Nembhard’s big night helps Pacers pull away from Kings 116-105

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Andrew Nembhard had 28 points and a season-high 12 assists, and helped Indiana regain control in the fourth quarter as the Pacers beat the Sacramento Kings 116-105 on Monday night.

Bennedict Mathurin added 25 points and Pascal Siakam scored 23 for the Pacers, who matched a season best with their second straight win and improved to 6-18 overall. Indiana has won four of six after starting 2-16.

Russell Westbrook finished with 24 points, 14 assists and 13 rebounds for the Kings in his fourth triple-double this season and the 207th of his career. DeMar DeRozan added 20 points and Zach LaVine had 16.

Indiana was in control much of the way, extending a 66-51 halftime lead to 77-58 on Nembhard’s layup with 8 1/2 minutes remaining in the third quarter. But the Kings used a 37-point quarter to trim it to 92-88 going into the fourth, then reeled off an 11-0 run to open a 101-97 lead on Westbrook’s basket midway through the period.

Nembhard made a 3-pointer to stem the tide and Mathurin followed with one of his own to put Indiana back on top at 103-101. Nembhard followed with another 3 and a layup to extend the Pacers’ lead to 108-101.

SUNS 108, TIMBERWOLVES 105

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Mark Williams had 22 points and seven rebounds, and Phoenix overcame Anthony Edwards’ 40 points to snap Minnesota’s five-game winning streak.

Collin Gillespie added 19 points and Dillon Brooks had 18 for the Suns, who stunned Minnesota with a late rally in their previous meeting but had an easier time Monday. Phoenix never trailed by more than two points in its final tuneup before traveling to league-leading Oklahoma City on Wednesday for an NBA Cup quarterfinal game.

Edwards shot 15 for 21 and Julius Randle had 21 points, but the rest of Minnesota’s top players struggled. Naz Reid was 2 for 12 off the bench and Jaden McDaniels and Donte DiVincenzo both went 1 for 7.

Rudy Gobert was having a good night until he was ejected in the third quarter for a flagrant foul. He finished with 15 points and eight rebounds.

SPURS 135, PELICANS 132

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Harrison Barnes scored 24 points, rookie Dylan Harper capped a 22-point performance with a go-ahead driving floater with 9 seconds left, and San Antonio recovered from losing a 20-point halftime lead to beat the reeling New Orleans.

Rookie Derik Queen led a furious Pelicans comeback bid, scoring 29 of his season-high 33 points in the second half, and adding 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his first NBA triple-double.

De’Aaron Fox, who scored 14 points, hit two free throws with 1.1 seconds left for the final margin, which stood after Saddiq Bey’s rushed 3-point shot at the horn bounced off the front rim.

Stephon Castle scored 18 points for San Antonio and Julian Champagnie added 17 points, highlighted by his five 3s.