‘Lifeless’ Lakers crumble as trade target makes statement; Aussie’s cheeky move on ex-teammate: NBA Wrap

It was all arrange completely for the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Brooklyn Nets had misplaced 4 video games in a row and 6 on the highway. In reality, the Nets had solely received three of their final 17. You can now make that 4 of their final 18.

Dominant third and fourth quarters have paved the way in which for Brooklyn to assert an enormous 130-112 win over an L.A. staff that had back-to-back wins over OKC and Dallas.

Perhaps a loss like this was all the time on the playing cards for the Lakers given the way in which that they had lifted previously two video games however contemplating the way in which L.A. opened the sport the collapse was sudden.

Young guard Cam Thomas recorded his fourth 30-point efficiency off the bench, scoring 35 factors within the win whereas Nic Claxton had 22 factors and 13 assists.

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The Lakers received off to a quick begin, leaping out to a 37-28 lead regardless of a powerful opening quarter on offence from Thomas, who scored 14 factors off the bench.

While Thomas went an ideal 6-for-6 from the sphere, it mattered little the way in which the Nets had been defending because the Lakers shot 65 per cent from the sphere and made 5 of seven 3-point makes an attempt to determine a wholesome lead early.

Thomas picked up the place he left off within the second quarter too, including one other six factors whereas Lonnie Walker IV made an impression on his former staff with 10 factors and an help within the interval.

Walker IV, who has missed prolonged time this season as a result of harm, is admittedly beginning to discover his toes on the Nets now that he’s lastly wholesome, having additionally scored 13 factors within the second quarter in opposition to Portland.

On this event Walker IV’s contribution was sufficient to maintain Brooklyn in contact, whilst LeBron James added eight fast factors to see the Lakers preserve their lead regardless of an anticipated regression in 3-point capturing.

While the James added a few 3-pointers within the second quarter all different Lakers gamers mixed to shoot simply 1-for-7 from deep within the interval.

The Nets nonetheless discovered themselves trailing 68-62 heading into the third quarter, though a 14-6 run after halftime noticed Brooklyn take the lead as Johnson and Mikal Bridges mixed for 10 early factors.

Brooklyn was in a position to push its lead out to 11 factors late within the third and had a 100-90 benefit by the point the quarter drew to an in depth.

The Lakers fell into a fair greater gap early within the fourth, trailing 117-98 at one level and it didn’t get a lot nearer from there because the Nets closed out a snug win on the highway.

NUGGETS WIN THRILLER IN POSSIBLE FINALS SERIES PREVIEW

Earlier, the Boston Celtics suffered their first dwelling lack of the season, taking place to the reigning champion Denver Nuggets 102-100.

With arguably the perfect staff in every convention dealing with off, it promised to be a cracking recreation.

It certain delivered, with the sport selected the ultimate play when Celtics star Jayson Tatum unable to attach on a game-tying fadeaway two within the last seconds.

“Sign me up for seven games of this in the NBA finals immediately,” ESPN’s Malika Andrews mentioned post-game.

Heading into the Nuggets conflict, the Celtics had been 20-0 on the season when taking part in at dwelling.

Denver large man and Nikola Jokic proved a potent one-two punch in opposition to the Celtics, with the Serbian star recording 34 factors, 12 rebounds and 9 assists whereas Murray poured in 35 himself.

The two mixed for 69 of their staff’s 102 factors, simply outplaying Boston’s star duo of Jayson Tatum (22pts) and Jaylen Brown (13pts).

“During the season you’ve got to find ways of motivating yourself and your team, and them not having a loss at home really motivated us,” Murray mentioned.

“We just wanted to come here and bring the right energy regardless. It was good to get a dub (win) today.

“They’ve got a great team, lot of guys I’m familiar with that I’ve been playing with or against my whole life — just a lot of fun when it gets competitive and physical like that. Just a really good win on the road.”

MURRAY MAGIC AS HAWKS STAR MAKES STATEMENT

With Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby discovering new houses, Atlanta Hawks Dejounte Murray is now the most important identify to observe forward of the NBA commerce deadline.

And any rival groups all in favour of buying the star guard might have seen the asking worth rise on Saturday after a clutch Murray hit the game-winning 3-pointer to guide the Hawks to a 109-108 win over the Miami Heat.

That was regardless of Atlanta being with out Trae Young, with Murray placing up 22 factors to go along with 11 assists within the win.

Young was dominated out of Saturday’s recreation with an sickness and Australian guard Patty Mills noticed extra taking part in time in consequence, recording 11 factors, three rebounds and two assists whereas additionally developing with a key hustle play to pressure a 24-second time violation.

The Heat regarded on observe to take the win as a Tyler Herro 3-pointer put them forward 108-104 with 35.1 seconds on the clock.

Miami fouled Bogdan Bogdanovic on the subsequent possession because the Hawks minimize the deficit to 2 factors and after a missed leap shot from Herro, all eyes turned to the Atlanta bench.

The Hawks nonetheless had a timeout up their sleeves however elected to not name it, as an alternative leaving the ball in Murray’s hand because the 27-year-old got here up clutch.

It was the second straight game-winning shot for Murray, whose buzzer beater gave Atlanta a 106-104 win over Orlando on Thursday.

The Lakers have been persistently talked about as one potential vacation spot for Murray forward of the commerce deadline, whereas the Nets have additionally been linked to the Hawks guard.

JINGLES AGAIN MAKES PRESENCE FELT

Aussie star Joe Ingles was concerned in a few humorous second throughout’s Orlando’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, together with one with reigning MVP Joel Embiid.

Marked on Embiid within the third quarter, Ingles slapped the ball up and out of the hand of the Sixers star in an try to steal it. After it went just a few metres up within the air, it ended up within the arms of a Philadelphia participant.

Embiid would get the ball once more that place and was once more defended by Ingles nevertheless the Aussie dedicated a foul which despatched Embiid to the road.

Earlier within the recreation, Ingles hit a nook three in entrance of Philadelphia’s Danuel House Jr. after which proceeded to jokingly stare down his ex-Jazz teammate as he was retreating again on defence.

Ingles was his normally vigorous self for the Magic off the bench, scoring 9 factors and three assists in 21 minutes of motion.

It wouldn’t be sufficient although because the Sixers proved far too good in a 124-109 victory.

Embiid and Tyrese Maxey mixed for 68 factors to energy Philadelphia to the win whereas Tobias Harris had a useful 12 factors, six rebounds and three assists to construct on a powerful run of particular person type forward of the commerce deadline.

While there’s some thought the Sixers may add a 3rd star to push for a title this yr Harris continues to show himself a reliable possibility alongside Embiid and Maxey.

D BOOK’S ELECTRIC FIRST HALF

It’s been an up-and-down season for the Phoenix Suns, however with three straight wins getting into Saturday’s (AEDT) conflict in opposition to the New Orleans Pelicans, it appears as in the event that they’re starting to seek out their groove because the star trio of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal lastly put collectively constant minutes on the courtroom collectively.

Booker particularly rapidly discovered his groove on Saturday, erupting for a season-high 52 factors — and that was with a full quarter left to play.

The Suns didn’t want Booker for the fourth although, having already completed sufficient to wrap up what was a dominant 123-109 win.

Booker shot from 64 and 60 per cent from the sphere and downtown respectively, including 4 rebounds and 5 assists.

Kevin Durant, in the meantime had 26 factors whereas all of New Orleans’ starters aside from Herb Jones hit double figures but it surely wasn’t sufficient to maintain up with Booker.

A win in opposition to the Pelicans moved Phoenix to 23-18 and as much as seventh spot within the Western Conference.

NBA SCORES JANUARY 20

Sixers 124 @ Magic 109

Spurs 120 @ Hornets 124

Nuggets 102 @ Celtics 100

Suns 123 @ Pelicans 109

Hawks 109 @ Heat 108

Pacers 115 @ Trail Blazers 118

Nets 130 @ Lakers 112