NBA roundup: Surging Celtics win fourth straight

[December 28, 2015]  The Sports Xchange
 
 BOSTON -- Forward Jae Crowder, doing it both ends of the floor, scored 13 of his 18 points in the third quarter, and the Boston Celtics won their season-high fourth straight game and handed the New York Knicks a fourth straight loss with a 100-91 decision Sunday night.

Crowder, given the task of guarding Carmelo Anthony for most of the night, hounded the Knicks' star forward into a bad shooting night. Crowder also grabbed six rebounds.

Anthony scored a game-high 29 points and had 10 rebounds, but he shot 11-for-26 from the floor.

The Celtics (18-13) completed a weekend sweep, as they won Saturday night in Detroit. They moved within a game of the idle Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division. Boston's next three games are at home against the Los Angeles Lakers (Kobe Bryant's last visit) and a home-and-home with the Brooklyn Nets -- two teams with a total of 13 wins between them.

Thunder 122, Nuggets 112

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Russell Westbrook scored 30 points to lead Oklahoma City to a victory over Denver at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Westbrook collected 12 assists and nine rebounds to go along with his 11 of 17 shooting. Kevin Durant added 26 points and 10 assists. Serge Ibaka scored 19 points while Enes Kanter came off the bench to post 21 points as the Thunder improved to 21-10.

Kenneth Faried led the Nuggets with 25 points and 11 rebounds. Will Barton came off the bench to score 19 points while Joffrey Lauvergne collected 18 points as Denver dropped to 12-19.

Grizzlies 112, Lakers 96

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Mike Conley scored 19 points with five assists as Memphis breezed past Los Angeles at FedExForum.

The Grizzlies avoided a three-game losing streak and fell below .500 for the first time since they were 5-6 on Nov. 15.

Memphis forward Jeff Green finished with 17 points, Marc Gasol scored 16 points with six assists, Zach Randolph had 16 points off the bench and Courtney Lee scored 13 points.

Trail Blazers 98, Kings 94

SACRAMENTO, Calif. --- C.J. McCollum scored 35 points, and Portland used a late surge to defeat Sacramento at Sleep Train Arena.

McCollum, playing with usual backcourt mate Damian Lillard sidelined for the fourth straight game with inflammation in his left plantar fascia, canned 13 of 27 shots to help the Blazers to their second win in as many nights. He came up with a loose ball and converted a jumper for a 93-87 lead, then canned a wing jumper with 31 seconds made it 95-89.

Kings center DeMarcus Cousins finished with 36 points and six rebounds. His second 3-pointer of the contest cut Portland's lead to 95-92 with 24 seconds left. But after McCollum knocked in one of two free throws, Cousins missed a 3-pointer to end it.

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