George and Markkanen help Jazz snap 4-game skid with 128-119 win over Kings

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Keyonte George scored 31 points and Lauri Markkanen added 28 to help the Utah Jazz snap a four-game skid with a 128-119 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.

Brice Sensabaugh had 20 points for the Jazz, who finished 1-3 in NBA Cup group play.

Russell Westbrook, the NBA leader in triple-doubles, had the 206th of his career with 16 points, a season-high 14 assists and 12 rebounds for Sacramento, which went winless in four NBA Cup games. Zach LaVine led the Kings with 34 points, and Keegan Murray had 23 points and nine rebounds.

Trailing by 11 at halftime, Sacramento trimmed the deficit to 67-65 on a 3-pointer from Murray but got no closer.

George hit back-to-back 3-pointers and followed with a floater to help Utah regain a double-digit lead. The Jazz closed the third quarter on a 10-0 run, capped by Jusuf Nurkic’s layup for a 90-73 lead.

Utah held Sacramento without a field goal for six minutes on its way to building a double-digit lead early in the second quarter. Markkanen made three baskets and hit a pair of free throws to fuel a 20-2 run that put the Jazz up 39-27.

Sacramento cut the deficit to 55-51 on a 3-pointer by LaVine that punctuated a 10-2 run. Markkanen countered with a 3 and then beat the buzzer with a layup to extend Utah’s lead to 62-51 going into halftime.

Kings: Host Memphis on Sunday.

Jazz: Host Houston on Sunday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Sacramento Kings guard DeMar DeRozan (10) posts up guarded by Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic (30) during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)

Sacramento Kings guard Russell Westbrook brings the ball up court during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)

Utah Jazz forward Kevin Love, right, drives to the basket while guarded by Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine, left, during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)

Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine (8) goes up to dunk the ball during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)

Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George, right, dunks the ball over Sacramento Kings guard DeMar DeRozan, left, during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Donovan Mitchell had 35 points and nine assists, Darius Garland scored 20 points before leaving with an injured foot and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Philadelphia 76ers 133-107 on Wednesday night.

Garland was ruled out for the game late in the third quarter when he hurt his right foot diving for a loose ball. Garland already had surgery in June on the injured left big toe that hampered him during Cleveland’s exit from the playoffs.

The All-Star guard averaged 17.9 points after a slow start this season as he recovered from surgery. Garland continued his recent hot streak and shot 8 for 13 against the 76ers.

Garland averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists during the regular season to help the Cavs finish atop the Eastern Conference.

Joel Embiid scored 20 points and hit a 3-pointer that helped him reach 13,000 career points, the seventh player in team history to hit that mark.

Paul George had 17 points for the Sixers in the opener of a two-game series.

Sixers fans booed the team off the court in the third quarter headed into a timeout and trailing 75-53.

Tyrese Maxey and Quintin Grimes hit a pair of 3s during a 10-0 run and Embiid — who just earlier landed his 7-foot-2 frame on two rows of unsuspecting fans when he dove for a loose ball — buried a 3 that made it 79-66.

The good times were short-lived, and fans headed for the exits as the Cavs stretched the lead to 22 midway through the fourth.

Sixers forward Dom Barlow needed help up from the court and into the locker room after his legs gave out on him and he landed hard on his back and head on a driving layup attempt. He suffered a back contusion.

De'Andre Hunter hit early 3s that stretched Cleveland's lead to 30-14 and 60-47 headed into halftime. Hunter and Evan Mobley both scored 17 points. Mobley grabbed 13 rebounds.

The teams play again Friday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Cleveland Cavaliers' Darius Garland, left, passes against Philadelphia 76ers' Tyrese Maxey during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, center, goes up for a shot between Cleveland Cavaliers' Jarrett Allen, left, and Evan Mobley during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid (21) goes up for a shot during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia 76ers' Tyrese Maxey (0) goes up for a shot against Cleveland Cavaliers' Sam Merrill (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell, right, battles for the ball against Philadelphia 76ers' Vj Edgecombe during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)