Young go-ahead 3 lifts Lakers over Thunder
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 22: Nick Young #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates a 111-109 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder with Larry Nance Jr. #7, Brandon Ingram #14 and Tarik Black #28 at Staples Center on November 22, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Harry How/Getty Images/AFP
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles’ Nick Young hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 5 seconds to play to snatch a 111-109 victory over Oklahoma City on Tuesday after the Lakers had appeared to blow their chance.
The Lakers blew a 14-point lead in the final minutes before Young’s long shot seized back the lead for good.
Across the country, New York also had a tight win, beating Portland thanks chiefly to 31 points from Kristaps Porzingis.
Los Angeles’ Young finished with 17 points and Jordan Clarkson had 18 for the Lakers, who survived a monster performance by Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook in the final minutes.
After Westbrook scored 17 points in a five-minute span to trim the Lakers’ big lead to one point, Steven Adams scored on a go-ahead put-back of Westbrook’s miss with 13.9 seconds to play.
The Lakers then passed the ball around the perimeter before Young coolly drained his fourth 3-pointer of the night.
Westbrook missed a long shot shortly before the buzzer
New York’s Porzingis added nine rebounds to his high points tally while Derrick Rose was important in the closing stages as the Knicks beat Portland 107-103.
Rose made the go-ahead basket with a little more than 3 minutes remaining and hit the jumper that clinched it with 6.8 seconds left.
The Knicks extended their home winning streak to give games.
Damian Lillard scored 22 points for the Trail Blazers.
Denver’s Will Barton hit two free throws with 9.5 seconds left to secure a 110-107 win against Chicago, making it ten straight home wins over the Bulls.
New Orleans overcame the absence of Anthony Davis for two quarters due to a knee injury and won 112-94 at Atlanta.
