Jodie Meeks scored 19 points and made the biggest shot of the game, hitting a three-pointer with 1:08 remaining, as the Los Angeles Lakers geared up for the return of Kobe Bryant by edging the Sacramento Kings 106-100.
Meeks, whose playing time has increased in Bryant's absence, made a 24-footer from the top of the key to give Los Angeles a two-possession lead that the Kings (4-13) could not overcome.
The Lakers overcame an 87-77 deficit in the final 14 minutes and will be above .500 (10-9) when they welcome Bryant back on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors.
Bucks 109, Wizards 105 (overtime)
Khris Middleton scored 29 points and John Henson had 19 and 17 rebounds as the struggling Milwaukee Bucks used a late 9-0 run to pick up a 109-105 overtime win over the Washington Wizards.
Brandon Knight sank clutch jumpers in the fourth quarter and overtime, and finished with 20 points for the Bucks (4-15), who had lost 13 of 14 games including a setback at home in overtime to Washington last month.
John Wall scored 10 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter and Trevor Ariza had 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Wizards (9-10).
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Thunder 109, Pelicans 95
Kevin Durant scored 19 of his game-high 29 points in the first half and Russell Westbrook added 25 to lift the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 109-95 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
The victory gave Oklahoma City (14-4) a 2-1 road trip, their ninth win in 10 games and ninth consecutive win over New Orleans (9-10).
The Pelicans, who lost their second consecutive home game, were led by Ryan Anderson with 18 points and Eric Gordon with 16.
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Rockets 105, Warriors 83
The Houston Rockets blitzed the Golden State Warriors early and negated any threat of another unlikely comeback, snapping a two-game skid with a 105-83 victory.
The Rockets (14-7) led by as many as 28 points in reversing their mini-slump, parlaying dominating efforts from James Harden (34 points, seven rebounds, four assists), Terrence Jones (16 points, 10 rebounds) and Dwight Howard (22 points, 18 boards).
Golden State (11-9) could not shoot their way past the Rockets' stifling defense, converting a woeful two-for-16 three-pointers.
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Suns 106, Raptors 97
Markieff Morris scored 25 points on 11-for-14 shooting from the field and added 11 rebounds off the bench and Eric Bledsoe had 19 points as the Phoenix Suns handed the Toronto Raptors their sixth straight loss in a 106-97 win.
P.J. Tucker added 17 points and a season-high 13 rebounds and Goran Dragic had 14 points for the Suns, who snapped a three-game losing streak to Toronto and have now won six of their first nine home games.
The Suns outrebounded the Raptors 53-36 and Phoenix had 18 offensive rebounds, with Morris and Tucker each grabbing six.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
