Portland Trail Blazers 121, Oklahoma City Thunder 123
Betting Results:
Head to Head: Oklahoma City Thunder, odds 2.40
Line: Oklahoma City Thunder (+4.5), odds 1.88
Total Points: Over (232.5), odds 1.91
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hit a baseline jumper as time expired, and Oklahoma City defeated Portland to ruin Damian Lillard’s record-setting night.
Gilgeous-Alexander drove to his left and drained a 14-foot pullup over Justise Winslow. The shot capped a 35-point performance for Gilgeous-Alexander.
Lillard made a reverse layup with 3.5 seconds remaining to tie it. He scored 28 points to surpass Clyde Drexler’s franchise career scoring record. Lillard entered the night needing 21 to move ahead of him.
Lillard tied Drexler’s mark on a 3-pointer in the third quarter, then broke the mark on a free throw with 1:33 left in the period. Moments later, the Thunder public address announcer informed the crowd of Lillard’s accomplishment, and the crowd gave him an ovation.
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Orlando Magic 125, Atlanta Hawks 126
Betting Results:
Head to Head: Atlanta Hawks, odds 1.33
Line: Orlando Magic (+7.5), odds 1.93
Total Points: Over (229.5), odds 1.88 - by some serious yards!
ATLANTA (AP) — Dejounte Murray hit a pair of decisive free throws with 1.3 seconds left, Trae Young had 37 points and 13 assists, and the Atlanta Hawks held off the Orlando Magic 126-125 on Monday night to snap their six-game winning streak.
Orlando went on a 12-0 run over 2:17 late in the fourth quarter to wipe out a 13-point deficit and take a 125-124 lead on Markelle Fultz’s layup with 3.8 seconds remaining. Young inbounded from the sideline, and Murray drew a foul from Paolo Banchero. Murray hit both free throws, and Banchero missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
The Magic were trying for their first seven-game winning streak since January 2011. Before the surge, Orlando had lost nine in a row.
Atlanta welcomed Murray and John Collins back from injuries. Collins, who finished with 12 points, missed the last eight games and Murray, who had 17, the past five.
Utah Jazz 99, Cleveland Cavaliers 122
Betting Results:
Head to Head: Cleveland Cavaliers, odds 1.42
Line: Cleveland Cavaliers (-6.5), odds 1.95 - very comfortably covering the spread
Total Points: Under (211.5), odds 1.93 - can't get closer than that!
CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points in his first game against his former team and Jarrett Allen added 20, as Cleveland won its fourth straight.
The Cavs hold the NBA’s best home record, 15-2.
Darius Garland added 17 and Cedi Osman had 22 for Cleveland, which pushed an 18-point halftime lead to 23 in the third and coasted.
Lauri Markkanen scored 24 — 22 in the first half — and Jordan Clarkson, yet another former Cavs player, added 23 for Utah, which has lost six straight on the road.
Toronto Raptors 101, Philadelphia 76ers 104 - OT
Betting Results:
Head to Head: Philadelphia 76ers, odds 1.36
Line: Toronto Raptors (+6.5), odds 1.93
Total Points: Under (219.5), odds 1.92
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tobias Harris hit a 3-pointer in overtime that put Philadelphia ahead to stay, and Joel Embiid had 28 points, 11 rebounds and four assists as the 76ers extended their winning streak to a season-best five games.
James Harden added 14 points for Philadelphia, which has won the first five games of a seven-game homestand, the Sixers’ longest of the season.
The 76ers won despite a stellar performance from Toronto All-Star forward Pascal Siakam, whose 38-point performance was the highest point total allowed by 76ers this season. Siakam added 15 rebounds, six assists and strong defense down the stretch in a losing effort.
San Antonio Spurs 124, Houston Rockets 105
Betting Results:
Head to Head: San Antonio Spurs, odds 2.45
Line: San Antonio Spurs (+3.5), odds 1.93
Total Points: Over (227.5), odds 1.93
HOUSTON (AP) — Devin Vassell had 26 points and San Antonio rolled over Houston to snap a two-game skid.
The Spurs won the matchup of the two worst teams in the Western Conference despite missing leading scorer Keldon Johnson, who averages more than 21 points a game. Johnson was out with a bruised lower back.
Alperen Sengun had 22 points and Kevin Porter Jr. added 15 for the Rockets, who dropped their third straight.
Dallas Mavericks 106, Minnesota Timberwolves 116
Betting Results:
Head to Head: Minnesota Timberwolves, odds 2.45
Line: Minnesota Timberwolves (+4.5), odds 1.88
Total Points: Under (227.5), odds 1.88
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Anthony Edwards had 27 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists to lead Minnesota over the unglued Dallas, who lost star Luca Doncic and coach Jason Kidd to successive ejections late in the third quarter.
Naz Reid pitched in 27 points and 13 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who kept up their energy from a franchise-record 150-point performance to beat Chicago a night earlier.
Doncic had a season-low 19 points on 5-for-17 shooting.
Spencer Dinwiddie had 20 points and seven assists, and Christian Wood chipped in 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Mavericks, who stay in town for a rematch against the Wolves on Wednesday.
Milwaukee Bucks 128, New Orleans Pelicans 119
Betting Results:
Head to Head: Milwaukee Bucks, odds 1.87
Line: Milwaukee Bucks (-0.5), odds 1.85
Total Points: Over (226.5), odds 1.88 - by some distance
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 42 points and 10 rebounds in his return from a one-game absence and Milwaukee held off a late New Orleans surge.
Brook Lopez mixed in four 3-pointers with opportunistic play in the paint to score 30 points for the Bucks, who led by as many as 18 points in the fourth quarter before the Pelicans pulled to 117-114 on CJ McCollum’s fade away.
Milwaukee maintained a double-digit lead for long stretches while frustrating Pelicans star power forward Zion Williamson for most of the game.
Jonas Valanciunas scored a season-high 37 points and grabbed 18 rebounds for New Orleans, but he hit just one of his career high-tying seven 3-pointers in the second half.
LA Lakers 104, Phoenix Suns 130
Betting Results:
Head to Head: Phoenix Suns, odds 1.30
Line: Phoenix Suns (-7.5), odds 1.88
Total Points: Over (230.5), odds 1.93
PHOENIX (AP) — Chris Paul scored a season-high 28 points, Deandre Ayton added 21 points and 11 rebounds and Phoenix rolled past Los Angeles.
The game was almost more notable for who wasn’t playing instead of the action on the court. The Lakers were missing their All-Star trio of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook. The Suns were missing six players, including three-time All-Star Devin Booker.
Paul had his best scoring game of the season in Booker’s absence, shooting 9 of 18 from the field, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range.
The Suns have won three straight, bouncing back after dropping five in a row. All five starters scored at least 15 points.
Charlotte Hornets 125, Sacramento Kings 119
Betting Results:
Head to Head: Charlotte Hornets, odds 4.10 - massive odds!
Line: Charlotte Hornets (+9.5), odds 1.87
Total Points: Over (240.5), odds 1.88
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — LaMelo Ball scored 16 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter and Charlotte stopped an eight-game losing streak by holding off Sacramento.
Kelly Oubre Jr. had 31 points for the Hornets (8-23), who won for the second time in 11 games.
Ball had only three points at halftime but broke loose in the second half. The third-year guard added 12 assists and five rebounds before fouling out with 34.1 seconds left.
Gordon Hayward added 19 points, Mason Plumlee finished with 15 and Nick Richards scored 14 for Charlotte.
De’Aaron Fox had 37 points for Sacramento (16-13). Domantas Sabonis scored a season-high 28 to go with 23 rebounds and seven assists. Keegan Murray and Harrison Barnes added 11 points apiece.
By The Associated Press and DJ Arthurs | 12/20/22
Follow DJ Arthurs on Twitter at @DJArthursJourno
