Jalen Green scored 26 points, Dillon Brooks added 23 and three reserves scored in double figures as the Houston Rockets extended their winning streak to seven games with a 127-117 victory over the visiting Chicago Bulls on Thursday.
Jock Landale added 17 points and 12 rebounds while Aaron Holiday had 15 points and Jeff Green 14 points and seven rebounds off the Houston bench. Brooks shot 10 of 13 before being ejected as the Rockets shot 50.5 percent from the floor.
Ayo Dosunmu scored a career-high 35 points to pace the Bulls, who saw all five starters score in double figures, including Nikola Vucevic (16 points, 14 rebounds, six assists).
After losing almost all of a 19-point lead in the second quarter, Houston regained control following an altercation between Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan and Brooks just before the midway point of the third quarter with the Rockets ahead of nine.
DeRozan committed a serious foul on Jalen Green at 6:02, and as Green rolled on the floor in pain, Brooks and DeRozan locked arms, leading to a larger brawl. Both players were ejected and the Rockets immediately found another gear, closing the period with 3-pointers from Fred VanVleet, Jeff Green, Jalen Green and Holiday.
Nuggets 113, Knicks 100
Nikola Jokic had another triple-double and Michael Porter Jr. scored a game-high 31 points for host Denver, which continued to advance with a win over New York.
Jokic finished with 30 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists in his seventh triple-double in the last 15 games and his 22nd of the season for the Nuggets, who improved to 13-2 since Feb. 22 to find themselves in a virtual tie for first place. place in the Western Conference with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Jamal Murray scored 23 points while Aaron Gordon added 10.
Jalen Brunson had 26 points and nine assists for the Knicks, who had their four-game winning streak snapped. Isaiah Hartenstein scored a career-high 20 points while Alec Burks had 18 coming off the bench. Donte DiVincenzo and Miles McBride added 11 points each.
Mavericks 113, Jazz 97
Dallas Mavericks forward Derrick Jones Jr. celebrates. | Photo credit: Reuters
Dallas Mavericks forward Derrick Jones Jr. celebrates. | Photo credit: Reuters
Luka Doncic scored 34 points and Daniel Gafford added 24 as Dallas beat visiting Utah.
Gafford made 10 of 11 baskets, all dunks, and Doncic added nine rebounds, eight assists and four steals as the Mavericks (41-29) won their third straight game. Kyrie Irving contributed 16 points and seven assists. Dallas finished with a franchise record 18 dunks.
Lauri Markkanen returned to the lineup to lead the Jazz (29-41) with 21 points despite an off-night shot. He finished 6 of 20 overall and 1 of 9 on 3-pointers. Utah made just 4 of 30 from beyond the arc. Collin Sexton scored 20 points off the bench for Utah, which has lost four straight. Keyonte George added 18 points, while Walker Kessler had 14 points and nine rebounds.
Magic 121, Pelicans 106
Paolo Banchero had a triple-double and a booming Orlando went cold when visiting New Orleans.
Banchero finished with 20 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds as the Magic won for the 13th time in 16 games. Jalen Suggs scored 22 points and Franz Wagner 18.
Trey Murphy III scored 21 points for the Pelicans, who lost for only the second time in nine games. Zion Williamson had 20 points, CJ McCollum finished with 18 and Brandon Ingram added 14 before leaving the game for good early in the third quarter after injuring his left knee.
Wizards 109, Kings 102
Washington Wizards guard Jordan Poole faces Sacramento Kings guard Keon Ellis | Photo credit: AP
Washington Wizards guard Jordan Poole faces Sacramento Kings guard Keon Ellis | Photo credit: AP
Kyle Kuzma scored a game-high 31 points, leading Washington to a victory over Sacramento.
Deni Avdija added 17 points and nine rebounds for the Wizards, while Corey Kispert scored 15 points. Jordan Poole scored 14 points and Richaun Holmes had 16 rebounds for Washington, ending a five-game skid.
De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with 25 points, six steals, five rebounds and five assists. Malik Monk scored 20 points off the bench, Keegan Murray scored 16 and Domantas Sabonis had 14 points, 14 rebounds and six assists.
Bucks 115, Nets 108
Damian Lillard had 30 points and 12 assists, Giannis Antetokounmpo added 21 points and nine rebounds and Milwaukee held off a fourth-quarter rally to beat visiting Brooklyn.
Brook Lopez added 17 points for the Bucks, who completed a three-game season sweep of the Nets. Brooklyn trailed by as many as 20 at the end of the first half before cutting the deficit to 81-69 late in the third quarter.
The Nets opened the fourth quarter on a 21-6 run to take a 90-87 lead with 6:41 left, but Milwaukee regained the lead and held a 103-98 advantage with 2:34 to play. Mikal Bridges hit a triple to make it 103-101, but that was the closest Brooklyn could get. Bridges finished with 24 points.
