BLAKE Griffin hit a three-point buzzer beater to lift the Clippers, while DeMarcus Cousins went to work against his former team.
It’s all in the NBA Wrap!
AUSSIES IN ACTION
Aron Baynes finished with 12 points and seven rebounds in the Boston Celtics’ 96-89 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
In the same game, Thon Maker earned another start, posting three points, three rebounds, and two assists, while Matthew Dellavedova chipped in with five points, two rebounds, and two assists.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS 104 — PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS 103
Blake Griffin made a 3-pointer as time expired and Los Angeles remained unbeaten by beating Portland.
Griffin, who scored 16 of his 25 points during the fourth quarter, got the ball on the left side of the floor and hit the 3-pointer just inside the line, the game’s sixth lead change during the final two minutes.
DeAndre Jordan had seven points and 18 rebounds for Los Angeles, which at 4-0 is one of two unbeaten teams remaining in the NBA. Danilo Gallinari and Austin Rivers had 16 points apiece for the Clippers.
Damian Lillard scored 14 of his 25 points during the third quarter for Portland (3-2). C.J. McCollum had 23 points, but missed one of two free throws with five seconds remaining that could have given the Blazers a three-point lead.
BOSTON CELTICS 96 — MILWAUKEE BUCKS 89
Al Horford had 27 points and nine rebounds, and the Boston Celtics beat the Milwaukee Bucks 96-89 on Thursday night.
Kyrie Irving added 24 points and seven assists for Boston, which avenged a loss to Milwaukee in Boston earlier this month.
The game was played at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, formerly known as the MECCA, which served as the Bucks’ home from 1968 until the team moved into the Bradley Center in 1988.
The Bucks chose to play one game this season at the 11,000-seat arena to mark the franchise’s 50th anniversary. The team will move into a new arena next season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 28 points for Milwaukee. Khris Middleton and Malcolm Brogdon added 15 apiece.
ATLANTA HAWKS 86 — CHICAGO BULLS 91
Lauri Markkanen scored 11 of his 14 points in the second half, including a key 3-pointer with 48.5 seconds left, and Chicago beat Atlanta for its first win of the season.
Markkanen also grabbed 12 rebounds, leading a dominant rebounding effort for Chicago. Robin Lopez had 16 points and eight rebounds and reserve David Nwaba finished with 15 points and 11 boards, helping the Bulls to a whopping 62-40 advantage on the glass.
Marco Belinelli made five 3-pointers on his way to 23 points for Atlanta, which closed out a 1-4 trip – the franchise’s longest road trip to begin a season. Kent Bazemore scored 16 points and Mike Muscala finished with 14 points and 10 boards.
Belinelli made a 3 to give Atlanta an 86-85 lead with about 1:50 left, but the Hawks never scored again. Lopez passed to Justin Holiday for a reverse layup and Jerian Grant found Markkanen for his big 3 in the final minute, making it 90-86.
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS 114 — SACRAMENTO KINGS 106
DeMarcus Cousins immediately scored after winning the opening tip and never stopped on the way to 41 points and 23 rebounds, and the emotional big man dominated his old team to rally New Orleans past Sacramento in his highly anticipated return.
Cousins took the crowd at Golden 1 Center on a trip down memory lane, then left them with some heartache after a spectacular performance. He waved to his supportive former home fans as highlights showed of his time in California’s capital.
He hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:21 to play for a 108-106 lead and the Pelicans held on without injured star Anthony Davis. Jameer Nelson contributed 18 points with four 3-pointers with Davis sidelined with a left knee injury sustained at Portland on Tuesday.
De’Aaron Fox scored 14 points off the bench to lead seven Kings in double figures.
DALLAS MAVERICKS 91 — MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES 96
Marc Gasol had 25 points and 13 rebounds, Mike Conley added 22 points and Memphis held on to beat Dallas.
Memphis held a 20-point lead in the third quarter, but the Mavericks cut into the lead behind Wesley Matthews, who finished with 18 points and made four 3-pointers in the period.
A fourth-quarter push gave the Mavericks an 86-84 lead with 3:56 left when J.J. Barea converted three free throws, capping an 18-8 run to open the quarter. That was the last lead for Dallas, as Conley scored the next five points and had nine of the Grizzlies’ final 10.
Harrison Barnes led Dallas with 22 points. Dirk Nowitzki added 14.
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