LOS ANGELES — LeBron James had 21 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds, and Anthony Davis added 17 points against his former team in the Los Angeles Lakers’ fifth consecutive victory, 112-95 over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit four 3-pointers while scoring 16 points, and Montrezl Harrell also had 16 for the defending NBA champions. The Lakers remained unbeaten in five meetings with the Pelicans since the franchise-altering trade in July 2019 that sent Davis to LA and three starters to New Orleans.
Brandon Ingram scored 17 of his 20 points in the first half against his former team for the Pelicans, who have lost five straight. Zion Williamson had 21 points and 12 rebounds after missing Wednesday’s game against the Clippers due to the NBA’s health and safety protocols, but New Orleans blew an early 15-point lead on its third stop on a seven-game trip.
Davis averaged 36 points and 12 rebounds in his three reunions with the Pelicans last season, but he took a complementary role this time in another impressive team win led by James and featuring seven Lakers scoring at least nine points.
Dennis Schröder had 12 points for the Lakers, and Kyle Kuzma added 11 points and 13 rebounds.
Los Angeles broke away with a 15-0 run late in the third while forcing eight straight misses and three turnovers by New Orleans.
TIP-INS
Pelicans: Lonzo Ball missed his LA homecoming with knee tendinitis. … Eric Bledsoe scored seven points after being questionable with right eye irritation. … JJ Redick converted a four-point play in the first quarter.
Lakers: Davis played with lower back tightness. … Alex Caruso had another phenomenal two-way game, hitting three straight 3-pointers and posting a plus-29 in his first 18 minutes of play.
UP NEXT
Pelicans: at Kings on Sunday.
Lakers: Host Warriors on Monday.
BUCKS 112, MAVERICKS 109
MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo overcame poor free-throw shooting to score 31 points, Khris Middleton hit two late 3-pointers and Milwaukee Bucks held off Dallas.
The Bucks improved to 9-4, winning their fourth straight and snapping the Mavericks’ winning streak at four.
Both teams wasted plenty of opportunities from the foul line. The Bucks were 12 of 25 on free throws, with Antetokounmpo going 1 of 10. Dallas was 6 of 13.
Middleton scored 25 points for the Bucks.
Luka Doncic had 28 points and 13 assists for Dallas, and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 22 points.
CELTICS 124, MAGIC 97
BOSTON — Jaylen Brown had 21 points and eight assists, Semi Ojeleye added 18 points and Boston rolled past Orlando in the Celtics’ return following a virus-related week-long hiatus.
Jeff Teague had 17 points, and rookie Payton Pritchard added 16 points to help Boston post its fifth straight victory.
Boston returned after having three games postponed due to players testing positive for the coronavirus and others being ruled out because contact tracing showed that they could have been exposed to it.
Aaron Gordon had 17 points for Orlando. The Magic have lost four straight.
THUNDER 127, BULLS 125, OT
OKLAHOMA CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a career-high 33 points to help Oklahoma City beat Chicago and former Thunder coach Billy Donovan in overtime.
Oklahoma City rallied from 22 points down in the second half. Zach LaVine, who led the Bulls with 35 points, could have won it in overtime but he missed a deep, off-balance 3-pointer in the closing seconds.
Lu Dort scored 21 points for the Thunder. They won for the first time at home this season.
Coby White had 22 points for the Bulls. They’ve lost four straight.
CLIPPERS 139, KINGS 100
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Kawhi Leonard had 27 points and six assists in three quarters, Paul George scored 26 points and short-handed Los Angeles manhandled Sacramento.
The Clippers have won 15 consecutive road games against the Kings. Los Angeles hasn’t lost in Sacramento since March 19, 2013.
Playing without guards Patrick Beverley (personal reasons) and Lou Williams (sore left hip), the Clippers led by eight at halftime and broke the game open in the third quarter when they outscored the Kings 37-16.
Marvin Bagley III had 20 points and five rebounds for Sacramento.
CAVALIERS 106, KNICKS 103
CLEVELAND — Andre Drummond tied his career high with 33 points and grabbed 23 rebounds, and Cedi Osman scored 25 points in Cleveland’s victory over New York.
Drummond had the Cavaliers’ first 30-20 game since Carlos Boozer had 32 points and 20 rebounds against Seattle on Jan. 20, 2004. He also had three assists, two blocks and two steals to help Cleveland snap a three-game losing streak.
Julius Randle had 28 points and six assists, rookie Immanuel Quigley scored a season-high 23 points and R.J. Barrett had 20 points for New York. The Knicks have lost five in a row.
JAZZ 116, HAWKS 92
SALT LAKE CITY — Donovan Mitchell made six 3-pointers on his way to 26 points and Utah used a 21-0 second-half run to power past Atlanta.
Bojan Bogdanovic scored 17 points, Rudy Gobert had 15 points and 13 rebounds, and Jordan Clarkson scored all 16 of his points in the second half to boost the Jazz to their fourth straight victory.
Cam Reddish scored 20 points for Atlanta, and Clint Capela had 16 points and 11 rebounds. Trae Young was held to four points on 1-for-11 shooting with seven assists as the Hawks dropped their fifth game in the last six.