Lakers ride Kuzma's hot 3rd to beat Kings 111-106

Kyle Kuzma scored 21 of his 29 points in the third quarter, LeBron James had 29 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists and the Los Angeles Lakers ended a five-game losing streak with a 111-106 win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night.

JaVale McGee had 17 points and 14 rebounds to help the Lakers win for the third time in their past 15 games.

Marvin Bagley III had 25 points and 11 rebounds off the bench for the Kings, who have lost four straight on the road.

Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James, left, makes a behind-the-back pass as Sacramento Kings' Corey Brewer (33) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 24, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoMarcio Jose Sanchez)

Kuzma was 7 for 8 from the field in the third quarter, making four of his five 3-point attempts. It was the fourth time this season Kuzma scored at least 20 points in a quarter, giving the Lakers an 87-77 lead after three quarters.

The Lakers started the third quarter on a 14-0 run with Kuzma completing a three-point play and James knocking down two 3-pointers, his second giving Los Angeles a 62-49 lead.

Sacramento pulled within 106-104 with 17 seconds left in the fourth quarter when Bogdan Bogdanovic hit a 3, but James hit four free throws down the stretch.

Sacramento Kings' Marvin Bagley III (35) grabs a rebound against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 24, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoMarcio Jose Sanchez)

TIP-INS

Kings: Sacramento outscored Los Angeles 51-17 in bench points. However, Bagley, Bogdanovic and Yogi Ferrell were the only Kings reserves to score. Bogdanovic had 17 points, and Ferrell scored nine. ... F Harry Giles III missed his second straight game because of a thigh contusion. Coach Dave Joerger was hopeful Giles would be available at Dallas on Tuesday.

Lakers: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 16 points while starting in place of Reggie Bullock. Bullock did not play because of plantar fasciitis. ... Los Angeles had a 31-20 edge in fast-break points. ... Coach Luke Walton expects an update on F Josh Hart (knee) this week. Hart missed his second straight game.

Los Angeles Lakers' JaVale McGee (7) dunks against the Sacramento Kings during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 24, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoMarcio Jose Sanchez)

UP NEXT

Kings: Visit Dallas on Tuesday.

Lakers: Host Washington on Tuesday.

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (23) drives to the basket over Sacramento Kings' Yogi Ferrell (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 24, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoMarcio Jose Sanchez)

Sacramento Kings' Willie Cauley-Stein, center, passes the ball as Los Angeles Lakers' JaVale McGee (7) and LeBron James, right, defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 24, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoMarcio Jose Sanchez)

Sacramento Kings' De'Aaron Fox (5) is defended by Los Angeles Lakers' Rajon Rondo (9) as Kosta Koufos (41) sets a screen during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 24, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoMarcio Jose Sanchez)

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011.

They can even the series with a victory at home Sunday.

Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 39% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. Caris LeVert added 15 points and Donovan Mitchell had 13 points and seven assists.

76ERS 125, KNICKS 114

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter to lead Philadelphia to a win over New York in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.

With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.

The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.

NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Denver moved to the brink of the second round with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series..

Jamal Murray scored 22 points as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Lakers in dominating style.

Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) makes a shot as he gets past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)