Zach LaVine on Thursday scored a season-high 36 points to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 117-108 upset victory against defending NBA champions the Boston Celtics, while LeBron James once again made history.
LaVine went 11-of-19 from the floor and made six three-pointers while adding six rebounds and four assists for the Bulls, who improved to 13-15 for the season.
“We’re a good team,” LaVine said. “We’re competitive and we’re a resilient group.”
Photo: David Butler II / Imagn Images
Ayo Dosunmu contributed 17 points for the Bulls, while Nikola Vucevic had 16 points and 14 rebounds for Chicago.
The Bulls outscored Boston 35-22 in the fourth quarter to rally past the Celtics, who had 31 points and 10 rebounds from Jason Tatum, 20 points from Kristaps Porzingis and 19 from Jaylen Brown in a losing cause as Boston fell to 21-6.
Elsewhere, James broke the NBA all-time minutes played record that had belonged to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar when he was on the court for his 57,447th minute of NBA competition and 10th of the game in helping the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Sacramento Kings 113-100.
Photo: AP
James, who passed Abdul-Jabbar for the NBA all-time scoring record earlier this year, added 19 points, while Austin Reaves had 25 points and Anthony Davis added 21 points and 20 rebounds.
“It’s just a commitment to the craft and to the passion and love I have for the game,” James said. “I don’t take much time in the off-season, a little bit more time now.”
French star Victor Wembanyama scored 42 points to power the San Antonio Spurs to a 133-126 overtime triumph over the visiting Atlanta Hawks.
Photo: AFP
De’Andre Hunter, who led the Hawks with 27 points off the bench, slammed in a dunk with 11 seconds remaining to lift Atlanta level at 120-120 and force the overtime, in which Wemby had a dunk and two three-pointers.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points to spark the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder to a 105-99 triumph against the Orlando Magic.
Anthony Black led the Magic with 23 points off the bench.
Photo: AFP
The Memphis Grizzlies routed the visiting Golden State Warriors 144-93, but lost guard Ja Morant to back soreness following a fall after playing just 17 minutes.
Spanish forward Santi Aldama had 21 points and 14 rebounds off the bench to lead the Grizzlies, who made a club-record 27 three-pointers in 48 attempts, Aldama and Luke Kennard each hitting five to lead the way.
In off-court news, former NBA stars Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony and Marc Gasol and NBA champion coach Doc Rivers were among the first-time nominees for the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Photo: AFP
The list of candidates for induction next year also included women’s stars Sue Bird, Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles and Chamique Holdsclaw.
“The nominees on the official ballot for the Class of 2025 represent a broad cross-section of our game,” Hall of Fame president John Doleva said. “From Olympic gold medals to NBA and WNBA titles to collegiate championships, these nominees epitomize the career of a Hall of Famer.”
Finalists are to be selected by screening committees and announced on Feb. 14.
Photo: CNA
The final Hall of Fame Class is to be revealed on April 5.
Three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Howard, 39, won an NBA crown with the Lakers in 2020. The top overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft played for seven different clubs through 2022 before a final campaign in Taiwan. He averaged 15.7 points and 11.8 rebounds over his NBA career.
Anthony, 40, was a 10-time NBA All-Star forward who averaged 22.5 points and 6.2 rebounds a game over 19 seasons. He also helped the US to three Olympic gold medals and a bronze.
Spaniard Gasol, 39, won an NBA title with Toronto in 2019. The 2013 NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Rivers, the coach of NBA Cup champions the Milwaukee Bucks, coached the Celtics to the 2008 NBA title and was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2000.
Elsewhere on Thursday, it was:
‧ Mavericks 95, Clippers 118
‧ Pistons 119, Jazz 126
‧ Raptors 94, Nets 101
‧ Rockets 133, Pelicans 113
‧ Suns 111, Pacers 120
‧ Timberwolves 107, Knicks 133
‧ Trail Blazers 126, Nuggets 124
‧ Wizards 123, Hornets 114
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