Deandre Ayton scored 25 points with 13 rebounds and Luka Doncic also had 25 points as the host Los Angeles Lakers turned improved defense into a much-needed 110-93 win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night.
LeBron James scored 24 points as the Lakers won for just the second time in their past seven games, and are 6-9 since Dec. 20, after a 19-7 start to the season. Doncic and Ayton returned after sitting out Saturday’s loss at Portland with injuries.
Los Angeles gave up a season low in points after allowing an average of 133.5 points while losing their past two games. Ayton was 10 of 10 from the floor after missing one game with a back injury.
Scottie Barnes scored 22 points and Sandro Mamukelashvili added 20 for the Raptors, who dropped consecutive games for the first time since Dec. 20-21. Former Laker Brandon Ingram scored 19 for Toronto, which lost both games to Los Angeles this season. The Raptors lost center Collin Murray-Boyles to a sprained left thumb in the third quarter. Murray-Boyles finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Bulls 124, Nets 102
Coby White scored 24 points and canned a season-best seven of Chicago’s 20 3-pointers as it earned a split of a weekend home-and-home series with visiting Brooklyn.
Five other players made it into double figures for the Bulls, who connected on 52.1% of their field goals and dished out a whopping 41 assists. Ayo Dosunmu came off the bench to add 19 points, while Matas Buzelis and Nikola Vucevic each tallied 17 points. Jalen Smith chipped in 12 points, Kevin Huerter collected 11 and Tre Jones notched 10 points and 10 assists in a reserve role. Vucevic (11 rebounds) and Smith (10) each added double-doubles.
Nolan Traore came off the bench to score 16 points for the Nets, while fellow reserve Jalen Wilson added 14. Rookie Danny Wolf also bagged 14 points, while Nic Claxton contributed 12 and Egor Demin and Tyrese Martin each managed 11 points.
Hornets 110, Nuggets 87
Brandon Miller scored 23 points and Charlotte went wire-to-wire, leading by as many as 33 points in beating host Denver.
Hornets rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner tied a career high with 17 points, while teammates Collin Sexton and Kon Knueppel finished with 14 points each. Tidjane Salaun had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, and LaMelo Ball contributed 10 for Charlotte, which snapped an eight-game losing streak against the Nuggets.
Denver tied a season low for total points, having lost at home to the Atlanta Hawks on Jan. 9 by the same final score. Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 16 points but came out of the game with 5:24 left in the third quarter. Julian Strawther scored 15 points, Jalen Pickett contributed 12 and Peyton Watson 11.
Grizzlies 126, Magic 109
Ja Morant returned to the lineup after missing the previous six games with a right calf contusion and had 24 points and a season-high-tying 13 assists to lead Memphis to victory over Orlando in London.
Morant, the subject of trade discussions ahead of the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline, made 7 of 13 shots, including 3 of 4 from long range. He was appearing in just his 19th game of the season. Jock Landale came off the bench to contribute 21 points and eight rebounds for the Grizzlies, while Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 17 points and five boards. Rookie Cedric Coward scored 13 points.
The Magic, who beat Memphis on Thursday in Berlin, were led by Anthony Black with 19 points and six assists. Wendell Carter Jr. had 18 points and seven boards and Paolo Banchero finished with 16 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. Franz Wagner had 14 points.
Rockets 119, Pelicans 110
Jabari Smith Jr. scored a season-high 32 points, Kevin Durant moved into sixth place on the career scoring list and Amen Thompson provided support with an all-around display as Houston claimed a victory over visiting New Orleans.
Thompson posted 20 points on 10-of-14 shooting, eight rebounds and six assists. Durant added 18 points and eight assists, and his two free throws with 15 seconds to play pushed Durant past Dirk Nowitzki on the career scoring list. Alperen Sengun chipped in 21 points and, like Smith and Thompson, secured eight rebounds.
Trey Murphy III paced the Pelicans with 21 points while Zion Williamson posted 20 points. Rookie Derik Queen chipped in 15 points and five assists for the Pelicans, who have lost 13 of 15.
Trail Blazers 117, Kings 100
Deni Avdija returned from a three-game absence due to a back injury to score a game-high 30 points, Toumani Camara shoehorned nine of his 17 points into a key second-quarter run and Portland held host Sacramento at arm’s length through the second half for a victory.
Shaedon Sharpe chipped in with 27 points and Donovan Clingan snatched a game-high 17 rebounds as part of a double-double with 21 points for the Trail Blazers, who used a third straight win to reach .500 for the first time since mid-November. Portland has won 10 of its last 13 games.
Reserve Malik Monk and Russell Westbrook had 23 points apiece and Zach LaVine added 18 for the Kings, who saw a four-game winning streak come to an end with a third consecutive loss to the Trail Blazers this season.
