nba roundup | Saturday’s games

Hornets 135, Suns 115

CHARLOTTE, N.C.

Coach James Borrego has been preaching defense to his Charlotte Hornets the last two weeks. But on Saturday the Hornets turned up the heat on the other end of the court, getting off to a blistering start and matching a season high in points scored in a 135-115 win over the Phoenix Suns. All-Star hopeful Kemba Walker led a balanced scoring attack with 21 points, Jeremy Lamb hit five three-pointers and had 18 points as the Hornets won their third straight game. Charlotte shot 54.5 percent from the field and made 16 of 34 3-point attempts in the wire-to-wire victory. “It started with our defense,” Lamb said. “We got stops and were able to get out in transition and get some easy ones. And we moved the ball well tonight.” Charlotte had 31 assists — six each by Lamb and Nic Batum — much to the delight of Borrego. “Our ball movement was great,” Borrego said. “When we move the ball like that we are a dangerous offense.” Devin Booker had 32 points and 11 assists for the Suns. They have lost 10 of their last 12 and fell to 4-19 on the road. This one was never close. The Hornets raced to a 29-11 lead, making 10 of 14 shots from the field behind the backcourt duo of Walker and Lamb. They combined for 18 points in the quarter on 7-of-10 shooting. Charlotte extended its lead to 23 by the end of the third quarter. “Yeah, they just hit us right in the mouth,” Suns coach Igor Kokoskov said. “It was their first punch right to the head. By the time we figured out what was going on, we were down 20 (points). Every cut they were making, screens they were setting, everything had a purpose. They were sharper and also had more energy than we did.”

Thunder 117, 76ers 115

PHILADELPHIA

Paul George converted a four-point play with 5.1 seconds left, sending Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder to a wild 117-115 victory over Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday. George’s clutch shot capped a wild finish that included another memorable exchange with Westbrook and Embiid. Westbrook hit the floor out of bounds under the basket after a foul by Embiid late in the game, and Westbrook fouled out with 14.9 seconds remaining after he got Embiid while shooting a 3-pointer. Embiid made all three foul shots, tying it at 113, and Jimmy Butler’s driving layup put Philadelphia in front with 6.9 seconds to go. But George drained a 3 while being fouled by Butler and made the foul shot. Philadelphia had one last chance, but Butler missed a 3-point attempt in the final seconds. The 76ers have lost 19 in a row to the Thunder. George finished with 31 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals. Westbrook had 21 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for Oklahoma City, and reserve Dennis Schroder also scored 21 points. The Thunder had dropped five of six, including a 138-128 overtime loss against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night. Embiid, who was a game-time decision because of back tightness, had 31 points, eight rebounds and six assists. JJ Redick scored 22 points for Philadelphia, and Ben Simmons finished with 20 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists.Oklahoma City led by as many as 16 points in the first quarter, but Philadelphia rallied in the second and trailed 59-56 at the break.

Associated Press