game home winning PACERS 105, HAWKS 95
against the top team in the Kevin Durant added 22 The Bulls had lost 10 straight streak. ATLANTA (AP) — Victor
Eastern Conference. Josh points and eight rebounds with Mirotic out of the line- The Nuggets were without Oladipo scored 23 points,
Richardson had 19 points for the defending NBA up prior to his return Dec. 8, leading scorer Gary Harris Myles Turner had 20 and In-
and six assists for Miami, champions, who were and they haven’t lost since and backup point guard diana beat Atlanta.
which took two of three in down five regulars again. to improve to 10-20. Emmanuel Mudiay, forcing Bojan Bogdanovic had
the season series. The Heat Two-time MVP Stephen Nikola Vucevic scored 18 coach Michael Malone to 19 points as Indiana won
ended Boston’s 16-game Curry sat out his sixth straight points for Orlando, which use his 13th different start- for the second time in five
ing lineup. Malone went games. The Pacers ral-
with a bigger group and lied from a sluggish start to
started Nikola Jokic and shoot 48.8 percent.
Mason Plumlee together Atlanta has yet to win con-
for the first time this season. secutive games this season
It worked for most of the and dropped to 7-24. The
game, but the Nuggets fal- Hawks bench outscored
tered after taking an 80-66 Indiana’s 46-28, led by 18
lead late in the third quar- points and nine rebounds
ter. from John Collins.q
Jamal Murray led Denver
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