NBA: Thunder finally get past Spurs on 4th try

Thunder 119, Spurs 98

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 of his 34 points in the third quarter to lead Oklahoma City to a 119-98 home victory over San Antonio on Tuesday, marking the Thunder's first win in four matchups with the Spurs this season.

San Antonio was held below 100 points for the first time this year. The Spurs have now lost back-to-back games and six of their past 10 since beating Oklahoma City three times in a 13-day span. Oklahoma City extended its winning streak to four games.

Gilgeous-Alexander finished 11-of-23 from the field, adding five rebounds, five assists, and a career-tying four blocks. Chet Holmgren contributed 10 rebounds and three blocks as the Thunder matched a season-high 11 blocks. Jalen Williams added 20 points.

Stephon Castle led the Spurs with 20 points, while Victor Wembanyama added 17.

Lakers 141, Hawks 116

LeBron James recorded 31 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds, while Luka Doncic added 27 points and 12 assists to help the Lakers snap a three-game losing streak with a dominating 141-116 win over visiting Atlanta.

Deandre Ayton posted 17 points and a season-high 18 rebounds. Los Angeles shot 60.5% in the first half and 57.8% overall, building an 81-60 halftime lead—their highest-scoring first half of the season.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 26 points for the Hawks, with CJ McCollum adding 25 in his second game with Atlanta following a recent trade from Washington.

Heat 127, Suns 121

Bam Adebayo scored 13 consecutive points late in the fourth quarter, leading Miami to a 127-121 home win over Phoenix.

Norman Powell added 27 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 48 seconds remaining, after missing a game with a back injury. Tyler Herro scored 23 points, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. contributed 16 points and eight assists off the bench.

Grayson Allen and Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 25 points each, while Devin Booker added 24 points, nine rebounds, and a game-high nine assists. Mark Williams posted 18 points and a team-high 14 rebounds as Phoenix’s three-game winning streak ended.

Rockets 119, Bulls 113

Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun recorded double-doubles, and Jabari Smith Jr. hit three late jumpers to help Houston edge visiting Chicago 119-113.

Durant finished with 28 points and 10 rebounds, Sengun had 23 points and 11 assists, and Smith added 18 points. Amen Thompson chipped in 23 points. The game saw neither team leading by double digits.

Chicago’s Tre Jones scored a career-high 34 points on 11-of-12 shooting. Matas Buzelis added 19 points, scoring 15 in the second half. Key players Josh Giddey and Coby White were sidelined due to injuries.

Timberwolves 139, Bucks 106

Minnesota dominated Milwaukee 139-106 despite missing Anthony Edwards (foot injury) and Rudy Gobert (one-game suspension). Julius Randle led the Timberwolves with 29 points, eight rebounds, and six assists.

Bones Hyland scored 23 points, and Naz Reid added 19 points. The Timberwolves have now won six of their last seven games.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 25 points and eight rebounds. Bobby Portis, starting in place of the ill Myles Turner, contributed 14 points.

Nuggets 122, Pelicans 116

Jamal Murray scored 35 points and dished out nine assists, while Peyton Watson added 31 points and seven rebounds to lift Denver to a 122-116 road victory over New Orleans.

Tim Hardaway Jr. added 18 points off the bench. Despite being outrebounded 51-32 and outscored in the paint 56-38, the Nuggets claimed their fourth win in five games.

Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans with 31 points on 11-of-18 shooting. Saddiq Bey added 17 points, and Jordan Poole contributed 16 off the bench. New Orleans has now won only one of its past 12 games.

Warriors 119, Trail Blazers 97

De’Anthony Melton scored a season-high 23 points, while Stephen Curry recorded more assists than points for the first time since last April as Golden State beat Portland 119-97 in San Francisco.

Jimmy Butler III (16 points), Brandin Podziemski (15), Moses Moody (14), and Draymond Green (10) also scored in double figures. Curry had a season-low seven points but contributed a career-best 11 assists.

Shaedon Sharpe led the Trail Blazers with 19 points, and Caleb Love added 17. Portland lost to Golden State for the first time in four matchups this season.

—Field Level Media/Reuters