Stephen Curry capped a season-best 49-point performance by sinking the game-winning free throws in the final seconds as the visiting Golden State Warriors outlasted the San Antonio Spurs 109-108 on Friday in an NBA Cup clash.
The Warriors swept a two-game mini-series in San Antonio over three nights and won for the third time in their past four games overall. Golden State improved to 1-1 in West Group C play in the league’s in-season tournament, while the Spurs fell to 1-1.
Spurs star Victor Wembanyama jumped over a defender for a tip-in to expand the lead to 108-105 with 1:06 left. Jimmy Butler III’s layup cut the gap to a point, and after a stunning block by Wembanyama and a miss by the Spurs’ De’Aaron Fox, Curry drove the lane and was fouled with 6.4 seconds to play.
Curry made both free throws. After a timeout, San Antonio went back to Fox, whose contested jumper at the buzzer bounced twice on the rim before falling away.
Knicks 140, Heat 132
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 31 of his 39 points in the first half, Landry Shamet had a career-high 36 points off the bench, and fellow reserve Josh Hart posted a triple-double to lead host New York past Miami.
Towns scored eight unanswered points to ignite the decisive 17-6 run that ended the first half for the Knicks, who finished 6-1 during a season-long seven-game homestand. New York won Friday despite missing Jalen Brunson, who was sidelined with a right ankle injury suffered in Wednesday’s 124-107 loss to the Orlando Magic.
Shamet scored the most points by a reserve in the NBA this season and the most by a Knicks player off the bench since J.R. Smith had 37 points against the Charlotte Bobcats on Mar. 29, 2013.
Bucks 147, Hornets 134 (OT)
Myles Turner hit a 3-pointer to open overtime and host Milwaukee never looked back, outlasting Charlotte in a back-and-forth game.
The Bucks, who never led by more than seven in regulation, outscored the Hornets 18-5 in overtime. Kyle Kuzma led Milwaukee with 29 points and 10 rebounds, and Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 25 points, 18 assists and seven assists.
Miles Bridges and rookie Kon Knueppel had 32 points apiece for the Hornets, who led by as many as 10 in the first half before losing for the fourth time in five games. LaMelo Ball, back from an ankle injury, had 16 points and 10 assists
Pistons 114, 76ers 105
Javonte Green led six players in double figures with 21 points and nine rebounds as short-handed Detroit won its ninth straight by rallying past visiting Philadelphia. Daniss Jenkins had 19 points and eight assists for the Pistons.
Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 31 points, while VJ Edgecombe contributed 18 points and Justin Edwards chipped in 13.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Andre Drummond and Edwards pushed Philadelphia’s lead to 83-71 late in the third quarter. But Detroit clawed back with a 17-7 run to end the quarter and outscored the visitors 26-15 in the fourth quarter.
Magic 105, Nets 98
Franz Wagner sank a pair of late 3-pointers to highlight his 25-point performance and fuel host Orlando past Brooklyn.
Tristan da Silva added 22 points and nine rebounds while starting in place of the injured Paolo Banchero (left groin strain) as the Magic overcame an early 16-point deficit and finished with an 11-0 run to record their sixth win in the last eight games and improve to 2-0 in the NBA Cup.
Brooklyn’s Michael Porter Jr. collected 24 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high seven assists. He made 10 of 23 shots from the floor as the Nets lost for the 11th time in 12 games and both NBA Cup games.
Rockets 140, Trail Blazers 116
Kevin Durant scored a game-high 30 points, Alperen Sengun flirted with a triple-double and Houston crushed visiting Portland.
Durant scored 16 first-quarter points to ignite the Rockets. Sengun posted 25 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists while Jabari Smith Jr. tallied 22 points.
Deni Avdija scored 14 of his 22 points in the third quarter to help Portland shave a 23-point deficit to 101-91 with a three-point play at the 1:23 mark of the period. But Houston scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter and cruised to its third straight win. Shaedon Sharpe paired 19 points with eight rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who took their third loss in four games.
Lakers 118, Pelicans 104
Luka Doncic scored 24 points with 12 assists and Austin Reaves added 31 points with seven assists as Los Angeles handed New Orleans another home loss.
Deandre Ayton added 20 points with 16 rebounds, Rui Hachimura had 14 points, and Marcus Smart added 13 as the Lakers improved to 2-2 on a five-game road trip that followed a five-game winning streak. Los Angeles is 9-4 without LeBron James (sciatica), who could make his season debut next week.
Trey Murphy III scored 35 points and Jeremiah Fears had 19 for the Pelicans, who saw their losing streak extend to four games. New Orleans is 0-2 to start a five-game homestand and fell to 1-4 in its own building. The Pelicans were without Zion Williamson (hamstring) and Jordan Poole (quad), while Dejounte Murray (Achilles) is out until at least January.
Timberwolves 124, Kings 110
Anthony Edwards scored 30 points and Minnesota finished strong for a victory over Sacramento in Minneapolis.
Julius Randle posted a double-double with 26 points and 11 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who won their fourth game in a row. Donte DiVincenzo finished with 20 points, and Naz Reid contributed 12 points and 12 boards.
Domantas Sabonis scored 34 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Sacramento. Zach LaVine added 25 points for the Kings, who lost their fifth straight game.
Clippers 133, Mavericks 127
James Harden recorded his 82nd career triple-double and scored four of his 41 points in the second overtime as Los Angeles ended a six-game losing streak with a win in Dallas.
Harden had season highs in points and rebounds (14) while dishing 11 assists in 51 minutes for the Clippers, who scored the final points of the game on Derrick Jones Jr.’s two foul shots with 2:20 remaining. Los Angeles moved to 2-0 in NBA Cup West Group B play, while Dallas fell to 0-2.
D’Angelo Russell spearheaded the Mavericks’ rally in the final minutes of regulation. He scored eight straight Dallas points during a 17-6 run, including a layup with 52.4 seconds left that tied the game at 114-114 and sent the game to overtime. Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg scored with 20 seconds left in the first OT to force the second one.
