Saric steers 76ers past Lakers
LOS ANGELES -- Dario Saric scored a career-high 29 points, and the Philadelphia 76ers ended a four-game losing streak by beating the Los Angeles Lakers 118-116 on Sunday night at Staples Center.
Saric also had seven rebounds and five assists. Jahlil Okafor contributed 23 points and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot added 18 points for the 76ers (24-42).
Jordan Clarkson matched his career best with 30 points to pace the Lakers, who lost for the ninth time in 10 contests. Julius Randle collected 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Brandon Ingram finished with 12 points for Los Angeles (20-46).
The two teams traded leads during the final three minutes. Clarkson's jumper gave the Lakers a 112-111 edge with 1:12 remaining, but T.J. McConnell's bucket on a drive put the 76ers up by one with 50 seconds left.
After the Lakers allowed the 24-second clock to expire, Gerald Henderson converted two free throws to give Philadelphia a 115-112 lead with 19.7 seconds left.
Clarkson made one of two foul shots to close the gap to two with 15 seconds remaining, but Luwawu-Cabarrot hit a pair for a four-point advantage with 12.2 left.
A 3-pointer by Larry Nance Jr. slice the deficit to one, and Saric's free throw with four seconds left capped the scoring. Randle's attempt near half-court at the buzzer was well short.
Philadelphia forward Robert Covington, the team's leading scorer at 12.6 points per game, missed the game due to right knee soreness. Covington, who is listed as day-to-day, hurt himself Saturday in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The 76ers held a 93-85 lead heading into the final period.
Both teams shots well, with the 76ers making 51.9 percent of their shots to 50 percent for the Lakers.
NOTES: Philadelphia coach Brett Brown said he obviously is aware that his club could receive the Lakers' top-three-protected pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. "I'd not be telling the truth if we weren't aware of it. It doesn't influence me," Brown said. ... Lakers coach Luke Walton said SG Nick Young, who did not play Sunday, won't start for the foreseeable future and his playing time will be reduced as the club evaluates its younger players such as reserve G/F David Nwaba (six points vs. the 76ers) and G Tyler Ennis (eight points). ... The 76ers visit the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. ... The Lakers play the Nuggets at Denver on Monday.