INSIDER
Orlando Magic fall to Bucks, who will return to NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas
Read full article: Orlando Magic fall to Bucks, who will return to NBA Cup semifinals in Las VegasGiannis Antetokounmpo scored 37 points, Damian Lillard had nine of his 28 in the final minute and the Milwaukee Bucks returned to the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas by beating the Orlando Magic 114-109 on Tuesday night.
Antetokounmpo gets triple-double as surging Bucks beat slumping Pacers 129-117 in NBA Cup play
Read full article: Antetokounmpo gets triple-double as surging Bucks beat slumping Pacers 129-117 in NBA Cup playGiannis Antetokounmpo had 37 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for his second triple-double in his last four games, and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Indiana Pacers 129-117 on Friday.
Franz Wagner scores 19 points, Banchero adds 17 as Orlando Magic beat short-handed Raptors
Read full article: Franz Wagner scores 19 points, Banchero adds 17 as Orlando Magic beat short-handed RaptorsFranz Wagner scored 19 points, Paolo Banchero had 17 and the Orlando Magic beat short-handed Toronto, handing the Raptors their season-worst sixth straight loss.
Russell scores 28 points in return, Lakers beat Raptors
Read full article: Russell scores 28 points in return, Lakers beat RaptorsD’Angelo Russell had 28 points and nine assists in his dynamic return from a six-game injury absence, and Dennis Schröder added 23 points and seven assists in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 122-112 victory over the Toronto Raptors.
Garland scores 29 in return, Cavs edge Celtics 114-113 in OT
Read full article: Garland scores 29 in return, Cavs edge Celtics 114-113 in OTDarius Garland scored 29 points in his return after missing five games with an ugly eye injury and Donovan Mitchell added 25, leading Cleveland to a 114-113 overtime win over Boston.
Embiid scores 33 points, 76ers finish off Raptors in Game 6
Read full article: Embiid scores 33 points, 76ers finish off Raptors in Game 6Joel Embiid had 33 points and 10 rebounds, James Harden added 22 points and 15 assists and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Toronto Raptors 132-97 in Game 6 to end the first-round series Thursday night.
Magic end 9-game skid against Raptors with 103-97 victory
Read full article: Magic end 9-game skid against Raptors with 103-97 victoryCole Anthony had 15 points and 12 rebounds, Chuma Okeke had 10 points and 11 rebounds and the Orlando Magic beat Toronto 103-97 on Friday night, snapping a nine-game losing streak against the Raptors.
Doncic leads streaking Mavericks to 102-98 win over Raptors
Read full article: Doncic leads streaking Mavericks to 102-98 win over RaptorsLuka Doncic scored a season-high 41 points, including a clutch 3-pointer with 1:01 to play, and tied his season best with 14 rebounds as the surging Dallas Mavericks held off the Toronto Raptors 102-98.
Anunoby has career-best 36, Raptors beat Knicks 113-104
Read full article: Anunoby has career-best 36, Raptors beat Knicks 113-104OG Anunoby scored a career-high 36 points and the Toronto Raptors won their fourth straight by beating the New York Knicks 113-104 in the 75th anniversary of the NBA’s first game.
VanVleet, Barnes lead way as Raptors beat Magic 110-109
Read full article: VanVleet, Barnes lead way as Raptors beat Magic 110-109Fred VanVleet scored 16 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter, Scottie Barnes had 21 points and the Toronto Raptors won back-to-back games for the first time this season, holding on to beat the Orlando Magic 110-109.
Lowry leads depleted Raptors past Lakers; LeBron exits early
Read full article: Lowry leads depleted Raptors past Lakers; LeBron exits earlyKyle Lowry had 37 points and 11 assists, Pascal Siakam had 39 points and 13 rebounds and the short-handed Toronto Raptors defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 121-114.
Powell scores 22 in Portland debut as Blazers topple Magic
Read full article: Powell scores 22 in Portland debut as Blazers topple MagicNewly acquired guard Norman Powell scored 22 points and hit five 3-pointers in his Portland debut, and C.J. Portland won for a second night in a row and improved to 14-6 this season in back-to-back sets of games. Orlando rookie Chuma Okeke scored a career-best 22 points by making 9 of 15 shots and 4 of 6 3-pointers. Coincidentally, his father, Gary Trent, was also dealt from Portland to Toronto halfway through his third NBA season in 1998. Magic: Guard Michael Carter-Williams (illness) was scratched from the starting lineup, but entered the midway through the first period, while Terrence Ross (sore knee) missed his sixth straight game.
Trade deadline passes, and Kyle Lowry remains with Raptors
Read full article: Trade deadline passes, and Kyle Lowry remains with RaptorsToronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) celebrates a three-point basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Wednesday, March 24, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)Kyle Lowry wound up staying with Toronto after all. The trade deadline has come and gone. “Anytime you trade a player like Nikola, it is a tough decision to make," Magic President Jeff Weltman said. But Lowry — a free-agent-to-be and considered perhaps the biggest prize on this year's trade market — did not get traded, the Raptors apparently unable to find enough assets to their liking. Questions swirled around Lowry all the way to the 3 p.m. EST deadline, and there were signs that the Raptors were positioning themselves to make the move.
Lillard's late 3 gives Blazers 108-106 win over Warriors
Read full article: Lillard's late 3 gives Blazers 108-106 win over WarriorsPortland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard shoots a 3-point basket over Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, March 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)PORTLAND, Ore. – Played tough by the Warriors all game, Damian Lillard needed to make something happen. Lillard hit a deep 3-pointer with 13.7 seconds left to give the Portland Trail Blazers a hard-fought 108-106 victory over Golden State on Wednesday night. His 3-pointer gave Golden State a 101-96 lead with 3:57 remaining. He took a charge from Green, which prompted an unsuccessful challenge by Golden State, and Portland won its second straight after a four-game losing streak.
Lillard scores 30 points as Trail Blazers down 76ers 118-114
Read full article: Lillard scores 30 points as Trail Blazers down 76ers 118-114Anthony scored a season-high 24 points off the bench, including 16 in the fourth quarter, and the Trail Blazers beat the Sixers 118-114 on Thursday night. Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 35 points and nine rebounds, and Ben Simmons added 23 points and 11 boards. “I thought tonight was just one of those games where we felt like we had to win the game,” Anthony said. Trail Blazers: It was the first of a back-to-back for Portland. The Trail Blazers host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.
Lillard scores 36 as Portland downs the Orlando Magic
Read full article: Lillard scores 36 as Portland downs the Orlando MagicPORTLAND, Ore. – Damian Lillard scored 36 points and the Portland Trail Blazers extended their winning streak over the Orlando Magic to eight games with a 106-97 victory on Tuesday night. The Magic were also without Michael Carter-Williams, who has a sprained foot, and Aaron Gordon because of a sprained left ankle. Aminu played for four years in Portland before signing with Orlando as a free agent in 2019. AdTrail Blazers: Portland was without Nassir Little because of a left knee sprain. Trail Blazers: Host the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, the same time that the forecast calls for snow in the Portland area.
Trent, Anthony lead undermanned Portland past 76ers 121-105
Read full article: Trent, Anthony lead undermanned Portland past 76ers 121-105Portland Trail Blazers' Rodney Hood, left, tries to dribble past Philadelphia 76ers' Seth Curry during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021, in Philadelphia. Gary Trent Jr. scored 24 points and Enes Kanter had 17 points and 18 rebounds to lead the undermanned Trail Blazers to a 121-105 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night. Carmelo Anthony had 22 points and a Trail Blazers team with four starters missing led by as many as 29 points against the top team in the East. “But on both ends of the floor, the other guys did an amazing job today.”Joel Embiid scored 37 points for the Sixers. Throw in four players already out with injuries -- including Jusuf Nurkic (wrist) and McCollum (left foot) -- and the Trail Blazers were down to nine players.
Stephen Curry has career-high 62, Warriors beat Blazers
Read full article: Stephen Curry has career-high 62, Warriors beat BlazersGolden State Warriors guard Damion Lee, right, pours water over the head of guard Stephen Curry (30) while celebrating Curry's career-high 62 points against the Portland Trail Blazers in an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021. One small blemish in his brilliant night: Curry had his streak of free throws snapped at a franchise-record 80 in the first. Against Portland, Curry made a career-high 18 of his most attempts yet at 19. McCollum shot 2 for 8 from deep after his 25 3-pointers over the initial five games left him and Curry as the only players to ever do so. ... Curry scored 20 or more in a quarter for the 27th time in his career.
Lillard, Trent shoot Blazers past champion Lakers, 115-107
Read full article: Lillard, Trent shoot Blazers past champion Lakers, 115-107Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, right, fouls Los Angeles Lakers guard Dennis Schroeder (17) during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 28, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)LOS ANGELES – Damian Lillard scored 21 of his 31 points in the second half, and CJ McCollum had 20 points and 11 assists in the Portland Trail Blazers' 115-107 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night. Gary Trent Jr. matched his career high with seven 3-pointers while scoring 28 points in the Blazers' second straight win over the Lakers at Staples Center. Dennis Schröder added 24 points, but the Lakers' streak of 59 straight victories when taking a lead into the fourth quarter was snapped. ... Los Angeles got just 23 bench points, led by Montrezl Harrell's nine.
James and Lakers advance with 131-122 win over Trail Blazers
Read full article: James and Lakers advance with 131-122 win over Trail BlazersWe got better throughout the course of the series, James said. The Lakers hadn't won a playoff series since 2012. James has never lost a first-round playoff series, going 14-0. CJ McCollum had 36 points for the surprisingly scrappy Trail Blazers, who played without injured All-Star guard Damian Lillard. His personality and energy were unmatched, and his contributions on the court were unmistakable, helping the Trail Blazers into the playoffs each of his eight seasons with the team, the Blazers said in a statement.
After deciding to stay, Lakers could be in bubble a while
Read full article: After deciding to stay, Lakers could be in bubble a while(AP Photo/Ashley Landis)LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. There was a point this week when LeBron James and the Lakers weren't sure they would remain in the bubble. The Lakers moved into the Western Conference semifinals by finishing off the Portland Trail Blazers with a 131-122 victory on Saturday night. It was the Lakers' first series victory since 2012 and set them up for a second-round matchup against Houston or Oklahoma City. The Rockets lead 3-2 with Game 6 on Monday, so the Lakers will have some time off. Anthony Davis said the Lakers know they have to get back to their usually stronger defense in the next round.
Lillard scores 34 and Blazers beat Lakers 100-93 in Game 1
Read full article: Lillard scores 34 and Blazers beat Lakers 100-93 in Game 1James' layup gave Los Angeles the lead, and Kuzma added a pair of free throws and another layup to extend it to 84-78. After Danny Green's layup tied it again for Los Angeles, Lillard nailed a 3-pointer. The Blazers were able to stay in front throughout the third quarter, but the Lakers kept it close. The game was delayed for a time in the first half when the Lakers' rim got tilted and had to be adjusted. TIP INSTrail Blazers: Lillard had 48 points in Portland's 127-119 victory over the Lakers in Los Angeles on Jan. 31.
McGruder's late 3 helps Clippers edge Trail Blazers 122-120
Read full article: McGruder's late 3 helps Clippers edge Trail Blazers 122-120Portland led by as much as 10 in the first quarter and was up 37-34 at the end of the quarter. They also outshot the Trail Blazers outside the arc hitting 15 of 34 (44.1%) compared to 17 of 43 (39.5%). Trail Blazers: Outscored Los Angeles 46-38 in the paint. HEY YOUThe Trail Blazers had some regional support with Blitz the Seahawk, mascot for the NFLs Seattle Seahawks, sitting in the virtual seats, for the early afternoon game. Trail Blazers: Play Philadelphia on Sunday.
Tatum has 34 as Celtics beat Trail Blazers 128-124
Read full article: Tatum has 34 as Celtics beat Trail Blazers 128-124That was a playoff-level energy that we had to play with at the end of the game, Boston coach Brad Stevens said. Jaylen was open and those were the right reads.Damian Lillard had 30 points and 16 assists for Portland. Jusuf Nurkic added 30 points in his second official game back after breaking his leg in March 2019. UP NEXTTrail Blazers: Play Houston on Tuesday night. Celtics: Play the Heat on Tuesday night.
McCollum, Lillard help Blazers get past Memphis in OT
Read full article: McCollum, Lillard help Blazers get past Memphis in OTLillard finished with 29 points and nine assists as the Trail Blazers boosted their hopes for a seventh consecutive playoff appearance. Carmelo Anthony added 21 points as Portland moved within 2 1/2 games of the Grizzlies for the No. Everybody knew how important that game was," Blazers coach Terry Stotts said. Jaren Jackson Jr. had 33 points and rookie Ja Morant added 22 points and 11 assists for Memphis. It was a weird game," McCollum said.