NBA Roundup: Hornets Buzz by Kings, End 11-Game Skid

Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (0) and Charlotte Hornets forward P.J. Washington Jr. (25) shake hands after the game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Jan 2, 2024. Kelley L Cox/USA TODAY Sports via Field Level Media

Terry Rozier scored 34 points and the Charlotte Hornets ended an 11-game losing streak by rallying for a 111–104 victory over the host Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night.

Miles Bridges added 27 points for Charlotte, which concluded the game with 10 consecutive points to win for the first time since Dec. 8. P.J. Washington added 17 points off the bench for the Hornets, who shot 75 percent from the field (12 of 16) during a 36-point final quarter.

De'Aaron Fox recorded 30 points, six assists, and five rebounds for the Kings, who have lost three of their past five games. Domantas Sabonis had 23 points and 19 rebounds but also committed a career-worst 11 turnovers.

Chris Duarte added 12 points and Keegan Murray scored 10 for the Kings, who committed 21 turnovers.

Thunder 127, Celtics 123

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 36 points and Josh Giddey added a season-high 23 as Oklahoma City knocked off visiting Boston.

With 3.7 seconds left, Kristaps Porzingis hit an apparent corner 3 that would’ve cut Oklahoma City’s lead to one. But Porzingis’s foot was on the line and the shot was ruled a 2 instead, and the Thunder held a 125–123 lead.

Gilgeous-Alexander hit a pair of free throws after being fouled following an inbounds pass to all but seal the win. Porzingis led Boston with 34 points and 10 rebounds. The victory extended the Thunder’s winning streak to five games while snapping the Celtics’ six-game winning streak.

76ers 110, Bulls 97

Joel Embiid returned from an 11-day absence to produce a triple-double of 31 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists, lifting host Philadelphia past Chicago.

It was the second triple-double this season and the seventh of Embiid’s career. Embiid, who also had two blocked shots, extended his streak of at least 30 points and 10 rebounds to 14 games. This time, he accomplished the feat in three quarters.

DeMar DeRozan led the short-handed Bulls with 16 points while Ayo Dosunmu added 15 and Coby White had 14. Andre Drummond had a double-double of 11 points and 17 rebounds.

Pelicans 112, Nets 85

CJ McCollum scored 16 points to lead a balanced scoring effort and host New Orleans never trailed in a rout of struggling Brooklyn.

McCollum was joined in double figures by six teammates as Herbert Jones scored 14 points, Jose Alvarado had 13 off the bench and Brandon Ingram scored 12. Jonas Valanciunas added 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Cameron Johnson scored 17 points, Mikal Bridges had 13 and Day'Ron Sharpe added 12 to lead the Nets, who lost their fourth straight game.

Grizzlies 106, Spurs 98

Ja Morant scored 26 points, 13 of them in the fourth quarter, and dished out 10 assists as Memphis beat visiting San Antonio.

The Grizzlies snapped a three-game losing streak while San Antonio dropped its third straight contest.

Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 20 points. Keldon Johnson had 19 off the bench, Julian Champagnie and Jeremy Sochan scored 12 apiece and Devin Vassell hit for 11.

Warriors 121, Magic 115

Stephen Curry scored a game-high 36 points and added a team-high six assists as Golden State snapped a three-game losing streak by beating Orlando in San Francisco.

Jonathan Kuminga added 19 points and Klay Thompson had 15 for the Warriors, who outshot the Magic 53.8 percent to 44.6 percent.

Paolo Banchero led Orlando with 27 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, and Franz Wagner chipped in with 25 points.