James Harden won in his debut with Cleveland, as he and Donovan Mitchell combined to score the Cavaliers’ final 16 points for a 132-126 victory on Saturday night over the host Sacramento Kings, who lost their 12th in a row.
Harden, traded from the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday, endured a slow offensive start but came alive down the stretch to help set off a game-ending 18-5 run. Harden finished with 23 points while Mitchell went for a game-high 35 points, with the duo teaming up to go 8 of 8 at the free-throw line in the final 1:46.
The newly formed All-Star perimeter duo went 11 of 11 at the charity stripe overall, and Cleveland finished 29 of 32 at the line. That included Jarrett Allen’s 7-of-8 performance to go along with a sensational 11-of-12 shooting from the floor. Allen scored 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for his third double-double in as many contests.
Sacramento nearly rode its hot 3-point shooting to the win, going 16 of 37 from deep to the Cavaliers’ 11 of 35. Rookie Nique Clifford knocked down 5 of 9 from beyond the arc on his way to a career-high 30 points. Russell Westbrook scored 21 points, Devin Carter had 18 and Dylan Cardwell contributed 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Hornets 126, Hawks 119
Moussa Diabate scored six straight fourth-quarter points, including a pair of thunderous dunks, to spark visiting Charlotte to its ninth straight victory with a win over Atlanta.
With the Hornets trailing 110-109 with 6:31 remaining, Diabate made two free throws and threw down back-to-back slams to give the visitors a five-point lead. Charlotte matched its longest winning streak since the 1998-99 season. The Hornets were led by Miles Bridges with 26 points and Kon Knueppel with 23, including six 3-pointers, and eight rebounds. LaMelo Ball added 19 points and nine assists.
The Hawks’ Jalen Johnson finished with 31 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Onyeka Okongwu, who returned from missing four games with a facial fracture, had 16 points and six rebounds.
Rockets 112, Thunder 106
Tari Eason scored a season-high 26 points and Alperen Sengun recorded a triple-double to help Houston to a road win over Oklahoma City.
With the Rockets leading by four after Eason’s tip-in with 1:36 remaining, Reed Sheppard reached around the Thunder’s Chet Holmgren under the basket to steal Alex Caruso’s pass, and Kevin Durant hit a key pullup jumper. Eason added a pair of key offensive rebounds over the final two minutes.
Sengun finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. Jabari Smith Jr. added 22 points and Durant had 20. Cason Wallace led Oklahoma City, playing without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the second consecutive game, with 23 points. Isaiah Joe added 21 off the bench.
Nets 127, Wizards 113
Michael Porter Jr. scored 20 of his 23 points before halftime as Brooklyn produced its biggest first half in a little over three years and handily beat Washington in New York.
Porter led seven in double figures as the Nets won for the fourth time in their past 22 games. Day’Ron Sharpe added 19 and nine rebounds to lead a 56-point showing by Brooklyn’s bench. Noah Clowney contributed 18 points and rookies Danny Wolf and Nolan Traore finished with 16 and 15, respectively.
Rookie Will Riley scored a career-high 27 points as the Wizards played with eight available players due to a mix of injuries and not-yet-available trade acquisitions. Justin Champagnie added 21 while Tristan Vukcevic and Sharife Cooper contributed 14 apiece for Washington.
Spurs 138, Mavericks 125
Stephon Castle scored a career-high 40 points while grabbing 12 rebounds and dishing out 12 assists as host San Antonio pulled away for a win over struggling Dallas in the second game of a home-and-home series over three days between the teams.
The Spurs swept the two games, winning 135-123 in Dallas on Thursday, and have won four straight contests. The Mavericks, meanwhile, began a six-game road trip with their season-worst seventh consecutive loss and have dropped their first three games against San Antonio this year.
Devin Vassell added 17 points for the Spurs, while Victor Wembanyama had 16 points and 11 rebounds, De’Aaron Fox scored 15 points, and Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant hit for 11 each off the bench. Klay Thompson led Dallas with 19 points and Brandon Williams added 18.
Magic 120, Jazz 117
Paolo Banchero collected 23 points, eight assists and seven rebounds to fuel host Orlando over Utah in Jarren Jackson Jr.’s debut with the Jazz.
Desmond Bane scored 22 points to fluster Utah for the second time this season. He erupted for 32 points in the Magic’s 128-127 overtime victory in Salt Lake City on Dec. 20. Anthony Black had 21 points on Saturday for Orlando, which overcame a 17-point deficit to record its second straight win and fourth in its last six games.
The Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen scored 27 points and Jackson added 22 in his debut with his new team. The latter was acquired in an eight-player trade with the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday. Utah has lost 18 of its last 22 games.
Nuggets 136, Bulls 120
Jamal Murray collected 28 points and 11 assists before sustaining an apparent leg injury in the closing minutes, Tim Hardaway Jr. added 23 and Nikola Jokic posted his second consecutive triple-double to lift Denver past host Chicago.
The Nuggets opened the fourth quarter on a 12-0 run and outscored the Bulls 39-16 over the final 12 minutes. Jokic finished with 22 points, 17 assists and 14 rebounds to pass Oscar Robertson for second all-time with his 182nd career triple-double.
Seven Chicago players finished in double figures. Matas Buzelis led the way with 21 points while Colllin Sexton (17) followed. Anfernee Simons and Nick Richards each had 15 points, Isaac Okoro added 13, and Guerschon Yabusele (12) and Jaden Ivey (10) rounded out the attack. Buzelis grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
Lakers 105, Warriors 99
LeBron James scored 20 points with 10 assists and Rui Hachimura added 18 points as Los Angeles overcame the absence of Luka Doncic (hamstring) to beat visiting Golden State, which played without Stephen Curry (knee).
Austin Reaves scored 16 points with eight assists off the bench, Marcus Smart had 15 points and Jarred Vanderbilt added 13 points with eight rebounds as the Lakers won their third consecutive game. Luke Kennard scored 10 points and made two 3-pointers in his Los Angeles debut after he was acquired from the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday.
Moses Moody scored 25 points and Gui Santos added 15 for the Warriors, who were without Curry for the third consecutive game. Kristaps Porzingis, who was acquired at the trade deadline, was out for Achilles injury management. Pat Spencer and Brandin Podziemski each scored 14 points and Gary Payton II added 13 for Golden State, which lost for the third time in four games.
76ers 109, Suns 103
Joel Embiid scored 33 points and made a season-high four 3-pointers, Tyrese Maxey added 29 points and Philadelphia built a 19-point lead and held off host Phoenix.
Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 18 points and added three 3-pointers for the 76ers, who have won six of seven games and improved to 3-1 on a five-game road trip that concludes Monday in Portland. Embiid pulled down nine rebounds, was 4 of 7 from 3-point range and made 11 of 13 free throws.
Dillon Brooks scored 28 points, Devin Booker had 21 points and nine assists in his return from a seven-game absence, and Royce O’Neale had 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Suns, who have lost three of four and three straight home games. Mark Williams added 11 points and 11 rebounds in the loss.
Trail Blazers 122, Grizzlies 115
Jerami Grant drained six 3-pointers en route to 29 points to help host Portland rally to beat Memphis and complete a sweep of a back-to-back set.
Jrue Holiday scored 21 points and Donovan Clingan added 20 points and 19 rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who outscored the Grizzlies 34-19 in the final quarter. Caleb Love added 17 points off the bench for Portland.
Olivier-Maxence Prosper established career bests of seven 3-pointers and 25 points and fellow backup Javon Small had 22 points for Memphis, which lost for the eighth time in the past 10 games. Ty Jerome scored 13 points and GG Jackson, Kyle Anderson and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope each added 11 for the Grizzlies.
