NBA roundup: Lakers snap skid with tight win, Nets sink to worst slump for years
Los Angeles, California - Anthony Davis stepped up with a double-double in LeBron James' absence as the Los Angeles Lakers ended their three-game skid with a 99-94 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
James missed out for the fourth straight game with a knee issue but Davis took charge on Wednesday with 30 points, 15 rebounds, and three blocks.
Russell Westbrook contributed with a double-double with nine points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists, while Carmelo Anthony added 24 points for the Lakers. Norman Powell landed five three-pointers in his 30-point haul for Portland.
The Lakers had raced to a 12-point quarter-time lead but the Blazers narrowed that to one point by half-time before a seesawing second half which went down to the final moments.
The win means the Lakers improve to 25-27 but they remain ninth in the NBA's Western Conference.
There's still no clear timeline on LeBron James' injury, as ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported that he won't be rushed back for fear of doing more damage to his knee.
Around the league
Joel Embiid had 27 points and 14 rebounds but could not lift the Philadelphia 76ers as they went down 106-103 to the Washington Wizards. Spencer Dinwiddie (14 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists) had a triple-double for the Wizards, while Kyle Kuzma added 24 points.
LaMelo Ball was excellent in a losing side as well, providing a career-high 38 points, including four triples with six rebounds and nine assists, as the Charlotte Hornets went down 113-107 to the Boston Celtics. Luka Dončić also had 40 points as the Dallas Mavericks lost 120-114 in overtime to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Ja Morant had 23 points, four rebounds and nine assists as the Memphis Grizzlies won 120-108 over the New York Knicks, while the Utah Jazz snapped their five-game skid with a 108-104 win over the Denver Nuggets.
The Brooklyn Nets slumped to their sixth straight defeat, their worst skid since January 2020, after a 112-101 loss to the Sacramento Kings.
James Harden, nursing a sore hand, only managed four points shooting two-of-11 from the field, which was his lowest return since May 15 last year.
Cover photo: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire