ROOKIE REAVES’ 3 IS WINNER FOR L.A.
Rookie Austin Reaves swished a 3-pointer with 0.9 seconds left in overtime to give the Los Angeles Lakers a 107-104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.
Lakers 107, Mavericks 104 (OT)
Reaves’ basket, his fifth from behind the arc, was the only Lakers basket in overtime scored by someone other than the team’s Big Three.
LeBron James scored 24 points, Russell Westbrook added 23 and Anthony Davis had his sixth double-double of the season with 20 points and 12 rebounds after missing two games with a sore left knee.
Jalen Brunson scored 25 points and Kristaps Porzingis had his eighth double-double this season with 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Mavericks, who played their third straight game without AllStar guard Luka Doncic.
A 3-pointer by Westbrook gave the Lakers a 104-101 lead with 23.5 seconds left in overtime. Maxi Kleber tied the score with 15.2 to play when he banked in a shot from 25 feet.
Timberwolves 124, Nuggets 107: Anthony Edwards made 10 3-pointers and scored 38 points and visiting Minnesota snapped a 12game losing streak to Denver. Denver’s Nikola Jokic had 27 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists for his sixth triple-double of the season and the 63rd of his career.
Pelicans 113, Thunder 110: Devonte’ Graham’s 60-foot heave at the buzzer lifted visiting New Orleans past Oklahoma City.
Bucks 114, Pacers 99: Playing without stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, host Milwaukee leaned on Jrue Holiday and had a 21-0 fourth-quarter run to beat Indiana. Holiday had 26 points and 14 assists.
Heat 101, 76ers 96: Gabe Vincent hit a key 3-pointer in the fourth quarter and scored 26 points, Duncan Robinson had 21 points and visiting Miami built a 23-point lead and held on to beat Philadelphia.
Hawks 111, Magic 99: Trae Young played through a minor neck injury to score 28 points, John Collins had 21 points and 10 rebounds and Atlanta won at Orlando to end a two-game losing streak.
Cavaliers 124, Rockets 89: Darius Garland scored 21 points, Isaac Okoro added 20 and host Cleveland won its fifth straight, routing Houston. Houston coach Stephen Silas walked off the court late in the first quarter and was treated for dehydration.
Hornets 131, Spurs 115: Gordon Hayward scored a season-high 41 points and Charlotte never trailed in its victory at San Antonio.
Kings 119, Wizards 105: De’Aaron Fox scored 28 points and host Sacramento won the fourth quarter 35-16.
Grizzlies 113, Trail Blazers 103: Desmond Bane
scored 23 points, Dillon Brooks had 22 and Steven Adams had 14 rebounds as visiting Memphis outscored Portland 33-21 in the fourth quarter.
Jazz 124, Clippers 103: Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points and Rudy Gobert had 20 points and 17 rebounds as host Utah cruised.
Notable
The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association are in the process of enhancing their health and safety protocols in response to rising coronavirus numbers around the league, said a person familiar with the negotiations.
Among the biggest changes: The league and the union are working to finalize a
plan to return to daily testing for players and coaches.
Fully vaccinated players have not needed daily testing this season. The league and the union were already prepared to start daily testing on Friday for those who have yet to receive booster shots, and now may simply widen those plans.
The league has said about 97 percent of players are vaccinated, and just over 60 percent of those are boosted. But there were 33 players known to be in the league’s health and safety protocols.
Another big change that’s already certain: The Toronto Raptors will have to limit attendance to 50 percent capacity, at least for now. Officials in Ontario on ordered the attendance limit.