NBA roundup: Spurs deal Nuggets 2nd straight loss

Keldon Johnson scored 23 points, and the newly acquired Sandro Mamukelashvili scored 11 points in the fourth quarter. The host San Antonio Spurs defeated the Western Conference-leading Denver Nuggets 128 to 120 on Friday to end a losing streak of two games.

The Spurs led by five at the end of regulation and were ahead by 123 to 116 with two minutes left. Mamukelashvili’s 3-pointer was the clincher. This seemed to have put San Antonio to sleep, as it extended its lead to a game high 12 points after Devin Vassell’s layup one minute later.

Doug McDermott had 20 points, while Jeremy Sochan had 19.

Nikola Jokic was the top scorer with 37 points. He also added 11 rebounds, 11 assists and a 26th NBA-leading triple-double. Jokic recorded a triple double, which was the Nuggets’ first loss this season. Denver dropped its second straight match with 24 points from Jamal Murray.

Nets 124, Timberwolves (OT)

Dorian Finney Smith sank the tiebreaking 3 pointer with 36.8 seconds to go in overtime, as Brooklyn beat Minnesota.

Mikal Bridges, Brooklyn’s forward, scored 34 points and made the tie-breaking 3-pointer with 1:08 left in overtime. Bridges scored 30 points for the sixth consecutive time since being acquired by the Phoenix Suns last month in the Kevin Durant deal. Brooklyn won its fourth game in five with Spencer Dinwiddie scoring 29 points and 11 assists.

Anthony Edwards scored 32 for the Wolves. They lost their second straight game despite shooting 57.4 per cent in the first half. Rudy Gobert had 26 points, 13 rebounds and missed four free throws in the fourth.

Lakers 122 Raptors 112

D’Angelo Russell scored 28 points after a six-game absence and Dennis Schroder added 23. Los Angeles continued its success without LeBron Jam, winning a victory against Toronto.

Austin Reaves scored 18 and Jarred Vanderbilt had 16 as Los Angeles moved to 4-2. To move into the play-in tournament slot in the Western Conference, the Lakers have won seven out of nine of their previous games.

Scottie Barnes had 32 points, while O.G. scored 31. Anunoby scored 31 points as the Raptors finished a five-game road trip ending with a record of 1-4. Toronto will be playing seven of its next eight home games as it fights for an Eastern Conference tournament spot.

Hawks 114, Wizards 107

Trae Young’s 3-pointer, which he made with 1:07 remaining, capped his 28 points and helped Atlanta beat host Washington.

Young made 6 of 10 shots from beyond the arc, helping Atlanta to a 15-of 31 performance (48.5 percent) from long distance. His nine assists were game-high. Bogdan Bogdan Bogdanovic was 4 of 8 from the behind the arc. He finished with 15 points from the bench. De’Andre Hunter had 18 points while Dejounte Murch scored 16 and Dejounte Gordon added seven assists.

Washington only shot 7 of 27 (34.9 percent) attempts from 3-point range. Kristaps porzingis was the Wizard who made more than one triple at 3-of-7. Bradley Beal had a team record 27 points, while Porzingis scored 22 points and grabbed a team record nine rebounds. Kyle Kuzma had 17 points.

Heat 119, Cavaliers 115

Jimmy Butler scored 12 of his team’s 33 points in the fourth quarter, helping Miami rally past Cleveland.

Butler was 12 of 16 from the field, Tyler Herro 5 of 7, and Miami ended with 25 points. Miami overcame a 14 point deficit at the end of the third quarter to win a split of the two-game series. Bam Adebayo scored 19 points, and has now scored in double figures in every 63 games he played for the Heat this season.

Donovan Mitchell scored 42 points in 42 minutes, his ninth consecutive game with at least 40 points for the Cavaliers this season. Darius Garland, who scored 25 points for Cleveland in Wednesday’s 104-100 victory over the Heat, was unable to play Friday due to a thigh contusion.

76ers 120, Trail Blazers 119

Joel Embiid made a fadeaway jump of 15 feet from the foul line, with 1.5 seconds remaining to lift Philadelphia past Portland.

It was the Sixers’ sole lead. Embiid finished with 39 points. James Harden had 19 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. Sixers rallied from 21 down to win their fourth straight game.

Anfernee Sins, who was injured in the ankle, hit eight 3-pointers to score 34 points for Trail Blazers. Jerami Grant had 24 points and 10 boards, Damian Lillard had 22 and 11 assists, while Damian Lillard had 22 and six rebounds. Cam Reddish was 14 points and Jusuf Nukic had 11.

–Field Level Media