By the Associated Press
NEW YORK — Kyrie Irving scored 21 points in 20 minutes of an easy return from a two-month absence with an injured right shoulder, leading the Brooklyn Nets to a 108-86 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday.
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) talks with Atlanta Hawks guard Vince Carter (15) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, in New York. It was Irving’s first time back on the court in a game since his shoulder injury in November 2019, and it was Carter’s last game as a visiting player at the Barclays Center. Carter is one of the most popular Nets players. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Irving shot 10 for 11 from the field after missing 26 games with an impingement. The shoulder looked fine and his handle looked as good as ever while he dribbled his way around a hopeless Atlanta defense.
Energized by his return that still seemed a ways away just a week ago, the Nets led by 39 points and won their second straight after dropping seven in a row.
Cam Reddish scored 20 points for the Hawks. They played without star guard Trae Young because of a left hamstring injury and lost their fourth straight.
JAZZ 127, WIZARDS 116
Utah Jazz forward Bojan Bogdanovic (44) goes to the basket against Washington Wizards guard Isaiah Thomas (4) and center Ian Mahinmi (28) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
WASHINGTON— Bojan Bogdanovic scored 31 points, Rudy Gobert added 21 points and 14 rebounds and Utah beat Washington for its ninth straight victory.
Utah overcame a 15-point deficit in the third quarter to win for the 14th time in 15 games. Jordan Clarkson had 17 of his 23 points in the second half. Utah scoring leader Donovan Mitchell sat out because of an illness.
Bradley Beal scored 25 points for Washington after missing five games with right leg soreness.
SPURS 105, RAPTORS 104
San Antonio Spurs’ DeMar DeRozan speaks with Toronto Raptors’ Kyle Lowry following Spurs 105-104 win in NBA basketball action in Toronto on Sunday Jan. 12, 2020. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
TORONTO — DeMar DeRozan scored 25 points, Rudy Gay had 15 and San Antonio overcame an 18-point deficit to beat Toronto.
San Antonio used a big fourth quarter to win for the third time in four games. Derrick White scored 13 points for the Spurs, and LaMarcus Aldridge had 11. DeRozan also had eight rebounds and four assists against his former team.
Serge Ibaka had 21 points and a season-high 15 rebounds for Toronto. Kyle Lowry had 16 points and a season-high 15 assists.
NUGGETS 114, CLIPPERS 104
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) drives his head into Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
DENVER — Nikola Jokic had 20 points and 15 rebounds and Denver withstood a big rally to beat Los Angeles.
Trailing by as many 20 points in the second half, Los Angeles had pulled within six with 1:11 remaining when Patrick Beverley was called for a foul on Jokic. Clippers coach Doc Rivers was incensed over the call and was given two technical fouls and ejected from the game.
Kawhi Leonard scored 30 points for Los Angeles. Clippers star forward Paul George missed his second straight game because of a strained left hamstring.
SUNS 100, HORNETS 92
Phoenix Suns forward Kelly Oubre Jr. (3) dunks against the Charlotte Hornets during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, in Phoenix. Phoenix won 100-92. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
PHOENIX — Kelly Oubre Jr had 25 points and 15 rebounds in Phoenix’s victory over Charlotte.
Oubre scored 15 points in the second half on a night when Suns star guard Devin Booker struggled from the floor, shooting 3 of 12. He had 12 points and nine assists.
Deandre Ayton added 18 points and nine rebounds for Phoenix.
Dwayne Bacon scored 24 points for the Hornets.
GRIZZLIES 122, WARRIORS 102
Memphis Grizzlies center Jonas Valanciunas (17) shoots ahead of Golden State Warriors forward Omari Spellman (4) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Jonas Valanciunas had 31 points and a season-high 19 rebounds and Memphis handed Golden State its eighth straight loss.
Valanciunas was 13 of 17 from the field, including a 3-pointer to help the Grizzlies win their fifth straight. Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 21 points, and Ja Morant had 11 points and 10 assists.
D’Angelo Russel led the Warriors with 34 points in his return from a right shoulder injury.
KNICKS 124, HEAT 121
New York Knicks’ Julius Randle dunks the ball during the second half of the NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, in New York. The Knicks defeated the Heat 124-121. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
NEW YORK — Julius Randle scored 26 points, RJ Barrett chipped in 23 and New York rallied to beat Miami.
Kevin Knox had 17 points off the bench and Reggie Bullock added 16 to help the Knicks snap a five-game losing streak.
Jimmy Butler had 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Heat. They blew a lead down the stretch for the second time
Source: Manila Bulletin
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