Dwight Howard had 24 points and 17 rebounds, while James Harden scored 11 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter in Houston’s comeback 107-98 win over New Orleans.
Chandler Parsons added 19 points and seven rebounds, and Terrence Jones had 17 points and eight rebounds to help the Rockets win their third straight game and snap New Orleans’ winning streak at two.
Jeremy Lin scored all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter, and the Rockets made three of five three-point attempts in the quarter after going three-of-21 from long range in the first three periods.
Houston were 25-of-32 from the free throw line, while the Pelicans went six-of-eight.
Ryan Anderson had 22 points and 12 rebounds for New Orleans. Anthony Davis added 18 points and 16 rebounds.
RAPTORS 115, KNICKS 100
In Toronto, Kyle Lowry had a season-best 32 points and 11 assists, while Terrence Ross made a career-high seven three-pointers as Toronto beat short-handed New York for the second straight night.
Lowry came within two rebounds of a triple-double and Ross had 23 points as Toronto won for the fourth time in five games.
PACERS 105, NETS 91
In Indianapolis, Indiana, Paul George scored 24 points and Lance Stephenson added 23 to lead the Indiana Pacers to a victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night.
George Hill finished with 21 points for the Pacers, who put five players in double figures and pulled away with a third-quarter burst.
Roy Hibbert scored 11 and David West 10 for Indiana, who lead the Eastern Conference at 23-6. Stephenson also had nine rebounds and seven assists.
Paul Pierce scored 18 points for the Nets.
CELTICS 103, CAVALIERS 100
In Boston, Jeff Green and Jordan Crawford each scored 19 points to help Boston hold off Cleveland.
Brandon Bass added 15 points and a game-saving block in the closing seconds for the Celtics, who led by 19 entering the final quarter and held a 10-point edge with four-and-a-half minutes to play.
Before the game, the Cavaliers suspended center Andrew Bynum indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team and banned him from all team-related activities. Bynum, who signed a two-year, US$24 million contract with the Cavaliers in July, did not travel with the club to Boston and it’s likely he has played his final game for Cleveland.
Avery Bradley added 18 points and eight rebounds for Boston, who snapped a three-game skid. Bass also had eight boards.
Kyrie Irving scored 32 points for the Cavaliers, who lost their fourth straight.
In other NBA action, it was:
‧ Wizards 106 Pistons 82
‧ Hawks 118, Bobcats 116, OT
‧ Mavericks 105, Bulls 83
‧ Grizzlies 120, Nuggets 99
‧ Timberwolves 117, Bucks 95
‧ Suns 115, 76ers 101
‧ Heat 108, Trail Blazers 107
‧ Clippers 98, Jazz 90
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care