ZCZC
BSP-07
BASKET-NBA
Raptors hot streak continues, Vucevic scores 31 for Magic
LOS ANGELES, Nov 26, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Kawhi Leonard delivered 29 points
and 10 rebounds as the NBA-leading Toronto Raptors won their fifth
consecutive game by cruising past the Miami Heat 125-115 on Sunday.
Kyle Lowry finished with 12 points and 10 assists for the Raptors, who are
off to their best 21-game start in history with 17 wins and four losses.
Jonas Valanciunas had 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Pascal Siakam finished
just two points shy of his career best with 21 points.
Veteran Dwyane Wade turned back the clock by scoring a season high 35
points. It was the most points ever for a Heat player coming off the bench,
but they still lost for the seventh time in their last nine games.
And that won’t cut it against Toronto, who are 11-0 against teams with
losing records.
Josh Richardson scored 19 points and Bam Adebayo had 16 points and a
career-high 21 rebounds in the loss.
The Raptors, who made a season-high 17 three-pointers in Friday’s win over
Atlanta, shot 11 for 35 from beyond the arc against the Heat.
– Magic beats Lakers –
Elsewhere, Nikola Vucevic finished with 31 points and 15 rebounds as the
Orlando Magic snapped the Los Angeles Lakers’ three-game winning streak with
a 108-104 victory.
Terrence Ross had 16 points including a clutch layup with 34 seconds left
as the Magic beat the Lakers for the second time in eight days. On November
17, Orlando defeated Los Angeles 130-117.
“We’re trying to build something, and wins like these can really help you
build some momentum,” Vucevic said.
Aaron Gordon had 17 points and D.J. Augustin added 12 points and nine
assists for the Magic.
LeBron James had 24 points and seven assists for the Lakers, who have won
six of their last seven NBA games. Kyle Kuzma scored 21 points and Brandon
Ingram added 17.
The Magic used a rock-solid defense and some timely scoring by Gordon and
Vucevic to outscore the Lakers 35-19 in the third quarter and seize a 86-71
lead.
James and Kuzma were a combined zero-for-five in the quarter in which the
team shot just five-of-21.
James said they need to become more consistent.
“Defensively, we kind of broke down and the energy level was a little lower
than our expectations, and they took advantage of that,” James said.
In the fourth, James missed a three-pointer and Ross made him pay by
driving to the rim for a basket which broke a 104-104 tie.
The Lakers’ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope missed another shot from beyond the
arc on the following Lakers possession, and Gordon got a dunk to help seal
the victory for the Magic.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1127 hrs