BOSTON, NOV 21 (US): Jason Tatum scored 37 points and captured 11 rebounds as host Boston Celtics spoiled LeBron James’ long-awaited comeback with a 130-108 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
James finished with 23 points on 10 from 16 and six rebounds in 32 minutes after the Lakers missed eight previous games due to abdominal strain, Reuters reported.
Marcus Smart scored 22 points, eight rebounds and six assists for Boston. Celtics goalkeeper Dennis Schroeder scored 21 goals against his former team. Alhorford added 18 points and Josh Richardson 15 points for the Celtics, who scored their sixth win in nine games.
Anthony Davis scored 31 points, Carmelo Anthony added 13 points, and Russell Westbrook totaled 12 points, six assists and four boards for Los Angeles, which went 3-5 without James.
Nets 115, Magic 113
James Harden scored 13 of his 36 points in the third quarter and Brooklyn survived some shaky moments in the fourth quarter before defeating Orlando in New York.
The Nets won for the 10th time in 12 games, and star Kevin Durant (a right shoulder sprain) survived missing his first game of the season. Harden only hit 7 of 25 from the ground but added 10 rebounds and eight assists. Patty Mills of Brooklyn scored 22 points while James Johnson contributed 17 points.
Rookie Galen Suggs scored 17 points out of 21 in the first quarter from 41 points in Orlando. Chuma Okeke and rookie Franz Wagner each added 17 hits to Orlando.
Hornets 121, Pacers 118
Lamelo Ball had a big first game on his way to 32 points as host Charlotte earned their fifth game in a row by defeating Indiana. He hit the ball 12 to 22 from the field and also had 11 rebounds and eight assists.
Gordon Hayward scored 25 points and Kelly Uber Jr. scored 16 for the Hornets.
Jeremy Lamb scored 23 points from the bench, while Malcolm Brugdon scored 16 points for the Pacers, who lost three consecutive games.
Warriors 105, Pistons 102
Jordan Paul scored 32 points, the highest level of the season, and Golden State defeated its guest Detroit despite the absence of several key players, including the two-time most valuable player Stephen Curry.
Andrew Wiggins scored 27 points and Nemanja Bielica threw 14 points from the bench for the Warriors. The league’s top scorer at 29.5 points per game, Curry did not play due to a contusion to his left thigh. Also sat Draymond Green (a contusion to the right thigh), Andre Iguodala (right knee soreness) and Otto Porter Jr (managing a left foot injury).
Reserve Frank Jackson led the Pistons with 27 points, their highest level of the season. Jeramy Grant and Kid Cunningham scored 19 points each for Detroit.
96 bucks, Thunder 89
Giannis Antetokonmo scored 21 points and 19 rebounds to help Milwaukee beat visiting Oklahoma City.
Antetokounmpo added seven assists and four balls to help the Bucks claim their second straight win despite shooting 37.3% from the ground, their lowest level of the season. Bobby Portez added 17 points and 13 rebounds.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Thunder with 17 points but only shot 5 of 20 from the floor and 2 of 12 from behind the arc. Josh Gedi and Mike Moskala scored 14 points each.
Pelicans 94, clippers 81
Jonas Valanciunas scored 26 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, and the hosts of New Orleans overcame a 20-point delay to defeat Los Angeles, who lost for the third time in four games after seven consecutive victories.
Josh Hart scored 19 points and 10 rebounds, Brandon Ingram scored 17 points and 12 rebounds and Kyra Lewis Jr. scored 16 points to lead the Pelicans to victory for only the third time this season. This win was their second in four matches.
Paul George scored 19 points, Nicolas Batum 12, Isaiah Hartenstein and Terrance Mann added 11 points to the Clippers.
Bulls 114, Nuggets 108
Zach Lavigne scored 36 points, the highest level of the season, while DeMar DeRozan scored 26 points, and Chicago beat Denver.
Derek Jones Jr. scored 16 points and Iyo Dosunmou scored 10 for the Bulls.
Aaron Gordon scored 28 points and had nine rebounds, Will Barton scored 23 points, and Facundo Campazzo scored 16 for Nuggets, who played without Nikola Jokic (sprained right wrist).
Suns 112, Mavericks 104
And Michael Bridges and Devin Booker scored 19 points each, and Chris Paul added 18 points, as host Phoenix continued his winning streak to 11 games by defeating Dallas.
Gavel McGee scored 14 points and Cameron Johnson added 13 points for the Suns, who beat Dallas 33-20 in the fourth quarter.
Luka Doncic (sprained left knee and ankle) missed his second game in a row for the Mavericks, who have lost their last eight encounters against the Suns. Christapps Porzings led the Dallas team with 23 points and 12 rebounds.
Raptors 108, Kings 89
Gary Trent Jr. sprayed three three-pointers in the second quarter, allowing Toronto to escape and hide from hosts Sacramento.
Pascal Siakam led all scorers with 32 points and Trent finished 23 points for the Raptors, who were playing 24 hours after their 119-103 defeat in Utah. Chris Boucher scored 12 rebounds and 10 points.
DeRonne Fox scored 17 points for the Kings, who lost for the sixth time in their last seven games.