Rookie LaMelo Ball, the youngest player in NBA history had a triple-double to do just that, as guest Charlotte Hornets stretched their winning streak to three games by beating the Atlanta Hawks 113-105 Saturday night.
Terry Rozier scored 23 points and PJ Washington scored 22 points for Charlotte, who also defeated the Hawks in Atlanta Wednesday.
The 19-year-old Ball finished his third overall pick in the NBA draft in November, with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists.
Cam Reddish scored 21 points to lead the Hawks, followed by De’Andre Hunter 20 and 15 from Trae Young. John Collins had 12 points and Kevin Huerter gave up 11.
Phoenix Suns 125 – Indiana Pacers 117
Mikal Bridges scored 34 points and Devin Booker scored 25 to lift Phoenix to victory over Indiana in Indianapolis.
Cameron Johnson hit four blows from outside the arc to stress his 16-point performance for Phoenix, which made its debut at Bankers Life Fieldhouse since November 18, 2016.
Chris Paul had 15 points and 10 assists, with Jevon Carter adding 10 points. Indiana’s Domantas Sabonis scored 20 of his 28 points in the third quarter and added 22 rebounds to start his ninth consecutive double to start the season.
Denver Nuggets 115 – Philadelphia 76ers 103
Gary Harris scored 21 points and Nikola Jokic added 15 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds when Denver’s goal away from a shortened Philadelphia.
Jamal Murray and Will Barton added 14 points each as Denver outscored Philadelphia 35-21 in the third quarter.
Rookie Tyrese Maxey scored 39 career-level points on an 18-of-33 shooting in a losing effort. Philadelphia, who played only seven players, had won 20 consecutive home games at the Wells Fargo Center going back to December 20, 2019.
Teas Miami 128 – Washington Wizards 124
Tyler Herro scored 31 points at season and game level and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Miami to victory over host Washington.
Jimmy Butler added 26 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, Goran Dragic added 21 points and five assists and Kelly Olynyk added 18 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Miami beat Washington for the seventh time in the last nine meetings dating back to the start of the 2018 season.
Dallas Mavericks 112 – Orlando Magic 98
Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 36 best points of the season and Trey Burke scored a season-high 29 to lead Dallas to victory over a visit to Orlando.
Hardaway made 8 of 13 3-point attempts to fall one short of his career high, while Burke 7 of 8 from long range and completed one shy of his career. Luka Doncic recorded 20 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his second double-double of the season as Dallas won his third straight game.
Nikola Vucevic recorded 30 points and 15 rebounds for his seventh double of the season for Orlando, who missed his second straight game. Aaron Gordon scored 16 points, Khem Birch added 12 and Terrence Ross had 11.
Milwaukee Bucks 100 – Cleveland Cavaliers 90
Khris Middleton scored 27 points, Bobby Portis scored 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Milwaukee scored a Cleveland goal.
Antetokounmpo, the two-time NBA midfielder ruled out a preseason due to back spasms, one night after falling hard in the Bucks ’loss to the Utah Jazz.
Milwaukee came out strong Saturday despite not having the star, keeping the Cleveland side dealing with his own injury issues to just 14 points in the first quarter.
San Antonio Spurs 125 – Minnesota Timberwolves 122
DeMar DeRozan scored 38 points at the quarterback level and Dejounte Murray added 22 with 14 rebounds as San Antonio won their third consecutive road game with a perpetual Minnesota in extra time.
Murray hit a 3-pointer to open the scoring in extra time and San Antonio, who scored 21 points from Patty Mills, never slipped over the final five minutes.
For Minnesota, Malik Beasley scored 29 points and Karl-Anthony Towns added 25 with 13 rebounds on his return after his left-handed defeat to Dec. 27 at Utah. Prior to Saturday’s game, Minnesota had won both games with Towns on the court and lost all six without it.
Portland Trail Blazers 125 – Sacramento Kings 99
CJ McCollum scored 12 of his top 37 points in a 19-8 run, opening the game, forcing Portland to hit a romp over Sacramento.
Damian Lillard added 17 points, while Enes Kanter added 11 points and 15 rebounds off the bench for Portland, who won the second straight.
Marvin Bagley III had 15 points at team level for Sacramento, who lost for the second straight night.
–Field Media Level