Gobert helps Jazz blow out Lakers 115-100 as LeBron sits

Rudy Gobert had 22 points and 11 rebounds, Derrick Favors scored 20 and Joe Ingles nearly posted his first triple-double to power the Utah Jazz over the depleted Los Angeles Lakers 115-100 on Wednesday night.

Jae Crowder scored 16 points and the balanced Jazz, with seven players in double figures, won for the eighth time in nine games.

Six weeks ago, Ingles went public with the news that his 2-year-old was diagnosed with autism. Since then, he has been a vocal advocate for autism funding and awareness. This game was dubbed Autism Awareness Night and it included a $1.2 million check from the Jazz and their sponsors presented at halftime to aid the cause. Vignettes of Ingles and son Jacob were featured on the Jumbotron during timeouts.

Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell squirts liquid onto Joe Ingles, seated, following the team's NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, March 27, 2019, in Salt Lake City. (AP PhotoRick Bowmer)

On the court, Ingles provided plenty of helpers as well. His 14 assists were a career high and he had 11 points and nine rebounds. When he left the game with more than two minutes to play, he received a standing ovation. Then the crowd booed and chanted, "We want Joe!"

Kyle Kuzma paced the Lakers with 21 points after a four-game slump in which he shot just 32.9 percent from the field and 29.7 percent from 3-point range. JaVale McGee had 16 points and 13 rebounds. Alex Caruso and Mo Wagner each added 13 points.

Los Angeles had won consecutive games for the first time since January but wasn't competitive from the start without LeBron James in this one. James sat out after he had 23 points, 14 assists and seven rebounds in a 124-106 win Tuesday night against Washington. He had his eighth triple-double of the season (81st of his career) in Sunday's victory over Sacramento, but he's been dealing with a swollen knee and sore groin.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma (0) defends against Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 27, 2019, in Salt Lake City. (AP PhotoRick Bowmer)

Only 4½ games separate the third and eighth seed in the Western Conference playoff race, and the Jazz are right in the middle of that pileup.

Meanwhile, the Lakers were eliminated from postseason contention last week, and it showed on the court.

Utah's offense featured an abundance of movement and screens, while the Lakers spread the floor and often went with isolation plays. The result was 33 assists for the Jazz and a 58-38 advantage in points in the paint.

Los Angeles Lakers coach Luke Walton speaks with guard Rajon Rondo during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, March 27, 2019, in Salt Lake City. (AP PhotoRick Bowmer)

After leading by seven at halftime, Utah interspersed precision pick-and-rolls with transition opportunities to boost the advantage to 20 in the third quarter.

The Jazz often turned Lakers missed shots — and there were plenty as Los Angeles shot 38 percent — into quick-score opportunities as Utah tallied 16 fast-break points to two for the Lakers.

TIP-INS

Los Angeles Lakers guard Rajon Rondo (9) shoots as Utah Jazz guard Ricky Rubio (3) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 27, 2019, in Salt Lake City. (AP PhotoRick Bowmer)

Lakers: Josh Hart, Mike Muscala and Tyson Chandler missed the game, while Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram have both been ruled out for the remainder of the season. ... After coach Luke Walton was whistled for a technical foul in the third quarter, Rajon Rondo sat in a courtside seat — not on the Lakers bench — and took off his shoe while Ricky Rubio shot the free throw.

Jazz: Ingles, Donovan Mitchell, Ekpe Udoh, Ricky Rubio and Gobert all custom ordered autism awareness shoes from Kickstradomis with the name Jacob inscribed on each pair. ... Ingles got a technical foul in the second quarter and then promptly made a 3-pointer and driving layup. ... Crowder and McGee got tangled under Utah's basket midway through the third quarter. Crowder got a technical for a push.

UP NEXT

Los Angeles Lakers center JaVale McGee (7) lies against the stanchion after falling to the court during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, March 27, 2019, in Salt Lake City. (AP PhotoRick Bowmer)

Lakers: Return home to play Charlotte on Friday night.

Jazz: Host the Washington Wizards on Friday night in the third game of a four-game homestand.

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

Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) lays the ball up as Los Angeles Lakers guard Lance Stephenson defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 27, 2019, in Salt Lake City. (AP PhotoRick Bowmer)

Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) dunks next to Los Angeles Lakers center JaVale McGee (7) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 27, 2019, in Salt Lake City. (AP PhotoRick Bowmer)

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)