NBA Capsules: Westbrook scores 30 as Thunder top Rockets
OKLAHOMA CITY – Russell Westbrook scored 30 points, including a left-handed hammer dunk over Clint Capela in the closing seconds, to help the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Houston Rockets 105-103 on Wednesday night.
Oklahoma City led by three when Westbrook dunked over the 6-foot-10 Capela with 5.5 seconds left to put the Thunder up five.
Westbrook, the NBA No. 2 scorer, also had nine assists and seven rebounds. Victor Oladipo had season highs of 29 points and 10 rebounds for the Thunder. They snapped a four-game losing streak.
James Harden had 13 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds. He made just 4 of 16 shots while being harassed by Andre Roberson. Capela added 13 points and 14 rebounds for the Rockets.
Warriors 127, Raptors 121
TORONTO – Stephen Curry had 35 points, Kevin Durant added 30 and Golden State beat Toronto for its fifth straight victory.
The Warriors also have won five in a row against the Raptors, three in Toronto.
NBA scoring leader DeMar DeRozan led the Raptors with 34 points, and Kyle Lowry had 24. DeRozan was 17 of 17 from the free-throw line, and had his ninth 30-plus-point game in 11 games this season.
Grizzlies 111, Clippers 107
LOS ANGELES – Marc Gasol hit a go-ahead 3-pointer from the left corner with 14 seconds left, and Memphis snapped Los Angeles’ seven-game winning streak.
Mike Conley scored 30 points, Gasol added a season-high 26 and the Grizzlies equaled a season high with 15 3-pointers, including a career high-tying seven by Conley.
J.J. Redick scored a season-high 29 points, Blake Griffin added 25, and DeAndre Jordan had 14 rebounds for the Clippers, who still have the NBA’s best record at 10-2. Both of their losses have come at home.
Pacers 103, Cavaliers 93
INDIANAPOLIS – Paul George scored 21 points and the Indiana Pacers took advantage off the resting LeBron James’ absence to beat Cleveland.
Jeff Teague added 20 points and eight assists, and Thaddeus Young had 16 points to help the Pacers improve to 6-1 at home and 6-6 overall.
James sat out for the first time this season. Averaging 23.4 points and 8.9 rebounds, he rested after playing Tuesday night in a home victory over Toronto. Guard J.R. Smith also missed the game because of a sprained right ankle.
Kevin Love led Cleveland with 27 points and 16 rebounds, and Kyrie Irving had 24 points and seven assists. The Cavaliers dropped to 9-2 after matching the best start in franchise history with the victory over Toronto on Tuesday night.
Knicks 105, Pistons 102
NEW YORK – Kristaps Porzingis scored a career-high 35 points and New York held off Detroit.
The 7-foot-3 forward from Latvia hit three 3-pointers and converted a dazzling three-point play in the first half after dunking a lob pass on the break in the first 30-point game of his two-year career.
Carmelo Anthony added 22 points to help the Knicks win their second straight. Joakim Noah bounced back nicely with seven points and 15 rebounds after he was benched in the second half of the Knicks’ victory over Dallas on Monday night. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope led Detroit with 21 points.
Hawks 107, Bucks 100
ATLANTA – Paul Millsap scored 21 points, Mike Muscala added 16 and Atlanta won its sixth straight game, beating Milwaukee.
Muscala started in place of star center Dwight Howard, who was sidelined with a left quadriceps contusion. Atlanta improved to 6-1 at home and tied Cleveland for the best record in the Eastern Conference at 9-2.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 26 points and 15 rebounds for Milwaukee, and Jabari Parker scored 15 of his 23 points in the third quarter.
Celtics 90, Mavericks 83
BOSTON – Isaiah Thomas scored 22 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter in Boston’s victory over Dallas.
Thomas scored 20 of Boston’s final 24 points to help the Celtics beat back a late Mavericks’ surge. After Dallas took a 70-66 lead, Thomas scored Boston’s next 13 points to put the Celtics back in front 79-76. Avery Bradley added 18 points and 13 rebounds.
Harrison Barnes led the Mavericks with 28 points.
Nuggets 120, Suns 104
DENVER – Wilson Chandler scored a season-high 28 points and Denver won for the first time at home this season, beating Phoenix.
Kenneth Faried added a season-high 20 points and 15 rebounds to also help Denver snapped a four-game losing streak. Danilo Gallinari had 18 points, Jameer Nelson 17 and Emmanuel Mudiay 15.
The Nuggets played their second straight game without starting shooting guard Gary Harris. He’s expected to be out until mid-December with a foot injury.
Brandon Knight scored a season-high 32 points for Phoenix, and Devin Booker had 24 before he was ejected with 17.8 left after receiving his second technical foul. The Suns have lost five of six.
Magic 89, Pelicans 82
ORLANDO, Fla. – Serge Ibaka scored 16 points and Nikola Vucevic broke out of his shooting slump with 10 points and 14 rebounds in Orlando’s victory over New Orleans,
Evan Fournier also finished with 16 points,
Terrence Jones led New Orleans with 26 points. He started at power forward in place of Anthony Davis, sidelined by a thigh injury.
76ers 109, Wizards 102
PHILADELPHIA – Jahlil Okafor scored 19 points on 8-for-11 shooting to lead struggling Philadelphia past Washington.
Ersan Ilyasova added 16 points to help the 76ers win for just the second time in 11 games this season. John Wall scored 23 of his 27 points in the second half for Washington.
Spurs 110, Kings 105
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Pau Gasol had 24 points and nine rebounds to lead San Antonio to its fourth straight win.
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 21 points and Kawhi Leonard added 20 for the Spurs, who improved to 6-0 on the road this season. Tony Parker had 14 points and seven rebounds.
DeMarcus Cousins had 26 points, 17 rebounds and six assists for the Kings, who dropped their third straight game. Matt Barnes had 15 points and Ben McLemore, Willie Cauley-Stein and Rudy Gay each added 11.