The Los Angeles Lakers celebrated all-time great Kobe Bryant ahead of their game against the Golden State Warriors but Kevin Durant spoiled the party as the Warriors took the game 116-114 in overtime.
The Lakers retired the 8 and 24 jerseys worn by Bryant in a half-time ceremony in honour of the 18-time All Star.
My love letter to basketball, Directed & Animated by @GlenKeanePrd, Original Score by John Williams. Watch it here! https://t.co/RTBMuSuHZu #DearBasketball @go90Sports pic.twitter.com/4RaQoQsvDt
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) December 18, 2017
However, Durant hit 36 points and made 11 rebounds in the win after a Brandon Ingram lay-up for the Lakers sent the game into the extra period.
The Indiana Pacers were up by four with 13 seconds left on the clock against the Boston Celtics, until Kyrie Irving drained a three and Terry Rozier stole the ball for a two-pointer to edge a 112-111 thriller.
Irving hit 30 points in the win while Victor Oladipo hit 38 for the Pacers, who lost their third consecutive game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
.@TheofficialEG10 sets a new career-high with 7 3️⃣s made in a game! ☔️ pic.twitter.com/EJtwGE21ZK
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) December 19, 2017
Eric Gordon scored 33 points – 17 in the fourth quarter – as the Houston Rockets won their 14th game in a row, defeating the Utah Jazz 120-99.
The Rockets put up 41 points in the fourth, compared to just 15 for the Jazz, as James Harden got 26 and Clint Capela scored 24 in the win.
Elsewhere, the Charlotte Hornets saw off the New York Knicks 109-91 and the Chicago Bulls got their sixth win in a row over the Philadelphia 76ers 117-115.
POSTGAME BUZZ: Everything you need to know about tonight’s win over the Knicks! #BuzzCity pic.twitter.com/QoqKb881h7
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) December 19, 2017
The Atlanta Hawks scored a rare victory, beating the Miami Heat 110-104, while the Minnesota Timberwolves rallied late to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 108-107.
It was also close between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets, with the former winning 95-94, while 26 points from Harrison Barnes was not enough as his Dallas Mavericks lost to the Phoenix Suns.
Jimmy Butler went off for 37 PTS to help the @Timberwolves win a close game at home, 108-107, over the @trailblazers!#AllEyesNorth pic.twitter.com/THrNtdXuWB
— NBA (@NBA) December 19, 2017
In Monday night’s other game, the San Antonio Spurs beat the LA Clippers 109-91.

