NBA roundup: Grizzlies defeat Rockets, halt nine-game skid

 

[February 15, 2024]  Jaren Jackson Jr. drilled three fourth-quarter 3-pointers and rookie GG Jackson scored 20 points off the bench as the Memphis Grizzlies snapped a nine-game skid with a 121-113 victory over the visiting Houston Rockets on Wednesday.

The Rockets, who suffered their sixth consecutive road loss, erased a 23-point, first-half deficit and took their first lead at 88-87 when rookie Amen Thompson made a free throw with 10:07 left to play.

But Jaren Jackson, who finished with 18 points, answered with a 3-pointer and added another trey at the 7:37 mark to snap a 92-92 deadlock. His final 3 of the fourth capped a 9-0 burst and helped Memphis reclaim its double-digit lead at 107-97.

The short-handed Grizzlies received contributions from several role players. Luke Kennard made four 3-pointers and tallied 19 points, while Lamar Stevens and Jordan Goodwin -- both recent acquisitions for Memphis -- combined for 24 points off the bench.

Pelicans 133, Wizards 126

Zion Williamson scored 36 points and host New Orleans held off Washington.

CJ McCollum added 26 points, Brandon Ingram scored 18, Naji Marshall and Trey Murphy III each had 13 and Jonas Valanciunas 10 for the Pelicans, who posted their third win in a row and their seventh in eight games. Williamson also contributed eight assists and six rebounds.

Deni Avdija had a career-high 43 points plus 15 rebounds, Corey Kispert scored 20, Jordan Poole put up 19, Marvin Bagley III produced 14 points and 10 rebounds and Tyus Jones had 14 points and 15 assists for the Wizards, who lost their eighth consecutive game.

Magic 118, Knicks 100

Paolo Banchero scored 13 of his game-high 36 points during a decisive second-quarter surge for host Orlando, which pulled away from undermanned New York Knicks in the final game for both teams before the All-Star break.

Banchero tied a career high by draining six 3-pointers for the Magic, who have won six of their past eight. Franz Wagner had 21 points and six assists for Orlando.

Jalen Brunson scored 20 of his 33 points in the first quarter for the injury-wracked Knicks, who lost for the fifth time in six games following a nine-game winning streak. New York is without All-Star Julius Randle (dislocated shoulder) and OG Anunoby (elbow surgery) indefinitely, while Mitchell Robinson (ankle surgery) is likely out for the rest of the regular season.

Mavericks 116, Spurs 93

Kyrie Irving poured in 34 points and Luka Doncic added 27 in just three quarters of play as Dallas beat visiting San Antonio for its sixth straight victory.

Both Irving (nine rebounds, seven assists) and Doncic (nine rebounds, eight assists) made multifaceted contributions. Daniel Gafford added 10 points and 10 rebounds for Dallas.

Victor Wembanyama put up 26 points and Malaki Branham added 19 as San Antonio lost for the eighth time in nine games.

Heat 109, 76ers 104

Tyler Herro had 23 points, seven rebounds and seven assists to lift Miami past host Philadelphia.

Bam Adebayo added 23 points and 14 rebounds and Duncan Robinson scored 20 points for the Heat. Miami was missing Jimmy Butler (death of a relative) along with injured standouts Josh Richardson and Terry Rozier.

The short-handed Sixers were without injured players Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, De'Anthony Melton, Nicolas Batum and Robert Covington. Recently signed Kyle Lowry was also out as he works on his conditioning.

Lakers 138, Jazz 122

Anthony Davis amassed 37 points and 15 rebounds and Rui Hachimura scored a career-high 36 points to lead Los Angeles past Utah in Salt Lake City.

Davis, who played poorly in the Lakers' loss in Utah last month, made 13 of 25 field-goal attempts and scored 17 points in a decisive third quarter to push Los Angeles into the All-Star break on a winning note.

The Lakers won their third straight game and improved to 6-1 over their past seven despite LeBron James sitting out to tend to a left ankle injury. Hachimura filled the superstar's void by draining six 3-pointers in the game and scoring 21 points in the first half.

Pacers 127, Raptors 125

Pascal Siakam scored 23 points in his return to Toronto, helping Indiana win for the fourth time in six games.

Siakam, who played seven-plus seasons with the Raptors, was traded to the Pacers on Jan. 17 in exchange for three players and three first-round draft picks. Tyrese Haliburton added 21 points and 12 assists for the Pacers.

Scottie Barnes finished with 29 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists for the Raptors, who took their third loss in a row. RJ Barrett added 23 points, though he missed the would-be game-tying shot in the game's final second.

Feb 14, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward-center Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) handles the ball as Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) defends during the second half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Hornets 122, Hawks 99

Brandon Miller scored 18 of his 26 points in the first half and Charlotte built its best stretch of the season by defeating visiting Atlanta.

Tre Mann, in his third game with the Hornets, poured in 21 points and Miles Bridges had 17 points as Charlotte shot 49.4 percent from the field. The Hornets have won three games in a row for the first time this season after winning a total of 10 games prior to the streak.

Charlotte held an opponent to less than 100 points for just the second time this season -- and this was the first time it came in a victory. De'Andre Hunter scored 21 points off the bench to lead the Hawks.

Celtics 136, Nets 86

Payton Pritchard came off the bench to score 28 points and Derrick White finished with 27 to help Boston defeat visiting Brooklyn in each team's final contest before the All-Star break.

The Celtics had a 101-55 lead after three quarters and stretched the advantage to 56 points in the fourth. It was Boston's second victory over Brooklyn in as many nights. The Celtics earned a 118-110 win over the Nets in New York on Tuesday.

Trendon Watford scored a team-high 15 points for the Nets, who shot 38.3 percent from the floor. Brooklyn, which lost for the fifth time in six games, received a 10-point performance from Mikal Bridges.

Cavaliers 108, Bulls 105

Donovan Mitchell scored 21 of his 30 points in the second half as Cleveland rallied to beat visiting Chicago.

Isaac Okoro scored 16 points, Evan Mobley added 14 and Jarrett Allen had his 26th double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds for Cleveland, which trailed by as many as 17 in the second quarter but won for the 18th time in its last 20 games.

Cleveland maintained its three-point edge at 108-105 after Coby White (32 points) and Mitchell each made two foul shots, and White missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have forced overtime. DeMar DeRozan added 24 for Chicago.

Kings 102, Nuggets 98

De'Aaron Fox had 30 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, Domantas Sabonis finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds and visiting Sacramento beat Denver.

Aaron Gordon had 25 points and a season-high 15 rebounds, Michael Porter Jr. finished with 19 points and Nikola Jokic added 15 points for the Nuggets. Denver has dropped three straight.

Gordon hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 102-98, and the Nuggets had three chances to get within one but missed a trio of 3-pointers on the same possession, and Sacramento held on.

Clippers 130, Warriors 125

Paul George had 24 points before fouling out and Los Angeles, playing without Kawhi Leonard, overtook Golden State in San Francisco.

Seeking a sixth straight win and a 500th career victory for coach Steve Kerr, the Warriors rode a big night from Stephen Curry to as much as a 15-point lead before the Clippers rallied. Hitting four 3-pointers, James Harden paced the Clippers with 26 points to complement eight rebounds and a team-high seven assists. Norman Powell, who had five threes, finished with 21 points.

On a night when he made seven or more 3-pointers for an NBA-record fourth consecutive game, Stephen Curry went 9-for-19 from beyond the arc en route to a game-high 41 points. Brandin Podziemski chipped in with 25 points, seven rebounds and a game-high eight assists off the Golden State bench.

Suns 116, Pistons 100

Kevin Durant scored 25 points and Phoenix led by as many as 35 points while routing visiting Detroit.

Simone Fontecchio scored 18 points for Detroit, which has lost three straight games and six of its past eight.

The contest marked the return of Pistons coach Monty Williams to Phoenix. Williams spent four seasons as coach of the Suns and guided them to the 2021 NBA Finals but was dismissed after last season's second-round playoff exit.

--Field Level Media

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