American Airlines News – LeBron James clutch in double overtime, Los Angeles Lakers defeat Detroit Pistons

Anthony Davis scored 30 points and Dennis Schroder finished with 22 points and eight assists for the Lakers, who almost lost their second straight game to the woeful Pistons who have won just five games all season.

James was able to salvage the victory for the reigning N(BA) champions after they blew a 17-point lead, allowing the Pistons to get back in it and force two overtimes.

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Only James’ brilliance in the second overtime helped get the victory for the Lakers, who committed a season-high 23 turnovers, gave up a 17-point lead and wasted ample winning chances during regulation time.

In double OT, James hit a lay-up then nailed two step-back triples within the final 90 seconds of the game to seal his team’s win.

“I was just ready to go,” James said.

“I’m 36 years old, and … my heart is not sustainable for two overtimes at this point in my career. I’ve got a bottle of wine at home ready to be opened, and I delayed it for two overtime periods.”

James also had 11 assists to make it his 10th double-double of the season and his fourth game over 30 points

Jerami Grant delivered 30 points and Josh Jackson scored 25 of his 28 points in the second half and overtime for the Pistons, who have the worst record in the league.

In Philadelphia, Joel Embiid tallied 33 points and nine rebounds to power the Philadelphia 76ers past the short-handed Brooklyn Nets 124-108.

Tobias Harris added 21 points and 12 rebounds while Ben Simmons had 16 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists — and an emphatic dunk.

Shake Milton contributed 15 points, Furkan Korkmaz added 13 while Danny Green and Seth Curry had 11 each.

The Nets were missing superstar Kevin Durant due to health and safety protocols and Kyrie Irving because of a sprained right index finger.

Luka Doncic equalled a career high with 42 points to fend off a 57-point performance from Stephen Curry as the Dallas Mavericks avoided back-to-back losses to the Golden State Warriors with a thrilling 134-132 win on Saturday.

Slovenia’s Doncic drained a clutch three pointer with 44 seconds left and Maxi Kleber, of Germany, sealed the win with another three to give the Mavs a four-point lead with six seconds to go in the contest at the American Airlines Center in Texas.

The Mavs with the victory managed to avoid a two-game sweep at home after losing 147-116 on Thursday.

Also, Harrison Barnes scored 28 points as the red-hot Sacramento Kings overcame Nikola Jokic’s 50-point night with a 119-114 victory over the undermanned Denver Nuggets.

The Kings used a balanced scoring attack to continue their dominance over the Nuggets. They have won all three contests this season and six of the past seven duels.

After opening the season 5-10, the Kings have won six of seven.

“It’s hard work and trust that has led us to a turnaround,” coach Luke Walton said.

“The group’s continued to believe in each other, believe in what we’re building. There’s just a confidence with the group and we’re giving ourselves chances.”

Jokic shot 20-of-33 from the floor to post a career-high points total for Denver, who have lost three of their last four games. He also dished out 12 assists and grabbed eight rebounds.

The Nuggets played without All-Star Jamal Murray, who sat out with a sore left knee. Canada’s Murray is averaging 19 points and five assists a game this season.

Gary Harris (left adductor strain) missed his second consecutive game, and P.J. Dozier (right hamstring strain) missed his fifth game in a row for Denver.

Murray was replaced in the starting line-up by Monte Morris, who tallied 11 points, nine assists and five rebounds. Paul Millsap finished with 14 points, Will Barton 11 and JaMychal Green 10.

Four Kings players scored 20 or more points, including rookie Tyrese Haliburton with 23 points on eight-of-12 shooting.

De’Aaron Fox finished with 24 points and five assists, while Richaun Holmes posted a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

In Cleveland, Giannis Antetokounmpo had 24 points and 11 rebounds to propel the Milwaukee Bucks to a 124-99 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Antetokounmpo added five assists, just 24 hours after delivering 33 points and 12 rebounds in the Bucks’ 123-105 victory over the Cavs.

Elsewhere, Julius Randle and Elfrid Payton each scored 22 points and the New York Knicks defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 110-99 in a matinee game.

Randle added a team-high 11 rebounds while the Knicks had 18 points from Canada’s R.J. Barrett and 16 more from reserve Alec Burks among six double-digit scorers.

“We’re just trying to play hard. Winning plays happen when you play hard and that’s what happened,” Burks said.

Burks, on his sixth club in just over two N(BA) seasons, said the hunger to outhustle their rivals motivated New York’s 50-28 dominance on points in the paint and let them hold off a Portland rally down the stretch.

“Just contest every shot, stay hot, play our same defence, play hard, get our rebounds,” he said. “And that’s what we did.”

The Knicks improved to 11-13, sixth in the Eastern Conference, with their second win in a row while the Trail Blazers fell to 12-10, level with San Antonio and Golden State for sixth in the Western Conference.

Damian Lillard led Portland with a game-high 29 points while Gary Trent Jr. added 19.

— AFP