By the Associated Press

The Washington Wizards’ defense remains a soft spot. At least it’s rising to the occasion lately.

Bradley Beal had 30 points and 12 assists, Thomas Bryant added 21 points and 11 rebounds, and the Wizards overcame a 13-point deficit with a stingy fourth quarter in their 125-118 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night.

Davis Bertans added 20 points off the bench, hitting six 3-pointers as the Wizards won two in a row for the first time this season. Jordan McCrae scored eight of his 13 in the fourth, including a baseline 3 that put Washington in front for good.

“It was important — it was beyond important,” Beal said about the victory. “For one, just protecting our house. But two, it gives us a little bit of flow, some juice moving forward.”

The Hornets were on pace to set a season high for points until the Wizards held Charlotte to 22 in the fourth quarter while forcing eight turnovers.

A game earlier, a team that holds the NBA’s second-worst defensive rating limited San Antonio to one field goal over a 5:43 stretch of the third period during a decisive run.

“Those are steps for us in the right direction,” Beal said. “We’ve still got to get those points down. We’re still giving up way too many points.”

Beal extended his career-best streak of scoring 30 or more to five games as the Wizards snapped a three-game skid against the Hornets.

Miles Bridges had a career-high 31 points for Charlotte, which has now lost at least three in a row for a third time this season. Devonte Graham, Terry Rozier and Malik Monk each added 19 for the Hornets.

Down 13 early in the fourth after Charlotte’s 11-2 run, Washington replied with 11 straight points and ultimately outscored the Hornets 29-9 down the stretch.

“I think their physicality picked up,” Charlotte coach James Borrego said. “We started turning the ball over too much. Just something we’ve got to continue to work on.”

Bertans hit his final 3 off Beal’s feed to close the margin to four, and Beal drove the lane, got fouled and sank a pair of free throws to make it 109-107 with 6:13 left.

Several possessions later, Bertans spotted McCrae for a baseline 3 to put Washington up 116-114. And later, McCrae’s contested runner just about sealed the win, making it 122-116 with 29 seconds remaining.

“Just playing off Brad,” McCrae said. “He’s doing a lot out there — handling, guarding, scoring for us. So for us, we’ve got to be ready to shoot when he throws it.”

 

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Kristel Satumbaga

National University remained invincible for the sixth straight year after clobbering University of Santo Tomas 66-54 on Saturday for the UAAP season 82 women’s basketball crown at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The feat extended the Lady Bulldogs’ imposing winning streak to 96 games dating back July 13, 2014, sweeping their best-of-three finals series against the Tigresses following a 70-65 Game 1 victory last Wednesday.

It was a dominating season for NU, winning by an average margin of 31.8 points with UST coming close twice to spoiling its unblemished record: at the end of the eliminations (74-70) and in Game 1 of the finals.

“We’re just happy with everything, happy for the school and the players who have been here and done that, happy to be part of this,” said NU coach Pat Aquino.

But the Lady Bulldogs made sure they keep their momentum going, leading by as many as 24 points courtesy of Monique Del Carmen, Kaye Pingol and Rhena Itesi.

Del Carmen paced with 15 points, two boards, four assists and two steals to be later adjudged as the Finals Most Valuable Player, outshining Season MVP Grace Irebu who managed 11 points and 10 boards in a losing effort for UST.

Pingol chipped in 15 points and five boards, while Itesi contributed 12 points and eight rebounds to step up in the absence of Jack Animam, who was still recuperating from a right orbital fracture sustained during the FIBA Women’s Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament in New Zealand.

“It’s sad without Jack, but I told the players, ‘Let’s not take away what he missed. Let’s give this to Jack, and all the seniors,” said Aquino.

Scores:

NU 66 – Pingol 15, Del Carmen 15, Itesi 12, Hayes 9, Cacho 7, Canuto 3, Clarin 3, Surada 2, Bartolo 0, Cac 0, Fabruada 0, Goto 0, Harada 0.

UST 54 – Ferrer 16, Irebu 11, Portillo 7, Soriano 6, Panti 5, Tacatac 4, Callangan 3, Rivera 2, Gandalla 0, Gonzales 0, Javier 0.

Quarters: 25-8, 36-23, 46-36, 66-54.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

About an hour after a blowout loss to the Detroit Pistons, Atlanta coach Lloyd Pierce finally emerged to meet with reporters.

The Hawks had been talking things over.

“Learning how to compete — that’s kind of it,” Pierce said. “Learning how to compete, learning how to communicate, what it takes to win in the NBA, what it takes to be a pro.”

Atlanta allowed 76 points in the first two quarters — the highest-scoring first half for the Pistons since 1983 — and Detroit snapped a five-game losing streak with a 128-103 rout Friday night. It was the fifth straight loss for the Hawks and their eighth consecutive game allowing at least 120 points.

Coaches generally hold their media sessions about 10 minutes after the game ends, but that was delayed a while this time. The Hawks were meeting to try to find some answers to their struggles.

“We’ve got a bunch of guys that don’t really get to talk and actually say what they think,” said DeAndre’ Bembry, who led the team in scoring with 22 points. “That was definitely one of those meetings where we’re just expressing ourself, individually and collectively.”

Andre Drummond had 23 points and 15 rebounds for the Pistons. Detroit led 76-57 at halftime, and the Pistons reached 100 points with over five minutes remaining in the third quarter. Nine different Detroit players made at least one 3-pointer. Drummond wasn’t one of them, but he scored his share of easy baskets inside.

The Pistons actually trailed 17-7 before going on a 20-0 run that gave them a double-digit lead of their own before the end of the first quarter. It was 33-23 after one, then Detroit overwhelmed the Hawks with a 43-point second quarter that ended when Thon Maker of the Pistons made a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

“We’re such a good shooting team, if we get good attempts and not turn it over,” Detroit coach Dwane Casey said.

It was the most points in the first half for the Pistons since they scored 77 on Dec. 2, 1983, also against the Hawks.

Detroit led 107-84 after three and finished the game with seven players in double figures. Blake Griffin scored 24 points and Bruce Brown added 14. Markieff Morris contributed 13 points.

The Pistons shot 60 percent from the field and 17 of 34 from 3-point range. Pierce was asked if he got the response he wanted from the postgame meeting, but that remains to be seen.

“Nothing gets solved in those meetings, but what has to be said — if you see something, you’ve got to say it,” Pierce said. “I had to say it, and they had to say it, and they had to hear it.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker collided with teammate Semi Ojeleye late in the second quarter, striking Ojeleye’s abdomen area head-first and going down on to the court in a heap against the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.

In a tweet, the Celtics said Walker has been diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms. He was taken to a hospital for further evaluation.

Walker grimaced in pain as he went down and play was stopped as medical personnel from both teams tended to the star guard who was prone on the floor for several minutes.

His teammates gathered round as did Nuggets players, plainly concerned about Walker. A brace was placed around his neck to stabilize the area and he was strapped to a backboard before being placed onto a gurney and wheeled off the court.

Walker entered the game averaging a team-leading 22.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in his first season with Boston.

Earlier this month, the Celtics lost Gordon Hayward to a fractured left hand. He suffered the injury when he collided with LaMarcus Aldridge in a Nov. 9 game against San Antonio.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

Luka Doncic finally had a chance to give former teammate Dirk Nowitzki a live look at how the Dallas Mavericks are coming along without the best player in franchise history.

Not too bad so far.

Doncic had 30 points and 14 assists with Nowitzki watching courtside next to owner Mark Cuban, and the Mavericks won by more than 40 points for the second straight game, routing the Cleveland Cavaliers 143-101 on Friday night.

Nowitzki stayed away for the first eight Dallas home games after setting an NBA record of 21 seasons with the same franchise while finishing last season as the highest-scoring foreign-born player in league history.

The big German got a standing ovation when shown on the video board in what was also his first peek in person at Dallas’ new European pairing of Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, the 7-foot-3 Latvian who missed his five shots but made his last six, finishing with 17 points.

“I’m here to make this franchise, make this team a better team,” said Porzingis, who also had four blocks in his 200th career game. “I’m trying to do my part. I’m sure Luka’s trying to do his part. He’s doing it well.

“As I said before, those are some huge shoes that we have to fill with Dirk ending his career and how high he set the standard for this organization.”

Rookie Darius Garland scored a career-high 23 points for the Cavaliers, who lost their sixth straight game while getting swept in a second consecutive season series against Dallas. Cleveland lost at home by 20 early this month.

“They can really shoot,” coach John Beilein said. “The couple of shots that Porzingis made and Luka made, you can’t defend them. They’re stepping back, they’ve got great size and they’re shooting it in from 30 feet. Really a talented team.”

Dallas (10-5) moved five games above .500 for the first time since late in the 2015-16 season, which ended up being Nowitzki’s final trip to the playoffs after leading the franchise to its only championship in 2011.

Nowitzki gave a hint that he might be on the way by tweeting about the traffic near his old home arena on the street that was renamed in his honor before the season started.

“Awesome,” coach Rick Carlisle about seeing Nowitzki in the arena, while quickly noting that Shawn Marion, also retired, and guard J.J. Barea were nearby. All three played important roles in the championship.

Doncic is the first Dallas player to score at least 30 points in three straight games since Nowitzki in 2010, but is still waiting to record three straight triple-doubles for the first time.

For the third time in the rookie of the year’s two seasons, the 20-year-old Slovenian fell short, finishing with seven rebounds while sitting all of the fourth quarter for the second straight game.

Porzingis also was on the bench the whole fourth two nights after Dallas led Golden State by 50 in the second half of a 142-94 win. The final margin of 42 was also the Mavericks’ biggest lead against the Cavaliers in their first sweep of a four-game homestand since the title year.

“A lot of guys did a lot of good things,” Carlisle said. “It’s a successful homestand, and we’ve done some good things. But the schedule’s going to get a lot more difficult now.”

 

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

Being coachable paid off for Anthony Davis.

The star forward scored 24 of his 33 points in the second half to help the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 130-127 on Friday night.

He got in a rhythm after coach Frank Vogel told him to stop hesitating.

“When I hesitate, I tend to come up short or a bad miss,” Davis said. “And it seems to be going in a lot more when I don’t hesitate.”

Davis also had 11 rebounds and seven assists, and the Lakers needed all of it. Though the Thunder have struggled this season, they played the Lakers close this week in Los Angeles and entered the night with a 5-3 home record, including a victory over Philadelphia last week.

“We find a way to win no matter what the game is,” said LeBron James, who had 23 points and 14 assists. “This is a very good team at home. They’ve struggled on the road a little bit, but we knew they were going to give it their best punch, especially just playing them on Tuesday in LA.”

The Lakers won their sixth straight and own the league’s best record at 13-2.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 24 points and Steven Adams added 22 for the Thunder, who have lost five of six.

Los Angeles guard Rajon Rondo was ejected early in the fourth quarter after a kick to Dennis Schroder’s groin area. Schroder made two free throws, and then Gilgeous-Alexander’s layup tied the game at 109.

“I didn’t think it called for an ejection, but the refs have to do what they feel best fits,” James said. “But, you know, I didn’t think it called for an ejection.”

Davis hit a corner 3 and was fouled by Adams, then made the free throw to put the Lakers ahead 126-121 with 2:36 to play.

Oklahoma City’s Chris Paul made a layup with 11.8 seconds left that cut the Lakers’ lead to 126-125. Davis was fouled with 8.1 seconds left, and he made both free throws. Gilgeous-Alexander’s layup with 4.2 seconds left trimmed the margin to one again, but Davis made two more free throws with 3.8 seconds remaining. James intercepted Oklahoma City’s inbounds pass and ran out the clock.

“Credit OKC,” Vogel said. “They played an outstanding game tonight on both ends of the floor. They really competed and made big shots all night.”

It was Oklahoma City’s seventh loss by five points or fewer this season.

“Yeah, it’s kind of stupid, to tell you the truth,” Paul said. “Don’t know if that’s the right word, but me and Shai was talking about like, you know, we are fighting. This is our job. We are supposed to (win), so we’ve got to figure it out. We got to find a way to win these games.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

Jamal Murray’s strong finish helped the Denver Nuggets work their way through a stretch of ragged play. His thoughts after the game turned to an injured opponent.

Murray scored 22 points, including two clutch free throws with 1.5 seconds remaining, and the Nuggets hung on to beat the Celtics 96-92 on Friday night in a game overshadowed by a head injury to Boston guard Kemba Walker.

“That’s not something you want to mess around with,” Murray said. “Prayers out to him and hopefully he’s fine.”

Nikola Jokic added 18 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists for the Nuggets, who improved to 8-0 this season when holding an opponent to fewer than 100 points.

Jaylen Brown had 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Celtics. Jayson Tatum added 16 points and Marcus Smart had 15.

Walker collided with teammate Semi Ojeleye late in the second quarter, striking Ojeleye’s abdomen area head-first and going down on to the court in a heap.

Walker grimaced in pain as he went down and play was stopped as medical personnel from both teams tended to the star guard who was prone on the floor for several minutes. His teammates gathered round as did Nuggets players, plainly concerned about Walker. A brace was placed around his neck to stabilize the area and he was strapped to a backboard before being placed onto a gurney and wheeled off the court in front of a hushed crowd.

“I saw him in the ambulance at halftime,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. “He had his wherewithal about him. He was in decent spirits, which is good.”

In a tweet, the Celtics said Walker has been diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms and was transported to a hospital for further evaluation.

Walker, the Celtics’ leading scorer, had three assists and a pair of steals before leaving the game.

“Our prayers and our energy are with him,” Brown said. “He’s probably the smallest dude on the floor every time he steps out, but he’s probably got the biggest heart. We definitely lean on him and we’ll welcome him back when he rests up and everything is taken care of.”

Earlier this month, the Celtics lost Gordon Hayward to a fractured left hand. He suffered the injury when he collided with LaMarcus Aldridge in a Nov. 9 game against San Antonio.

The Celtics, down by 19 in the third quarter and 13 to start the fourth, went on a 10-1 run capped by Brad Wanamaker’s driving layup to pull to 75-73 with 5:35 left to play.

Brown connected on a 3-pointer from the corner, pulling the Celtics to 84-83 with 2:18 remaining. Murray made a pair of free throws and hit a jumper around a Boston turnover as the Nuggets went in front 88-83. Boston added a basket but Paul Millsap connected on a 3-pointer, helping fend off the Celtics in the waning seconds.

The Nuggets took their 70-57 lead into the fourth with Michael Porter Jr. punctuating the advantage by soaring above the rim to rebound a missed shot and slam it through the net in the final moments of the third.

Denver led by 17 in the first half before the Celtics put together an 11-0 run in the second quarter, pulling to 45-34 at the half.

 

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points and Mike Conley had 27 to help the Utah Jazz beat the undermanned Golden State Warriors 113-109 on Friday night.

About 15 minutes after the game ended, the arena was evacuated because of a suspicious package. Most fans had already left the building when players, coaches and reporters were instructed to leave immediately.

Not long after both coaches finished answering postgame questions from the media, a spokesman for the Jazz told reporters to exit the building. Outside, they were instructed by security to leave the premises.

Utah players quickly headed for their cars in the parking lot — center Rudy Gobert was still in uniform as he left. Warriors players boarded their team bus.

Bojan Bogdanovic scored 17 points for the Jazz, and Gobert had 19 rebounds and seven blocks. Utah shot 51% from the field and outrebounded Golden State 48-37.

Alec Burks scored 20 points to lead the Warriors. Omari Spellmen added 18 while Glenn Robinson III and Ky Bowman chipped in 17 apiece.

Golden State rallied from a 21-point deficit and cut it to 111-109 with 22.8 seconds left on back-to-back baskets from Burks and Robinson. Mitchell and Conley each hit a free throw in the final seconds to seal the victory for Utah.

Injuries left the short-handed Warriors with just eight available players. The Jazz took advantage of that limited depth early, connecting on 61% of their field goal attempts in the first half.

Golden State managed to hang with Utah during the first quarter. The Warriors twice took a one-point lead in the period. They went up 20-19 after Burks capped an 8-0 run with consecutive baskets and then claimed a 28-27 lead on a putback layup by Marquese Chriss.

A four-point play from Mitchell helped start a 22-6 run that gave the Jazz a 60-43 lead in the second quarter. Bogdanovic finished off the spurt with back-to-back baskets.

Golden State briefly cut the deficit to single digits in the third, trimming Utah’s lead to 69-60 on Eric Paschall’s dunk. Conley, Mitchell and Gobert each made a basket over three straight possessions to boost Utah’s lead to 76-60.

After the Jazz took a 100-80 lead on a 3-pointer from Emmanuel Mudiay early in the fourth quarter, the Warriors used a 21-6 run to cut the deficit to single digits again. Willie Cauley-Stein dunked the ball for his first basket to finish off the spurt and cut Utah’s lead to 106-101 with 2:19 left.

 

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

Kawhi Leonard hit the game-winning jumper with 15 seconds remaining to finish with 24 points, and the Los Angeles Clippers edged the Houston Rockets 122-119 on Friday night.

Russell Westbrook missed at the other end and Paul George got the rebound while getting fouled. He made both free throws with 1 second left to complete a wild finish and help the Clippers improve to 10-1 at home with their fourth win in a row overall.

George scored 19 points in his second game playing with Leonard. Lou Williams led the Clippers with 26 — all in the second half. Montrezl Harrell added 18 points.

James Harden had 37 points and 12 assists for the Rockets. Russell Westbrook added 22 points before fouling out late and Clint Capela had 17 points and 19 rebounds. Those three plus P.J. Tucker had at least four fouls.

Harden made a pair of free throws that put Houston ahead 119-118 with 22 seconds remaining.

Leonard answered with the go-ahead jumper before George’s free throws.

Harden couldn’t get a shot off on the Rockets’ final possession as time expired.

Williams hit a 3-pointer from the right corner that gave the Clippers a 118-117 lead with 30 seconds remaining after George’s 3 drew them within two.

The teams traded leads in the fourth with neither leading by more than four.

There were none of the theatrics that marked their last meeting, an overtime win by the Rockets in Houston on Nov. 13. Harden scored 47 points, Clippers coach Doc Rivers got ejected with his rival son Austin egging on the referees and Westbrook disparaged Patrick Beverley’s defense on Harden.

Beverley and Ivica Zubac were in foul trouble for the Clippers.

The Rockets took their first lead of the game on Harden’s 3-pointer during a 16-2 run, including 11 straight points, early in the third. He got fouled and made the free throw before hitting another 3 and Westbrook followed with one of his own that helped put the Rockets up 70-59.

The Clippers regrouped and finished off the quarter on a 21-14 spurt to trail 84-80 going into the fourth. Williams scored 14 points in the period.

The Clippers led by 14 in the second. That’s when Houston closed on a 19-9 run to trail 55-51 at halftime.

Source: Manila Bulletin