(The Sports Xchange) Kristaps Porzingis posted his first double-double of the season with 24 points and 11 rebounds as the New York Knicks beat the Dallas Mavericks 93-77 on Monday.
Carmelo Anthony also contributed 24 points as the Knicks snapped a five-game losing streak to the Mavericks. Justin Holiday ignited the Knicks with 16 points off the bench.
Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki warmed up before the game but determined that his sore right Achilles tendon was not ready for game action. He missed a fourth straight game. Harrison Barnes led the Mavericks with 20 points.
Pistons 104, Thunder 88
Aron Baynes scored 20 points in place of injured Andre Drummond as Detroit remained undefeated at home with a win over Oklahoma City.
Drummond, the NBA’s second-leading rebounder, missed the game due to a sprained right ankle. Baynes, making his first start of the season, also grabbed eight rebounds as the Pistons improved to 5-0 at home.
Pacers 88, Magic 69
Former Indiana head coach Frank Vogel returned to Bankers Life Fieldhouse and his old team marked the occasion by playing some stingy defense in a victory over Orlando.
The points allowed were easily a season low for the Pacers, who were known to have one of the league’s better defenses during the Vogel era from 2011 to 2016.
C.J. Miles led the Pacers with 16 points. Evan Fournier topped the Magic with 14 points but he missed 11-of-15 shots from the floor.
Pelicans 106, Celtics 105
Anthony Davis scored 25 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, and Tim Frazier made two foul shots in the final seconds to lift New Orleans to its first home victory of the season.
Langston Galloway scored 21 points for the Pelicans. Isaiah Thomas finished with a game-high 36 points, and Avery Bradley had 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Rockets 115, 76ers 88
James Harden flirted with a third consecutive triple-double and Houston raced past Philadelphia.
Harden produced 33 points, seven rebounds and nine assists in just 34 minutes for the Rockets. Trevor Ariza added 17 points, and Eric Gordon had 16.
Spurs 94, Heat 90
Kawhi Leonard scored 24 points, including five straight in a key stretch of the fourth quarter, and grabbed 12 rebounds as San Antonio outlasted Miami.
LaMarcus Aldridge added 18 points, all in the first half, and San Antonio got 12 points from Pau Gasol.
The Heat (2-7) dropped their fifth consecutive game despite a game-high 27 points (on 26 shots) from Dion Waiters. Hassan Whiteside had 23 points and 17 rebounds.
Grizzlies 102, Jazz 96
Marc Gasol scored 22 points and Vince Carter added 20 off the bench to help Memphis hold off a second-half Utah rally.
Zach Randolph and Mike Conley added 18 points apiece to help the Grizzlies earn their second win in five games. Memphis finished with a 44-29 rebounding advantage.
Clippers 127, Nets 95
Chris Paul had 21 points, nine assists and five steals, leading Los Angeles to a romp over Brooklyn.
Blake Griffin added 20 points, six rebounds and six assists, while J.J. Redick contributed 18 points for the Clippers. Los Angeles captured its seventh straight win and six consecutive decision at Staples over the Nets.
