Staff Reporter.
Russell Westbrook and LeBron James starred as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Toronto Raptors 128-123.
Westbrook registered 22 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Lakers, including the three-pointer that forced overtime at the Scotiabank Arena.
James led the scoring with 36 points before Avery Bradley secured the winning shot with 32.5 seconds left.
Los Angeles had led 33-30 after one quarter before the Raptors fought back, with the hosts having the lead in the final 0.9secs of the game.
However, Westbrook held his nerve to send the match into overtime, before Bradley secured a welcome victory for the visitors.
“I thought we did a great job of just sticiing to our principles, grinding the game out,” Westbrook said. “This was a grind-out game.”
The Lakers snapped an 11-game road losing streak that dated back to a Jan. 25 victory at Brooklyn. Los Angeles also ended a seven-game losing streak north of the border.
“It’s a great feeling,” Bradley said. “It was a great accomplishment for us tonight to go out there and be able to play the right way on both ends of the floor. It was really refreshing.”
That’s part of what makes him the greatest is his ability to just make whatever play is necessary, whatever side of the floor,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said.
Elsewhere, the Cleveland Cavaliers hit back to beat the Denver Nuggets 119-116.
Lauri Markkanen scored a season-high 31 points for Cleveland, including the decisive three-pointer that gave them victory.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown scored a combined 62 points as the Boston Celtics beat the Sacramento Kings 126-97.
The New Orleans Pelicans beat the San Antonio Spurs 124-91 and the Miami Heat came past the Oklahoma City Thunder 120-108.