The resurgent Houston Rockets powered to a sixth straight NBA victory on Sunday, withstanding a 36-level triple-double from Denver’s Nikola Jokic in a 107-104 win over the Nuggets.
Fred VanVleet scored 26 factors and Turkish heart Alperen Sengun added 23 for the Rockets, who improved to six-3 within the younger marketing campaign after amassing simply 22 victories final season.
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Jokic’s fourth triple-double of the season included 21 rebounds and 11 assists and Denver led 76-74 going into the ultimate interval, which featured three lead adjustments.
Jokic drained a 3-pointer with 19.5 seconds left to chop the Rockets’ result in 103-102, however VanVleet made a pair of free throws and Jae’Sean Tate got here up with a steal as Denver tried to inbound the ball and Houston held on.
Elsewhere Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey exploded for a profession-excessive 50 factors in a 137-126 victory over the Indiana Pacers.
Dallas star Kyrie Irving made seven of 10 three-tips about the best way to 35 factors within the Mavericks’ dominant 136-124 victory over New Orleans whereas Miami’s Duncan Robinson and Bam Adebayo mixed for 50 factors because the Heat rallied to beat the San Antonio Spurs 118-113.
In Philadelphia, Maxey keyed a victory for a Sixers crew rattled by the street accident that left ahead Kelly Oubre nursing a damaged rib and different accidents after he was hit by a car whereas strolling close to his dwelling on Saturday.
Oubre was handled in hospital and launched, however was on the minds of his teammates.
“This had nothing to do with me, this is all Kelly Oubre, man,” Maxey — whose earlier profession excessive was 44 factors — mentioned after hitting 20 of 32 photographs from the sphere, together with seven of 11 from three-level vary.
“It was a great night and we got the win, which is what matters most.”
The 23-yr-outdated added seven rebounds and 5 assists and reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid added a double-double of 37 factors and 13 rebounds because the Sixers notched their eighth straight win.
Irving bought sizzling early in New Orleans, scoring 22 factors within the first half to assist the Mavs to a 67-54 lead.
Luka Doncic linked on 11 of 18 photographs from the sphere, together with 4 of 9 from three-level vary, on the best way to 30 factors. Fifteen of these got here within the Mavs’ 42-level third quarter and Dallas led by as many as 29 factors within the fourth.
In San Antonio, Robinson scored 26 factors and Adebayo added 24 with 11 rebounds and the Heat shook off a gradual begin to subdue sensational San Antonio rookie Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs.
Miami, nonetheless lacking injured Tyler Herro and with out Kyle Lowry, trailed by as many as 19 within the second quarter, however they turned the tide to notch a fifth straight victory.
Jimmy Butler, again after lacking Saturday’s recreation for private causes, scored 19 factors and former Spur Josh Richardson transformed two essential photographs within the final two minutes earlier than capping the scoring with a pair of free-throws.
Grizzlies beat Clippers
Keldon Johnson scored 20 factors for San Antonio. Wembanyama added 18 with 11 rebounds but in addition had seven of the Spurs’ 17 turnovers.
In Los Angeles, Desmond Bane scored 27 factors to assist the Memphis Grizzlies claw out their second win of the season, a 105-101 victory over the Clippers.
The Grizzlies have struggled with star Ja Morant’s 25-recreation suspension as a result of stretch into December. But they have been capable of maintain off a Clippers crew nonetheless attempting to determine the perfect use of latest acquisition James Harden.
The Clippers have now misplaced 5 straight, together with 4 because the former league MVP arrived in a commerce from Philadelphia.
“I saw some intriguing things but we’ve just got to be better,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue mentioned, including that the crew’s offense lacked power.
“We can’t just walk around offensively,” he mentioned.
In different video games, Jalen Williams scored 25 factors and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 21 for the Oklahoma City Thunder in a 111-99 victory over Kevin Durant and the Suns in Phoenix.
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – AFP)