Veteran Kobe Bryant, 37, led the Los Angeles Lakers to their fifth victory in 28 NBA games, beating hosts Denver Nuggets by four points, 111–107. The cumulative quarter scores were 26–34, 51–64, 83–80 and 111–107. The game took place early today at Denver’s Pepsi Center before 19,124 spectators. Bryant led his team with a season-high 31 points and five assists, followed by Jordan Clarkson with 19 points and eight rebounds and Lou Williams with 17 points. Denver suffered its 17th defeat in 28 games and was without injured Italian Danilo Gallinari and Congolese Emmanuel Mudiay. Will Barton scored 25 points with eight rebounds, and Gary Harris added 21.
At Toronto’s Air Canada Centre, in front of 19,800 spectators, the Toronto Raptors beat the visiting Dallas Mavericks 103–99, with cumulative quarter scores of 32–16, 49–36, 72–67 and 103–99. Toronto recorded its 18th victory in 30 games. DeMar DeRozan led with 28 points, Kyle Lowry had 17 points, ten rebounds and seven assists, Terrence Ross scored 16, Argentina’s Luis Scola had 15 points and nine rebounds, and Cory Joseph added 12 points. Dallas suffered its 13th defeat in 28 games, with Germany’s Dirk Nowitzki contributing 20 points and seven rebounds and Wesley Matthews scoring 15.
The Detroit Pistons also defeated hosts Miami Heat by one point, 93–92, with cumulative quarter scores of 18–34, 54–52, 72–75 and 93–92, before 19,901 spectators at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored the winning two points with 55.5 seconds remaining. Detroit earned its 17th win in 29 games. Reggie Jackson led with 18 points, Stanley Johnson and Caldwell-Pope scored 14 each, Steve Blake added 12, and Andre Drummond had 11 points and 12 rebounds. Miami suffered its 11th defeat in 27 games. Chris Bosh scored 20 points, Dwyane Wade 19, Hassan Whiteside 16 with 16 rebounds, and Slovenia’s Beno Udrih 14 with six assists.
The Memphis Grizzlies defeated hosts Philadelphia 76ers by 14 points, 104–90, with cumulative quarter scores of 31–23, 53–47, 77–66 and 104–90, in front of 15,552 spectators at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center. Memphis recorded its 16th win in 30 games. Spain’s Marc Gasol had 19 points, six rebounds and five assists; Mike Conley contributed 18 points and six assists; Courtney Lee scored 15; Zach Randolph had 14 points and eight rebounds; and Matt Barnes had 12 points and ten rebounds. Philadelphia suffered its 29th defeat in 30 games. Jahlil Okafor scored 18 points, Hollis Thompson 16 and Isaiah Canaan 15.