Anthony Davis returned from a chest injury and scored 31 points, helping the New Orleans Pelicans rally for a 119-111 win over the Utah Jazz.
Davis, who missed most of Friday night’s victory over Cleveland and all of Sunday night’s loss to Golden State, played with a protective vest that did not appear to inhibit him. He had nine rebounds and three blocks, with all three rejections coming in the pivotal final four minutes.
Ryan Anderson hit six three-pointers and finished with 28 points for New Orleans, while Tyreke Evans added 19 points, scoring nine during New Orleans’ 41-point fourth quarter.
Photo: EPA
Enes Kanter scored 29 points for Utah, who have lost three straight and 12 of 13.
THUNDER 104, KINGS 92
In Sacramento, California, Russell Westbrook had 32 points and seven assists and Kevin Durant scored 26 as Oklahoma City beat the reeling Sacramento Kings for their seventh straight win.
The Kings played their first game since Michael Malone was fired as coach and lead assistant Tyrone Corbin was promoted to interim coach. They trailed 9-0 after two-and-a-half minutes and dropped to 2-8 while franchise centerpiece DeMarcus Cousins recovers from viral meningitis.
The Thunder went ahead by 16 in the first quarter, led by just seven at halftime and pulled away again in the closing minutes behind their star duo. Oklahoma City improved to 7-1 since Durant returned from a broken right foot.
Rudy Gay scored 22 points, while reserve Carl Landry added 14 for the Kings.
MAVERICKS 107, KNICKS 87
In New York, Tyson Chandler had three dunks during Dallas’ sizzling start to his return to New York, while Dirk Nowitzki scored 16 points for the Mavericks.
Chandler played a key role in the NBA’s highest-scoring team putting together a nearly unstoppable start that gave them the lead for good. Monta Ellis added 14 points, while Chandler Parsons had 13 after missing a game with a sore lower back.
Carmelo Anthony scored 26 points for the Knicks. Tim Hardaway Jr had 14, but was five for 17 in another poor shooting effort.
Shortly after hearing mostly cheers during introductions, Chandler dunked a lob pass for the game’s opening basket. He threw down another alley-oop that gave Dallas 10 baskets in their first 11 shots.
HEAT 95, NETS 91
In New York, Dwyane Wade scored 28 points, leading Miami to the road win.
The Heat had five players score in double figures, including three reserves. Starting forward Luol Deng had 18 points, while rookie Shabazz Napier scored 11.
The game was delayed for 29 minutes in the first quarter when the installation of a new green roof at Barclays Center led to a water leak.
Mason Plumlee had 21 points and nine rebounds for Brooklyn, while Joe Johnson scored 16 points. Deron Williams added 15 points and 11 assists.
WIZARDS 109, TIMBERWOLVES 95
In Washington, John Wall scored 21 points and equaled a career high with 17 assists, helping Washington to their fifth consecutive win.
Washington scored 14 straight to take a 14-2 lead less than four-and -a-half minutes into the game. Wall had 10 points and six assists in the first quarter.
Rasual Butler had 23 points for the Wizards.
Thaddeus Young, who led a third-quarter charge, had a season-high 29 points for Minnesota, who have lost nine of 10. Shabazz Muhammad scored 21.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two