Lebron pushes Cavs past Bucks, Spurs down Rockets as Warriors triumph
The Cleveland Cavaliers needed overtime to see off the Milwaukee Bucks, while the San Antonio Spurs edged the Houston Rockets.
Reigning champions the Cavaliers held on to beat the Bucks 114-108 in NBA action on Tuesday. LeBron James the hero after nailing a go-ahead three-pointer with 24 seconds remaining.
The Spurs outlasted the Rockets 102-100 thanks to Patty Mills and his late heroics.
With 12.9 seconds left to play, Mills hit a shot from beyond the arc to lift the Spurs to victory.
San Antonio trailed by seven points entering the final quarter after being outscored 33-19 in the third, but the Spurs battled back to win the final quarter by nine points.
The Golden State Warriors accounted for the Utah Jazz 104-74, while the Orlando Magic prevailed in a high-scoring encounter.
LEBRON MOVES UP ON ALL-TIME SCORING LIST
With his 34 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, James passed Moses Malone for eighth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
James brought up the feat with his first basket of the game.
SPURS GROUND ROCKETS
The Spurs’ prickly defence was tested but they fought through to upend the Rockets in a road win.
San Antonio had gone 25 consecutive games without allowing a 30-point scorer, but that was broken when James Harden scored 31 points with 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Despite the small leak in defence, the Spurs had six different players score in double-figures, led by do-it-all forward Kawhi Leonard with 21 points and five steals. LaMarcus Aldridge added 17 points, and Pau Gasol had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
CURRY, DURANT PROPEL WARRIORS
Reigning MVP Steph Curry and Kevin Durant got the job done for the Warriors.
Curry posted 25 points, Durant added 22 points, while Draymond Green contributed a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Golden State pulled clear of Utah in the second period, outscoring the Jazz 36-18 and never looked back.
LEBRON LEADS CAVS
LeeeeBron Jamessss! #DefendTheLand
He puts up 34 points and 12 rebounds including the game winner! @cavs win 114-108 over the @bucks. pic.twitter.com/3hKIFgKAuS
— NBA (@NBA) December 21, 2016
This was fun!
Kawhi’s 21 points and Patty Mills’ clutch three give the @spurs the win. They beat the @HoustonRockets, 102-100! pic.twitter.com/fNMfHLKY1F
— NBA (@NBA) December 21, 2016
MAGIC UPSTAGE HEAT IN DOUBLE OT
After two overtime periods, the Magic finally extinguished the Miami Heat 136-130.
The Magic rallied twice and made sure of the victory via Evan Fournier, who made a three-pointer with just over a minute remaining.
Fournier finished with 26 points, and Nik Vucevic had 26 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double.
Hassan Whiteside’s 32 points and 15 rebounds were not enough for the Heat.
THOMAS, ANTHONY AND DAVIS LEAD RESPECTIVE WINS
Isaiah Thomas scored a career-high 44 points in the Boston Celtics’ 112-109 overtime-win against the Memphis Grizzlies, Carmelo Anthony had a season-high 35 points as the New York Knicks beat the Indiana Pacers 118-111, while Anthony Davis and his 31 points led the New Orleans Pelicans past the Philadelphia 76ers 108-93.
The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 117-113, the Toronto Raptors trumped the Brooklyn Nets 116-104, the Portland Trail Blazers lost 126-121 to the Sacramento Kings and the Denver Nuggets lost 119-102 to the Los Angeles Clippers.
CAVS AND BUCKS IN ACTION AGAIN
After trumping the Bucks, Cleveland and Milwaukee lock horns again on Wednesday. The Oklahoma City Thunder face the Pelicans, while the Rockets meet the Phoenix Suns.
