Karl-Anthony Towns scored 32 points and 13 rebounds, Josh Hart had 23 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists for his third triple-double of the season, and the New York Knicks defeated the Washington Wizards 126-106 on Monday night for their eighth consecutive win.
It was the teams’ second meeting in three nights. Jalen Brunson scored 55 points to help the Knicks (23-10) defeat the Wizards 136-132 in overtime on Saturday night.
For Washington (5-25), Jonas Valanciunas scored 22 points, matching his season best. Malcolm Brogdon and Alex Sarr each had eighteen.
With 3:07 remaining in the third quarter, Washington rookie guard Bub Carrington had a terrifying moment when he fell backward while defending a player and struck a Knicks player’s leg and then the back of his head on the court.
Carrington did not return with a PTSD headache, and he left in a wheelchair with his face covered.
BULLS 115, HORNETS 108, OT
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (AP)— Torrey Craig scored 18 points with five 3-pointers after halftime as Chicago hung on to defeat Charlotte in overtime, while Coby White finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists, just missing his first career triple-double.
For the Bulls (15–18), Nikola Vucevic contributed 16 points and 13 rebounds.
The Hornets (7-25) have lost 16 of 17 games, and Miles Bridges finished with 31 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists.
Vucevic was fouled after Bridges missed a corner three to equalize the score in regulation, down by three points. Nevertheless, Charlotte had another opportunity when the Bulls center missed both free throws. The game went into overtime this time when Bridges made a leaning 3-pointer with two seconds remaining.
The extra period was all Chicago.
Vucevic and Craig made three-pointers, and White scored on a drive as the Bulls jumped out to an eight-point lead.
The matchup between the Ball brothers never happened. LaMelo did not experience wrist pain during the game. The Hornets also had Brandon Miller sit due to a sprained ankle. Ayo Dosunmu (soleus tightness) and Zach LaVine (toe pain) were out for Chicago.
PELICANS 113, CLIPPERS 116
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — James Harden made the game-winning free throws with 17.9 seconds remaining, Norman Powell scored 35 points, and Los Angeles hung on to defeat New Orleans.
Harden skillfully fouled rookie center Yves Missi as the Pelicans, who had lost 10 straight games and 19 of 20, attempted to tie the game. Missi’s 12-point, nine-rebound, and five-block effort was marred by his missed free shot that would have matched the score at 114 with 4.3 seconds remaining.
Because officials believed Missi’s foul shot missed the rim, they blew the whistle too soon. After reviewing the film, they asked for a jump ball at center court.
With less than two seconds left to finish his 27-point effort, Harden converted two more free throws after Ivica Zubac won the tip back. CJ McCollum struck the front rim with a half-court shot.
For the Clippers, who have won three in a row and five of six, Zubac finished with 20 points and 16 rebounds.
NUGGETS 132, JAZZ 121
AP (Salt Lake City)— Nikola Jokic led Denver to victory over the Utah Jazz with 36 points, 22 rebounds, and 11 assists.
In addition, Russell Westbrook completed 7 for 7 from the field with no turnovers and recorded a triple-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.
In addition to his 20 points, Jamal Murray had 10 assists, while the Nuggets scored 38 points overall.
The Jazz (7-24), who have dropped their last three games, had Jordan Clarkson score 24 points and Collin Sexton score 22.
Denver outscored the Jazz 34-23 in the third quarter to gain some ground on Utah, who led 66-64 at the half.
There was no starting forward on either team. John Collins of Utah missed his fourth consecutive game due to a hip bruise, while Aaron Gordon of Denver was out due to a strain in his right calf.
MAVERICKS 100, KINGS 110
California’s Sacramento (AP) — After the Kings fired Mike Brown last week, Doug Christie won his first game as interim head coach when Sacramento defeated Dallas, who were shorthanded, thanks to 33 points from De’Aaron Fox.
The Kings took an 83-77 lead at the end of the third quarter after going on a 17-2 run. Trey Lyles’ 3-pointer put Sacramento ahead by double digits as they began the fourth quarter on an 11–4 run.
Lyles scored 14 points while on the bench. Domantas Sabonis finished with 17 points and 17 assists, while DeMar DeRozan also finished with 14.
Before the Kings trimmed the lead to 60-56 at the half, Dallas had an 18-point lead in the first quarter.
In addition to Luka Doncic missing at least the next month due to a calf strain, the Mavericks were also without Kyrie Irving (shoulder), Klay Thompson (sickness), Dereck Lively II (hip), and Naji Marshall (suspension).
The Mavericks had season highs for both PJ Washington and Spencer Dinwiddie. Washington had 28 points while Dinwiddie had 30.
WARRIORS 95, CAVALIERS 113
AP/San Francisco — Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points, Darius Garland scored 25, and Cleveland defeated Golden State to extend their winning streak to seven games.
Jarrett Allen finished with 12 points and 9 rebounds, while Dean Wade finished with 10 points and 13 rebounds for Cleveland.
With 19 points, Moses Moody led the Warriors. Trayce Jackson-Davis had 16 points and a game-high 16 rebounds, while Jonathan Kuminga finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins each contributed 11 points, while Dennis Schroder scored 12.
76ERS 125, TRAIL BLAZERS 103
AP/Portland— Joel Embiid led Philadelphia to victory over Portland with 37 points and nine rebounds.
Tyrese Maxey gave the Sixers an additional 23 points. Guerschon Yabusele scored 16 points off the bench, and Kelly Oubre Jr. finished with 15 points and eight steals.
The Blazers were led by Anfernee Simons, who scored 25 points on 9 of 18 shots. In addition to his 17 points, Deni Avdija committed 10 turnovers. Each of Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, and Shaedon Sharpe scored twelve points.
