LOS ANGELES: James Harden scored 25 points, and Dwight Howard added 16 points and 15 rebounds in the Houston Rockets’ second victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in six days, 107-87 on Thursday night.
Terrence Jones had 16 points to help the Rockets avoid a winless three-game trip. They never trailed in their fifth straight win over the Lakers at Staples Center, Houston’s longest road winning streak in the rivalry’s history.
Kobe Bryant scored 22 points and dunked for the first time in his farewell season, but the Lakers followed up their fourth victory of the season with their 14th loss in 16 games.
Julius Randle added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers, who at least avoided another blowout loss to the Rockets after losing by 29 last week.
Cavaliers 104, Thunder 100: LeBron James scored 33 points, passed for 11 assists and grabbed nine rebounds, and the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers twice rallied from double-digit deficits to beat Oklahoma City 104-100, ending the Thunder’s six-game winning streak.
Tristan Thompson had 12 points and 15 rebounds for the Cavs, including 11 offensive rebounds. Four of those offensive boards came in the fourth quarter.
Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook had 27 points and 10 assists, and Kevin Durant scored 25 points, but both stars missed potential game-tying three-pointers in the final 10 seconds.
The game was delayed with 3:07 to play after James collided with a courtside fan while diving after a loose ball. The injured woman, Ellie Day, was taken out on a stretcher and was accompanied by her husband, PGA Tour golfer Jason Day.
Hornets 109, Raptors 99 (OT): Jeremy Lin stepped into the starting lineup and scored a season-high 35 points, and Charlotte pulled out an overtime victory over Toronto.
Lin started in place of Nicolas Batum, who missed the game due to illness, and finished 13-of-22 from the field. The Hornets, who got 27 points from Kemba Walker, snapped a two-game losing streak and won for the fifth time in their past seven games.
The Raptors forced overtime by scoring the last seven points of regulation. DeMar DeRozan hit a 35-footer that could have won the game but the Raptors called time out with 0.7 remaining, before the shot. DeRozan led Toronto with 31 points.
Harden, Jones lead Houston Rockets past Lakers again
Harden, Jones lead Houston Rockets past Lakers again
Radulovic sacked as Lebanon coach
- LFA said its Executive Committee had decided to terminate the former Montenegro coach’s contract
- Radulovic, 58, had been in his second spell in charge
BEIRUT: The Lebanese Football Association has dismissed national team coach Miodrag Radulovic following a review of recent results and the side’s preparations for upcoming competitions, the federation said on Thursday.
In a brief statement posted on X, the FA said its Executive Committee had decided to terminate the former Montenegro coach’s contract without providing further details.
Radulovic, 58, had been in his second spell in charge after previously coaching Lebanon from 2015 to 2019. He returned to the role in December 2023 but struggled to revive the team’s form.
Lebanon failed to qualify for the FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar late last year after losing to Sudan in a playoff and now face a crucial match against Yemen in March in the qualifiers for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
