NBA News Today: Lakers blows 17-point lead in loss to Pacers, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Deandre Ayton named Players of the Week, and more
The LA Lakers were on their way to their eighth win of the 2022-23 NBA season, but blew a 17-point fourth-quarter lead against the Indiana Pacers. Andrew Nembhard hit the game-winning, buzzer-beating 3-point shot over LeBron James to give the Pacers the win.
Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and Deandre Ayton of the Phoenix Suns were named NBA Players of the Week. Antetokounmpo looked unstoppable in four games last week, while Ayton averaged a double-double in a week his team went 3-0.
Karl-Anthony Towns suffers injury in loss to Washington Wizards
The Minnesota Timberwolves are off to a tough start to the NBA season. Karl-Anthony Towns suffered an apparent right leg injury in the third quarter of the loss against the Washington Wizards. It was a non-contact injury, and there were fears that Towns might have suffered a torn Achilles. He was running down the floor when he grabbed his lower leg and fell to the ground.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, there is optimism within the Timberwolves camp that Towns avoided a serious injury. The team has called Towns' injury a strained calf, but he's set to undergo further testing on Tuesday.
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LA Lakers blow 17-point lead in loss to Indiana Pacers
The LA Lakers were cruising against the Indiana Pacers at the start of the fourth quarter with a 17-point lead. However, the Pacers made a furious rally to tie the game with under a minute left. LeBron James gave the Lakers a two-point lead with 20.9 seconds remaining.
The Pacers scrambled in the final seconds, with Tyrese Haliburton finding a wide-open Andrew Nembhard. The rookie guard hit the game-winning, buzzer-beating 3-point shot over "The King" to give the Pacers a 116-115 win.
Lakers head coach Darvin Ham blamed himself for his team's defeat.
"I wish we would have been a lot more aggressive, continued playing with pace, and also being organized and continuing to move the ball," Ham said. "And that falls on me."
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Dallas Mavericks signs former NBA All-Star Kemba Walker
The Dallas Mavericks have lost four games in a row and seven of their last 10. The Mavericks are looking to address that slide by adding reinforcements in the form of Kemba Walker. The four-time NBA All-Star was waived by the Detroit Pistons at the start of the season and was looking for a new home.
Walker played for the New York Knicks last season, averaging 11.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 37 games. He was traded to the Pistons alongside rookie Jalen Duren in exchange for a future first-round pick.
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban explained to Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News why they signed Walker. Dallas waived Facundo Campazzo to accommodate the 32-year-old guard.
"We wanted to add some flexibility to our offense," Cuban said. "Like last year at this point, we have great shot quality, particularly from the three, but we have struggled to make enough of them. Kemba will give J-Kidd more offensive flexibility."
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Giannis Antetokounmpo and Deandre Ayton named NBA Players of the Week
The NBA announced on Monday that Giannis Antetokounmpo and Deandre Ayton are the Players of the Week for Week 6. This is Antetokounmpo's second Player of the Week honor this season, while it's the first of Ayton's career.
NBA Players of the Week for Week 6.
West: @DeandreAyton (@Suns)
East: @Giannis_An34 (@Bucks) https://t.co/AA7h3HDAqv
"The Greek Freak" averaged 35.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists in four games last week. The Bucks had a 3-1 record, beating the Portland Trail Blazers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Dallas Mavericks, and losing to the Chicago Bulls.
35.3 PPG 
Congrats to Giannis on earning Eastern Conference Player of the Week!!
Over the last 4 games, Giannis averaged:
⭐️ 35.3 PPG
⭐️ 9.5 RPG
⭐️ 5.8 APG https://t.co/9Tm7Zmugn6
Meanwhile, Ayton was a double-double machine for the Phoenix Suns. He averaged 23.7 points, 16.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in three games, while shooting 67.4% from the field. The Suns went undefeated, defeating the LA Lakers, Detroit Pistons, and Utah Jazz.
DominAYTON his way to Player of the Week! 
😤 DominAYTON his way to Player of the Week!
#WeAreTheValley https://t.co/pT7OZwdwrS
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Complete NBA scores for Nov. 28
The NBA held 10 games on Monday night, capped off by the Indiana Pacers' comeback win over the LA Lakers. The Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors registered wins following the returns of Joel Embiid and Pascal Siakam, respectively, from injuries.
The Brooklyn Nets survived a battle against the Orlando Magic, while the Washington Wizards, Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets posted blowout wins. The New Orleans Pelicans, Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns also secured victories in close contests.
Here are the full results for Nov. 28:
- Philadelphia 76ers def. Atlanta Hawks 104-101
- Washington Wizards def. Karl-Anthony Towns 142-127
- Brooklyn Nets def. Orlando Magic 109-102
- Boston Celtics def. Charlotte Hornets 140-105
- Toronto Raptors def. Cleveland Cavaliers 100-88
- New Orleans Pelicans def. OKC Thunder 105-101
- Chicago Bulls def. Utah Jazz 114-107
- Denver Nuggets def. Houston Rockets 129-113
- Phoenix Suns def. Sacramento Kings 122-117
- Indiana Pacers def. LA Lakers 116-115
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