Culture & Sports
2018.11.05 17:51 GMT+8

NBA highlights on Nov. 4: Raptors humiliate Lakers without Kawhi Leonard

Li Xiang

The Los Angeles Lakers suffered an ugly loss on Sunday at the Staples Center as they were humiliated by the Toronto Raptors 107-121. The Philadelphia 76ers continued their embarrassing record of losing all away games after they lost 97-122 to the Brooklyn Nets.

Raptors don't need Kawhi Leonard to make Lakers feel bad

Pascal Siakam #43 of the Raptors dunks during the team's win of 121-97 over the Lakers. /VCG Photo

Before the game on Sunday, Magic Johnson, the Lakers' boss promised that the team's head coach Luke Walton will remain in his position at least for the 2018-19 season, in response to the recent popular rumors of the management unhappy with Walton's work.

Magic may regret what he said after the Lakers were smashed by the visiting Raptors. Leonard missed the game because of knee injury, and Toronto did not put Jonas Valanciunas in their starting line-up but sent a typical small-ball squad with Serge Ibaka as the center. Their intention was clear: To take JaVale McGee out of the paint area and compete with the Lakers on transition offense.

Serge Ibaka is unstoppable in the game by making 15 of 17 shots to score 34 points. /VCG Photo 

The Raptors' plan worked immediately as Ibaka went on fire with his shooting to make all eight attempts in the first quarter. The Lakers defense totally fell apart as they let the Raptors score 42 points against only 17 points of their own. Trailing by 25 in the first quarter was not only the worst record in the Lakers' history, but it was the worst performance by any home team in almost 20 years.

Scenarios for the second and third quarters looked very alike. The Lakers started with scoring runs to narrow the difference down to under 20 but could not change their catastrophic defense. Every time the home team found the game a little bit of hope, Toronto sent Ibaka who immediately scored to ruin the hope.

Kyle Lowry puts down 21 points and delivers 15 assists for the Raptors. /VCG Photo

The Lakers in the last quarter further narrowed the score difference down to 10 points as their young men found their targets with three-pointers. However, head coach Walton did not send LeBron James in again before the Raptors left LA with a 17-point win.

Ibaka made the biggest contributions to Toronto's victory as he made 15 of 17 shots to score 34 points. Kyle Lowry put down 21 points while delivering 15 assists. Kyle Kuzma scored the Lakers' highest 24 points.

76ers may have worse news than a big loss to Nets

Joel Embiid #21 of the 76ers communicating with his teammate during their loss of 97-122 to the Nets /VCG Photo

The 76ers played a terrible game at the Barclays Center as they watched three of the Nets' players score more than 20 points to take a win at home. The first half came to an end at a stalemate with Brooklyn leading 51-47.

However, Philadelphia kept committing turnovers in the third quarter to help the Nets launch a 11-0 run and score 41 points in the quarter to expand their lead to 17 points. Though the 76ers kept chasing since then, Brooklyn continued their remarkable three-point shooting to give Philadelphia their fifth away loss in a row.

The 76ers do not want anything bad happen between Ben Simmons (L) and Embiid (R), the best two players of the team. /VCG Photo 

What should worry the 76ers more than their awkward away record was the unpleasant moments between their two stars, Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid in Sunday's game. Simmons took rebounds away from Embiid three times and did it once even when his teammate already took the ball in hands. Embiid was apparently not happy about it and swung his arm. As a young, promising team, Philadelphia will not want to see any grudge between the two of their best players after so many strong teams fall apart because of internal conflict.

Greek Freak takes triple-double within three quarters

Giannis Antetokounmpo takes triple-double (26 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists) to help the Bucks beat the Kings 144-109. /VCG Photo

The Milwaukee Bucks at home put an end to the five-straight-win record of the Sacramento Kings by beating them 144-109. Giannis Antetokounmpo put down a triple-double with 26 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists.

The Bucks from the beginning went crazy with their three-pointers and made in total 22 of such shots. Despite that the Kings launched multiple scoring runs as counter attack, Milwaukee led in every quarter. In the end, the home team bagged a 35-point big win as eight of their players scored double digits.

Devin Booker #1 shots the game-winning ball to help the Suns defeat the Grizzlies 102-100. /VCG Photo

The other games on Sunday include (away teams first):

New York Knicks 95-108 Washington Wizards

Orlando Magic 117-110 San Antonio Spurs

Memphis Grizzlies 100-102 Phoenix Suns

Minnesota Timberwolves 81-111 Portland Trail Blazers

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