NBA: Clippers top Lakers in battle of L.A.

Norman Powell scored 22 points, James Harden and Ivica Zubac each posted double-doubles, and the Los Angeles Clippers cruised to a 116-102 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday in the first meeting between the cross-town rivals this season.

Harden finished with 21 points and 12 assists and Zubac posted 21 points and 19 rebounds in a game the Clippers led virtually throughout. Kawhi Leonard chipped in 19 points on 9-of-13 shooting in the Clippers' fourth consecutive victory and sixth straight at the Intuit Dome, where they're now 15-2 since Nov. 4.

Making their first-ever appearance in the Clippers' new home venue, the Lakers received 25 points and 11 assists from LeBron James and 19 points from Rui Hachimura. Anthony Davis added 16 points and 10 rebounds, but was held to 5-of-14 shooting as the Lakers had a two-game winning streak halted.

After taking a 32-26 lead after one quarter, the Clippers further separated with a 19-4 run in the second that turned a two-point edge into a 62-45 advantage late in the first half. They went into the break comfortably ahead at 64-49 behind Powell's 14 first-half points on 6-of-8 shooting.

W. pic.twitter.com/qXaQKSvF8i

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 20, 2025

The Lakers never mounted a serious threat in the second half, and the Clippers' margin swelled as high as 26 points after Amir Coffey's jumper with 3:40 left in the third quarter increased the lead to 90-64.

Bucks extend injury-plagued 76ers' losing streak to six games

Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded 34 points and 15 rebounds as the Milwaukee Bucks dealt the depleted Philadelphia 76ers a sixth straight loss by pulling away for a 123-109 victory.

Antetokounmpo added six assists while finishing 13 of 17 from the field, while Damian Lillard delivered 25 points as the surging Bucks won for the fourth straight time and seventh time in eight games.

Playing for the second straight night and without stars Joel Embiid and Paul George, the 76ers had their skid extended despite a 37-point, seven-assist performance from Tyrese Maxey. Kelly Oubre added 19 points for Philadelphia.

Antetokounmpo put up 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting in the first quarter as Milwaukee took a 30-21 lead into the second, and the Bucks' margin remained at nine entering half-time after Kris Middleton's late 3-pointer sent them into the break owning a 59-50 advantage.

34 points on 76% shooting.pic.twitter.com/xK1S5fij0E

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) January 20, 2025

Philadelphia hung around until the midway point of the fourth quarter, with Oubre's 3-pointer getting the 76ers within 105-98 with under six minutes left.

The Bucks answered with nine straight points, however, with Lillard accounting for the first eight to put the contest out of reach.

Jokic's latest triple-double helps Nuggets remain hot

Nikola Jokić amassed 20 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in just three quarters as the Denver Nuggets continued their recent roll with a 113-100 win over the Orlando Magic.

All five Denver starters scored in double figures as the Nuggets won for the sixth time in seven games and extended their road winning streak to six. Christian Braun also had 20 points to go along with 11 rebounds, Jamal Murray contributed 19 points and Denver also received 15 points from Michael Porter Jr.

The Nuggets also excelled on the defensive end, holding the Magic to a field goal percentage of 37.3. Paolo Banchero, Orlando's leader in points per game, went 4 of 16 from the field while being limited to 10 points in 29 minutes.

Wendell Carter Jr. led the Magic with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Orlando has now dropped three straight and has gone 6-12 since a 17-9 start to the season.

The Magic did start out strong and opened up a 42–32 lead four minutes into the second quarter. The Nuggets answered with a 17-7 run over the next four minutes, however, to tie the contest at 49-49.

Denver held a 54-52 half-time edge on Russell Westbrook's jumper in the final minute of the second quarter, and the game remained tight until the Nuggets began separating midway through the third.

Braun scored seven points during a 14-2 spurt that turned a three-point deficit into a 74-65 Denver lead with five minutes to go in the period, and the Nuggets closed out the quarter with 10 straight points to enter the fourth with a 93-77 advantage.

Denver maintained a double-digit cushion throughout the fourth quarter despite resting Jokic after he registered his league-leading 18th triple-double of the season.

Only needs three quarterspic.twitter.com/mD0c3m5Hcc

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) January 20, 2025