NBA: LeBron James and Anthony Davis shine as Lakers top Western Conference

Anthony Davis and LeBron James each scored 26 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 94-92 win at the Memphis Grizzlies.

LeBron James scored 26 points

James also had 11 rebounds and seven assists for the defending champions, who won their fourth straight game.

Memphis led 71-67 at the start of the fourth quarter before the Lakers moved ahead for good with 4:22 remaining.

The Lakers now lead the Western Conference as the Los Angeles Clippers lost 116-113 to the San Antonio Spurs.

The Lakers now have six wins and two losses, while their city rivals slipped to a five-and-two record after Patty Mills scored 27 points off the bench to help the Spurs snap a four-game losing streak.

The Utah Jazz are now four-and-three after the Brooklyn Nets cruised to a wire-to-wire 130-96 victory in New York.

Kyrie Irving scored 29 points in three quarters as the Nets played without Kevin Durant, who will be out for at least a week due to Covid-19 protocols after being in close contact with someone who tested positive for the virus.

The Chicago Bulls are level with the Nets in the Eastern Conference – both with four wins and four defeats – after a 111-108 win at the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Bulls only used nine players – with four out due to Covid-19 – but Coby White led seven of the side in double figures with 21 points, before Carmelo Anthony misfired on a three-pointer to tie it for the Trail Blazers with 2.7 seconds left.

Elsewhere, Nikola Jokic scored a season-high 35 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as the Denver Nuggets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 123-116.  – bbc.com