LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James reached 40,000 points, but Nikola Jokic had 35 points and 10 rebounds as the Denver Nuggets made a late push to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 124-114 on Saturday night.
Aaron Gordon hit a 3-pointer with 3:49 remaining to put Denver back in front, and the Nuggets closed on a 16-6 run for their sixth straight win. Michael Porter Jr. made all five of his 3s to finish with 25 points, Jamal Murray had 24 points and 11 assists, and Gordon ended up with 18 points.
James had 26 points and nine assists while checking off his latest milestone, but the Lakers couldn’t get their third straight victory. Rui Hachimura had 23 points, and Anthony Davis added 17 points and 11 rebounds.
James spun around Porter and drove the lane to hit a layup with 10:39 left in the second quarter to reach 40,000.
James received a standing ovation at the next timeout, while coach Darvin Ham gave him a congratulatory pat on the chest as he came to the sideline. There was an in-arena video presentation, which was preceded and followed by James raising the ball over his head to the delight of fans, many of whom were wearing his Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat or St. Vincent–St. Mary High School jersey.
ROCKETS 118, SUNS 109
PHOENIX (AP) — Jalen Green scored 34 points, Fred VanVleet added 24 and Houston beat Phoenix to split a two-game series after falling Thursday night.
Phoenix star Devin Booker left late in the game after inuring his right ankle when he stepped on teammate Royce O’Neale’s foot, while fellow Suns guard Bradley Beal was ejected in his return to the lineup after missing five games with a hamstring injury.
Beal missed more time after his ejection in the third quarter. He and Green got in a brief scuffle before they were separated. Beal was assessed two quick technicals and ejected while Green also got a technical.
Kevin Durant led the Suns with 30 points. Booker had 24 and O’Neale 20. Beal finished with seven points on 3-of-6 shooting.
HEAT 126, JAZZ 120
MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler scored 18 of his season-high 37 points in the third quarter, Bam Adebayo finished with 23 and Miami held off Utah for its 10th victory in 13 games.
Caleb Martin had 18 points and Terry Rozier added 14 for Miami. Duncan Robinson and Jaime Jaquez Jr. each had 12.
Keyonte George scored 31 points and Lauri Markkanen had 25 for Utah. Collin Sexton and John Collins each scored 18 points.
NETS 114, HAWKS 102
NEW YORK (AP) — Mikal Bridges scored 38 points and Brooklyn rolled past Atlanta for the second straight game.
Cam Johnson chipped in 23 points for the Nets, who improved to 3-3 under interim coach Kevin Ollie and pulled within two games of the Hawks for 10th place in the Eastern Conference and the final spot in the play-in tournament. They also beat Atlanta 124-97 on Thursday night.
Dejounte Murray had 20 points, 11 assists and six rebounds for the Hawks.
TRAIL BLAZERS 107, GRIZZLIES 100
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Anfernee Simons scored 20 of his 30 points in the second half and overtime and Portland beat Memphis after overcoming a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
Toumani Camara added 15 points to help Portland sweep the two-game set after taking the opener 122-92 on Friday night. Ashton Hagans finished with 13 points, and Dalano Banton scored eight his 10 points in overtime.
Santi Aldama and Vince Williams Jr. each had 21 points for Memphis.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
The Associated Press
