Kyle Lowry scored 27 points, while Terrence Ross added 22 and Bismack Biyombo had a career-high 15 points and 13 rebounds, as the Toronto Raptors snapped a three-game skid with a 102-93 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night.
In what was almost certainly his last NBA appearance in Canada, Kobe Bryant shot 8-of-16 for 21 points as the Raptors swept the season series from the Lakers for the first time.
Bryant’s every touch drew chants almost throughout, and his only successful three-pointer was met with thunderous applause in the fourth quarter as the Lakers attempted to mount a rally. Bryant exited for the final time with 24.6 seconds remaining to a standing ovation.
Photo: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY
CLIPPERS 110, TIMBERWOLVES 106
DeAndre Jordan had 20 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks to lift the Clippers over the Timberwolves.
Blake Griffin had 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Chris Paul made a surprise return to the Clippers lineup after missing the previous two games with a rib injury, finishing with 14 points and five assists in 32 minutes.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 18 points on 7-for-9 shooting, including 3-of-3 from three-point range for the Timberwolves (8-12), who fell to 2-9 at home. Zach LaVine scored 21 and Shabazz Muhammad added 13 points and nine rebounds.
The Clippers went 26-for-29 at the free throw line and even Jordan was 4-of-6. They trailed 98-95 with one minute to play, but Jordan threw down an alley-oop and then blocked a shot by LaVine. Griffin scored on a layup for a 99-98 lead with 25 seconds to play. The Clippers won a free throw shooting contest down the stretch.
HORNETS 104, PISTONS 84
Cody Zeller scored 20 points as Charlotte snapped Detroit’s four-game winning streak.
Marvin Williams added 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Kemba Walker had 14 points and nine rebounds for Charlotte, who have won seven of nine. Nicolas Batum added 13 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in another solid all-around game for the Hornets (12-8).
The Pistons (12-10) were led by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s 16 points, and Ersan Ilyasova’s 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Charlotte, who have struggled all season on the glass, outrebounded Detroit 57-41, despite playing without injured center Al Jefferson.
CELTICS 111, PELICANS 93
Isaiah Thomas scored 22 points and Kelly Olynyk added 21 in a reserve role as Boston defeated struggling New Orleans.
Jae Crowder scored 17 for the Celtics, while Jared Sullinger tied a career high, with 20 rebounds and 11 points.
Seemingly out of rhythm after early foul trouble, Anthony Davis was 8-of-21 shooting and finished with 16 points and three blocks. Ryan Anderson scored 18 for the Pelicans, but New Orleans’ starting backcourt struggled. Tyreke Evans and Eric Gordon were held scoreless and wound up playing limited minutes.
BUCKS 90, TRAIL BLAZERS 88
Greg Monroe’s layup put Milwaukee ahead with seconds left and John Henson swatted away Meyers Leonard’s potential game-winning shot to help the Bucks edge Portland.
O.J. Mayo hit a three-pointer that cut Portland’s lead to 88-87 with 16.3 seconds left, and Michael Carter-Williams tied up C.J. McCollum on the inbounds play. Carter-Williams won the jump ball and the Bucks worked it down low to Monroe.
The Trail Blazers had one last chance, but Henson deflected Leonard’s in-close shot to preserve the win.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 17, while Monroe added 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Mayo had 15 points for Milwaukee.
Damian Lillard scored 23 for Portland, who fell to 0-7 when failing to score 100 points.
WIZARDS 114, HEAT 103
John Wall scored 26 points one night after leaving a game with a sore knee and Gary Neal added 21, including a debated three-pointer with just over a minute left, to lead Washington.
Bradley Beal scored 21, while Otto Porter finished with 13 points and 14 rebounds for the Wizards, who never trailed in the fourth.
The Heat argued that Beal traveled when he lost control of the ball and regained it under the basket with 1 minute, 10 seconds remaining. Beal sent it to Neal for a three from the right corner that put Washington up five and essentially served as the clincher.
Miami’s Chris Bosh was ejected for arguing calls and non-calls with 28 seconds remaining, the second ejection of his 13-year career.
Dwyane Wade led Miami with 26 points. Goran Dragic added 20 and Bosh scored 18 for the Heat, who fell from the No. 1 spot in the Eastern Conference.
SUNS 103, BULLS 101
Mirza Teletovic scored 21 points, including a follow basket with 0.3 seconds left, to cap Phoenix’s furious fourth-quarter rally from 16 points down.
Brandon Knight had 17 of his 21 points in the fourth to snap a four-game skid. Phoenix outscored Chicago 42-24 in the final period.
Pau Gasol scored 22 points to lead the Bulls, while Jimmy Butler added 19 and Derrick Rose 14.
Chicago led most of the way and their advantage grew to 77-61 entering the fourth quarter, as Phoenix were held to 10 points on 4-of-20 shooting in the third.
SPURS 119, 76ERS 68
With new front office executive Jerry Colangelo sitting courtside, the Philadelphia 76ers showed him just how far away they are from becoming a competitive franchise.
Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Kawhi Leonard all sat out as the San Antonio Spurs rolled past the Sixers 119-68 on Monday night.
LeMarcus Aldridge led the Spurs with 26 points and nine rebounds, while Tony Parker scored 12 points.
Coach Gregg Popovich rested Duncan and Ginoboli against the hapless Sixers and Leonard was ill.
Robert Covington, Nik Stauskas and Nerlens Noel each scored 13 points for Philadelphia.
MAVERICKS 104, KNICKS 97
Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 points as Dallas withstood a comeback attempt sparked by Kristaps Porzingis to beat New York.
Porzingis finished with 28 points in his first matchup with Nowitzki, the German great he has been compared with.
The Latvian rookie made consecutive three-pointers as the Knicks cut what had been a 23-point deficit to 101-97 with 43 seconds left, then blocked Deron Williams’ shot. However, Carmelo Anthony was called for an offensive foul as the Knicks were trying to work to get the ball to Porzingis for another shot, and Nowitzki followed with a free throw before Williams made two more to close it out.
Williams had 20 points and seven assists.
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