Kevin Durant scored 32 points as the two-time defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors halted their worst losing streak in over five years with a 125-97 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.
Klay Thompson delivered 31 points and Durant also had eight assists, seven rebounds and shot 13 of 21 from the field for the Warriors, who had lost four straight games.
Thompson hit five of his first seven shots and grabbed a season-high eight boards for the undermanned Warriors, who were playing without star guard Stephen Curry.
Curry was involved in a multi-car accident earlier in the day that left him unhurt but damaged his Porsche Panamera sports car. Curry sat out Friday because of a strained left groin and Draymond Green also remained sidelined because of a sore right toe.
Jusuf Nurkic had 22 points and eight rebounds and CJ McCollum chipped in 19 points for Portland.
Raptors defeat Wizards
Elsewhere, Kawhi Leonard scored 27 points and flirted with a triple double as the NBA-leading Toronto Raptors set a franchise record for wins in the first 20 games of the season with a 125-107 victory over the Washington Wizards.
Leonard also added 10 rebounds and nine assists as the Raptors won their fourth straight contest to improve to 16-4 overall.
Kyle Lowry and OG Anunoby each scored 15 points and Fred VanVleet had 13 for the Raptors, who ended a two game losing skid at home but still have eight wins in their last 10 at the Scotiabank Arena.
The Raptors were powered by their best three point shooting night of the season, converting a season-high 17 from beyond the arc.
Danny Green, Anunoby and VanVleet each made three three pointers as Toronto shot 43.6 percent from three point range, its highest percentage of the season.
Beal scored 20 points and Otto Porter had 17 for the Wizards, who are 2-7 on the road.
Also, Danilo Gallinari sank all nine of his free throws en route to a 20-point performance as the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Memphis Grizzlies 112-107 in overtime.
The Grizzlies were up by eight points with two minutes to go and appeared to be headed to victory but Gallinari drained three clutch free throws with three seconds left in regulation to force the overtime.
“I don’t know if his blood pressure ever goes up or down,” said Clippers coach Doc Rivers. “He is one of the best, if not the best free-throw shooter in the league.”
Gallinari improved to 95.5 percent from the charity stripe on the season.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!