NBA on March 4: Wade’s record, LA derby, Suns’ self-redemption
Seven games were played on the NBA court on Monday night. Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade, 37, set a new record for most career blocks by a guard. Clippers beat slumping Lakers in Los Angeles Derby. Lowly Suns defeated Bucks – the No. 1 in the Eastern Conference.
Wade's record
B.J. Johnson #5 of the Atlanta Hawks shoots three-point basket against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida, March 4, 2019. /VCG Photo
Dwyane Wade now has more blocked shots than any guard in NBA history.
The Miami Heat star swatted away the 1,052nd shot of his career, blocking an attempt by Atlanta's B.J. Johnson. When factoring in regular-season and playoff games, that's one more block than Michael Jordan had in his career.
Jordan still has the all-time regular season record for blocks by a guard with 893. Wade's two first-half blocks against the Hawks gave him 877.
Johnson became the 449th player to get a shot blocked by Wade. Joe Johnson and Ben Gordon have been blocked by Wade the most, 12 times each.
LA Derby
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the second half of a game against the LA Clippers at Staples Center on March 04, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. /VCG Photo
Danilo Gallinari scored 23 points, Lou Williams added 21 and the Los Angeles Clippers dealt another blow to the Los Angeles Lakers' fading playoff hopes.
Gallinari led six Clippers scoring in double figures while they comfortably maintained a lead over their Staples Center co-tenants down the stretch. The Clippers (37-29) took sole possession of seventh place in the Western Conference standings with their sixth win in eight games.
LeBron James scored 27 points and Rajon Rondo had his 32nd career triple-double, but the Lakers took their ninth loss in 12 games since they beat the Clippers on Jan. 31.
Rondo had a season-high 24 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds for the Lakers (30-34), who were coming off an embarrassing loss to Phoenix and played without ailing forward Brandon Ingram. Kyle Kuzma scored 13 points before limping off the floor with an apparent ankle injury with 6:04 left.
Suns’ self-redemption
Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns reacts alongside Kelly Oubre Jr. #3 after scoring against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half of the NBA game at Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, Arizona, March 04, 2019. /VCG Photo
Kelly Oubre Jr. had 27 points and 13 rebounds, and the Phoenix Suns rallied from 10 points down in the fourth quarter to stun the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks 114-105.
Devin Booker added 22 points and Deandre Ayton had 19 points and 12 rebounds, including a key layup with 35.8 seconds to play that gave the Suns a four-point lead. Phoenix entered with the worst record in the league before improving to 14-51, just ahead of the New York Knicks.
All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo had 21 points and 13 rebounds, and Malcolm Brogdon scored 19 for the Bucks, who have lost two straight games for the first time this season. Milwaukee shot 36.8 percent.
The Bucks led by 16 in the first half, only to trail by three in the third quarter.
Other games included: (With home team in Bold)
San Antonio Spurs 104-103 Denver Nuggets
New Orleans Pelicans 115-112 Utah Jazz
Sacramento Kings 115-108 New York Knicks
Brooklyn Nets 127-88 Dallas Mavericks