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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021 LeBron leads Lakers’ rout of Warriors
Triple-double for Giannis • Tempers flare in NY showdown
LOS ANGELES: LeBron James bagged added. Khris Middleton added 23 points his fourth triple-double of the season as for Milwaukee while center Brook Lopez the Los Angeles Lakers thrashed the finished with 22 as seven Bucks players Golden State Warriors 128-97 on cracked double figures. Monday. James finished with 22 points, Bradley Beal led Washington’s scoring 10 rebounds and 11 assists as the Lakers with 37 points after going 13-of-19 from dominated almost from start to finish for the field with four three-pointers. an impressive win on the road at the Russell Westbrook finished with 23 Chase Center. points and 17 assists while Japan’s Rui Stephen Curry led the Golden State Hachimura added 22 points for scoring with 27 points but the much Washington. Milwaukee improved to 25- hoped-for duel with All-Star game 14 with the win and remain third in the team-mate James never materialized as Eastern Conference behind Brooklyn the Dubs struggled to contain the and leaders Philadelphia. Lakers’ offense. Montrezl Harrell had 27 points off the bench to lead the Lakers Tempers flare scoring while Kyle Kuzma finished with In other games Monday, James 17 points. The Lakers improved to 26-13 Harden bagged a triple double and to remain in third place in the Western Kyrie Irving added 34 points as the Conference while the Warriors fell to Brooklyn Nets rolled to a fifth consecu- ninth place with 20-20. tive victory with a 117-112 win over the Elsewhere Monday, Giannis New York Knicks. Harden finished with Antetokounmpo reeled off his third 21 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists in straight triple-double as the Milwaukee a superb individual display at Bucks extended their winning streak to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. four games with a 133-122 victory over Irving’s 34-point display was backed the Washington Wizards. by Jeff Green (20 points) and Joe Harris Antetokounmpo finished with 31 points, with 13 points. The Knicks meanwhile fell 15 rebounds and 10 assists in another just short of a fourth quarter comeback MVP-caliber performance that came after coming within three points of two days after his 33-point triple double Brooklyn with 10 seconds remaining hav- NEW YORK: Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks is restrained by teammates after their 117-112 loss against the Brooklyn Nets against the Wizards on Saturday. ing trailed by 18 points earlier in the half. during their game at Barclays Center on Monday in New York City. — AFP “We feel like we’ve said it a lot after Knicks forward Julius Randle needed games for a good stretch of time now- to be restrained by team-mates at the to come back and win the game. I was emotional game, he calmed down right Kawhi Leonard leading an all-round he’s been in a good place mentally for a buzzer after a controversial travelling call just frustrated,” Randle said afterwards, away,” Thibodeau said. “Sometimes it offensive effort. Leonard finished with 22 while,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer effectively handed Brooklyn the win. declining to dwell on the incident. “It’s goes your way with the whistles, some- points on a night when no fewer than said of Antetokounmpo’s performance at Randle, who finished with 33 points, 12 best I don’t comment on the situation. times it doesn’t. I thought Julius played a seven players reached double figures for Washington’s Capital One Arena. rebounds and six assists, angrily There was a lot of frustration behind it terrific game.” the Clippers. Luka Doncic led the Mavs “The way he’s playing, creating for slammed over a chair as he headed to for both sides. I’ll let it be in the past.” Elsewhere Monday, the Los Angeles scoring with 25 points, 10 rebounds and others, creating for himself. He’s just the locker room following the loss. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau also Clippers overpowered the Dallas 16 assists while Kristaps Porzingis added playing great basketball,” Budenholzer “I was frustrated. We fought so hard played down Randle’s outburst. “It’s an Mavericks 109-99 on the road with 22 points. — AFP