Westbrook shines for Rockets past Bucks
It was Russell Westbrook’s turn to shine.
Westbrook scored 31 points to lead the Houston Rockets past the Milwaukee Bucks 120-116 at the NBA season bubble in Orlando Sunday.
"It's amazing," Westbrook said. "We fought through. Adversity showed up and we showed off. All the guys in our locker room showed up to play for 48 minutes."
James Harden, who starred in their last game against the Dallas Mavericks with 49 points, added 24.
Like against Dallas, Houston rallied from a deficit to win. The Rockets bombed away as it went 21-of-61 from three-point range, which matched an NBA record for the most three-point attempts by a club in a non-overtime game.
The Rockets spoiled a big game from Giannis Antetokounmpo who had 36 points, 18 rebounds, and eight assists.
“We've got to keep executing at the end of close games," Antetokounmpo said. "We weren't able to do that. We've got to find the open man and hit more shots."
In other games, the Boston Celtics topped the Portland Trailblazers 128-124; the San Antonio Spurs edged the Memphis Grizzlies 108-106; the Phoenix Suns nipped the Dallas Mavericks 117-115; the Brooklyn Nets turned back the Washington Wizards 118-110; and the Orlando Magic zapped the Sacramento Kings 132-116.
Lakers look to get back on winning ways
The Los Angeles Lakers hope to rebound from a resounding loss to defending champion Toronto Raptors in their game against the Utah Jazz on Monday.
In other games Monday:
The Toronto Raptors test the Miami Heat; the Denver Nuggets meet Chris Paul and the Oklahoma City Thunder; the Indiana Pacers take on the Washington Wizards; the Memphis Grizzlies tackle the New Orleans Pelicans; and the San Antonio Spurs battle the Philadelphia 76ers.
Magic's Isaac sustains ACL injury
Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac sustained an Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury in the third quarter of their game against the Bucks.
Isaac planted his left leg as he drove to the basket early in the final canto. He instantly clutched his left knee in pain and slumped on the floor.
He lied on the floor for a few minutes before being taken off the court on a wheelchair.
Isaac had just injured his left knee in January and was expected to miss the rest of the season. And probably next season, too.
In their game against the Brooklyn Nets, he was seen standing for the US national anthem in his jersey unlike his teammates and coaches who knelt, and wearing a “Black Lives Matter” T-shirt.
Wearing a mask reportedly a must at the bubble
A report has said that the NBA has stressed to its players that wearing a mask is a must at the bubble.
Repeated violations could result in the player being removed from the bubble. (Compiled by Tristan Lozano)