Johnson leads Hawks to 113-110 win over Hornets, extending Charlotte’s skid to six

ATLANTA (AP) — Jalen Johnson had 28 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds and the Atlanta Hawks won for the seventh time in nine games with a 113-110 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 23 points and five rebounds, and Dyson Daniels added 22 points and nine rebounds for the Hawks. Onyeka Okongwu scored 20 points.

The Hornets, who saw their losing streak extended to six games, were led by rookie Kon Knueppel with 28 points. He set a Hornets rookie record with seven made 3-pointers.

The Hornets trailed 112-110 with 11 seconds left. Alexander-Walker stripped Knueppel on a drive to the basket and was immediately fouled. He made 1 of 2 free throws. The Hornets had a chance at a game-tying three-pointer, but Miles Bridges shot an air ball under heavy pressure at the buzzer.

Johnson has eight straight games of at least 15 points, five rebounds and five assists, setting a franchise record.

HEAT 127, 76ERS 117

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Norman Powell scored 32 points while Kel’el Ware had 20 points and 16 rebounds to help Miami win its fourth in a row with a victory over Philadelphia.

Jaime Jacquez Jr. scored 22 points, and Bam Adebayo contributed 18 for the Heat.

Tyrese Maxey had 27 points to pace Philadelphia, which played without former MVP Joel Embiid for the seventh straight game. Embiid (right knee injury management) has missed 10 of 16 contests this season. Maxey, who. entered second in the NBA in scoring at 33.4 points per contest, was coming off a career-high 54 points in Thursday’s 123-114 overtime win at Milwaukee.

Andre Drummond added 14 points and 23 rebounds for the 76ers. Rookie VJ Edgecombe (left calf tightness) also was sidelined for Philadelphia.

This was the first of three contests between the clubs.

CAVALIERS 120, CLIPPERS 105

CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 37 points and took over when the game got close, leading Cleveland to a victory over Los Angeles.

Mitchell helped the Cavs pull away with a flurry of plays late in the third quarter. He finished with five 3-pointers, eight rebounds and six assists.

Evan Mobley had 18 points and 10 rebounds and De’Andre Hunter scored 17 points as Cleveland went 4-2 on a six-game homestand.

Ivica Zubac paced the Clippers with 33 points — two off his career high — and 18 rebounds.

James Harden, who ha d a franchise-record 55 points for Los Angeles in a win at Charlotte on Saturday, missed all eight 3-point shots and finished with 19 points.

Kawhi Leonard scored 20 points in his return to the Clippers’ lineup after missing 10 games with a sprained right ankle. LA went 2-8 while Leonard was out.

CELTICS 138, MAGIC 129

BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown scored 35 points and Josh Minott scored 12 of his 16 points in the second quarter when Boston shot 81.8% as the Celtics beat short-handed Orlando.

Anfernee Simons added 23 points and Payton Pritchard chipped in with 19 and eight assists for the Celtics, who were coming off a tough home loss to Brooklyn on Friday. Brown also had eight assists.

The Celtics nearly squandered a 26-point, third-quarter lead. But, Brown scored 12 straight points. The Magic whittled away at their deficit and closed within six points in the final minute.

Jett Howard scored a season-high 30 points for the Magic, who were missing three of their top five scorers and had their three-game winning streak snapped. Desmond Bane had 18 points and Franz Wagner 15.

RAPTORS 119, NETS 109

TORONTO (AP) — Scottie Barnes scored 17 points, Ja’Kobe Walter added a season-high 16 and Toronto won for the 11th time in 12 games, beating Brooklyn.

Brandon Ingram had 14 points and Immanuel Quickley scored eight of his 13 in the fourth quarter to help Toronto extend its winning streak to seven.

Toronto’s RJ Barrett scored 16 points before leaving midway through the third because of a sprained right knee. Barrett landed awkwardly after his steal led to a fast break dunk.

Brooklyn’s Tyrese Martin scored a season-high 26 points. Michael Porter Jr. had 25 and Noah Clowney added 22.

Nic Claxton had 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Nets. Claxton had his first career triple-double in Friday night in a win at Boston.

THUNDER 122, TRAIL BLAZERS 95

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 37 points in three quarters and Oklahoma City beat Portland to avenge their only loss of the season.

Gilgeous-Alexander made 13 of 18 attempts from the field and all nine of his free throws.

Ajay Mitchell scored 20 points on 8-for-8 shooting as the defending champion Thunder won their ninth straight after a 121-119 loss at Portland on Nov. 5. They improved to an NBA-best 17-1 and are 85-15 since the start of last season.

The Thunder continue to roll, despite injuries. They still are waiting on 2025 All-Star Jalen Williams to return from wrist surgery, and key reserve Aaron Wiggins missed the game with a left thigh strain. Still, Oklahoma City’s average scoring margin during its winning streak is 22.3 points, with a 13-point difference being the closest result.

Jerami Grant led Portland with 21 points. Deni Avdija, who led the Trail Blazers with 26 points the first time the teams met, finished with 11 points on 4-for-16 shooting in the rematch.

LAKERS 108, JAZZ 106

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Luka Doncic had 33 points and 11 rebounds and LeBron James scored 17 points in his first road game of the season as Los Angeles beat Utah.

James, who scored most of his points on fast breaks and strong drives to the hoop, added eight assists and six rebounds in 34 minutes. He had 11 points and 12 assists in a win against the Jazz on Tuesday, in the first game of his 23rd NBA season. James missed training camp and the Lakers’ first 14 games due to sciatica.

Lauri Markkanen scored 12 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and keyed a Jazz comeback. His 3-pointer was the last of a 17-5 run that brought Utah within 107-106. After Doncic made one of two free throws, Keyonte George’s contested jumper from the corner glanced off the rim just before the final horn.

George had 27 points and eight assists for the Jazz (5-11), who led Wednesday’s game at halftime before falling 140-126. This one was more competitive from tipoff to buzzer.

Austin Reaves scored 22 points and Rui Hachimura added 13 for the Lakers (12-4), who have won four in a row.

SUNS 111, SPURS 102

PHOENIX (AP) — Dillon Brooks scored 25 points, Devin Booker had 24 and Phoenix won their third straight and ended San Antonio’s three-game streak with a victory over the Spurs.

Playing without injured regulars Jalen Green, Grayson Allen and Ryan Dunn, Phoenix, got big contributions from Jordan Goodwin (15 points, 10 rebounds) and center Mark Williams. Collin Gillespie added 15 points.

De’Aaron Fox led San Antonio, playing without the injured Victor Wembanyama, with 26 points. The Spurs won their previous three games, all without Wembanyama, who will be out at least another week with a left calf strain.

Devin Vassell had 17 points, reserve Kelton Johnson had 14 and Julian Champagnie finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds.