UNDATED (AP) — The Golden State Warriors have company atop the NBA overall standings.
The Suns scored 58 points in the paint and rolled to a 118-98 rout of the Wizards. JaVale McGee dropped in 17 points and Deandre Ayton added 15 as the two big men helped Phoenix pull even with the Warriors for the NBA’s best record at 23-5. Cam Johnson had 13 points on 4 of 6 shooting, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range. That helped the Suns win for the 22nd time in their last 24 games since a 1-3 start.
Bradley Beal led the Wizards with 26 points on 11 of 18 shooting. Washington has dropped four straight and seven of eight to fall to .500 at 15-15.
Checking out Thursday’s other NBA action:
— Kevin Durant highlighted his 34-point night by making a game-tying, four-point play with 1:46 remaining in the Nets’ 114-105 downing of the 76ers. Durant also had 11 rebounds and eight assists for Brooklyn, which was missing seven players due to coronavirus health and safety protocols. Blake Griffin and Nic Claxton both added a season-high 17 points in the Nets’ fourth straight win and Sixers’ third consecutive loss.
— The Knicks’ four-game losing streak is over after Immanuel Quickly hit seven 3-pointers and scored 24 points in their 116-103 win over the Rockets. The Knicks were 17 of 36 from beyond the arc, with Quickly going 7-for-10. Evan Fournier dropped in 23 points and Julius Randle had 21 for the Knicks, who were without four players because of health and safety protocols.
— Caris LeVert scored 20 of his 31 points in the first half and was 12 of 18 from the field as the Pacers sent the Pistons to their 13th straight loss, 122-113. Justin Holiday added 17 points for Indiana, which shot 50% in taking a 70-64 halftime lead. Saddiq Bey led the Pistons with 28 points and 10 rebounds, while first overall pick Cade Cunningham added 19 points for Detroit.
NBA’s COVID-19 list now includes Lakers’ Westbrook
UNDATED (AP) — Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook has entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols, joining Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brooklyn’s James Harden as past league MVP’s currently sidelined by coronavirus concerns.
Westbrook played 42 minutes in the Lakers’ overtime win at Dallas on Wednesday. The Lakers said he would not play Friday night in Minnesota, along with four other players because of virus issues and two more because of injuries.
All that means that the Lakers would have no more than 10 available players on their roster for the game against the Timberwolves.
In other NBA news:
— The Nets have signed well-traveled guard Langston Galloway as the team deals with the NBA’s coronavirus protocol. The move gave the Nets nine players for Thursday’s game against the 76ers, one over the minimum. Galloway has played for five teams in seven NBA seasons. The Nets have nine players listed as out on their injury report, including those in COVID-19 protocols.
— Cavaliers swingman Isaac Okoro has entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols, one day after scoring 23 points in a win over the Rockets. The 20-year-old Okoro has scored at least 16 points in his last four games while helping the surprising Cavs reel off five straight wins and improve to 18-12. The Cavaliers said his status will be updated “at the appropriate time.”
— Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has received a biologic injection that is meant to promote bone healing in the area of his right foot that he fractured this past offseason. The team says Williamson will be “limited to low-impact, partial weight-bearing activities for an extended period.” The Pelicans say another round of imaging on Williamson’s foot is expected in four to six weeks to measure his progress.
