National Basketball Association Game Capsules
Charlotte, NC (SportsNetwork.com) – In a game with each team missing their leading scorer, the Charlotte Hornets came from behind to top the New York Knicks, 76-71, on Saturday. Knicks star Carmelo Anthony rested after playing 42 minutes in a 113-106 win over Orlando on Friday, while Charlotte’s Kemba Walker sat out with knee soreness. Stepping into the lineup to replace the injured Walker, Brian Roberts led the Hornets with 17 points on their way to their fourth win in five games. Gerald Henderson added 14 points and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist contributed 10. Al Jefferson blocked seven shots to tie a career high. The Knicks’ season-long three-game winning streak came to an end despite 25 points, six rebounds and five assists from Tim Hardaway Jr. Lance Thomas chipped in 16 points, and Cole Aldrich had 13 rebounds.
Final Score: Milwaukee 101, Detroit 86
Milwaukee, WI (SportsNetwork.com) – O.J. Mayo had 20 points and the Milwaukee Bucks rolled to a 101-86 win over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score. The Bucks scored the first 10 points of the third quarter after leading by 14 at halftime and went ahead by as many as 30 in the frame. Things were even worse than that for the Pistons, who lost point guard Brandon Jennings near the end of the third to what the team called a left leg injury. Jennings was guarding Brandon Knight on an inbounds pass and didn’t appear to make much contact with the Bucks guard before going down. He was helped off the court and into a wheelchair behind the basket. Khris Middleton added 16 points and Knight had 14 for the Bucks, who snapped a two-game losing streak and ended 2-2 on a four-game homestand.
Final Score: Memphis 101, Philadelphia 83
Memphis, TN (SportsNetwork.com) – Zach Randolph registered 17 points with 14 rebounds to help the Memphis Grizzlies in a 101-83 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night. Jeff Green led the Grizzlies with 18 points and Vince Carter added 13 points off the bench. Memphis, which defeated the Sixers 120-115 in overtime on Dec. 13, has taken five straight against them in the series. Jerami Grant deposited a career-high 16 points and Michael Carter-Williams posted 10 points with six assists for Philadelphia, which has dropped five straight games overall.
Final Score: Utah 108, Brooklyn 73
Salt Lake City, UT (SportsNetwork.com) – Gordon Hayward scored 24 points and the Utah Jazz rolled to a 108-73 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night. Trey Burke added 19 points and Joe Ingles scored 16 for the Jazz, who have won two in a row and three of their last five. Jarrett Jack had 16 points to lead the Nets, who have dropped two in a row and 10 of their last 12. The Nets played for the first time since learning Friday that they will be without Mirza Teletovic for the rest of the season after the forward was found to have multiple blood clots in his lungs.
Final Score: Portland 103, Washington 96
Portland, OR (SportsNetwork.com) – LaMarcus Aldridge was unexpectedly in the Portland lineup on Saturday night and the All-Star power forward helped his team snap a two-game losing streak. Aldridge scored 26 points with nine rebounds in the Trail Blazers’ 103-96 win over the Washington Wizards. The Blazers announced earlier in the day that Aldridge will hold off having surgery on a torn radial collateral ligament in his left thumb. He was originally slated for surgery next week and expected to miss 6-8 weeks. That decision proved to be beneficial for Portland. Damian Lillard deposited 20 points with seven assists and Wesley Matthews added 19 points in the win. John Wall led the Wizards with 25 points and nine assists, while Paul Pierce registered 19 points and Bradley Beal chipped in with 16 points.
Categorized in: NBA