AJ Griffin scored on a twisting lob at the overtime buzzer to give the Atlanta Hawks a stunning 123-122 win over the visiting Chicago Bulls on Sunday, ending their three-game losing streak in wild fashion.
With 0.5 seconds left, Jalen Johnson inbounded the ball to Griffin in the lane for the winning flip. Griffin, who initially had his back to the basket, caught the pass in mid-air and converted the acrobatic bucket before getting mobbed by his teammates.
It was the third lead change in the final second. Trae Young hit a step-back jumper from the top of the key with 2.1 seconds left to put Atlanta ahead 121-119. After Chicago called a timeout with one second left, Bogdan Bogdanovic fouled DeMar DeRozan on a 3-point shot with 0.5 seconds left and he made all three free throws to put the Bulls ahead 122-121.
The Bulls had a chance to win the game in regulation. Derrick Jones Jr. was fouled with 0.4 seconds left and made the first free throw before missing the second. Bogdanovic grabbed the rebound to send the game to overtime, tied 110-110.
Bogdanovic led the Hawks with 28 points, including 17 in the first half and five in overtime. Young had 19 points and 14 assists, and Griffin scored 17 points. DeRozan finished with 34 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, and Zach LaVine added 21 points for Chicago. Jones and Andre Drummond both scored 14.
76ers 131, Hornets 113
Joel Embiid had 53 points and 12 rebounds to lift host Philadelphia past depleted Charlotte.
It was the 30th time Embiid has posted at least 40 points and 10 rebounds in his career. It was also Embiid’s second game this season with at least 50 points following a 59-point outburst against the Utah Jazz.
Terry Rozier and Kelly Oubre Jr. led the Hornets with 29 points apiece. Jalen McDaniels had 15 and Mason Plumlee hauled in 12 rebounds for Charlotte, which has dropped five in a row.
Pelicans 129, Suns 124 (OT)
Zion Williamson matched his season high with 35 points as surging New Orleans completed a two-game sweep of visiting Phoenix.
CJ McCollum added 29 points for the Western Conference-leading Pelicans, while Naji Marshall scored 16, Larry Nance Jr. had 15 and Dyson Daniels delivered 11. Deandre Ayton had 28 points and 12 rebounds for the Suns before fouling out, and Mikal Bridges scored 27 points. Phoenix lost its fourth straight game as Chris Paul had six points and 11 assists before also fouling out.
Paul made a jumper to tie the score at 117 with 4.1 seconds left in regulation and Williamson missed a jumper at the buzzer, sending the game to overtime. McCollum made a jumper, Marshall scored from the lane and McCollum made another basket to put New Orleans in command at 129-120 with just over a minute left in the extra period.
Lakers 124, Pistons 117
LeBron James had 35 points, Anthony Davis supplied 34 and visiting Los Angeles snapped a three-game losing streak by defeating Detroit.
Davis also had 15 rebounds and seven assists as the Lakers wrapped up a six-game road trip at 3-3. Lonnie Walker IV tossed in 18 points and Russell Westbrook added 11 with nine assists.
Bojan Bogdanovic carried Detroit with 38 points, including 25 in the third quarter. Jaden Ivey had 16 points, Saddiq Bey contributed 14 and Alec Burks added 11.
Knicks 112, Kings 99
RJ Barrett scored 27 points as New York took control late in the first quarter and extended its season-high winning streak to four games with a victory over visiting Sacramento.
Julius Randle scored all 27 of his points in the first half before getting ejected with 3:35 remaining in the third. Jalen Brunson added 18 points but hobbled off with a sprained right ankle early in the fourth. Barrett made 9 of 21 shots as the Knicks shot 44.9 percent overall. Barrett also added nine rebounds, six assists and three steals.
The Kings entered as the NBA’s second-highest scoring team but were held to a season-low in points, and shot 39.8 percent while playing without De’Aaron Fox (sore right foot). Domantas Sabonis paced Sacramento with 20 points and 12 rebounds while rookie Keegan Murray added 18 points and Kevin Huerter contributed 17.
Magic 111, Raptors 99
Franz Wagner scored 23 points and Orlando defeated visiting Toronto.
Paolo Banchero added 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Magic, who swept a two-game series at home against the Raptors. Gary Trent Jr. led Toronto with 24 points. Fred VanVleet added 20, Pascal Siakam scored 19, Chis Boucher chipped in with 12 and Scottie Barnes scored 11.
Mo Bamba’s block followed by Wagner’s 3-pointer increased Orlando’s lead to 13 with 9:16 remaining in the fourth. The lead reached 16 on Cole Anthony’s 15-footer with 7:41 left. Trent’s layup cut the lead to 10 with 2:14 to play, but the Raptors could never fully overcome their deficit.
Rockets 97, Bucks 92
Jalen Green scored a game-high 30 points and Houston extended its home winning streak to four games with a victory over Milwaukee.
Green was instrumental in carrying the Rockets, scoring over Brook Lopez with 1:55 remaining to provide Houston a 92-90 lead. Green hit a pair of free throws with 34.6 seconds left to answer a driving layup by Giannis Antetokounmpo that knotted the score, and added another free throw after Rockets rookie Jabari Smith Jr. recorded a steal on a pass intended for Antetokounmpo in the post.
Jrue Holiday paced the Bucks with 25 points and eight assists while Bobby Portis paired 17 points with 15 rebounds off the bench. The Bucks shot just 36.7 percent overall and 12 of 43 on 3-pointers. Antetokounmpo shot 7 of 17 from the field and collected 16 points and 18 rebounds.
–Field Level Media
