LeBron James, Lakers beat Hawks for 7th win in a row
ATLANTA (AP) — Not looking the least bit tired after a whirlwind weekend, LeBron James scored 32 points and the Los Angeles Lakers extended their winning streak to seven with a 101-96 victory over the pesky Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night.
The Lakers pulled even with Milwaukee for the NBA's best record at 24-3.
The Hawks kept it close all the way. Rookie Cam Reddish got a look at a tying 3-pointer from the corner, but the shot clanked off the rim. Danny Green went to the other end and knocked down a pair of free throws to send the Hawks to their fourth straight loss.
After scoring 28 points in a win at Miami on Friday night, James flew to Columbus, Ohio, to watch son Bronny play a high school game Saturday night. Then, James traveled on to Atlanta to face the Hawks.
James also had 13 rebounds and seven assists, the best a no-look, between-the-legs pass that caught Dwight Howard breaking down the lane for a massive dunk. Anthony Davis added 27 points and 13 rebounds.
Trae Young led the Hawks with 30 points.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Jonathan Isaac had 21 points and 10 rebounds and Orlando handed New Orleans its franchise-record 12th straight loss.
Orlando center Nikola Vucevic returned from a sprained ankle to score 20 points. He played 29 minutes in his first game since Nov. 20. The Magic snapped a three-game losing streak. Orlando made a season-high 17 3s, shooting 50% from long range.
Jrue Holiday led the Pelicans with 29 points and eight assists.
NETS 109, 76ERS 89
NEW YORK (AP) — Spencer Dinwiddie scored 24 points, Joe Harris had 16 points and Brooklyn beat Philadelphia.
DeAndre Jordan had 13 points and 11 rebounds and Garrett Temple finished with 13 points for the Nets.
With Joel Embiid out with an upper respiratory illness, Ben Simmons scored 20 points and Tobias Harris chipped in 17 for the 76ers. They had won five in a row.
NUGGETS 111, KNICKS 105
DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic made a late go-ahead 3-pointer and finished with scored 25 points to help Denver hold off New York.
Will Barton had 16 points, Gary Harris added 15 and Jamal Murray had 14, including a key 3-pointer in the late going. The Nuggets beat New York for the 12th straight time in Denver.
Marcus Morris led New York with 22 points. The Knicks were coming off back-to-back road wins under interim coach Mike Miller. They played Denver 11 days ago in New York and lost by 37 points, a setback that preceded the firing of David Fizdale as coach.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Bogdan Bogdanovich scored 25 points, Buddy Hield added 19 and Sacramento routed Golden State.
The Kings won for the fourth time in five games and shook off a disappointing home loss Friday to the lowly New York Knicks. They shot a season-best 60% from the field and beat the Warriors for just the fourth time in the past 25 games between the teams dating to the 2013-14 season.
Willie Cauley-Stein, facing his former team, led the Warriors with 14 points on 7-for-9 shooting. Golden State has lost eight of nine to fall to 5-23.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Reserve guard Aaron Holiday scored 12 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter in Indiana’s victory over Charlotte.
Holiday was a point shy of his career high set a month ago at Brooklyn. Cody Zeller, an Indiana native who typically plays well in front of family and friends, had 19 points and 12 rebounds for Charlotte.
