(The Sports Xchange) – Goran Dragic scored 24 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, and Wayne Ellington finished with 19 points as Miami defeated Chicago.
Miami won its third straight game as James Johnson finished with 15 points to go along with 11 points and 10 rebounds from Hassan Whiteside and 10 points off the bench from Kelly Olynyk. Tyler Johnson rounded out Miami’s balanced scoring attack with 10 points.
The Bulls, who have lost five straight, were led by Jerian Grant, who scored 24 points. Denzel Valentine scored 14 points and had 13 rebounds for Chicago, which also got 15 points from Justin Holiday and 11 apiece from rookie Lauri Markkanen and Bobby Portis.
Timberwolves 119, Suns 108
Karl-Anthony Towns had 32 points and 12 rebounds, and Jimmy Butler chipped in with 25 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves held on for a 119-108 win against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.
Towns recorded his league-leading 16th double-double, and Andrew Wiggins scored 21 points with a season-high four 3-pointers for Minnesota, which survived another strong shooting night from an opponent. Phoenix shot 50.6 percent from the field and was 13 of 26 from 3-point range despite playing without leading scorer Devin Booker.
Taj Gibson had 16 points and a season-high 14 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who had lost three of their previous four games. Minnesota is off to its best start since 2005-06 when it also started 12-8.
Nets 98, Grizzlies 88
DeMarre Carroll scored 24 points and Trevor Booker had 16 points and 11 rebounds as Brooklyn beat Memphis.
Marc Gasol and Tyreke Evans had 18 points each to pace the Grizzlies. Gasol scored only two points in the second half.
Memphis, playing its sixth straight game without injured starting point guard Mike Conley, was outscored 32-18 in the third quarter. The Grizzlies lost for the 11th time in 13 games.
