Five games on tap around the NBA on Sunday, and here are three notables:
Lakers Make Statement with Win Over Nuggets
Luka Doncic delivered Luka Magic on Sunday to lead the Los Angeles Lakers (34-21) to a 123-100 rout of the Denver Nuggets (37-20) at Ball Arena.
Doncic finished with 32 points, including 19 in the first half alone, on top of 10 rebounds and 7 assists to spearhead the Lakers’ attack. LeBron James added 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura chipped in 23 and 21, respectively.
Aaron Gordon had 24 points for the Nuggets, who found no answers to the Lakers’ high-octane offense and aggressive defense. Jamal Murray added 19 and Russell Westbrook had 17 off the bench. Nikola Jokic, though, was limited to just 12 points on 2-for-7 shooting.
Up next:
Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks on February 26
Nuggets vs. Indiana Pacers on February 25
Nets Stun Sixers at the Buzzer
Nic Claxton tipped in the game-winning buzzer beater to help the Brooklyn Nets (21-35) to a 105-103 triumph over the Philadelphia 76ers (20-36).
Claxton finished with 16 points and 9 rebounds, with the last of those rebounds and points coming via his buzzer-beating tip-in of Keon Johnson’s missed triple. Cameron Johnson fired a team-high 23 markers for the Nets, who played without De’Angelo Russell. Trenton Watford chipped in 16 off the Brooklyn bench.
Tyrese Maxey scored a game-high 31 points for the Sixers, who now have lost seven straight and nine of their last ten. Joel Embiid and Paul George combined for 29 markers but shot just 9-for-23 from the field.
Up next:
Nets vs. Washington Wizards on February 25
Sixers vs. Chicago Bulls on February 25
Blazers Demolish Hornets for Historic Win
The Portland Trail Blazers (24-33) jumped all over the Charlotte Hornets (14-41) right from the get-go for a 141-88 victory—the largest winning margin in franchise history—at Moda Center.
Anfernee Simons fired 25 points for the Blazers, who built a 38-21 lead after one and kept adding to it with one dominant quarter after another. Toumani Camara added 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Jabari Walker and Shaedon Sharpe each had 20 off the Portland bench.
Miles Bridges topscored for the Hornets with 17 points, while Nick Smith Jr. added 14. LaMelo Ball finished with only 5 markers on 1-for-10 shooting.
Up next:
Blazers vs. Utah Jazz on February 25
Hornets vs. Sacramento Kings on February 25
