Seven games on tap in the NBA on Wednesday, and we chose three notables:
Lakers Clobber Clippers with Luka Doncic in Attendance
With Luka Doncic in the building, the Los Angeles Lakers (29-19) put together a sterling performance from the get-go en route to a 122-97 rout of the Los Angeles Clippers (28-22) at Intuit Dome.
LeBron James dazzled with his new partner in crime in attendance, putting up 26 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, and 3 steals. Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura added 20 apiece for the Lakers, who raced out to a 45-29 first-quarter lead and never looked back.
Norm Powell led the Clippers with 20 points, but James Harden and Kawhi Leonard combined for only 16 markers on 6-for-23 shooting. The Clips shot 38% from the field overall and 29% from trey territory.
Up next:
Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors on February 7
Clippers vs. Indiana Pacers on February 7
Nets Stun Rockets with Six Points in Four Seconds
Keon Johnson and D’Angelo Russell hit back-to-back triples in the final 10 seconds to give the Brooklyn Nets (17-33) a 99-97 victory over the Houston Rockets (32-18) at Barclays Center.
Down 97-93 with 10 ticks remaining, the Nets went to Johnson for a trey to inch within 97-96. They then forced a turnover in the backcourt, with the ball ultimately ending up with Russell, who hit the go-ahead triple.
Johnson also topscored for the Nets with 22 points. Russell, meanwhile, finished with just 10 points on 3-for-15 shooting but hit the marginal basket in the end. Alperen Sengun, back from a two-game absence, had 24 points, 20 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Dillon Brooks added 16.
Up next:
Nets vs. Washington Wizards on February 6
Rockets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves on February 7
Blazers Rout Pacers, Stay Red Hot
The Portland Trail Blazers (22-29) started strong and finished stronger to deal a 112-89 beat on the Indiana Pacers (28-21) at Moda Center.
Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant fired 22 and 20, respectively, for the Blazers, who outscored the Pacers 61-41 in the first and fourth quarters. Scoot Henderson added 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists off the bench to continue a run of fine play. Shaedon Sharp had 17 as well, also off the Portland bench.
The Blazers have won five straight and 9 of their last 10.
Andrew Nembhard led the way for Indiana with 17 points, with Pascal Siakam adding 16. The rest of the Pacers struggled, with Tyrese Haliburton held scoreless and Myles Turner limited to just 9 markers.
Up next:
Blazers vs. Sacramento Kings on February 7
Pacers vs. Clippers on February 7
