NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Jordan Poole scored 22 points in his return from a left quadriceps injury that sidelined him for 18 games, and the New Orleans Pelicans snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 143-120 victory over the short-handed Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night.
Trey Murphy III had 24 points and Bryce McGowens hit all five 3-pointers he took on his way to tying a career high with 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting for New Orleans.
The Pelicans won for just the second time since James Borrego took over as coach after Willie Green was fired on Nov. 15.
Shaedon Sharpe scored 21 points for Portland, which had just 10 players available and lost for the sixth time in seven games.
Six players scored 15 or more points for the Pelicans, including rookies Jeremiah Fears (19) and Derik Queen (17). New Orleans also set a franchise record with 86 points in the paint.
Sidy Cissoko scored 20 points for the Blazers, while Jerami Grant and Deni Avdija each had 16.
BUCKS 116, CELTICS 101
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Kyle Kuzma scored a season-high 31 points and Bobby Portis added 27 points and 10 rebounds as Milwaukee rallied in the second half to defeat Boston without injured star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Portis hit a pair of 3-pointers from the left corner as Milwaukee opened the fourth quarter with an 8-2 run to go in front 95-82. Another 3 by Portis put the Bucks up 106-89 with 6:49 remaining.
Portis hit 11 of 13 shots, including 5 of 6 beyond the arc, in 26 minutes. Kevin Porter Jr. had 18 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists.
Jaylen Brown scored 30 points and Jordan Walsh added 20 for the Celtics, whose five-game winning streak ended.
ROCKETS 115, CLIPPERS 113
HOUSTON (AP) — Amen Thompson's three-point play with 17.2 seconds left helped Houston to a win over Los Angeles.
Thompson tipped in Alperen Sengun's miss to break a 110-110 tie, was fouled by Kris Dunn and hit the and-1 free throw. The putback came off Houston's third offensive rebound of the possession and 21st of the night.
Thompson made 8 of 12 from the field and finished with 20 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists.
The Rockets (16-6) outrebounded the Clippers 51-28 and avoided losing back-to-back games for the first time since October 24.
Los Angeles had two possessions with a chance to tie the game, but Kawhi Leonard was called for an offensive foul, and Nicolas Batum committed a violation on an inbounds pass.
NUGGETS 136, KINGS 105
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 36 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists as Denver cruised to a victory over Sacramento for their fourth straight victory.
Peyton Watson scored 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting for the Nuggets (18-6). Cameron Johnson added 16 and Jonas Valanciunas had 15 points and six rebounds off the bench.
Jokic made 14 of 16 shots from the field, including both his 3-pointers, and went 6 for 8 at the free-throw line. He did not play in the fourth quarter.
Jamal Murray and Tim Hardaway Jr. had 11 points apiece for Denver.
