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+The host Toronto Raptors defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 122 - 95, at Air Canada Center on Monday. The Raptors came into this game as a monster favorite and they did n't leave any doubt with this result. Toronto just continuously piled it on, as they won each quarter by at least four points. The Raptors were lights - out shooting, as they went 55 percent from the field and 68 percent from three - point range. They also held the Sixers to just 42 percent from the field and dominated the defensive rebounding, 34 - 26. Fastbreak points was a huge difference as well, with Toronto winning that battle, 21 - 6. Philadelphia (4 - 14) had to play this game without Joel Embiid (rest) and they clearly did n't have enough to compete with a potent Raptors squad. Robert Covington had one of his best games of the season though, tallying 20 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals on 7 - of - 11 shooting. Jahlil Okafor got the start for Embiid and finished with 15 points and five rebounds. Sergio Rodriguez, Ersan Ilyasova, Nik Stauskas and Richaun Holmes all finished with 11 points a piece. The Sixers will return to action on Wednesday, when they host the Sacramento Kings for their next game. Toronto (11 - 6) left very little doubt in this game who the more superior team is. Kyle Lowry carried the load for the Raptors, accumulating 24 points, four rebounds and eight assists. Terrence Ross was great off the bench, scoring 22 points on 8 - of - 11 shooting. DeMar DeRozan finished with 14 points, five rebounds and five assists. Jonas Valanciunas recorded a double - double, totaling 12 points and 11 rebounds. The Raptors next game will be on Wednesday, when they host the defensively - sound Memphis Grizzlies.
+The dynamic duo of LeBron James and Kevin Love continued their outstanding early - season play Saturday. James posted a 25 - point, 14 - assist double - double, while Kevin Love also accomplished the feat with 20 points and 11 boards. The stellar production helped overcome a down night for Kyrie Irving, who drained just three of his 17 shot attempts, producing a season - low eight - point tally. His 0 - of - 5 tally from beyond the arc also marked the first time he's been blanked from long distance this season. The Sixers received another standout effort from Joel Embiid, who totaled 22 points, six rebounds, two assists and four blocks in 25 minutes. Ersan Ilyasova may prove hard to keep on the bench much longer, given that his 21 points, which paced the reserves, was his second double - digit scoring haul in as many games since joining Philadelphia.
+The Houston Rockets (56 - 26) concluded the regular season with an 117 - 91 win over the Utah Jazz (38 - 44). The Rockets jumped out to a 65 - 35 halftime lead. They clinched the two seed in the Western Conference following the San Antonio Spurs’ loss to the New Orleans Pelicans and will face the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs. James Harden conceded the scoring title to the Thunders’ Russell Westbrook, but did his best Westbrook imitation by securing a triple - double in fewer than 28 minutes. The potential Most Valuable Player recipient provided 16 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, one steal, one block and two three - pointers. Aside from finishing second in scoring, Harden’s 2 steals per game was fifth best in the league. Dwight Howard returned to the lineup after sitting out the previous game, accumulating 14 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in 21 minutes. The Rockets hit 12 more three - pointers, extending their single - season NBA record to 921 makes from downtown. Derrick Favors made a brief appearance after missing the previous two games due to back problems. He finagled four points in nine minutes to close out his best season as a pro. Gordon Hayward and Trevor Booker were given the night off, and coach Quin Snyder ran a 10 - man rotation. Rudy Gobert made one last push for Most Improved Player and Defensive Player of the Year awards, notching three blocks and one steal in 24 minutes. He finished the year with 2 blocks per game, third best among qualifiers. The Jazz ended the season with the 11th worst record in the league after posting a 19 - 10 mark after the All-Star break.
+The Wizards launched yet another comeback on Tuesday, this time feasting on the relatively inexperienced Los Angeles Lakers. Washington not only overcame a 13 - point fourth quarter deficit, but won by double digits as well. The team shot over 51 percent from the field on the night and outscored LA 37 - 13 in the fourth. At the crux of the win was All-Star point guard John Wall, who scored 34 points to go along with 14 assists and four steals. Wall was an excellent 14 - of - 25 from the field. LA, meanwhile, saw promising play from its own point guard. Sophomore D'Angelo Russell filled the stat sheet respectably, shooting 10 - of - 21 for 28 points to go along with nine assists and six rebounds. His backcourt partner, Jordan Clarkson, added another 22 points and shot 10 - of - 19.
+The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Brooklyn Nets, 124 - 105, at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Nets (4 - 8) came out like a house afire to open the game, scoring a whopping 40 points in the opening quarter. However, the Thunder's dynamic backcourt duo of Russell Westbrook and Victor Oladipo took over from that point and ended up combining for 56 points overall on the night. Meanwhile, the bench put together a solid 39 - point effort that featured three double - digit scoring performances. Oklahoma City (8 - 5) finished with a 55 percent success rate from the field and outscored Brooklyn by a 90 - 65 margin over the final three quarters. Brooklyn was led by Brook Lopez, who totaled 22 points, four rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal. The big man was impressively 4 - of - 7 from three - point range. Rondae-Hollis Jefferson and Bojan Bogdanovic registered a pair of 13 - point tallies, with the former adding five rebounds, two assists and two steals and the latter hauling in a trio of boards and dishing out two assists. Anthony Bennett led the second unit with 12 points and three rebounds, while Joe Harris and Sean Kilpatrick registered a pair of 10 - point efforts. Westbrook posted a triple - double that consisted of 30 points, 13 assists, 11 rebounds and a steal. Oladipo contributed 26 points, six assists and five rebounds. Steven Adams was an effective third wheel with 15 points, six boards and a pair of blocks. Joffrey Lauvergne and Enes Kanter managed a pair of 13 - point efforts to lead the reserves. The Nets head back home to take on the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday afternoon, while the Thunder remain home to take on the Indiana Pacers on Sunday evening.
+The Houston Rockets (18 - 5) defeated the Denver Nuggets (10 - 13) 108 - 96 on Saturday. Houston has won two straight games and six of their last seven. Dwight Howard returned to action Saturday after missing the Rockets' last 11 games with a knee injury. He was supposed to be limited to 24 minutes in the game, but Howard persevered to play 30 minutes and put up a monstrous double - double of 26 points and 13 rebounds. Joining Howard in on the fun was James Harden with a triple - double of 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in 38 minutes. The Rockets' formidable defense held the Nuggets to just 38 percent shooting from the field. Houston will face the Nuggets again in their next game, going on the road to Denver for their game on Wednesday. Denver has lost four of their last five games as they struggle to find footing during a tough part of their schedule. Kenneth Faried came off the bench for a second straight game, with J.J. Hickson staying in the starting lineup at power forward. Denver matched up well with the Rockets on Saturday, but they simply could n't hit their shots. Even at the free - throw line, the Nuggets shot just 65 percent. Denver will begin a four - game homestead hosting the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.
+Kobe Bryant scored 60 points as the Los Angeles Lakers (17 - 65) beat the Utah Jazz (40 - 42) in his farewell game, 101 - 96. Bryant, who plans to retire after 20 NBA seasons, took a career - high 50 shots, making 22 field goals. He scored 38 in the second half as the Lakers overcame a 15 - point halftime deficit. The Lakers' defense, which struggled all season, was surprsingly the key to the comeback, as it held the Jazz to just 39 points in the second half. The third - leading scorer in NBA history, Bryant became the oldest player to score 50 points in a game as he posted the fifth - highest scoring game of his career. Trey Lyles led the Jazz with 18 points, 11 rebounds and five steals. Gordon Hayward, who finished with 17 points, had the unfortunate task of covering Bryant. The Jazz were eliminated from the playoffs just before tip - off when the Houston Rockets beat the Sacramento Kings, the fourth consecutive season Utah has missed the playoffs. It marks the Jazz's longest playoff drought since 1980 - 83. With 12 points Jordan Clarkson was the only other player in double figures for the Lakers, who have missed the playoffs a franchise - high three straight seasons.
+The Indiana Pacers (17 - 31) throttled the New York Knicks (9 - 38) 103 - 82 Thursday at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Knicks held a five - point deficit at halftime before having a complete meltdown in the third quarter. The Pacers outscored the Knicks 33 - 12 in the third to all but ice the game. Roy Hibbert scored 10 of his 18 points in the third and added 10 rebounds in the contest to notch his 12th double - double on the season. New York earned an impressive 100 - 92 win over Oklahoma City on Wednesday but was unable to carry that momentum into Thursday's contest against Indiana. The Knicks were unable to get much of anything going in the second half. Carmelo Anthony had n't scored less than 20 points in any game this month, but was held to 18 points on 7 - of - 16 shooting against the Pacers. The Knicks have two days off before hosting the Lakers on Sunday. Indiana was able to rebound nicely after its 104 - 91 loss to Toronto on Tuesday. George Hill and C.J Miles were both able to play, but were on minutes restrictions and only saw 12 and 13 minutes respectively. Rodney Stuckey led the team in scoring, putting up 22 points on 8 - of - 13 shooting. The Pacers will look to secure their second straight win Saturday when they host the Kings.
+In a matchup with major implications for the Eastern Conference playoffs, the surging Atlanta Hawks (44 - 30) took down the host Detroit Pistons (39 - 35) 112 - 95. Atlanta has now won eight of its last nine contests and holds a full game lead over the Boston Celtics for third in the Eastern Conference. The Hawks looked like the dominant team the league saw in 2014 - 15 in Detroit, as they were able to handily blow out a playoff contender. Atlanta recorded a whopping 34 team assists and even more impressively turned the ball over just four times as a unit. The absolutely unheard of ball security allowed Atlanta to control the game despite a 54 - 39 rebounding deficit. Players across the Hawks roster got involved, as all five starters and three bench players scored in double - digits. The near - perfect team play will likely bode well for Atlanta as the season comes to a close. Detroit, meanwhile, is left battling division rival Chicago for the last playoff spot in the East. The Pistons remain two games up on the spot, but have seven contests remaining before they are home free. All-Star Andre Drummond had a big 19 points and 17 rebounds on Saturday, but could n't do enough get the job done against the red - hot Hawks. The Pistons shot just 39 percent from the field, struggling to find their shot all night. Detroit will host the Thunder on Tuesday, whlie Atlanta will visit Chicago on Monday.
+The San Antonio Spurs (49 - 26) defeated the Orlando Magic (22 - 53) 103 - 91 on Wednesday. The Spurs took did some early damage to the Magic and that put them in a situation where they could rest their starters. Tony Parker led the San Antonio starters with 22 minutes; he had seven points and four assists. Tim Duncan played just 12 minutes and scored six points to go with three rebounds and a block. With the starters getting some much - needed rest, it was up to the reserves to put nail the coffin on Orlando's chances of getting their 13th home victory of the season. Aron Baynes led the Spurs with 18 points in 24 minutes off the bench. He and Marco Belinelli, as well as Manu Ginobli were the key cogs in the Spurs' bench brigade on Wednesday. Belinelli put in 12 points in a team - high 30 minutes. Ginobli had a plus 27 in the plus/minus statistic in just 18 minutes played. Orlando's starters played very well against the Spurs, but did n't get enough help from their reserves to make it a game. The Magic got good all - around games from Nikola Vucevic, Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton. Vucevic had five assists from the center position as well as three blocked shots. Oladipo put in a game - high 24 points to go along with seven assists and six rebounds. Payton continued his stellar rookie season with seven, assists, seven rebounds, four steals and one block. His shot has been much improved over the past few months, he showed that against San Antonio going 7 - for - 15 from the field. The Magic have now lost four straight and ten of their last eleven games. The Magic will play the Timberwolves in Minnesota on Friday. The Spurs secured a playoff spot with their victory in Orlando; they'll take on the Denver Nuggets on Friday.
+The Dallas Mavericks (30 - 27) decimated the Philadelphia 76ers (8 - 47) 129 - 103 on Sunday. The stat sheet belied the severity of the beating that Dallas handed out, as Philadelphia actually shot a solid 48 percent from the field overall and outperformed the Mavs from three - point range, 43 percent to 38 percent. The Sixers even managed to keep their league - worst turnover rate under control, handing the ball to Dallas a modest 15 times on the night. However, after Philadelphia surprised the Mavs out of the gate with a 30 - point first quarter, the home team took a lead they would never relinquish on the strength of winning the second quarter by a margin of 38 - 24. Dallas countered Jahlil Okafor's career - high 31 points by having four members of the first unit tally double - digit scoring, and the remaining starter, Zaza Pachulia, haul in double - digit boards. The point total represented a season high for Dallas, and it was also their largest margin of victory on the campaign. Okafor supplemented his scoring with eight rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block. Robert Covington was the only other member of the starting five to manage double - digit points, amassing 14 points, five boards and a steal. Isaiah Canaan actually provided the second - best point tally on the night for Philadelphia while pacing the reserves, as he recorded 15 points, a rebound and an assist. Starters Ish Smith and Nerlens Noel particularly underwhelmed, with the former managing only three points, three assists and a rebound, and the latter supplying four points, five boards, two assists, a steal and a block. The Sixers remain in last place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division. They're home for their next contest, against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday. Dallas' cavalcade of productive offensive outings was led by a resurgent performance from the oft - maligned Wesley Matthews, who contributed 21 points, three rebounds and a pair of assists. Dirk Nowitzki reached the 29,0 - point milestone for his career, and totaled 18 points, seven rebounds, a pair of assists and a steal. Chandler Parsons and Deron Williams were next in line with a pair of 15 - point efforts. Parsons added four rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block, while Williams dished out eight dimes and brought in three rebounds. Zaza Pachulia registered a modest nine points, but added 10 boards, an assist and a steal. With the eventual comfortable second - half lead, the bench got in on the act as well. J.J. Barea paced the reserves with 12 points, five assists, two rebounds and a steal, while Raymond Felton pitched in 10 points, four boards, an assist, three steals. In all, the Mavs' second unit totaled a robust 51 points in the blowout. Dallas remains in third place in the Western Conference's Southwest Division, and are currently slotted as the sixth seed in the conference as well. They're off until Wednesday, when they'll face off with the Oklahoma City Thunder in a high - octane showdown at home.
+The Boston Celtics defeated the host Indiana Pacers 105 - 99 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Saturday. In a battle between two injury - riddled teams, the Celtics were able to prevail with a much needed road victory. The key was shooting and defense, as the Celtics outshot the Pacers from the field, from three - point range and from the free - throw line. Boston also held Indiana to 42 percent from the field and 22 percent from long distance. The Celtics also won the rebounding and assisting differentials, while tying the Pacers in turnovers. There were 10 ties and 10 lead changes, as this game went down to the final seconds. Boston (5 - 4) has had to deal with a gluttony of injuries, but they had the fortunate task of playing a team just as injured here. Isaiah Thomas led the team in scoring, totaling 23 points and five assists on 4 - of - 13 shooting. He got most of those points by going 14 - of - 15 from the free - throw line. Kelly Olynyk got a rare start and finished second on the team with his 16 points, six rebounds and four assists. Avery Bradley also tallied 13 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while Amir Johnson finished with 14 points and nine boards. Boston will return to action on Monday against the New Orleans Pelicans. Indiana (4 - 6) had a tough task here without Paul George and they simply could n't overcome that loss. Jeff Teague led the team with 20 points and four assists, but shot just 4 - of - 13 from the field. Myles Turner was a defensive stud, totaling 17 points, eight rebounds, four steals and three blocks in the defeat. Monta Ellis was back in the starting lineup, finishing with 15 points, four rebounds and four assists. The Pacers will look to rebound on Monday, when they host the Orlando Magic for their next game.
+The Boston Celtics defeated the Utah Jazz 99 - 90 on Monday at Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City. The Celtics were the superior shooters in this game, going 47 percent from the field and 42 percent from the three - point line, while the Jazz went 43 percent from the floor and 38 percent from beyond the arc. Boston also secured the advantage at the free throw line, making 21 - of - 23, as the Jazz made only 11 - of - 19. The Celtics received their biggest contributions from their bench in this game. Tayshaun Prince went 7 - for - 10 from the field and 2 - for - 3 from the three - point line to score a team - high of 19 points, while also adding five assists in 30 minutes. It was only his fifth game played for the Celtics, but easily his best, after combining for only 17 in all four of his previous games. Tyler Zeller also came off the bench and recorded 14 points (6 - 8 FG, 2 - 2 FT) and seven rebounds in 29 minutes. He's combined for 29 points and 12 rebounds over his last two games. Avery Bradley and Jared Sullinger, the team's two scoring leaders, both finished in double figures as well. Sullinger had 12 points (4 - 10 FG, 1 - 3 3Pt, 3 - 3 FT) and nine rebounds, while Bradley had 12 points (4 - 12 FG, 2 - 4 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT) and a steal. Gordon Hayward and Enes Kanter did the bulk of the damage for the Jazz, although it was n't enough to help the Jazz grab a victory. Hayward went 7 - for - 17 from the field and 4 - for - 5 from the three - point line to score 26 points, while also adding six rebounds and three steals. He's had a really impressive week with his shot, averaging 25 points over his last three games. Kanter on the other hand scored 20 points (10 - 16 FG, 0 - 1 3Pt), to go along with six rebounds before fouling out. He's recorded 20 or more points in three out of his last four games, despite averaging 14 points so far this year. Trey Burke continued to come off the bench, and played really well offensively, finishing with 18 points (7 - 20 FG, 4 - 12 3Pt) in 32 minutes. Dante Exum was the starter at point guard in his previous spot, but had a tough outing, going scoreless (0 - 2 FG, 0 - 2 3Pt) with two assists in 25 minutes. The Celtics' next game will be on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, while the Jazz will be at home against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.
+The Indiana Pacers (16 - 30) defeated the Orlando Magic (15 - 32) 106 - 99 on Sunday at the Amway Center in Orlando. After ending the third quarter down 82 - 75, the Pacers went off in the fourth quarter, out - scoring the Magic 31 - 17 to steal the seven - point victory on the road. The Pacers were the superior shooters in this game, going 52 percent from the field and 40 percent from the three - point line, while the Magic went 49 percent from the floor and just 35 percent from beyond the arc. The Pacers received contributions from all over the court Sunday with six players reaching double figures in points. David West led the way, recording 20 points (8 - 15 FG, 0 - 1 3Pt, 4 - 4 FT), four rebounds and two steals. He had n't been playing his best basketball over the last three games, so it was good to see him turn things around. Roy Hibbert notched a double - double, finishing with 11 points and 13 rebounds in only 23 minutes. He has n't played more than 20 minutes in each of his last three games, so with a little bit more time on the court, Hibbert was able to increase his production. Rodney Stuckey had a strong showing as well with 15 points (6 - 10 FG, 1 - 1 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT) and six assists. He's now averaging 11 points and 3 assists per game on the season. The Pacers bench had an impressive performance, led by George Hill and Damjan Rudez. Hill had 17 points (7 - 15 FG, 1 - 6 3Pt, 2 - 3 FT) and six rebounds, while Rudez had 18 points (7 - 10 FG, 4 - 7 3Pt) and three rebounds. The 18 points were a career - high for Rudez. As has been the case for most of the season, Victor Oladipo and Nikola Vucevic did most of the damage for the Magic. Vucevic led all scorers, finishing with 27 points (11 - 17 FG, 5 - 5 FT) and seven rebounds. He's been unstoppable lately, averaging 29 points and 14 rebounds over his last three games. Oladipo on the other hand recorded 18 points (8 - 17 FG, 1 - 4 3Pt, 1 - 1 FT) of his own, to go along with three assists. He was about right on par with his season averages of 16 points and 4 assists per game. Tobias Harris continued to come off the bench, but still played 30 minutes, finishing with 11 points and seven rebounds. The only other Magic player to reach double figures in points was Elfrid Payton, who contributed 10 points and eight assists. The Pacers' next game will be at home against the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday, while the Magic will travel to Memphis to play the Grizzlies on Monday.
+The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Miami Heat, 94 - 90, on Monday at AT & T Center. For the Spurs (8 - 3), Monday's game marked just the second time this season where the team was able to start their lineup they expected to have out there from the beginning of the season, as Danny Green and Tony Parker have made returns from quad and knee injuries, respectively. Regardless, it was still Kawhi Leonard who led the way for San Antonio in their victory, posting a team - high 24 points and 12 rebounds in 35 minutes. LaMarcus Aldridge added 18 points of his own while Pau Gasol posted 12 points and eight rebounds, as the Spurs' starting frontcourt carried the team to their third straight victory. Although it did n't come easy in the closing moments, as despite holding an 11 - point lead heading into the final quarter, a late Miami (2 - 7) run made the final seconds somewhat competitive. For the Heat, they continue to struggle as they have now lost their fifth straight game, but center Hassan Whiteside did manage to put together yet another monster performance, scoring 23 points off 9 - of - 11 shooting and grabbing 17 rebounds in 34 minutes. With Goran Dragic out with an ankle injury, however, it was Dion Waiters who led the team in scoring, posting a game - high 27 points in Dragic's absence. Beyond Waiters and Whiteside, Miami did n't get much help, as Tyler Johnson was the only other player to score in double figures, scoring 11 points in 33 minutes off the bench. Offensive struggles continue to haunt the Heat, as they've failed to score 100 points in each of their last five games. Up next, the Spurs will head to Sacramento on Wednesday to take on the Kings, while the Heat will look to end their losing streak at home against the Hawks on Tuesday.
+The Sacramento Kings (16 - 21) defeated the Utah Jazz (17 - 22) 103 - 101 on Thursday night. One look at the statistics would indicate a Sacramento blowout, but this game came down to the final shot. Utah actually hit a game - tying three with four seconds left, but Rudy Gay ruined that moment of joy for Jazz fans by hitting a mid - range jumper to win the game. The Kings got off to a 26 - 12 start after the first quarter and barely held on late for the win. Sacramento outrebounded the Jazz 54 - 38 and outshot them 46 percent to 42 percent. What killed Utah was it's three - point shooting, as they went 6 - for - 34 from long range. Sacramento has been playing their best basketball of the season over recent weeks and got an impressive road win here. It was once again DeMarcus Cousins who carried the load, as he is now the leading scorer in the NBA since the calendar turned. Cousins put together a 36 point and 17 rebound line in this win and dominated the Jazz frontcourt all game long. Rudy Gay also had a big game, as he tallied 24 points and nine rebounds while also hitting the game - winner. Rajon Rondo added to his league - leading assist total, as he dished out 13 dimes in yet another strong performance. The Kings will have to take on the Los Angeles Clippers in their next game, who currently hold the longest winning streak in the NBA. Utah got off to a horrendous start tonight and just couldn’t quite pull off the comeback late. Gordon Hayward, Trey Burke and Rodney Hood are the three best shooters on this team and they all shot horribly here. In fact, they combined to go 2 - for - 22 from three - point range in the loss. While Hayward mightily struggled with his shot, he still managed to tally 21 points and eight rebounds in a solid game. Trey Lyles also had an impressive game filling in for Derrick Favors, as he scored a career - high 19 points in the loss. This team is hard to figure out and while they are scary at times, they can be downright bad at others. With that said, they'll have a good chance to bounce - back against the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday in their next game.
+The Golden State Warriors (180) would not have their record tarnished by the lowly Sacramento Kings (6 - 12) as they came up with the 120 - 101 win on Saturday night, in Oakland. The Kings started out well as they put up a competitive first quarter but could not keep up with the high - paced, high - efficiency Warriors. Sacramento was missing DeMarcus Cousins again, who is still out with a sore back. Rudy Gay led the way for the Kings with 20 points scored on 7 - 20 shooting, he also pulled down seven boards, in a limited 27 minutes. Kosta Koufos started in place of Cousins and put up a decent 14 points on 7 - 13 shooting, along with seven rebounds. Omri Casspi chipped in 11 points and seven rebounds in 28 minutes. The Kings as a team shot only 39 percent from the field. Golden State fielded a balanced offense and played as a cohesive unit with an amazing 32 assists on 39 made field goals. This was far from a one man show as six players scored in double digits and no one scored more than 19. Stephen Curry finished with 19 points, six assists and four rebounds in 29 minutes. Curry took only seven field goal attempts, six of them from deep. He shot 4 - 7 from the field, 3 - 6 from deep. Draymond Green posted a beautiful triple double with 13 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds in 35 minutes. Green also had four blocked shots. Festus Ezeli put up a double double consisting of 11 points and 11 rebounds in only 17 minutes off the bench. Next up Golden State will be visiting Utah for a match on Monday, where perhaps the altitude will throw the Warriors off their game. Sacramento will be hosting Dallas on Monday.
+The Los Angeles Clippers (52 - 28) defeated the Dallas Mavericks (41 - 39) Sunday afternoon at Staples Center, 98 - 91. The Clippers entered halftime with just a two - point lead, but their defense clamped down in the third quarter, as Dallas scored just 12 points and the lead swelled to 17. The Mavericks made a spirited run with a 32 - point fourth quarter, but the cushion the Clippers built up proved to be too much, as the Mavericks couldn’t pull it any closer than six points in the final frame. Jamal Crawford’s 22 points in 26 minutes off the bench led all scorers, as he shot 7 - 13 and a lights out 4 - 6 on three - point attempts. Blake Griffin scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds along with seven assists. DeAndreJordan added his own double - double with 14 points (despite shooting just 6 - 23 at the free throw line) and 10 rebounds. J.J. Reduce hit all four of his three - point attempts and scored 20 points, part of the Clippers’ hot shooting night, as the club finished 49 percent from the field and 9 - 18 (50 percent) from beyond the arc. Raymond Felton’s 21 points (7 - 14 FG, 1 - 5 3PT, 6 - 7 FT) off the bench led the Mavericks, who struggled mightily to find their shots. Deron Williams led Mavericks starters with 15 points (6 - 11 FG), and Dirk Nowitzki managed just 14 points (4 - 9 FG, 1 - 4 3PT, 5 - 5 FT). Dallas shot just 41 percent from the floor and 8 - 30 (27 percent) from three - point land as even hack - a - DeAndre couldn’t get them back into this one. The Mavericks head to Utah for a Monday matchup against the Jazz. The Clippers continue their homestand Tuesday against the Grizzlies.
+Kristaps Porzingis' 31 points, nine rebounds, an assist and a block propelled the Knicks to their fifth straight home victory. His contributions were particularly valuable on a night where Carmelo Anthony was held to 17 points on 7 - of - 22 shooting. Derrick Rose contributed 18 points and made a key jumper with seven seconds remaining to give the Knicks their final four - point margin of victory. The second unit also managed to boost the offense with a collective 32 points, and New York managed to shoot 47 percent from the field overall. Damian Lillard's 22 points paced the Blazers, while backcourt mate C.J. McCollum followed with a full stat line of 16 points, five rebounds and five assists. Maurice Harkless contributed 15 points, while Ed Davis turned in a solid start at power forward with a 14 - point, 10 - rebound double - double.
+The Los Angeles Lakers (11 - 23) defeated the Indiana Pacers (13 - 22) 88 - 87 on Sunday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. After ending the third quarter down 69 - 63, the Lakers went on a 25 - 18 run in the fourth quarter to complete a comeback victory in front of their home crowd. Despite being out - rebounded 50 - 37 by the Pacers, the Lakers were able to force them into 16 turnovers, which may have been the difference in this one. Both teams struggled with their shooting percentages for the most part. Nick Young and Kobe Bryant did most of the damage for the Lakers. Young did n't have his best shooting night of the year, but finished with 22 points (4 - 12 FG, 2 - 5 3Pt) and three rebounds off the bench. He was able to go a perfect 12 - of - 12 from the free throw line, as he continually forced his way to the line. Bryant on the other hand went 7 - for - 14 from the field and 2 - for - 3 from the three - point line to score 20 points, while also adding six rebounds, six assists and three steals. He did a little bit of everything in this game, along with making the go - ahead jumper with just over 12 seconds left in the game. Carlos Boozer was also productive off the bench, scoring 12 points (5 - 9 FG, 2 - 2 FT) and grabbing four rebounds. Both Jeremy Lin and Ed Davis reached double - digits in points as well, with 10 and 11 points respectively. The Pacers had all five starters reach double figures in points, but received their biggest contribution off the bench from CJ Miles. Miles went 7 - for - 18 from the field and 3 - for - 9 from the three - point line to score 19 points in 31 minutes. He's really stepped it up lately, averaging 22 points over his last three outings. Donald Slan started at guard and came just shy of a triple - double, finishing with 16 points (6 - 14 FG, 1 - 6 3Pt, 3 - 4 FT), seven rebounds and nine assists. The nine assists were a season - high, as he's received a boost in playing time over his last few games. Roy Hibbert stayed effective and recorded 12 points (5 - 12 FG, 2 - 2 FT) and 11 rebounds. It was his eigth double - double of the season. David West neared a double - double of his own with 11 points (5 - 13 FG, 0 - 2 3Pt, 1 - 1 FT) and eight rebounds, while Rodney Stuckey had 10 points (3 - 11 FG, 2 - 3 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT) and four assists. The Lakers' next game will be on the road against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, while the Pacers will travel to Utah to play the Jazz on Monday.
+The Utah Jazz defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 100 - 92, Tuesday at Vivint Smart Home Arena. LeBron James of the Cavaliers (28 - 9) came into Salt Lake City on Tuesday having not won there since 2010. That losing streak will extend at least one more year as the Jazz (24 - 16) managed to lead from wire - to - wire in what was a terrific defensive effort against an explosive Cleveland team. Offensively, though, it was Gordon Hayward who shined with a very efficient offensive performance, scoring a team - high 28 points on 10 - of - 12 shooting from the field and 4 - of - 5 shooting from behind the arc. Alongside Hayward, each of the other four Utah starters managed to score in double figures, and the starting unit accounted for 82 of the team's 100 points. For Cleveland, a stingy Jazz defense led to an uncharacteristically poor shooting night, as they finished shooting just 37 percent from the field and 29 percent from behind the arc. Two of the Cavaliers' big three were solid Tuesday, with James leading the way with 29 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals, while Kyrie Irving scored 20 points of his own. Kevin Love, however, struggled, finishing with just 12 points and nine rebounds on a poor 4 - of - 14 shooting from the field. The loss ended what was a three - game road winning streak for the Cavaliers. Up next, the Jazz will look to build on Tuesday's victory on Thursday against the Pistons, while the Cavaliers will look to bounce back against the Trail Blazers on Wednesday.
+The Wizards' Otto Porter, Jr. posted a game - high 32 points, along with 13 rebounds, an assist and a block. He was in a zone shooting - wise, going 13 - of - 18 from the field, including 5 - of - 9 from beyond the arc. Beal checked in second with 22 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals. Wall put together an 18 - point, 16 - assist double - double, but did commit a game - high seven turnovers. Morris offered 18 points as well, while Marcin Gortat brought down 12 boards. The Wizards shot 51 percent overall, which helped them overcome 16 turnovers. Giannis Antetokounmpo's 22 - point, 12 - rebound double - double paced the Bucks. Tony Snell chipped in with a season - high 20 points, and Jabari Parker supplied 14 points. Matthew Dellavedova registered a modest eight points, but did dish out 11 dimes. Greg Monroe led the second unit with 16 points.
+The Toronto Raptors (6 - 3) defeated the Philadelphia 76ers (0 - 8) 119 - 103 on Wednesday at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. After a back - and - forth first half between these two teams, the Raptors got hot to start the third. To begin the quarter, they went on an 110 run and never looked back, eventually pushing their way to a convincing 16 - point victory on the road.The Raptors' biggest advantage came at the free throw line. They hit an impressive 28 - of - 31 free throw attempts, while the Sixers attempted just 17, while converting on 11 of those 17. Kyle Lowry played a huge part in the victory. He went 6 - of - 12 from the field and 2 - for - 6 from the three - point line to score a team - high of 23 points, while also adding eight assists and a pair of steals. Lowry is on fire right now, combining for 46 points, 17 assists and five steals over his last two games. Luis Scola was another player who had a strong showing Wednesday. In just 18 minutes of playing time, he scored an efficient 21 points (10 - 15 FG, 3 - 4 FT), to go along with five rebounds and a steal. The points total was a new season high for the eighth - year pro out of Argentina, who's now averaging 8 points, 7 rebounds and 1 assists on the season. Leading all bench players, Cory Jefferson provided a nice spark for the Raptors. He chipped in with 15 points (6 - 9 FG, 0 - 1 3Pt, 3 - 3 FT) and five assists over 30 minutes. Rookie Jahlil Okafor did everything he could to keep the Sixers in the game. Okafor finished with a game - high of 26 points (13 - 22 FG, 0 - 2 FT), 16 of which came in the first half, while also adding seven rebounds and four blocked shots. Okafor continues to show himself as one of the top rookies in his class, now averaging a class - leading 20 points, 7 rebounds and 1 assists on the year. He's now surpassed the 20 - point plateau in five of the first eight games of his NBA career. While Okafor was the only starter who really got into a rhythm, Hollis Thompson and Isaiah Canaan had solid showings off the bench. They combined to shoot 11 - for - 19 from the field and 10 - for - 16 from beyond the arc for 37 points. With Robert Covington still sidelined due to a knee injury, both players saw increased porduction Wednesday, but it was n't enough to keep the Sixers close. The Raptors' next game will be on the road against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, while the Sixers will travel to Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder Friday as well.
+The New York Knicks defeated the host Los Angeles Lakers, 118 - 112, at Staples Center on Sunday. The Knicks (14 - 10) received the bulk of their offense from Derrick Rose and Kristaps Porzingis, as both made up for a rough shooting night from Carmelo Anthony. The neck - and - neck game never had one team clearly pulling away from the other, as a series of lead changes occurred in the third quarter. However, the Knicks came away with a nine - point lead to close out the third and went on to take charge of the fourth quarter as well. Porzingis was effective on both ends of the floor, scoring 26 points, to go along with 12 rebounds, two assists and seven blocks on 8 - of - 15 shooting. Rose (back) returned to action in Sunday's road contest and scored 25 points on 12 - of - 16 shooting, while Anthony struggled to find a rhythm on his way to 13 points on 16 shots. Brandon Jennings registered 23 minutes in his return to the bench, but was still effective with 19 points, three rebounds and four assists. Luol Deng and Louis Williams pulled the weight in the scoring department for Los Angeles (10 - 16), while D'Angelo Russell looked a bit off in his return to the starting lineup as well. Deng pitched in 22 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals on 8 - of - 13 shooting. Williams scored 24 points on 13 shots across 26 minutes. It was Williams' fifth straight game scoring at least 24 points, which also includes three games with at least 30 points. The Lakers will look to end their five - game losing streak when they face the Sacramento Kings in the second game of a back - to - back Monday, while the Knicks visit the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.
+The visiting San Antonio Spurs defeated the host New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, 113 - 100. The Spurs (22 - 5) have now won four straight and are 15 - 1 on the road this season. San Antonio holds the league's second - best record and remains just a game out of first place in the Western Conference. On Sunday, forward LaMarcus Aldridge led the team with 22 points while hitting all 10 of his free - throws. The Spurs out - rebounded the Pelicans a whopping 49 - 37, including 14 from veteran big man Pau Gasol. The team also shot impeccably, hitting 48 percent from the field and hitting 50 percent from beyond the arc. The Pelicans (9 - 20) have seen an underwhelming start to their 2016 - 17 campaign. On Sunday, the team struggled in particular, trailing by double digits for the majority of the game. Star Anthony Davis, the league's second - leading scorer, was held to just 12 points and four rebounds in what was a dull night for the young superstar. The team reached the free - throw line 14 times and hit only eight. The Pelicans will visit the 76ers on Tuesday, while the Spurs will travel to Houston.
+The Memphis Grizzlies (18 - 16) defeated the Miami Heat (18 - 13) 99 - 90 in overtime at the FedExForum in Memphis on Tuesday. It looked like the Grizzlies were going to close this game out in regulation, but the Heat finished on an 11 - 2 run to force overtime. Memphis didn’t panic, exploding for 16 points in the extra session to pull away from the scrappy visitors. Free throw shooting proved to be the difference in the contest, as the Heat went just 9 - for - 18 from the charity stripe while the hosts were nearly perfect at 19 - for - 20. The Grizzlies used a balanced team effort to pick up the victory, with four starters scoring at least 16 points. Marc Gasol came up hobbling after stepping on the foot of Heat point guard Goran Dragic in overtime, but showed no ill effects as he stayed in the game and ultimately finished with a team - leading 23 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four blocks. Zach Randolph added 17 points on efficient 7 - for - 10 shooting, while Jeff Green and Mike Conley both finished with 16 points. For the Heat, Chris Bosh led the team with 22 points, but was held scoreless after the third quarter while going 0 - for - 7 from the field down the stretch. Dwyane Wade contributed 19 points, five assists and five rebounds, and Hassan Whiteside scored five points and pulled down a game - high 11 rebounds in 37 minutes before fouling out in overtime. Miami’s next game will come at home against the Mavericks on Friday, while Memphis opens a three - game road trip in Utah on Saturday.
+The New York Knicks (10 - 38) defeated the Los Angeles Lakers (13 - 35) 92 - 80 on Sunday at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Knicks came out blazing Sunday, out - scoring the Lakers 32 - 19 in the first quarter, therefore setting the tone for the rest of the game. The Knicks were much better shooting in this game, going 44 percent from the field and 46 percent from the three - point line, while the Lakers went just 36 percent from the floor and 44 percent from beyond the arc. The Lakers were forced into 15 turnovers, which also may have made a big difference Sunday. Carmelo Anthony did the bullk of the work for the Knicks, going 13 - for - 25 from the field and 2 - for - 4 from the three - point line to score a game - high of 31 points, while also adding eight rebounds, two assists and a steal. He had a very strong stretch of games to finish out the late stages of January, and it looks to have carried over to February. He's now scored 24 points or more in six out of his last seven games, pushing his season average up to 24 points per game. The only other Knick to reach double figures in points was rookie Langston Galloway, who finished with 13 points (4 - 11 FG, 2 - 4 3Pt, 3 - 3 FT) and five rebounds in 29 minutes. He struggled to only four points on Thursday, so it was good to see him turn things around again. Lou Amundson did n't do much offensively with just six points, but he did clean up the boards, grabbing 13 rebounds in his start at forward. The Lakers saw a big game from their rookie point guard Jordan Clarkson, who went 6 - for - 13 from the field and 3 - for - 5 from the three - point line to score 19 points, while also adding three rebounds and two steals. It was his third impressive game in a row, a stretch where he's averaged 18 points per game. While the rest of the starters combined for only 16 points, the bench did provide some decent contributions. Carlos Boozer led the bench with 19 points (6 - 15 FG, 7 - 8 FT) and 10 rebounds in only 24 minutes. The double - double marked his eigth of the season. Wesley Johnson also continued to come off the bench, and finished with 11 points (4 - 12 FG, 2 - 4 3Pt, 1 - 1 FT) and five rebounds. It was his second game in a row without being a part of the starting lineup, as Ryan Kelly has been replacing him as the starting forward. The bench out - scored the starters with a combined 45 points. The Knicks' next game will be at home against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday, while the Lakers will travel to Milwaukee to play the Bucks on Wednesday.
+The Dallas Mavericks (16 - 13) won an overtime thriller Wednesday, 119 - 118, against the host Brooklyn Nets (8 - 21) on an historic night for Dirk Nowitzki. Nowitzki passed Shaquille O'Neal to move into sixth place on the NBA's career scoring list, scoring 22 points for 28,609 in his career. But it was the final two that were most important. With 19 seconds remaining in overtime and trailing 118 - 117, Nowitzki hit a layup to provide the Mavericks with the winning margin. The Mavericks held a 108 - 105 lead with six seconds remaining in regulation when Thaddeus Young drained a 25 - foot three - pointer to tie it. Young then blocked J.J. Barea's final attempt to force overtime. Young finished with a season - high 29 points, while Barea scored a career - high 32 points to lead the Mavericks. He added a season - high 11 assists.
+The Philadelphia 76ers (4 - 23) defeated the Miami Heat (13 - 16) 91 - 87 on Tuesday at American Airlines Arena in Miami. While Miami dominated the first half, getting out to a 57 - 42 lead, the Sixers had a huge second half, out - scoring the Heat 49 - 30 to steal a surprising victory on the road in Miami. After losing 23 of their first 25 games, the Sixers have now won two straight games, and will look to build on their momentum going forward. The Sixers received most of their production from Michael Carter-Williams and Luc Mbah A Moute. Williams finished 9 - for - 18 from the field and 2 - for - 4 from the three - point line to score 20 points, while also recording five assists and six steals. The six steals were a season - high for him, and he's now recorded 41 points over his last two games, as he continues to stay hot from the field. Mbah A Moute on the other hand went 8 - for - 16 from the floor and 0 - for - 2 from beyond the arc to score 19 points, along with six rebounds. It was a season - high in points for him, and a nice surprise for the Sixers after averaging only 9 points per game up until this point in the season. There was also some solid contributions off the bench from KJ McDaniels and Jerami Grant. McDaniels recorded 13 points (4 - 8 FG, 1 - 3 3Pt, 4 - 4 FT) and three rebounds, while Grant had 11 points (3 - 7 FG, 1 - 2 3Pt, 4 - 7 FT) and seven rebounds. The Heat were led by Dwyane Wade. He went 9 - for - 21 from the field, but 0 - for - 3 from the three - point line to finish with 23 points and six assists. He's been hot from the field lately, as he's averaging 30 points over his last four games. Shawne Williams also had a successful shooting performance, going 6 - for - 9 from the field and 3 - for - 5 from beyond the arc to score 17 points in 26 minutes. It was his second highest scoring output of the season, but was n't enough to push the Heat to a victory. The only other Heat player to reach double figures in points was Mario Chalmers, who finished with 11 points (4 - 8 FG, 1 - 4 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT) and five rebounds. The Sixers' next game will be on the road against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, while the Heat will be at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday.
+The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 93 - 85, Wednesday at FedExForum. The Grizzlies (18 - 9) were back to full strength Wednesday after the return of Marc Gasol (rest), but the Cavaliers (18 - 6) were not, as head coach Tyronn Lue elected to rest his big three of Kevin Love, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. Without them, Cleveland, as expected, had a tough time getting anything going on offense and Memphis took advantage. The Grizzlies seized control of the game from the very start and never let up, led by their big man in the middle Gasol, who posted a double - double of 17 points and 11 rebounds. However, the biggest performance of the night came unexpectedly off the bench from Troy Daniels, who scored an efficient 20 points in just 22 minutes. As a team, Memphis shot just 43 percent from the field but were on fire from long range, hitting 12 of their 23 shots from behind the arc. On the other hand, there was n't much to take away from this game for the Cavaliers since they played without their three best players. Their two top scorers both came off the bench Wednesday, with veteran sharpshooter James Jones scoring a team - high 15 points and rookie Kay Felder adding a career - high 14 points. Overall, though, it was a miserable shooting night for Cleveland, as they shot just 37 percent from the field overall and 64 percent from the free throw line. On top of that, they managed just 10 assists to their 12 turnovers. Up next, the Grizzlies will stay home Friday to take on the Kings, while the Cavaliers will have off until Saturday when they play the Lakers.
+Thursday marked the sixth game this season that Tobias Harris played as a reserve, and it was yet another great performance off the bench for the 6 - foot - 8 forward. Harris recorded a game - high 25 points in Thursday's victory over the Hornets, and with that, he is now averaging 22 points per game over his six as a reserve this year. On top of that, he's also been doing work on the glass, as while he managed to record just two rebounds Thursday, he is still averaging 7 per game off the bench. And with Harris' move to the bench, Jon Leuer has been thrust into the starting lineup and has matched his production as a reserve, with the big man out of Wisconsin averaging 11 points on 50 percent shooting from the field as a starter after averaging 11 points per game in his former role off the bench.
+The Chicago Bulls defeated the host Milwaukee Bucks, 109 - 94, at BMO Harris Bradley Center on Sunday. Milwaukee was expected to win this game easily, but Chicago rode a huge third quarter en route to an upset win. In fact, the Bulls outscored the Bucks, 35 - 24 in the third quarter and held the lead for the final 20 minutes. Rebounding was a huge factor, with the Bulls winning that battle, 49 - 34. Chicago also dominated the shooting, as they hit 54 percent from the field and 48 percent from three, while the Bucks shot just 44 percent from the field and 30 percent from long range. The 33 assists recorded from Chicago obliterated the 20 assists the Bucks handed out as well. The Bulls (35 - 39) had just three wins in their previous 12 games, so this road victory may be what they need to get back to .500. Jimmy Butler was the player of the game, as he accumulated 20 points, six rebounds, 14 assists and three steals. Nikola Mirotic led Chicago in scoring, as he dropped 28 points and eight rebounds on 11 - of - 14 shooting. Robin Lopez went 9 - of - 13 from the field to total 18 points and five rebounds. Rajon Rondo collected 18 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, falling just shy of a triple - double. The Bucks (37 - 36) came into this game extremely hot, but this was a baffling loss against a struggling Bulls team. Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 22 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Greg Monroe finished second on the team, providing 16 points and four rebounds off the bench. Khris Middleton totaled 14 points, six rebounds and four steals, while Malcolm Brogdon finished with 14 points, four rebounds and four assists.
+The Los Angeles Clippers (19 - 8) defeated the Milwaukee Bucks (14 - 14) 106 - 102 on Saturday. Los Angeles has won three of their last four games. Chris Paul paced the team with a game - high 27 points and nine assists. DeAndre Jordan continued his impressive work on the boards, pulling down 16 rebounds, and Blake Griffin and J.J. Redick joined Paul in scoring over 20 points. The Clippers have a tough stretch of their schedule coming up with the Spurs, Hawks, Warriors and Raptors all on this week's docket. Even with the loss, Milwaukee finished their four - game Western Conference road trip 2 - 2, a job well done by the developing squad. In the three games since Jabari Parker went down with a season - ending ACL injury, coach Jason Kidd has cut the umbilical cord they had on Giannis Antetokounmpo. He played over 37 minutes for the second straight game Saturday, which is ten more minutes than his season average of 27 minutes per game. Larry Sanders returned to the starting lineup after sitting out Thursday's game on a league mandated one - game suspension. Ersan Ilyasova (concussion) and John Henson (foot) remain out, and it seems Ilyasova may be closer to returning than Henson.
+The host Denver Nuggets squeezed out a win against the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, 105 - 103. Denver (14 - 18) has worked its way into playoff contention, now sitting within half a game of the eighth seed. On Tuesday, a balanced offensive approach helped guide the team to victory over the young and up - and - coming Timberwolves. All five starters scored in double digits for Denver, with forward Danilo Gallinari leading the way with 18. Sophomore Nikola Jokic also impressed, leading the team with 11 assists to go along with 16 points and eight rebounds. The team made 10 three - pointers, and shot over 51 percent from the field on the night. Minnesota (10 - 22), meanwhile, has seen struggles early in the season. The Timberwolves also saw all five starters score double digits, with their young big three leading the way. Reigning Rookie of the Year Karl-Anthony Towns recorded a triple - double, with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. Guards Zach LaVine and Andrew Wiggins scored 17 and 25, respectively. Big man Gorgui Dieng also impressed, scoring 20 points on 9 - of - 11 shooting. Minnesota's bench, however, had issues, scoring a combined eight points. Minnesota will host the Bucks on Friday, while Denver will host the 76ers.
+The New York Knicks (14 - 54) fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves (15 - 53), 95 - 92, in overtime on Thursday at Madison Square Garden. The records of these two teams entering this contest belies how entertaining it was. The fourth quarter featured ties or lead changes on seemingly every possession and neither team ever led by more than two points in the period. Alexey Shved hit two clutch free throws late in the game to send it to overtime. Zach LaVine's six points in overtime made the difference, however, as the Timberwolves were able to edge out the Knicks. Minnesota was playing the second half of a back - to - back Thursday and was left with just eight healthy bodies at its disposal, including a D-League callup. Sean Kilpatrick was signed to a 10 - day contract Thursday and logged 10 minutes in this game as Kevin Garnett, Justin Hamilton, Gary Neal, Ricky Rubio, and Nikola Pekovic were not in uniform. Chase Budinger played 43 minutes off the bench and amassed 10 points, six rebounds, and four steals. Zach LaVine got the start at point guard and finished with 20 points, seven rebounds, and four assists over 37 minutes. The Timberwolves will have a few days off to get healthy before returning to action Sunday against Charlotte. New York fell just shy of notching its second straight overtime victory this week. Alexey Shved and Langston Galloway led the way with 20 and 21 points respectively. The Knicks have a quick turnaround after this game with a matchup in Philadelphia on the slate for Friday.
+The Golden State Warriors (140) defeated the Chicago Bulls (8 - 4) at Oracle Arena on Friday. Chicago fell short of playing spoiler to the Warriors perfect start, but came into Oracle Arena and played a tough and physical game that the score does appropriately reflect. Jimmy Butler led the way and scored 28 points, to go along with nine rebounds and seven assists on 52 percent shooting. Kirk Hinrich tallied 17 points, shot 3 - of - 4 from the 3 - point line and started in place of the injured Derrick Rose (ankle). Pau Gasol (14 points, 10 rebounds and five assists) and Nikola Mirotic (18 points, 10 rebounds and five assists), both finished with double - doubles to round out the all around effort from the Bulls. Chicago forced 16 turnovers, most of which in the first half, and continuously disrupted the flow of the Warriors offense. However, they were not able to contribute enough points off the turnovers, and shot 40 percent from the field as a unit. Golden State is within one win of tying the NBA record for best start to open the season. The Bulls were the final team of a brutal three game stretch that included wins over the Raptors and Clippers beforehand. Stephen Curry provided 27 points, 17 of which came in the second half, to go along with five rebounds, four assists and four steals on 9 - of - 20 shooting. Harrison Barnes was once again hitting clutch shots down the stretch and tallied 20 points and nine rebounds on 7 - for - 13 shooting in 31 minutes. Klay Thompson shot an efficient 50 percent from the field, scoring 15 points, and Andre Iguodala added 12 points off the bench in 28 minutes played. Draymond Green continues to flourish in the Warriors offense and finished with nine points, nine rebounds and five assists. Leandro Barbosa and Shaun Livingston returned to the lineup after sitting out against the Clippers on Thursday. The Warriors look to extend their perfect season when they visit the Denver Nuggets (6 - 7) on Sunday, while the Bulls will get three days off before visiting the Portland Trail Blazers (6 - 9) on Tuesday.
+It was a big statistical night for the Lakers' young players, as Julius Randle and D'Angelo Russell both had near - career nights. Randle recorded his second career triple - double, scoring 17 points, hauling in 14 rebounds, and dishing out 10 assists. The forward was able to score his points on an efficient 5 - of - 8 shooting, while seeing the free - throw line 10 times. Russell, meanwhile, hit seven three - pointers en route to a season - high 32 points. It was the sophomore's first 30 - point outing of the season, and it came along with eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Brooklyn veteran Brook Lopez had a big night of his own, scoring 30 points and pulling down 10 rebounds for a double - double. Lopez's newly - added three - point shot was a focal point for the Nets, as the big man attempted 11 three - pointers on the night, making four. Guard Bojan Bogdanovic delivered a big night of his own, scoring 29 points on the second half of a back - to - back.
+The New York Knicks (15 - 62) defeated the Philadelphia 76ers (18 - 60) 101 - 91 on Sunday at Madison Square Garden in New York. In a matchup of Eastern Conference bottom feeders, the Knicks came out with the hard fought victory, despite both teams having already been eliminated from playoff contention. They were the superior shooters in this one, going 52 percent from the field, while the Sixers ended at just 38 percent. While they committed 19 turnovers to just 10 from the Sixers, the Knicks made up for it in the rebounding department, holding a 48 - 36 advantage by game's end. Andrea Bargnani was the biggest reason for the Knicks' success, as he finished with a game - high of 25 points, shooting 8 - for - 15 from the floor and 2 - for - 3 from the three - point line. He also chipped in with eight rebounds, four assists and four blocked shots, doing a little bit of everything in the win. After making just 1 - of - 9 attempts from the floor in Friday's game against the Wizards, it was a step back in the right direction for one of the Knicks' biggest offensive threats. Shane Larkin was another huge factor in the win, nearly recording a triple - double. He finished with 15 points (4 - 8 FG, 7 - 8 FT), 11 rebounds and seven assists, while playing 41 minutes. The rebounds were a season - high for the guard, who has n't surpassed six yet this season. Lance Thomas and Tim Hardaway Jr were the other two Knick players to reach double figures. Thomas recorded 14 points (6 - 8 FG, 0 - 1 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT) and nine rebounds, while Hardaway Jr added 12 points (5 - 11 FG, 1 - 5 3Pt, 1 - 1 FT) and four assists. The Sixers received most their most production from Ish Smith, who finished with 17 points (8 - 18 FG, 1 - 4 3Pt, 0 - 1 FT) and seven assists. Despite averaging just six points on the season, he's really picked up his offensive output lately, averaging 18 points over his last three games. Hollis Thompson came off the bench for 17 points (6 - 11 FG, 5 - 6 3Pt) of his own over 26 minutes. Like Smith, Thompson has had a really nice start to April and is averaging 16 points over his last three outings. While he had to leave Saturday's game after suffering a cut to his eye, Nerlens Noel was back in the lineup and did n't look to have any lingering issues, finishing with 14 points (7 - 14 FG, 0 - 1 FT), nine rebounds and two blocked shots. He's now pushed his season averages to 10 points and 8 rebounds on the season. The Knicks' next game will be at home against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, while the Sixers will be at home against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.
+The Utah Jazz (24 - 25) beat the Milwaukee Bucks (20 - 32) 84 - 81 on Friday. The Jazz stifled the Bucks in the second half to walk away with their fifth - straight win. They held Milwaukee to just 37 points in the second half and forced them to commit 20 turnovers while shooting 42 percent from the field. Utah also combined for 23 blocks and steals in the game and that's one of the highest totals of the season. This gives Milwaukee their fifth - straight loss and it was an extremely tough night on the offensive end. No player scored more than 18 points in the loss with the five starters combining for 18 turnovers. Khris Middleton's 18 points, six rebounds and three steals look good, but considering he shot 6 - for - 16 and committed nine turnovers, it was actually very ugly. Jerryd Bayless gave the team a nice spark off the bench, as he scored 15 points. Milwaukee will have a few days off until they play the Boston Celtics on Monday in their next game. Utah has been playing their best defense of the season in recent weeks and it came to a head here. Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors were incredible down low, as they combined for 23 rebounds, seven steals and eight blocks in the win. Rodney hood led the team with 23 points and also got two steals of his own. The Jazz are now allowing 85 points a game across their last seven games, which is tops in the NBA. On deck for Utah is a game against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday in a back - to - back set.
+The Golden State Warriors (30) defeated the Houston Rockets (0 - 3) 115 - 80, in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. Shooting mastermind, Stephen Curry dropped a legendary performance on the Rockets with 40 points in 35 minutes. He hit seven of his nine attempts from beyond the arc and also filled up the stat sheet with seven assists, five rebounds, two steals and one block. It certainly did n't hurt that Andrew Bogut stepped up his game against Dwight Howard, who has been somewhat hobbled by a knee injury. Bogut had 12 points, 12 rebounds and a block in 20 minutes of action, before fouling out. Golden State put it on the Rockets early and often. They led by 25 at halftime and Houston was unable to mount any sort of comeback. Draymond Green was a force to be reckoned with and Houston had no answer for him and Curry. Green had 17 points of his own to go along with a team - high 13 rebounds. The Rockets laid a dud at home in Game 3 and have now put themselves in a situation where they would need to win four straight games to advance to the NBA Finals. A feat that no team has ever accomplished after losing the first three games of the series. James Harden could n't find the magic that helped him finish second in the regular - season MVP award voting. He did a great job getting to the line as he usually does, going 10 - for - 11 from the charity stripe. However, he went just 3 - for - 16 from the field and could n't find his mojo. If the Rockets want to be the 2004 Red Sox of the NBA, they will need immaculate performances from their key players for four straight games. Golden State has n't lost three - straight games all season long, let alone four. Houston will host the Warriors in Game 4 on Monday.
+DeMar DeRozan has been scoring at will this season and he added yet another 30 - point outing to his tally. He has now scored 30 or more points in 10 - of - 12 games this season and is only the fifth player in the past 54 years to set that mark. Strangely, the Nuggets won many of the statistical categories, as they took the rebounding, assisting, shooting percentage, points off turnovers and free - trow shooting battles in their defeat. Emmanuel Mudiay had one of his best games of the season though, as he tallied 25 points, six rebounds and nine assists. Wilson Chandler continues to dominate off the bench, as his 25 points and 10 rebounds add to his averages of 24 points and 9 rebounds over his last three games. Danilo Gallinari had a strange line, as he scored 21 points on 4 - of - 13 shooting. It was his 13 - of - 13 night from the free - throw line that got him up to that total, as he went 0 - of - 5 from long distance.
+The Golden State Warriors (33 - 2) rolled over the Los Angeles Lakers (8 - 28) 109 - 88 on Tuesday night. In a game that was a major mismatch on paper, there wasn��t much fight from the big underdog. The starters for the Warriors dominated in the first and third quarters, as they outscored the Lakers 67 - 38 in that 24 - minute stretch. Usually the Warriors win by outscoring teams, but they played some of their best defense of the season here. The Lakers shot just 32 percent from the field and 24 percent from long distance. This game was well out of hand early and mismatches like this are ugly to watch for NBA fans. Not many teams can keep up with Golden State and especially not the Lakers. The Warriors blitzed them in the first quarter and then hit them even harder coming out after the half time. Klay Thompson was the star of the show, as he scored 22 first quarter points and finished the game with 36 in total. Steph Curry had to leave this game in the third quarter after re - aggravating his shin injury and Warriors fans have to be concerned at this point with hs continuous distress. After getting three - straight triple - doubles, Draymond Green had a subpar outing, by scoring just nine points while grabbing 12 rebounds in the win. Golden State has a few days off until they play the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday in their next game. The Lakers came into this game with a miraculous three - game winning streak, but left with a blowout loss in an expected scenario. Considering the spread was at 15 points coming in, the final scoreline doesn’t look as bad. Only one Lakers player scored more than 11 points, as everyone struggled to find their shot. Jordan Clarkson was the only bright spot, as he scored a team - high 23 points in just 29 minutes of action. They did have to play this game without Kobe Bryant and D'Angelo Russell, but the result likely would have been the same even if those two played. Los Angeles will look to bounce back in their next game against the surging Sacramento Kings on Thursday.
+The Toronto Raptors (31 - 15) defeated the Sacramento Kings (16 - 28) 119 - 102 on Wednesday at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. While the game went into halftime tied 54 - 54, the Raptors came out firing in the third quarter, out - scoring the Kings 39 - 22 and allowing themselves to coast to a 17 - point victory at home in front of their crowd. The Raptors were the superior shooters in this game, going 51 percent from the field and 50 percent from the three - point line, while the Kings went 48 percent from the field and 41 percent from beyond the arc. With their fantastic shooting and rebounding advantage, the Raptors grabbed their fourth straight victory. The biggest contributor for the Raptors surprisingly came off the bench in Wednesday's matchup, as Louis Williams finished with a team - high of 27 points (7 - 16 FG, 4 - 12 3Pt, 9 - 9 FT), while also adding two assists and three steals in only 26 minutes. It was a very nice surprise for the Raptors, as he's only averaging 15 points per game so far this season. Greivis Vasquez shot well, going 7 - for - 9 from the field and 4 - for - 5 from the three - point line to score 18 points, while also recording four rebounds and six assists. He's really struggled with his shot this season, so it was good to see him turn it around Wednesday. Coming just short of a double - double, Jonas Valanciunas recorded 15 points (6 - 10 FG, 3 - 3 FT) and nine rebounds. He's now averaging 13 points and 9 rebounds on the season. Neither Kyle Lowry or DeMar DeRozan had too big of a night, but each still finished in double figures. Lowry had 13 points (5 - 12 FG, 2 - 4 3Pt, 1 - 1 FT) and seven assists, while DeRozan had 12 points (5 - 13 FG, 1 - 3 3Pt, 1 - 4 FT) and six assists. The Kings were led by Rudy Gay, who recorded 22 points (8 - 17 FG, 2 - 5 3Pt, 4 - 5 FT) and three assists. Despite Friday's zero point outing where he played only 13 minutes, Gay has now scored 22 points or more in his last four games. Ben McLemore went 6 - for - 11 from the field and 3 - for - 6 from the three - point line to score 17 points, while also adding five rebounds. It was the most points he's scored since mid - December, so it was good to see him dial in his shot Wednesday. Having one of his least productive games in awhile, DeMarcus Cousins finished with only 13 points (5 - 10 FG, 3 - 4 FT), four rebounds and two blocked shots. He matched a season - high of nine turnovers as well, so he'll need to cut those down if the Kings want a chance at winning in the future. The Raptors' next game will be on the road against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, while the Kings will travel to Cleveland to play the Cavaliers on Friday.
+With Kyrie Irving (hamstring) sidelined Saturday, LeBron James 32 points, nine assists and six rebounds) and Kevin Love (28 - point, 10 - rebound double - double) led the way for the Cavs, and Jordan McCrae provided 20 points (8 - 12 FG, 3 - 4 3Pt) while drawing the start in Irving's stead. Tristan Thompson supplied 11 points and six boards, while Kay Felder led the second unit with 13 points. The Cavs shot 51 percent from the field and 45 percent from three - point range. Kemba Walker countered with a game - high 37 points on the strength of 13 - of - 22 shooting. Frank Kaminsky III followed with 15 points and five rebounds, while Nicolas Batum compiled 13 points, eight assists, six rebounds and two blocks. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Marvin Williams totaled 12 and 10 points, respectively, and the Hornets posted a 51 percent success rate from the floor.
+The Cavaliers (11 - 7) knocked off the Raptors (15 - 5) 105 - 91 in Toronto on Friday night. Cleveland, which avenged a 17 - point loss to Toronto on Nov. 22, scored 30 points in the first quarter, jumping out to a nine - point lead. The advantage would remain steady throughout the game, as Toronto never led in the second half. Cleveland, now winners of six straight, was led by 24 points and 13 assists from LeBron James. James has been maligned for his shooting of late, but he’s compiled 35 assists over his last three contests. Kevin Love added a 15 - point, 13 - rebound double - double, and Kyrie Irving scored 15 points, one night after putting up 37 at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks. Irving also added six assists and four rebounds. Tristan Thompson may have been the most important difference - maker for Cleveland, finishing with 21 points and 14 rebounds off the bench. Toronto struggled shooting the ball throughout the night, finishing a hair under 41 percent as a team. Kyle Lowry had 22 points and nine assists, while Amir Johnson had his best offensive performance of the season, putting up 27 points and seven rebounds. The only other Raptor in double - figures was James Johnson, who added 11 points and six boards off the bench. Toronto was out - rebounded 48 - 40 but committed only 11 turnovers. Up next, the Raptors welcome Denver to the Air Canada Centre on Monday. Cleveland travels to Brooklyn to take on the Nets, also on Monday.
+The Rockets struggled from long range, hitting only 7 - of - 35, while their usual leader, James Harden went 0 - of - 5 from distance, and finished with only 17 points in 35 minutes. Harden added 11 assists and seven rebounds to his stat line, but also gave up an unhealthy seven turnovers. Clint Capela was the high - point man for the Rockets, with 22 points on 10 - of - 16 shooting, to go along with 12 rebounds, in 21 minutes off the bench. Meanwhile, all five starters scored in double digits for the Warriors, led by Kevin Durant, who had another efficient night. Durant finished with 32 points on 12 - of - 19 shooting, to go along with seven assists, four rebounds, two steals and two blocks, in 34 minutes. Stephen Curry followed up with 24 points and seven assists, in 33 minutes, while Draymond Green added a full line, including 15 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and one steal.
+The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 119 - 98, at Staples Center on Sunday afternoon. The Lakers (19 - 41) generated a renewed sense of optimism with the hiring of the legendary Magic Johnson to the President of Basketball Operations post at the All-Star break, but the harsh reality of an upstart squad has manifested itself since then. Los Angeles has now lost all three games of the Magic era following Sunday's defeat, which saw them get dominated in all phases. The Spurs (45 - 13) shot 52 percent from the field and 48 percent from three - point range, while also eliciting 18 turnovers from their over - matched hosts. Kawhi Leonard led the way for San Antonio with 25 points, which he supplemented with three rebounds and one assist. LaMarcus Aldridge followed with 16 points, nine boards and one assist. Pau Gasol came off the bench to tally 15 points, seven rebounds, one steal and one block. Dewayne Dedmon continued to run with the first unit, supplying 11 points, nine boards, three assists and one steal. Tony Parker generated a near double - double with eight points, nine assists and three rebounds. Patty Mills and Kyle Anderson led the second unit with matching nine - point efforts. Brandon Ingram paced the Lakers with a career - high 22 points, which he supplemented with two rebounds and one block. Jordan Clarkson stepped up with a bench - leading 19 points, along with two rebounds and two assists. D'Angelo Russell was right behind him with 18 points, five boards, three assists and one steal. Julius Randle totaled a modest six points but he also hauled in 12 rebounds and dished out four dimes. Thomas Robinson turned in strong work off the bench with nine points, eight rebounds and four steals. The Spurs head back home to face the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night, while the Lakers remain home and await the Charlotte Hornets for a Tuesday night showdown.
+The Phoenix Suns dropped their third straight as they fell 109 - 94 to the visiting Indiana Pacers on Wednesday evening at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Despite facing the second night of a back - to - back, the Suns started out strong and led 53 - 49 at the beginning of the second half, but the Pacers went on to win the final two quarters, including a 27 - 14 fourth quarter. The Pacers (11 - 11) did well to grind out the win as they faced the fourth game of their current five - game road trip. Despite coming off a monumental 142 - 106 loss in Golden State on Monday, Indiana bounced back to earn their third road win of the season. Paul George was the high - point man for Indiana, with 25 points on 8 - of - 18 shooting and 8 - of - 10 from the foul line. George also added 13 rebounds and three steals to round out his stat line. Myles Turner gave the Pacers a boost early and finished the game with 20 points, while going 7 - of - 11 from the field. Jeff Teague went 1 - of - 4 from long range but finished with 19 points and 11 assists. The Pacers will look to make it two straight wins as they take on the struggling Mavericks in Dallas on Friday. The Suns (6 - 16) came out with a competitive first half but were out - scored 60 - 41 in the second half. They drop to 3 - 6 at home with this loss, which also marks their seventh loss in their last ten games. Despite being back at full strength after a few injuries early in the season, the Suns have yet to pull it together. They had six players score in double digits but no one with more than 15 points as they fell short at home on a night when they needed to take advantage of a travel - worn opponent. The Suns will look to bounce back as they take on the Lakers in Los Angeles on Friday.
+The Warriors got off to a strong start in defense of their title Tuesday night, claiming a resounding 111 - 95 victory over the Pelicans. New Orleans was already in a tough spot before the game even started, as six players (Omer Asik, Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holliday, Luke Babbitt, Quincy Pondexter, and Norris Cole) were ruled out, leaving just nine players available. To make matters worse, the Pelicans would later lose Dante Cunningham to a possible concussion. The pressure of keeping the Pelicans afloat fell squarely on Anthony Davis, who shot a woeful 4 - for - 20 from the field to finish with 18 points in what amounted to one of the worst games of his young career. A 17 - point, 10 - assist outburst off the bench by the recently signed Ish Smith enabled the Pelicans to stay within shouting distance by halftime, but the Warriors extended their lead to 19 by the end of the third quarter to put the came out of reach. Leading the Golden State attack was league MVP Stephen Curry, who came out guns blazing in the first 12 minutes. He set a personal - best mark in first quarter scoring with 24 points, and didn’t cool off much from there, ending the night with 40 points and seven assists on 14 - for - 24 shooting. Curry’s electrifying performance made up for quiet offensive nights from fellow starters Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, and Draymond Green, but the trio certainly made their presence felt. Green in particular was a notable performer, as he was responsible for shadowing Davis most of the night. The Pelicans will look to right the ship when they head north to Portland on Wednesday for the second game of a back - to - back, while the Warriors will enjoy two days off before they meet up with the Rockets in Houston in a rematch of last year’s Western Conference Finals.
+The New York Knicks defeated the Detroit Pistons, 109 - 95, at Madison Square Garden on Monday. New York have n't had many dominating wins this season, but this was definitely one of them. In fact, the Knicks led for the entirety of the second half, while holding a double - digit lead for 23 of the final 24 minutes. Defense was key for New York, as they forced Detroit to shoot 43 percent from the field, while recording 13 steals. The Knicks ended up shooting 54 percent from the field, while outassisting the Pistons, 26 - 18. They did that damage while committing just 12 turnovers, with Detroit committing 18 on their end. The Pistons (34 - 40) have now lost seven of their last eight games, as their playoff hopes are swiftly floating away. Marcus Morris led the way for Detroit, as he tallied 20 points, one rebound and two assists. Andre Drummond was their best player, as he totaled 10 points, 15 rebounds and three assists in just 24 minutes of action. Ish Smith started and accumulated 15 points, six rebounds and five assists. On deck for Detroit is a home matchup versus the Miami Heat on Tuesday. The Knicks (28 - 47) snapped a five - game losing streak with this win, as they look for some momentum headed into the offseason. Derrick Rose scored a game - high 27 points, also adding four rebounds and six assists to his tally on 12 - of - 17 shooting. Kristaps Porzingis finished second on the team, collecting 25 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and three block. Carmelo Anthony totaled 21 points, three rebounds, five assists and three steals. Wily Hernangomez was the only other Knick in double figures, as he accrued 15 points and five rebounds. Those four starters combined to go 36 - of - 57 from the field. New York's next game is on Wednesday against the Miami Heat.
+Utah put in a great effort here on the road, as they led for over 46 minutes of this impressive road victory. Rebounding was a huge factor, with Utah winning that battle, 45 - 31. The Jazz also dominated the shooting, hitting 54 percent of their shots to Houston's 44 percent. Rudy Gobert totaled 23 points and 10 rebounds on 7 - of - 8 shooting to tie Gordon Hayward for the team lead. Hayward also scored 23, adding seven rebounds and four assists. Rodney Hood accrued 19 points and six rebounds. Joe Johnson got a rare start and scored 16 points to go along with two rebounds and two assists. James Harden had another monster line, collecting 35 points, four rebounds and six assists. Clint Capela double - doubled, amassing 19 points and 12 rebounds. Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell each scored 12 points off the bench.
+In a battle of squads missing key players, the Washington Wizards (4 - 4) topped the Orlando Magic (5 - 6) 108 - 99. Washington was without breakout shooting guard Bradley Beal (shoulder), leaving a void in the starting lineup to be filled by Garrett Temple. The absence of Beal's outside shooting was more than made up for, however, as the Wizards shot 43 percent from beyond the arc, including five made three - pointers from power forward Kris Humphries. Third-year forward Otto Porter Jr. also shone for the Wizards, recording four steals and finishing a team - high plus - 20 on the night. Orlando was also missing their starting shooting guard, as third - year star Victor Oladipo sat the contest out with a concussion. With a hole left at shooting guard, 23 - year - old Evan Fournier picked up the slack, recording a team - high 37 minutes and tallying 18 points. Center Nikola Vucevic was also able to exploit the thin Washington frontcourt, recording a 19 - point, 13 - rebound double - double. With the win, the Wizards improve their record to 4 - 4. They will hope to rise above .500 as they take on the Bucks on Tuesday in Washington. The Magic, meanwhile, will look to even out the win and loss columns at home on Wednesday against the Timberwolves.
+The Houston Rockets (39 - 18) defeated the Los Angeles Clippers (37 - 21) 110 - 105 on Wednesday at the Toyota Center in Houston. After winning two straight coming into this game, the Rockets were able to continue with their momentum and pull off the tight win over the Clippers, who have n't been playing their best basketball of late. Coming out of the third quarter, the Rockets trailed 85 - 84, but they had a great effort both offensively and defensively in the fourth, out - scoring the Clippers 26 - 20 to finish the game. The Rockets were able to force the Clippers into 16 turnovers, while committing only 10 of their own, which may have made the difference in this one. While he did n't have the monster line we've come accustomed to, James Harden still finished with 21 points (4 - 13 FG, 3 - 9 3Pt, 10 - 12 FT) and 10 assists as the leader of this team. It marked his second double - double in a row, combining for 52 points, 15 rebounds and 20 assists over those two games. Donatas Motiejunas got dialed in with his shot, going 7 - for - 11 from the field and 3 - for - 4 from the three - point line to score 18 points, while adding nine rebounds. Motiejunas had hit just two three - pointers over his last eight games, so it was good to see him finally start hitting some shots. It marked his best offensive performance since the end of January. Trevor Ariza made his fair share of buckets as well, posting 17 points (6 - 11 FG, 5 - 9 3Pt) in 34 minutes. Along with Motiejunas, Ariza was a big help in spreading the floor to open up the lane for Harden Wednesday. Coming off the bench, Corey Brewer finished with a team - high of 20 points (7 - 17 FG, 2 - 6 3Pt, 4 - 5 FT), to go along with six rebounds. He's now posted 20 points or more in three out of his last five games, as he's starting to heat up. Despite the loss, the Clippers saw three players break the 20 - point mark. Coming off the bench, Jamaal Crawford led the charge, going 10 - for - 17 from the field and 3 - for - 7 from the three - point line to score 24 points in 33 minutes. Crawford has been absolutely unstoppable in the month of February, as he's now recorded 20 or more points in seven of his last eight games. Over that eight game stretch he's averaging 21 points. DeAndre Jordan was an absolute animal as well. In 37 minutes, he finished with 22 points (9 - 12 FG, 4 - 8 FT), 19 rebounds and two blocked shots, as the Rockets' frontcourt just could n't matchup with him. Over his last six games he's averaged 19 points and 19 rebounds, posing as one of the most consistent players for the Clippers recently. Chris Paul was the final player reaching the 20 - point mark, as he finished with 22 points (8 - 18 FG, 2 - 4 3Pt, 4 - 4 FT) and 14 assists. It was his sixth double - double in his last seven games, pushing his season averages to 18 points and 10 assists. The Rockets' next game will be at home against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, while the Clippers will travel to Memphis to play the Grizzlies on Friday.
+The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the visiting Milwaukee Bucks 116 - 99, at Target Center on Friday evening. The Timberwolves (11 - 22) led wire - to - wire as they shot 13 - of - 25 from long range and 56 percent from the field, en route to their second straight home win. Andrew Wiggins was the high - point man in the contest with 31 on 10 - of - 18 shooting, and 11 - of - 13 from the foul line. Zach LaVine was on fire from downtown as he shot 6 - of - 9 from deep, finishing with 24 points in the game, while Karl-Anthony Towns controlled the middle, as he finished with 18 points and 16 rebounds. Shabazz Muhammad provided the T-Wolves with a huge boost of the bench, as he poured in 22 points, while shooting 4 - of - 5 from deep. The Timberwolves are now 6 - 11 at home and will look to keep the momentum going as they play host to the Trail Blazers on Sunday. Meanwhile, despite great performances from Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker, who combined for 45 points, the Bucks (15 - 16) came up short in the third game of their current four - game road trip. Antetokounmpo notched his 10th straight 20 - point game, which is a career - high streak for him. He finished with a team - high 25 points, along with seven assists and five rebounds, in 32 minutes. Parker followed up with 20 points, while Malcolm Brogdon tallied 11 points, four rebounds and four assists, in his first NBA start. The Bucks are now 5 - 9 on the road and will have to look to bounce back as they face the second night of a back - to - back, in Chicago on Saturday.
+The Indiana Pacers (2 - 3) defeated the Boston Celtics (1 - 3) 100 - 98 on Wednesday in Indianapolis. After getting off to a hot start and outscoring the Celtics 23 - 16 in the first quarter, the Pacers looked as if they could run away with this game. The Celtics had something to say about that, though, bringing themselves back to within one point going into the fourth. Down five points in the fourth, Avery Bradley hit two clutch shots to tie the game with just a minute left in regulation. However, Monta Ellis then came right back and put the Pacers up two after getting fouled and making both free - throw attempts, to which the Celtics were n't able to muster a response. The Pacers rode the hot hand of Paul George in this one. He put up a team - high of 26 points, 15 of which came in the first half, while also adding 10 rebounds. The double - double was his second of the year, bringing his season averages up to 19 points and 8 rebounds per game. With starting center Ian Mahinmi out due to a back injury, Jordan Hill made the start in the middle. Hill took advantage of the extra time, pitching in with a double - double of his own with 16 points (7 - 14 FG, 2 - 2 FT), 10 rebounds, and two steals over 29 minutes. The point, rebound, and steal totals were all season highs for the sixth - year big man. Including the two game - sealing free throws, Monta Ellis also chipped in with 13 points (5 - 15 FG, 1 - 4 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT), five rebounds, and eight assists. The Celtics came into this matchup dealing with an important injury of their own, as Marcus Smart was held out with a sprained left big toe. Starting in his place, Isaiah Thomas did n't disappoint, shooting 9 - for - 19 from the field and 4 - for - 7 from the three - point line to score a game - high 27 points. He also added seven assists. He's had a fantastic start to this season and was already averaging 22 points, 1 rebounds, and 6 assists per game heading into the matchup. Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder were the other two starters in double figures. Bradley finished with 21 points (8 - 16 FG, 3 - 8 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT) and five rebounds, while Crowder added 12 points (3 - 5 FG, 1 - 2 3Pt, 5 - 8 FT) and six rebounds. The Celtics will next head on the road to take on the Washington Wizards on Friday, while the Pacers will remain at home and play the Miami Heat on Friday.
+The Washington Wizards (32 - 35) defeated the Chicago Bulls (33 - 33) 117 - 96 on Wednesday. Both of these Eastern Conference teams are on the outside looking in, in terms of playoffs, and the more healthy team prevailed thanks to a John Wall triple - double. The Wizards controlled throughout, as they won every quarter and carried an 18 - point lead headed into the fourth quarter. The defense was key for Washington, as they held Chicago to 40 percent shooting and forced them to commit 18 turnovers. Chicago came into this game beat up and they left even more injured. Taj Gibson was forced out of this game at halftime with some sort of leg injury. That adds to the laundry list of injuries, with many of those players in the frontcourt. One positive is that Derrick Rose returned here as he scored 16 points in 29 minutes. Doug McDermott led the team with 20 points off the bench. Up next for Chicago is a matchup against the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday. The Wizards rode John Wall's triple - double as they remain in the playoff hunt. Wall recorded his triple - double with seven minutes left and finished the game with 29 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists and three steals in a monster performance. Bradley Beal had his best game in some time, as he accumulated 20 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Garrett Temple was a great spark off the bench, hitting five three - pointers en route to a 15 - point, six - rebound, four - assist line. The Wizards will look to jeep their playoff hopes alive on Thursday against the Philadelphia 76ers.
+The Philadelphia 76ers (15 - 50) defeated the Sacramento Kings (22 - 42) 114 - 107 on Friday at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. After being out - scored by 20 points in the second quarter, the Sixers had themselves in a hole, as they were down 64 - 51 at the half. They came out with a big third quarter though, where they out - scored the Kings 37 - 18 to give them just enough of a lead to secure the seven - point win in front of their home crowd. While both teams are likely going to miss the playoffs, it was still a nice win for the Sixers, who notch just their fifteenth victory of the season. The Sixers did n't have the best night shooting the ball, but they still finished at 47 percent from the field and 28 percent from the three - point line as a team. Robert Covington led the way, scoring 24 points (8 - 17 FG, 6 - 12 3Pt, 2 - 3 FT), to go along with two assists and three steals. It was the most points he's scored since the beginning of February, as he matched a season - high in hitting six three - point shots.Covington did receive some help though, as Nerlens Noel finished with 16 points (7 - 13 FG, 2 - 2 FT), 12 rebounds and a blocked shot. Noel remains inconsistent with his scoring, but continues to dominate the boards and has grabbed double - digit rebounds in seven of his last eight games. He's averaging 9 points and 8 rebounds on the season. The Sixers also got some help from the bench from rookie Jerami Grant. Grant went 5 - for - 7 from the field to score 13 points, while also adding two steals and four blocked shots in 29 minutes. He had gone a combined 1 - for - 7 from the field over his last two games, so it was good to see him get things turned around. Ish Smith added 10 points (3 - 11 FG, 0 - 2 3Pt, 4 - 6 FT), five rebounds and nine assists off the bench as well. Despite taking the loss, DeMarcus Cousins had himself a monster game. Cousins went 12 - for - 24 from the field and 15 - for - 20 from the free throw line to score a game - high of 39 points, while also grabbing 24 rebounds in the process. Cousins continues to play well of late, as this was his fifth straight double - double. Over that five - game stretch, he's averaging 25 points and 16 rebounds, as he's one of the hottest players in the league. Rudy Gay also did his best in keeping the Kings close. In 40 minutes on the court, Gay finished with 24 points (7 - 17 FG, 1 - 5 3Pt, 9 - 10 FT) and four rebounds. Like Cousins, he's played extremely well over his last five games, averaging 28 points during that span, while shooting over 40 percent in each of those matchups as well.The only other King in double figures was Derrick Williams, who came off the bench for 15 points (5 - 9 FG, 2 - 5 3Pt, 3 - 4 FT) and three rebounds in 31 minutes. The Sixers' next game will be at home against the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday, while the Kings will travel to Washington to play the Wizards on Saturday.
+The Utah Jazz (13 - 16) defeated the Philadelphia 76ers (2 - 31) 95 - 91 on Monday. The Philadelphia 76ers may only have two wins on their lowly season, but recently acquired point guard Ish Smith has provided a spark in the backcourt for the NBA’s last place team. A semblance of offense looks to be in motion with Smith at the helm, as the 76ers overcame a 58 - 45 halftime deficit, and were competitive through the last possessions of the game. Smith finished with 22 points and dished out 11 assists on 8 - of - 21 shooting in 32 minutes. The Wake Forest product made a beautiful move to get a solid look to tie the game with the shot clock turned off in the 4th quarter, but the shot did not fall. JaKarr Sampson got the start in favor of the injured Jahlil Okafor (knee) and provided six points and five rebounds in 19 minutes. Nerlens Noel was effective under the rim, as the big man blocked five shots, to go along with 18 points and six rebounds. Richaun Holmes also contributed 18 points in the losing effort. Philadelphia could not find a rhythm from 3 - point territory, shooting 24 percent as a unit. The 76ers will visit the Sacramento Kings (12 - 18) on Wednesday. The Jazz earned a tough win, even after storming out to a 21 point lead in the first half. Gordon Hayward put forth a volume effort, and although his percentage was not in the realm of efficiency, his 3 - pointer in the final :30 gave Utah the lead, and eventually, the win. Hayward led all scorers with 24 points, to go along with six rebounds and four assists on 6 - of - 21 shooting. Jeff Withey drew the start, as Derrick Favors (back) sat his second consecutive game. Withey added a double - double in the win, scoring 11 points and bringing in 12 rebounds in 23 minutes. Utah did the majority of their damage from the free throw line, nailing 32 - of - 36 from the charity stripe, which made up for the horrid 33 percent shooting from the field. Trey Burke led the bench with 14 points. The Jazz head to Minnesota to face the struggling Timberwolves (11 - 20) on Wednesday.
+Suns point guard Eric Bledsoe is having by far the most productive season of his career so far, making this cold stretch he has been on over his last four games even more uncharacteristic. His performance Wednesday night was the worst of them all, with Bledsoe shooting just 3 - of - 15 while still managing to come up with 16 points thanks to some good free throw shooting. But this is starting to become a trend, as Bledsoe has shot 13 - of - 47 (28 percent) from the field over his last four contests. Despite those horrific shooting numbers, Bledsoe has still managed to average 16 points per game over that stretch, but that is only because of his ability to get to the line. Bledsoe has shot 31 - of - 35 (89 percent) from the charity stripe in those four games, effectively covering up how much the point guard has really struggled as of late.
+The dynamic duo of Gordon Hayward and Rudy Gobert led the Jazz, with the former supplying a game - high 30 points and the latter a 15 - point, 16 - rebound double - double that was his 13th in the last 14 games. Shelvin Mack and Rodney Hood also had matching 15 - point efforts. Joe Johnson led Utah's second unit with a modest seven points. The Utah defense stymied the Nets' attack overall, limiting them to 42 percent shooting and eliciting 15 turnovers. Trevor Booker's 17 - point, 15 - rebound double - double paced Brooklyn, while Brook Lopez managed 14 points, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks in a tough matchup against Gobert. Isaiah Whitehead went for 12 points in another start, and Bojan Bogdanovic and Sean Kilpatrick put forth a pair of eight - point performances. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson turned in 11 points in 14 minutes to lead the bench.
+Anthony Davis finished with a game - high 31 points on 10 - of - 17 shooting, along with 13 rebounds, five blocks and two assists, in 43 minutes. Jrue Holiday added 16 points, five assists and four rebounds, in 29 minutes off the bench. E'Twaun Moore was solid with 6 - of - 11 shooting on his way to 15 points, along with four assists, in 23 minutes. The Pelicans shot 57 percent from long range. Damian Lillard led the way for Portland with 27 points, on 9 - of - 19 shooting, along with 11 assists and four rebounds, in 36 minutes. C.J. McCollum also played 36 minutes and also shot 9 - of - 19 from the field, but finished with 24 points, along with three assists, two steals and one rebound. Mason Plumlee came close to a triple - double as he tallied 12 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists, in 33 minutes.
+The Clippers (19 - 13) put an end to the Wizards' (14 - 15) hot streak with a 108 - 91 victory at Verizon Center on Monday. The big story for the Clippers has been the absence of forward Blake Griffin, who is out at least two weeks with a quad injury. The thing is, Los Angeles does n't seem to be missing Griffin that much after a third straight win - - second with Griffin sidelined. The Clippers jumped out to a commanding lead in the first quarter behind Chris Paul, who finished with a team - high 23 points and seven assists. Center DeAndre Jordan also stepped up big with Griffin out, pouring in 15 points with 13 rebounds, though Los Angeles lost the battle on the boards 45 to 37. In the end, Paul was able to get the best of John Wall, who managed to score 23 points, but disappeared late in the game in going scoreless in the fourth quarter. Despite the late - game struggles, Wall still dished out 11 assists and has posted six consecutive double - doubles. Otto Porter Jr. finally looked healthy, scoring 21 points on 8 - of - 12 shooting with three 3 - pointers and eight rebounds over 33 minutes. Porter Jr. had only played 19 minutes in the Wizards' previous game and had missed three prior to that while dealing with a thigh injury. The unsung hero of the night for the Clippers was Jamal Crawford, who is known to rise to the occasion throughout his career. He came off the bench to score 21 points on 9 - of - 12 shooting and three treys to provide some extra scoring punch behind Paul and Jordan. Other role players also stepped up; Cole Aldrich had his best game of the season with 13 points, six rebounds, four steals and three assists in 20 minutes, while Wesley Johnson added 14 points.
+The Sixers have been one of the three - worst teams in the league with Joel Embiid off the floor and that proved to be the case again here. They dug themselves too big of a hole early on, as the Bulls led by 14 points after the first quarter. Shooting was key, with Chicago hitting 51 percent from the field and 57 percent from three - point range. Ersan Ilyasova stepped up in Embiid's absence, totaling 31 points and 11 rebounds. Robert Covington was second on the team, tallying 21 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks. T.J. McConnell amassed 14 points and 12 assists. Jimmy Butler led the way for Chicago, as he accumulated 28 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and four steals. Robin Lopez was second on the Bulls, finishing with 21 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. Nikola Mirotic, Doug McDermott and Paul Zipsier combined for 40 points off the bench.
+The Bulls (16 - 9) held on to defeat the Knicks (5 - 23) at the United Center on Thursday. Chicago jumped out to a 10 - point first quarter lead but let the Knicks crawl back into the game in the third quarter. The lead was whittled to just one with one minute remaining, but a Pau Gasol layup put Chicago up three, and the Knicks were unable to get any closer, while Chicago salted the game away at the line. The Bulls got 35 points, five rebounds, seven assists and four steals from Jimmy Butler, who played 45 minutes. Playing without Derrick Rose, Chicago turned to Kirk Hinrich, who added eight points. Pau Gasol added 20 points, and Nikola Mirotic contributed 13 off the bench. Aaron Brooks had 18 points, including a trio of three - pointers. Chicago shot 45 percent from the field and knocked down 12 threes. New York, which was without Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith, got contributions from a number of starters, including 16 points, six rebounds and four blocks from Amar’e Stoudemire. Tim Hardaway, Jr. led the team with 23 points, while Cole Aldrich and Jose Calderon added 13 points and 12 points, respectively. Aldrich also had 10 rebounds 26 minutes. The Knicks shot 46 percent from the field and attempted only nine three - ponters, hitting six. They out - rebounded Chicago 41 - 32 but committed 16 turnovers, compared to the Bulls’ 11. Up next, the Bulls travel to Memphis to take on the red - hot Grizzlies on Friday. New York returns home to host the Suns on Saturday.
+The returning Ryan Anderson's 21 points led the way for Houston. The Rockets limited the Bulls to success rates of 39 percent from the field and 23 percent from three - point range, while forcing them into 18 turnovers. Chicago was outscored by a 69 - 30 margin over the second and third periods. Harden was second behind Anderson with a 19 - point, 13 - assist double - double. Clint Capela followed with 17 points, while Trevor Ariza turned in an 11 - point, 13 - rebound double - double. Lou Williams' 18 points led the bench. Dwyane Wade paced the Bulls with 21 points after a two - game absence due to a thigh injury. Jimmy Butler totaled 16 points, while Cameron Payne led the bench with 11 points. Bobby Portis produced eight points and six rebounds, and Paul Zipser, Rajon Rondo and Denzel Valentine all matched Portis' point total as reserves.
+The New York Knicks defeated the Charlotte Hornets, 110 - 107, at Madison Square Garden on Friday. Despite there being only five ties and six lead changes, this game was close throughout. In fact, neither team led by more than 11 points, as it came down to the finals seconds. New York really turned it on in the fourth quarter, outscoring Charlotte, 28 - 20. The defensive statistics were decisive, with the Knicks recording eight steals and 10 blocks, while the Hornets tallied just five steals and four blocks. Many of the other statistics were tight, with the two teams tying in fastbreak points and points in the paint, while falling within one rebound of one another. The Hornets (23 - 24) have now lost 10 of their last 14 games, as they continue to regress. Kemba Walker played great off his all - star berth on Thursday, scoring a game - high 31 points to accompany 10 rebounds and five assists. Nicolas Batum fell just shy of a triple - double, collecting 15 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. Marvin Williams totaled 17 points and three rebounds. Marco Belinelli was a nice spark off the bench, scoring 15 points in 20 minutes. Charlotte will host the Sacramento Kings on Saturday for their next game. The Knicks (21 - 27) were in a terrible stretch headed into this game, but a win over a team like the Hornets is just what they need to get going. It was a team effort, with six players scoring in double figures, with no one scoring more than 18 points. Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis tied the team - lead with 18 points, as Anthony added 11 rebounds, while Porzingis provided four rebounds and three blocks. Derrick Rose finished with 13 points, two rebounds and four assists before departing in the third quarter with a leg injury. Brandon Jennings stepped in for him off the bench to drop 15 points and add three rebounds and three assists to his tally. Courtney Lee played 35 minutes and contributed 16 points, three rebounds and four assists. New York will play the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday for their next game.
+Al Horford's 14 points per game this season is his lowest scoring average since his second year in the NBA, but the big man affects the game in so many different ways beyond scoring, most of which do n't even show up in the box score. Two of those ways, however, do show up, and they are his rebounds and assists. The Celtics have great rebounding guards and wings that take the pressure off Horford, but when the big man gets on the boards and distributes, Boston has little problem finding success. Horford recorded six rebounds and six assists in Wednesday's road victory over the Warriors, and when he has recorded those totals this season, the Celtics are 9 - 3. Even more telling is the fact that in those 12 games, Horford is averaging just 12 points, showing that he is making an big impact, even when the scoring column does n't say so.
+The visiting Cleveland Cavaliers demolished the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, 126 - 94. For Cleveland (15 - 5), the win comes as a major shift of momentum. The Cavs had lost three in a row headed into their matchup in Toronto on Monday, but have won twice this week on the road against stiff competition. On Wednesday, the Cavaliers showed why they are the reigning champions, destroying the Knicks by 32 points to snap New York's four - game win streak. The "big three" of LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Kyrie Irving combined for 74 points and 15 assists, helping to lead the team to the blowout victory. Big man Tristan Thompson, meanwhile, posted a goose egg in the scoring column but delivered a whopping 20 rebounds, including six offensive boards. Despite the absence of sharpshooting guard J.R. Smith (knee), the Cavs hit 22 three - pointers while rolling to the easy win. For New York (12 - 10), meanwhile, the loss brought the team's four - game win streak to an abrupt halt. The Knicks saw below - average production almost across the board, as star Carmelo Anthony scored just eight points and rising star Kristaps Porzingis shot just 5 - of - 15. While Cleveland shot almost 49 percent, the Knicks barely cracked 40 from the field. New York also managed just half as many three - pointers as Cleveland did, hitting only 11 - of - 31 from beyond the arc. On Friday, the Cavs will host the Miami Heat while the Knicks will travel to Sacramento to play the Kings.
+The Dallas Mavericks (36 - 38) defeated the Denver Nuggets (31 - 44) 97 - 88 on Monday. Most of the statistics would indicate a Denver win, but there was one glaring stat that kept this game close. It was the turnover differential, as the Nuggets committed 21 turnovers, with the Mavericks committing just three. Those three turnovers actually set a franchise record for the Mavericks, as their franchise - low was four before this game. Denver dominated the shooting and rebounding though, as they shot 44 percent to Dallas' 41 percent and outrebounded them 44 to 34. Despite playing shorthanded, the Mavericks got a much needed win in this matchup. They had lost six of seven before this, but this win put them in a tie for the eight - seed in the west. J.J. Barea was huge off the bench, as he tallied 18 points and 11 assists in the win. Dwight Powell got a rare start and led the starters with 16 points, while also snatching down seven boards. All five Dallas starters scored in double figures in their victory. On deck for Dallas is a matchup with the New York Knicks on Wednesday. Denver's offense really struggled, as they turned the ball over far too often to win. Emmanuel Mudiay was one of the only bright spots, as he totaled 16 points, six rebounds and seven assists. Will Barton was solid off the bench, as he amassed a game - high 23 points and eight rebounds. Kenneth Faried made a return from a six - game absence to contribute nine points and 11 rebounds. Up next for the Nuggets is a matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.
+For the Detroit Pistons, the starting five did most of the heavy lifting on Wednesday. Every starter scored at least 13 points, while no one on the bench scored more than 12. Point guard Reggie Jackson shot 10 - of - 20 and scored a team - high 26 points, while All-Star big man Andre Drummond pulled down a whopping 17 rebounds. Forward Marcus Morris stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists on the night. The Pistons finished shooting almost 50 percent and held a massive 60 - 32 rebounding advantage over the Hawks. It was just a 38 percent shooting night for the Hawks in what was a dismal performance. All-Star big man Paul Millsap scored 21 points to go with eight rebounds and four assists. That was about it for Atlanta, though, as no other player scored above 13 and the team consistently struggled. The Hawks finished with only six three - pointers on the night.
+The Orlando Magic (25 - 53) defeated the Chicago Bulls (46 - 32) 105 - 103 on Wednesday at the Amway Center in Orlando. Down two with just over six seconds left in the game, it was Pau Gasol who was able to force his way to the free throw line and hit a pair of free throws to tie the game up. Victor Oladipo then came up clutch for the Magic, driving for a layup with just a second left in the game, therefore giving them a two point lead and eventually the victory. With the loss, the Bulls move into a tie with the Toronto Raptors for the third projected playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. With just four games left in the regular season, it will be a battle for future playoff positioning from here on out. The Magic were superior shooters in this one, going 46 percent from the field, while the Bulls finished at 43 percent. It was Oladipo that led the way for the Magic. Along with making the game - winning layup, Oladipo had 23 points (8 - 14 FG, 3 - 7 3Pt, 4 - 6 FT), five assists and three steals over 41 minutes. After shooting less than 35 percent from the field in his two previous games, Oladipo got back on track a bit Wednesday with his shot, finishing at 46 percent. Nikola Vucevic played a big factor in the win as well, posting 22 points (9 - 16 FG, 4 - 4 FT) and seven rebounds. He continues to be one of the more consistent players on this team, as he's averaging 26 points and 10 rebounds over his last three games. The third starter in double figures was Elfrid Payton, who nearly recorded a triple - double with 17 points (6 - 14 FG, 2 - 2 3Pt, 3 - 3 FT), nine rebounds and nine assists. He's been doing a little bit of everything for this team, averaging 13 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists and 3 steals in his last four games. Jimmy Butler did his best to keep the Bulls in this game, going 6 - for - 10 from the field and 3 - for - 4 from the three - point line to score a team - high of 19 points, while also adding six assists and two steals. He's now pushed his season averages to 20 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists per game. Pau Gasol did n't have the best day shooting the ball, but got to the free throw line a bunch to record 15 points (4 - 10 FG, 7 - 9 FT), nine rebounds and three blocked shots. Over his last three games, he's now averaging 18 point and 9 rebounds, but he'll need to do even better if the Bulls want to make a run in the playoffs. The Bulls also had some solid contributions from their bench. Taj Gibson recorded an efficient 15 points (6 - 12 FG, 3 - 5 FT) and seven rebounds, while Nikola Mirotic added 15 points (3 - 11 FG, 3 - 5 3Pt, 6 - 7 FT) of his own over 27 minutes. The Bulls' next game will be on the road against the Miami Heat on Thursday, while the Magic will be at home against the Toronto Raptors on Friday.
+The Detroit Pistons defeated the Dallas Mavericks, 98 - 91, at Palace of Auburn Hills on Wednesday. This game looked like a laugher early on, but Dallas made a late run in the second half for a respectable scoreline. Detroit actually took a game - high 27 - point lead headed into the half, but Dallas got it all the way down to a seven - point deficit, which happened to be the final margin. It was a wire - to - wire win for the Pistons, as they led by at least seven points for the final 44 minutes. Defense was key, as they held Dallas to 39 percent from the field and 28 percent from three - point range. Rebounding was the biggest factor for Detroit though, winning that battle, 57 - 38. The Mavericks (22 - 34) simply dug themselves too big of a hole in this game and it's not how they wanted to head into the All-star break. Dirk Nowitzki had a renaissance game though, as he led the team with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Harrison Barnes finished second on the team with 16 points and five rebounds. Seth Curry totaled 13 points, two rebounds, three assists and two steals, while Deron Williams collected 12 points, and six assists. The Pistons (27 - 30) early lead carried them to this win, but it was n't the prettiest of victories. Reggie Jackson put an end to his slump, as he led the team with 22 points, four assists and two steals. Jon Leuer was second on the team, accruing 20 points and eight rebounds. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope amassed 16 points and five rebounds. Ish Smith and Tobias Harris combined for 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists, with the rest of the bench scoring just two points in total.
+Louis Williams has been a bright spot for the injury - riddled Los Angeles Lakers, although his scoring outbursts are not translating into wins for the team at the moment. In five of the six games that the Lakers have lost during their rough streak, Williams has scored at least 24 points, adding another 24 - point game against the Knicks. It actually falls on the lower end of the scoring spectrum for Williams in his increased minutes, as three of those games he scored at least 30 points. As for the Knicks, Kristaps Porzingis played both ends of the floor effectively, racking up 26 points, to go along with 12 rebounds, two assists and seven blocks on 8 - of - 15 shooting. While Carmelo Anthony only managed 13 points on 16 shots, Derrick Rose (back) bailed him out with one of his best performances in a Knicks uniform, scoring 25 points on 12 - of - 16 shooting.
+The Jazz had no issues winning on Wednesday, as the team enjoyed a 33 - point blowout of the New Orleans Pelicans. Utah saw strong play from its deep bench, as veteran sixth man Joe Johnson led the team with 27 points, including six three - pointers. Two other members of the Jazz's second unit scored in double figures. Center Rudy Gobert led the team in rebounding with 16, while All-Star forward Gordon Hayward added 17 points to the winning effort. As a team, Utah shot over 54 percent and hit 14 three - pointers and held a 48 - 37 advantage in the rebounding column. New Orleans, meanwhile, saw underwhelming production out of big man Anthony Davis. Davis blocked six shots but was just 4 - of - 12 for 12 points on a night when the Pelicans desperately needed offensive production. The team struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 5 - of - 20 from three - point range.
+The Phoenix Suns (21 - 16) defeated the Milwaukee Bucks (18 - 18) 102 - 96 Tuesday at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. The tide seemed to be turning in Milwaukee's favor in the third quarter when the Bucks' Brandon Knight threw down an emphatic dunk to tie it at 56. The Suns' defense clamped down in the fourth quarter, however, allowing just 24 points in the period with four of those points coming when the game was out of reach. Phoenix's Markieff Morris drained a deep three to all - but seal the game with under a minute in the fourth. Phoenix got a big game from Markieff Morris, who posted a double - double with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Isaiah Thomas made a big contribution, coming off the bench with 19 points in 31 minutes on the floor. The Suns will travel to Minnesota to take on the Timberwolves on Wednesday. The Bucks dropped their fourth consecutive game at home Tuesday. They shot a paltry 3 - of - 20 from three - point range against the Suns and now have a quick turnaround as they travel to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers on Wednesday.
+The Suns picked up a third - straight win in this game and that marks their longest winning streak of the season. It was a hectic last 12 seconds, as the Suns scored the final five points in that stretch to win the game. Defense was key, as Boston was held to 38 percent shooting. Most of the Suns' damage was done inside, outscoring Boston, 52 - 32, in the paint. Isaiah Thomas carried Boston, as he accrued 35 points and five assists. Jae Crowder recorded a double - double, totaling 16 points and 10 rebounds. Eric Bledsoe led the way for Phoenix, as he accumulated 28 points, six rebounds and nine assists. Tyler Ulis was huge off the bench, as he hit the game - winner, while providing 20 points and five assists. Alan Williams also came off the bench to collect 11 points and 15 rebounds.
+The Indiana Pacers defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder, 115 - 111, in overtime at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Sunday. Russell Westbrook did everything he could to keep the Thunder (8 - 6) alive while hosting the Pacers (7 - 7). The premier point guard was responsible for the driving layup to bring the game within one point with 0:34 left in the fourth quarter, and buried the 27 - foot three pointer to tie the game at 103 - 103 points each to force overtime. Once again, Westbrook tallied a triple - double, en route to a remarkable season on paper, and an impressive record given the loss they suffered in the offseason. The Pacers were resilient in the victory, not losing focus even after the uber athletic Westbrook dominated his matchup throughout the game. Indiana was without their superstar Paul George (ankle), who will miss Monday's game against the Warriors as well. Glenn Robinson III was the difference maker in overtime after bringing in an important defensive rebound and turning it into a strong dunk on the other end to take a five point lead with 1:28 remaining in the extra period. Jeff Teague and Rodney Stuckey finished off the game from the free throw line to grab their seventh win of the season and improve to .500 on the year as a whole. Westbrook finished with 31 points, 15 assists and 11 rebounds on 13 - of - 34 shooting in 40 minutes of action, while Victor Oladipo was the only other starter to finish in doubles figures scoring with 14 points. Enes Kanter drained a clutch three pointer to close out the third quarter on his way to 16 points, three assists and four rebounds across 25 minutes off the bench. Teague had his hands full with Westbrook on the defensive end of the floor, but made up that difference with an explosive offensive contest, as he scored 30 points, to go along with nine assists and five rebounds on 9 - of - 16 shooting. The frontcourt was also impressive for Indiana throughout the game, evidence by the combination of Thaddeus Young and Myles Turner, who teamed up for 35 points, 20 rebounds, three blocks and two steals. Next up, the Pacers face a tough second game of a back - to - back when they host the Golden State Warriors, while the Thunder visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.
+The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Brooklyn Nets, 112 - 103, at Bradley Center on Saturday. The surging Bucks (10 - 8) utilized a balanced effort from their first unit to outlast a game Nets squad that received a game - high 24 points from Bojan Bogdanovic. All five members of Milwaukee's starting five scored in double digits, led by a season - high 20 points from John Henson. The big man added seven rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal over 27 minutes. The Bucks shot 47 percent from the field overall while limiting the Nets (5 - 14) to a stingy 37 percent success rate. Sean Kilpatrick checked in second behind Bogdanovic with 19 points, three assists and a rebound, despite shooting just 3 - of - 13 from the field. Brook Lopez had a down game by his standards, posting 13 points, six assists, four rebounds, three blocks and a steal. Anthony Bennett got the start at power forward for Trevor Booker and supplied a modest seven points but did haul in 14 rebounds. Joe Harris led the second unit with 17 points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal. Matthew Dellavedova contributed a season - best 18 points, which he supplemented with six assists and two rebounds. Giannis Antetokounmpo registered a 16 - point, 10 - rebound double - double that also featured six assists, five blocks and two steals. Jabari Parker filled out the stat sheet with 15 points, eight boards, two assists and two steals. Tony Snell rounded out the starters' strong night with 10 points, three rebounds, an assist and a block. Greg Monroe paced the bench with 13 points, seven boards, an assist, four steals and a block. The Nets head back home to face the Washington Wizards on Monday night, while the Bucks await the San Antonio Spurs, who come into town on Monday evening as well.
+These are two teams going in opposite directions, but Dallas showed some resiliency here with a road win. Harrison Barnes continues to develop as a go - to guy, as he has 65 points across his last two games. J.J. Barea has been equally as good, as he has at least 18 points and five assists across his last three games. Seth Curry's 23 points were a season - high, as he got plenty of run with Deron Williams out of the lineup. Luol Deng continues to struggle, as he's failed to surpass seven points or seven rebound over his last three games. Lou Williams continued his run at a coveted sixth - man award, as his 15 points marked his fifth - straight game with at least 14 points scored. Jordan Clarkson scored his 22 points on just 12 shots, as he went 9 - of - 12 from the field. These two teams will have a rematch on December 29 back in Los Angeles.
+The Warriors (49 - 12) held off a late run to defeat the Clippers (40 - 23) at ORACLE Arena in Oakland on Sunday afternoon. Golden State, which led by seven at halftime, broke the game open in the third quarter, outscoring Los Angeles 30 - 18 in the period. Stephen Curry spurred a 9 - 2 run in the middle of the quarter punctuated by a jaw - dropping play in which he weaved through four Clippers defenders before splashing in a long, pull - up three - pointer with nine seconds left on the shot clock. The basket put the Warriors up 13 points, and the lead swelled to 16 on the next possession when Draymond Green put in a running layup plus the foul. The Clippers trailed by 19 entering the fourth quarter but went on a 16 - 5 run late in the period, slicing the deficit to just eight with a minute to play. They’d be held scoreless the rest of the way, however, losing for the second time in a row after falling to the Trail Blazers in overtime Wednesday night. Aside from the mini - run in the third quarter, Curry was kept in check, finishing with only 12 points in 32 minutes. Green paced Golden State with 23 points and six rebounds, while Klay Thompson chipped in 21 points, including three three - pointers. Shaun Livingston added 21 points and eight rebounds off the bench in 28 minutes. The Clippers were led by 22 points from Austin Rivers, who made 8 - of - 14 field goal attempts. Chris Paul finished with 14 points and 11 assists, and J.J. Redick added 18 points. DeAndre Jordan contributed six points and 14 boards in 32 minutes. The Clippers were still without Blake Griffin (elbow) and Jamal Crawford (calf). Both players are expected to return in the near future, though each remains out indefinitely. Up next, Los Angeles returns home to host the Timberwolves on Monday night. The West-leading Warriors take on the Suns in Phoenix, also on Monday.
+The New Orleans Pelicans (30 - 27) defeated the Brooklyn Nets (23 - 32) 102 - 96 on Wednesday at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. Despite finishing with just a six - point victory, the Pelicans were much better with their shooting percentages. They went 51 percent from the field and 44 percent from the three - point line, while the Nets went 42 percent from the floor and 33 percent from deep. What really kept the Nets in this game was their ability to force the Pelicans into turnovers, as the Pelicans had 20 turnovers compared to just 12 from the Nets. This was a big win for the Pelicans, as they continue to trail the Thunder for the final projected playoff spot in the Western Conference standings. Seemingly coming out of nowhere, Quincy Pondexter was a huge reason the Pelicans were able to grab a win, despite missing both Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson. He went 9 - for - 13 from the field and 4 - for - 8 from the three - point line to finish with a game - high of 25 points, to go along with five rebounds. It was a new season - high for Pondexter in just his fourth start of the year, as it was his first time breaking the 20 - point mark. Tyreke Evans also had a strong showing, posting 15 points (5 - 13 FG, 1 - 4 3Pt, 4 - 6 FT), 11 assists and two blocked shots. It was his third double - double over his last four games, a stretch where he's averaged 14 points and 10 assists. As long as Davis is out, Evans should continue to be the go - to player on offense. Notching a double - double of his own, Omer Asik recorded 12 points (5 - 6 FG, 2 - 2 FT) and 13 rebounds. He's combined for 26 points and 24 rebounds over his last two games. Both Norris Cole and Alexis Ajinca reached double figures in points off the bench, with 11 and 10 points respectively. The Nets saw their most production from Joe Johnson, who went 9 - for - 17 from the field and 3 - for - 5 from the three - point line to score 21 points, while adding 10 rebounds as well. He's played well of late, averaging 19 points and eight rebounds over his last three games. A big reason for the Nets keeping this game close was their bench though, who combined to score 49 of the teams 96 points. Thaddeus Young was one of those players, as he went off for 19 points (8 - 12 FG, 1 - 1 3Pt, 2 - 4 FT) and five rebounds. Over his last two outings with the Nets, he's combined for 34 points and 10 rebounds, as he looks to be getting more and more comfortable with his new team. Brook Lopez and Jarrett Jack were the other two bench contributors. Lopez had 15 points (7 - 14 FG, 1 - 1 FT), seven rebounds and four blocked shots, while Jack posted 15 points (5 - 12 FG, 1 - 3 3Pt, 4 - 4 FT) and three assists. The Pelicans' next game will be at home against the Miami Heat on Friday, while the Nets will travel to Houston to play the Rockets on Friday.
+The Boston Celtics (31 - 22) earned a home win Sunday over the Sacramento Kings (21 - 30) at TD Garden, 128 - 119. Sacramento scored the game's first four points, but the Celtics immediately rattled off a 90 run to take a lead they never relinquished. Boston scored 46 points in a frantic first quarter and was brilliant offensively all day, as they shot a sharp 56 percent from the field and 55 percent from three. Boston's starting backcourt powered the Celtics offense, as Avery Bradley led the team with 25 points (9 - 16 FG, 6 - 7 3PT) and Isaiah Thomas (8 - 18 FG) added 22. Jared Sullinger (10 - 13 FG, 21 points) and Tyler Zeller (6 - 8 FG, 17 points) gave Boston an efficient inside attack as well. DeMarcus Cousins led the Kings with a game - high 31 points and added seven rebounds and six assists. Rajon Rondo scored 14 points and dished 15 assists and Willie Cauley-Stein scored 15 behind sharp 7 - 9 shooting from the field. But the Kings had no defensive answer for Boston and their brilliant shooting night. Boston will take to the road for a matchup Tuesday in Milwaukee. Sacramento's road trip continues Monday against Cleveland.
+The Cleveland Cavaliers (26 - 9) defeated the Philadelphia 76ers (4 - 36) 95 - 85 on Sunday. The Cavs likely got more than they bargained for from a game Sixers squad that played them tough through all four quarters. Philadelphia's collective defensive effort may have been the most surprising aspect of the game overall, as they managed to hold a hot Cleveland offense to a mediocre 39 percent shooting performance from the field, and 28 percent from beyond the arc. To provide some more tangible perspective on the noteworthiness of the Sixers' effort, one has to realize the Cavs had tallied 53 and 48 percent figures, respectively, in those same categories against the Timberwolves in their most recent contest, and had also scored over 120 points in their two previous games. Cleveland was able to pull out the hard - fought victory on the back of LeBron James, who turned in a 37 - point, seven - rebound, nine - assist effort that also included a pair of steals. The other starters' scoring contributions paled in comparison, as Kevin Love was the next closest with 15 points. However, Love was outstanding on the glass against a vulnerable Philadelphia frontcourt, hauling in 15 rebounds and adding seven assists and two steals. J.R. Smith added 14 points, three rebounds and a steal, and drained another four three - pointers in the process. Tristan Thompson had his own double - double in another start at center, collecting 10 points and grabbing 10 boards. Kyrie Irving had a second consecutive quiet game, notching eight points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block over 31 minutes. Although his contributions in non - scoring categories were certainly solid, Irving notably struggled from the field, draining only three of 15 shot attempts. The Cavs improved to 26 - 9 and remain atop the Eastern Conference's Central Division. They now head to Dallas to take on the Mavericks on Tuesday. Philadelphia's valiant effort was spearheaded by Jahlil Okafor's 21 points, which he supplemented with seven rebounds. Ish Smith put together a second straight strong performance after a string of relatively quiet games, tallying a double - double with 18 points and 10 assists. He also added seven boards and a steal. Jerami Grant and Nik Stauskas could only put together a pair of six - point outings, while Hollis Thompson paced the Philadephia bench with eight points and three rebounds. The Sixers fell to 4 - 36 and remain in last place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division. They await the Chicago Bulls for a Thursday matchup.
+The Los Angeles Clippers (18 - 13) defeated the Utah Jazz (12 - 16) 109 - 104 on Saturday. The Clippers came into Saturday’s matchup as part of the second game of a back - to - back, and utilized the 3 - point shot to make up for defensive breakdowns early in the game. Los Angeles was without Blake Griffin (quad), who is amongst the league's best with 23 points per game and 9 rebounds per game, but that did not stop Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan from running the pick and roll at an efficient rate. Add that to J.J. Reddick and Paul Pierce’s sharp shooting from deep and the equation resulted in a second straight win. Reddick led all Clippers’ with 25 points on 5 - of - 7 3 - point shooting, including a streak of three straight deep balls on consecutive possessions in the second half. Paul Pierce was equally impressive, finishing with 20 points on 5 - of - 7 behind the arc. Pure point guard Chris Paul added 19 points and 11 assists, while DeAndre Jordan completed another double - double, with 14 points and 13 rebounds. The first half defensive inefficiencies need to be addressed by the Clippers, but the team shot 50 percent from deep as a unit, which made up for the slow, turnover ridden start. Los Angeles will continue their road trip and face the Washington Wizards (14 - 14) on Monday. Utah stormed out to a strong 1st quarter, but were unable to capitalize on the momentum going forward. Gordon Hayward led all scorers with 28 points, to go along with six rebounds and five assists on 7 - of - 13 shooting. The backcourt duo of Alec Burks and Trey Burke, who currently combine for the best scoring bench duo in the league, thrived in the first half before going cold later in the latter quarters. Burks finished with 11 points on a perfect 5 - of - 5 shooting in 18 minutes, while Michigan product Burke, added five points in the same amount of time. Rudy Gobert (knee) continues to miss games with a knee injury, and the absence of their shot blocking big man has caused the Jazz to run a small lineup. The lack of size and rim protection allowed DeAndre Jordan to take advantage for the inopportune, easy basket. Utah’s biggest strength in the first period was their pace, but as that died out in the second half, so did the team as a whole. Utah will look to bounce back when they host the Philadelphia 76ers (2 - 30) on Monday.
+The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Washington Wizards, 109 - 102, at Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday. The Sixers (2 - 9) made a couple of changes up front to their starting lineup, and both proved key to their second straight home win. Jahlil Okafor took his starting turn in the ongoing center rotation with Joel Embiid and led the team with 19 points, while Ersan Ilyasova, who entered the first unit in place of Dario Saric, was right behind him with a 16 - point tally. Philadelphia also received 49 points from their bench, which was spearheaded by a trio of double - digit scoring efforts. In all, the home team posted a stellar 55 percent success rate from the field. while also holding the Wizards (2 - 8) to a 42 percent tally. Washington was unsurprisingly led by John Wall, who managed 27 points, six assists, four rebounds and a steal. Markieff Morris followed with 19 points, four rebounds and a steal. Otto Porter managed a 15 - point, 13 - rebound double - double, which also included an assist, four steals and a block. He struggled considerably from the field, however, going just 5 - of - 17. Marcin Gorat tallied a 10 - point, 14 - rebound double - double, while Marcus Thornton paced the reserves with a 10 - point effort. Okafor complemented his team - high scoring haul with five rebounds and two assists. Ilyasova added four boards to his 16 points. Gerald Henderson supplied 14 points, three assists, a rebound and a block. The bench was led by Nik Stauskas, who posted 15 points, two assists and a rebound. Saric responded to his demotion to the second unit with an impressive 13 - point, 12 - rebound double - double. Hollis Thompson also contributed 11 points in a reserve role, along with two rebounds, an assist and a steal. The Wizards head back home to face the New York Knicks on Thursday, while the Sixers head to Minnesota for their Thursday date with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
+The New Orleans Pelicans (32 - 27) defeated the Denver Nuggets (20 - 39) 99 - 92 on Sunday at the Pepsi Center in Denver. Coming out of the third quarter, the game was tied at 65 - 65 and anyones to lose. The Pelicans got hot in the fourth though, and out - scored the Nuggets 34 - 27 to finish off the game and steal a road win in Denver. The Pelicans shot 49 percent from the field, while the Nuggets finished at just 49 percent. The Pelicans also made a huge difference at the free throw line, making 22 - of - 30, while the Nuggets made just 9 - of - 17. The Pelicans were again without both Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson Sunday. Their backcourt picked up the slack this time around. Tyreke Evans led the charge, going 7 - for - 14 from the field to score a team - high of 22 points, while adding seven rebounds and seven assists. He had recorded three straight double - doubles coming into this matchup, but he was n't able to keep the streak alive. Over his last four games, he's averaging 17 points and 10 assists. Eric Gordon had a strong showing as well, finishing with 18 points (6 - 14 FG, 3 - 10 3Pt, 3 - 5 FT) and two assists in 32 minutes. He's now combined for 38 points and 10 assists over his last two games. Starting in place of Davis, Dante Cunningham posted 14 points (7 - 12 FG) and seven rebounds. Despite averaging only 6 points on the season, he's played well in extended time lately, reaching double figures in points in three straight games. Both Alexis Ajinca and Norris Cole added 10 points off the bench. The Nuggets saw their biggest production from Danilo Gallinari, who finished with 21 points (7 - 18 FG, 2 - 8 3Pt, 5 - 6 FT) and four rebounds. With so many injuries and shake - ups to the starting lineup, he's been one of the few consistent players, posting 20 or more points in three of his last four games. Over those four games, he's averaging 19 points and 4 rebounds. Getting the start at shooting guard with the Nuggets using a small lineup due to Jusuf Nurkic's injury, Randy Foye was very successful in extended minutes. He went 7 - for - 13 from the field and 5 - for - 10 from the three - point line to score 19 points, to go along with two steals in 29 minutes. It marked just the fourth time this season he reached double figures in points, so it was a nice surprise for the Nuggets. Coming off the bench, Will Barton continued with his impressive stretch. In 20 minutes, he double - doubled with 16 points (7 - 14 FG, 0 - 2 3Pt, 2 - 3 FT), 10 rebounds and two steals. Since joining the Nuggets at the trade deadline, he's averaging 17 points and 5 rebounds over five games. The Pelicans' next game will be on the road against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, while the Nuggets will be at home against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.
+The Phoenix Suns (15 - 24) defeated the Charlotte Hornets (17 - 18) 111 - 102 on Wednesday night. In a battle of two struggling teams, the home team prevailed in a much needed way. Phoenix came into this game in the midst of a nine - game losing streak and ended up pulling away with some good offense as a small underdog. They shot 49 percent from the field and went 19 - for - 33 from three - point range in a shooting exhibition. The benches were a huge disparity here, as the Suns bench has three players score 17 or more points, while the Hornets had only one bench player score more than five. The Hornets have now lost five - straight and they are now below .500 for the first time since the middle of November. It's clear the injury to Nicolas Batum is really hurting this team, as they ca n't get anything going on either end of the floor. Kemba Walker has been playing at an all - time level recently though, but he ca n't do it all himself. He tallied 25 points, six assists and four rebounds in yet another great game. All five starters scored in double - figures actually, but they simply allowed the Suns to run up and down the floor on them far too often. Charlotte will look to end this slide on Saturday against the surging Los Angeles Clippers. The Suns needed a win as bad as any team in the NBA and they finally got one here. The amazing part is that they did it with defense, by holding the Hornets to 17 points in the final quarter. Brandon Knight was the star of the show, as he totaled 18 points, seven assists and three rebounds in the victory. The bench was fantastic as well, as T.J. Warren, Devin Booker, and Mirza Teletovic all scored between 17 and 19 points while combining for 21 rebounds, seven assists and four steals. Without Eric Bledsoe for the rest of the season, they need more team performances like this going forward in order to dig out of this deep hole they've dug themselves. Phoenix's next game will be on Friday when they host the Miami Heat in a difficult matchup.
+The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the visiting Golden State Warriors, 115 - 101, in the NBA Finals on Thursday to force Game 7. In a game where Cleveland had to win to extend their season, they didn’t disappoint. The Cavaliers came out in a fury, as they outscored the Warriors 31 - 11 in the first quarter. In fact, they held Golden State scoreless for the first five minutes, as the Warriors missed their first seven shots. The difference in the game was the shooting, as Golden State were held to 40 percent shooting from the field, while the Cavaliers shot 52 percent on their end. The rebounding was a benefactor for the Cavs as well, with Cleveland recording 45 rebounds to Golden State's 35. The Cavaliers recorded 12 steals and seven blocks as well in one of their best team defensive performances of the season. Golden State knew they had two games to secure their second - straight title and they simply didn’t play with enough fire in this game. Steph Curry and Klay Thompson once again carried the load, as they combined for 55 points, with both players shooting under 45 percent from the field. Curry fouled out with five minutes left and was ejected for the first time in his career after throwing his mouthpiece into the stands. Draymond Green was the only other productive starter, as he finished with eight points, 10 rebounds and six assists in the loss. Harrison Barnes went 0 - for - 8 from the field and recorded just two rebounds and no assists on the night. Leandro Barbosa scored 14 points off the bench, with the other seven bench player combining for just 19 points. Cleveland looked down and out after their Game 4 defeat at home, but have made some serious amends with their last two victories. LeBron James was the star yet again, tallying 41 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds, three blocks and four steals in the win. James actually scored 18 - straight points for the Cavaliers between the third and fourth quarters, which approached an NBA Finals record. Kyrie Irving finished with 23 of his own, while also providing two blocks and two steals. Tristan Thompson recorded a double - double, as he accumulated 15 points and 16 rebounds in the victory. J.R. Smith scored 14 of his own, but no other player on the roster scored more than seven points. Cleveland is looking to become the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3 - 1 deficit in the Finals and they're one win away from that goal. The deciding game is Sunday in Oakland.
+The Detroit Pistons defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 106 - 90, at Palace of Auburn Hills on Monday. The form of these teams would indicate an easy Cleveland win, but once LeBron James was declared inactive, Detroit felt as it was their game to have. They took care of business too, as they pulled out a wire - to - wire win and won each individual quarter by at least three points. Defense was key for the Pistons, as they held the Cavaliers to 38 percent shooting, while forcing 21 turnovers to just 30 made baskets. Three-point shooting really carried Detroit as well, as they went 16 - of - 28 from long range in their win. The Cavaliers (23 - 7) are coming off a historic win against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday, but it led to LeBron James being rested here and a lackluster performance from the rest of the team. Kyrie Irving led Cleveland in scoring, as he accrued 18 points, five rebounds and eight assists. Kevin Love recorded a double - double, tallying 17 points and 14 rebounds, while committing five turnovers in the defeat. Iman Shumpert, Key Felder and Channing Frye all provided 11 points a piece off the bench. Cleveland will be back to full force on Thursday in their next game against the Boston Celtics. The Pistons (15 - 18) have been in a terrible slide recently and a win over the team like the Cavaliers may be what they need to get going. Tobias Harries was moved to the bench last week and he continues to thrive in that role, as he led the team with 21 points, six rebounds and four assists. Reggie Jackson had one of his best games of the season, as he accumulated 13 points, six rebounds and six assists. Andre Drummond controlled the paint for Detroit, as he totaled 11 points, 17 rebounds and four assists. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope went 7 - of - 11 from the field to collect 18 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals. Detroit's next game is on Wednesday against the Milwaukee Bucks.
+The benches were thin Wednesday, but ended up playing a huge factor in the Miami Heat's 108 - 96 win against the Orlando Magic. Four bench players for the Heat combined for 40 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists, while the Magic's three bench players accumulated just 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Despite going 0 - for - 4 from the free - throw line, Hassan Whiteside had a strong game, posting 18 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks. The 27 assists on 47 made baskets for Miami shows its new up - tempo offense, as eight of the nine players who played recorded a dime in the win. Serge Ibaka struggled in his debut with the Magic, tallying 14 points and seven rebounds on 6 - for - 17 shooting. In addition, his - 18 plus - minus was the worst in the game. All five starters for Orlando played at least 35 minutes, and this could end up being one of the shortest rotations in the NBA.
+The Thunder trailed by an 82 - 72 margin entering the fourth quarter but Russell Westbrook's 31 - foot three - point jumper with seven seconds remaining in regulation knotted the score at 102. OKC then dominated the Magic by a 12 - 4 margin in the extra period and also won the battle on the glass, 57 - 53. Westbrook's mammoth 57 - point, 13 - rebound, 11 - assist triple - double led the Thunder. Enes Kanter posted a 17 - point, 10 - rebound double - double off the bench. Victor Oladipo followed with 13 points. Steven Adams provided seven points and nine boards. Six players posted double - digit scoring for the Magic, with Evan Fournier's 24 points leading the way. Terrence Ross poured in 23 points and Aaron Gordon totaled 13. Nikola Vucevic supplied an 11 - point, 16 - rebound double - double. Elfrid Payton tallied 11 points, while Bismack Biyombo's 12 - point, 11 - rebound double - double led the bench. Andre Roberson posted six points.
+Memphis was expected to win this game rather easily, but Sacramento had some other ideas. What makes this win even more unlikely is the fact that the Kings played without Rudy Gay (hip) and had DeMarcus Cousins struggle mightily, eventually fouling out in the fourth quarter. The key for them was transition baskets, as they won the fastbreak differential, 20 - 9. Cousins still finished the game with 22 points and nine rebounds, but went just 7 - of - 20 from the field before fouling out. Kosta Koufos was the hero for the Kings, as he totaled 16 points and 13 rebounds in his best game in years. Garrett Temple got the start for Gay and tallied 17 points, six rebounds and four assists. Mike Conley made his return from a back injury to accumulate eight points, three rebounds and six assists in a rusty performance. Marc Gasol led the Grizzlies in scoring, accruing 20 points, six rebounds and four assists. Tony Allen was the only other starter in double figures, as he accrued 16 points and nine boards.
+The Raptors limited the Wizards to 37 percent shooting overall, including 33 percent from three - point range. Meanwhile, Toronto tallied a 51 percent success rate from the floor, overcoming their 17 turnovers. DeMar DeRozan's 32 - point, 13 - rebound double - double paced Toronto. Norman Powell was next with a bench - leading 21 points. Cory Joseph provided 15 points, while Serge Ibaka supplied 14. John Wall paced the Wizards with 30 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and one steal. Backcourt mate Bradley Beal followed closely behind with 27 points, while Otto Porter, Jr. bounced back from a scoreless outing over 19 minutes Wednesday to generate a full stat line of 18 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block. Markieff Morris managed 11 points, while Marcin Gortat produced six points, six rebounds and one assist in an uncharacteristically modest performance.
+The Chicago Bulls (34 - 20) handled the Cleveland Cavaliers (33 - 22), 113 - 98, on Thursday. Chicago enters the All-Star break with a four - game winning streak in hand, during which they held each opponent below 100 points. On the backs of five players achieving double - digit points, the Bulls outscored the Cavaliers in each quarter, yet remain behind in the season series, 1 - 2. Derrick Rose led the way with 30 points, marking just the fourth time this season he's surpassed that threshold. In the frontcourt, both Pau Gasol (18 points and 10 rebounds) and Joakim Noah (10 points and 15 boards) tallied double - doubles, with the Spaniard notching his 14th in row. Meanwhile, Tony Snell garnered his third starting nod in six contests due to the absences of Jimmy Butler (shoulder) and Kirk Hinrich (toe), and the second - year pro responded with 22 points and a game - high four three - pointers in 38 minutes. Once Chicago returns from their midseason respite, the Detroit Pistons await on Friday, Feb. 20 in the Palace of Auburn Hills. Thursday's defeat doubles as Cleveland's second in four outings, but LeBron James did everything in his power to keep the deficit somewhat close, accruing 31 points, five rebounds, and four assists. However, with Kevin Love out of commission as a result of a corneal abrasion sustained during Wednesday's win against the Miami Heat, the road was all the more winding when 16 turnovers were transformed into 24 points for the Bulls. The Cavaliers' foibles on offense were compounded by miserable success from three - point range - - just 8 - for - 31, or 26 percent - - and subsequently, just three of James' teammates scored in double figures, including Kyrie Irving (17), Timofey Mozgov (13), and Tristan Thompson (10). After the break, Cleveland will embark upon a three - game road trip, tipping off first against the Washington Wizards on Friday, Feb. 20.
+The Utah Jazz (29 - 36) won their fifth straight game while extending the Detroit Pistons’ (23 - 43) losing streak to 10 consecutive games, effectively diminishing their playoff hopes in the 88 - 85 win. Andre Drummond was disqualified from the second half with a concussion, per league protocols. The two teams combined for 25 points in the third quarter. Derrick Favors took advantage of Andre Drummond’s absence, scoring 26 points in 35 minutes and attempting a career - high 13 free throws. Rudy Gobert grabbed 19 rebounds and blocked two shots in 39 minutes, padding his stats in a last ditch effort to garner Defensive Player of the Year votes. The Jazz has now won 12 of their past 15 games, overlapping with the trade of Enes Kanter to Oklahoma City. They’re seven games back of the final playoff spot with 17 games remaining, drawing an outside shot of postseason basketball if everything falls their way. Shawne Williams was suspended after squaring off in a head - butting competition with the Trail Blazers’ Joel Freeland in Friday’s loss. Tayshaun Prince was forced from the game with a sore hip, but he returned briefly in the waning moments to inbound the ball. Reggie Jackson was benched down the stretch, turning the ball over five times and making 4 - of - 11 shots. The Pistons’ bench accounted for 52 points in the loss. The Jazz host the Charlotte Hornets on Monday, and the Pistons get two days off before playing the Memphis Grizzlies at home.
+Point guard George Hill returned from a toe injury in Thursday's game between the Jazz and 76ers, and played as though he had n't missed any time at all. Hill led Utah with 21 points, shooting a ridiculous 8 - of - 10 from the field with two three - pointers. Hill added eight rebounds and six assists and came away with three steals on the defensive end. Defensive anchor Rudy Gobert, meanwhile, had two blocks and two steals while leading the team with 13 rebounds. Wings Gordon Hayward and Rodney Hood scored 20 points each, and the Jazz finished the night with 15 three - pointers and over 47 percent shooting from the field. For the Sixers, meanwhile, the game was much less eventful. Forward Ersan Ilyasova led the team with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Rookie Joel Embiid, however, sat the game out for rest, and no other Sixer scored more than 14.
+The host Memphis Grizzlies shut down the powerhouse San Antonio Spurs, 89 - 74, at FedExForum Arena on Monday. Defense was the key for the Grizzlies (32 - 22), who held the Spurs to just 36 percent shooting and a season - low scoring output. The absence of Spurs superstar Kawhi Leonard (quad) certainly helped the Grizzlies' case, but it was a stunning defensive performance nonetheless. The "Grit and Grind" Grizz blocked a whopping 11 shots on the night, including three off the bench from big man Brandan Wright. Though the Grizz struggled on offense, hitting just four three - pointers and shooting under 40 percent, the team forced an even tougher night for its opponent. Memphis forced an unusual 16 turnovers from the Spurs. San Antonio (39 - 12) remains the league's second - best team, but certainly could have used Leonard's offense on Monday. In his absence, the team's high scorer was bench veteran David Lee, who contributed only 14 points in 17 minutes of play. It was a particularly off night for San Antonio in terms of ball movement, as the team recorded only 11 assists on the night. The Spurs hit just four three - pointers and were unable to match the defensive intensity of their tough opponent. The Spurs will visit Philadelphia on Wednesday, while Memphis will host the Suns.
+The Golden State Warriors defeated the host Philadelphia 76ers, 119 - 108, at Wells Fargo Center on Monday. Golden State was expected to win this game easily against a shorthanded Sixers team and they took care of business in relatively routine fashion. Philadelphia could n't get out of their own way, as they were destroyed by turnovers and fouls. In fact, the Sixers committed 25 fouls and allowed the Warriors to take 39 free - throw attempts, while converting on 33 of them. The assist - to - turnover ratio was decisive as well, with Golden State recording seven more assists than the Sixers, while committing nine less turnovers. The third quarter is when Golden State put distance between them and Philly, as they outscored the Sixers, 34 - 24. The Warriors (50 - 9) were the first team to clinch a playoff berth last week and this win guaranteed another 50 - win season. Kevin Durant led the way for Golden State, as he tallied 27 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Klay Thompson finished second on the team with 21 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Steph Curry went just 7 - of - 23 from the field, but still accumulated 19 points, four rebounds, six assists and two steals. Draymond Green provided 14 points, six rebounds, 11 assists and five steals in an all - around gem. Zaza Pachulia was extremely efficient, as he totaled 16 points and five rebounds on 5 - of - 5 shooting in just 14 minutes of action. The Warriors will continue their road trip on Tuesday when they play the Washington Wizards for their next game. The Sixers (22 - 37) had a tough task here without Joel Embiid and they simply did n't have enough bullets in the arsenal to defeat this potent Warriors bunch. Dario Saric was Philly's best player, as he collected 21 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in the defeat. Robert Covington finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, two assists and four steals. Jahlil Okafor had a game to forget, as he amassed just four points and three rebounds in 17 minutes, while committing a season - high seven turnovers. Richaun Holmes, Sergio Rodriguez and Nik Stauskas combined for 35 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists of the bench. The Sixers will return to action on Wednesday in a road matchup with the Miami Heat.
+The Houston Rockets (26 - 25) defeated the Miami Heat (27 - 22) 115 - 102 on Tuesday. Both clubs entered the game without their starting centers, but it was a tad more of an unexpected development for the home team. The Rockets found out earlier in the day that Dwight Howard had been suspended for Tuesday night's game for making contact with an official while protesting a technical foul on Saturday versus the Wizards. With Clint Capela also sidelined with a left hip strain, veteran Josh Smith, reacquired earlier in the month from the Clippers, got the starting call versus Miami. His counterpart on the other side was a well - traveled veteran as well, as Amar'e Stoudemire took the court in Hassan Whiteside's stead yet again due to the latter's oblique injury. Both Smith and Stoudemire demonstrated why they're still viable pieces of their respective squads, with the former coming second only to James Harden in scoring for Houston on the night, and the latter posting a double - double to help keep Miami close the majority of the contest. Ultimately, it was Harden's remarkable effort, as well as the Rockets' 52 and 46 percent tallies from the field and three - point range, respectively, that spearheaded the high - scoring victory. Miami was led by Luol Deng, who has come on offensively over the stretch that Whiteside has missed. He managed 17 points, eight rebounds, three assists and a steal. Dwyane Wade was right behind him with a 16 - point, four - rebound, four - assist effort that also included a steal and a block. Goran Dragic turned in a solid performance against the feisty defense of Patrick Beverley, totaling 14 points, four rebounds and six assists. Stoudemire had 14 points of his own, which he supplemented with 10 boards and an assist. The starting five's tally was rounded out by Chris Bosh, who supplied 13 points, seven rebounds, an assist and a block. Gerald Green pitched in with some scoring punch off the bench in leading the reserves, registering 13 points and adding four rebounds, three assists and a block. With the loss, the Heat fell a half - game back of the Atlanta Hawks for first place in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division. They remain in the state of Texas for a Wednesday night showdown with the Dallas Mavericks. Harden's 26 points led the Rockets, and he also dished out 14 assists, four rebounds, two steals and a block. Smith checked in with 19 points, four rebounds, an assist, two steals and a block in his spot start. Beverley contributed on the offensive end as well, amassing 14 points, three rebounds, two assists and a block. Marcus Thornton paced the Houston bench with 18 points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal, while Terrence Jones received some extended playing time due to the depleted frontcourt, and turned in 11 points, seven rebounds, an assist and a steal in a reserve role. The Rockets remain in fourth place in the Western Conference's Southwest Division. They head to Phoenix to face off with the Suns on Thursday.
+The Sacramento Kings (9 - 15) defeated the New York Knicks (10 - 14) 99 - 97 on Thursday. The New York Knicks found a way to hang around until the last possession after streaky shooting and shot selection almost denied a comeback. Carmelo Anthony started cold in the first half, but regained momentum in the second half and finished the night with 23 points, 14 rebounds and four assists on 8 - of - 21 shooting. With under 0:10 left to play in the fourth quarter, Arron Afflalo intercepted an inbound pass that Darren Collison could not get control of, which gave the Knicks a chance to tie or win the game. After a Knicks timeout, Anthony pulled up behind the arc, but could not get the shot to fall as time expired. Afflalo’s heads up steal went along with 14 points, four rebounds and two assists, but the shooting guard could not connect from the 3 - point line, going 0 - for - 6 in the effort. Kristaps Porzingis struggled in the second game of a back - to - back, finishing with 13 points and seven rebound on 36 percent shooting. The Knicks are now on a four game losing streak. The Sacramento Kings received a passionate and strong performance from DeMarcus Cousins, who led all scorers with 27 points and 11 rebounds. Rajon Rondo threaded the needle in his signature fashion on multiple set pieces and added 16 points alongside 12 assists, including a one handed jam that got Sleep Train Arena on their feet. Omri Caspi drained the two free throws the ended up being the difference at the conclusion of the game and completed the night with 11 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Darren Collison was effective off the bench adding 16 points and three assists in 24 minutes. George Karl only used eight of his players, as Quincy Acy, James Anderson, Caron Butler, Seth Curry and Eric Moreland did not play. The Knicks continue their road trip and will play Portland Trail Blazers (9 - 14) on Saturday, while the Kings host the Houston Rockets (11 - 12) on Tuesday.
+The Houston Rockets (31 - 14) defeated the Los Angeles Lakers (12 - 33) 99 - 87 on Sunday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The Rockets came out hot right from the beginning Sunday, out - scoring the Lakers 52 - 36 in the first half alone. With such a huge lead at half, they were able to coast to any easy victory, securing the 12 - point victory in convincing fashion. While the teams shot similar percentages from the field, the Rockets had a huge advantage from beyond the arc, going 30 percent from deep, while the Lakers shot a meager eight percent from the three - point line. James Harden continued with his MVP-like numbers, finishing with 37 points (12 - 20 FG, 4 - 11 3Pt, 9 - 10 FT), eight rebounds and five assists in 32 minutes. He has had an unbelievable four game stretch, averaging 37 points over that span. With Dwight Howard sitting out with an ankle injury, Joey Dorsey got the start at center, but really struggled to get anything going, finishing with only four points (1 - 3 FG, 2 - 2 FT) and seven rebounds in 25 minutes. Helping to ease the blow of Howard's absence, Josh Smith had a productive game off the bench. He recorded 11 points (5 - 10 FG, 1 - 2 3Pt) and five rebounds in 25 minutes. He's averaging 12 points and 6 rebounds on the season. Both Corey Brewer and Jason Terry reached double figures in points as well with 10 and 11 points respectively. The Lakers found most of their production from the bench. Carlos Boozer was the biggest contributor, going 9 - for - 13 from the field to score 18 points, while also adding 11 rebounds in only 22 minutes. It marked his seventh double - double of the year, but first since January ninth. Jeremy Lin was the other productive bench player. He struggled with his shot all night (2 - 9 FG, 0 - 3 3Pt), but forced his way to free throw line 14 times, converting on 10 - of - 14 of those attempts to put his game total at 14 points. He also chipped in with six assists as well. Starting at shooting guard with Kobe Bryant done for the season, Wayne Ellington had 13 points (6 - 12 FG, 1 - 3 3Pt) and five rebounds. He's now scored in double figures three games in a row, despite averaging only 8 points per game on the season. Jordan Hill added 10 points (5 - 9 FG) and seven rebounds. The Lakers had nine players reach the 20 - minute mark in this game. The Rockets' next game will be at home against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, while the Lakers will be at home against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday.
+The Golden State Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Clippers, 144 - 98, at Oracle Arena on Saturday. There are n't many NBA games that are as lopsided as this one, but that's just how good the Warriors can be. Not only did they lead by 21 at the half, they took a 44 - point lead into the fourth quarter. The shooting was incredible, as they went 57 - of - 92 from the field and 17 - of - 34 from three - point range. Rebounding was a huge difference as well, with Golden State winning that battle, 47 - 32. The Warriors also handed out 35 assists on their 57 made baskets. The Clippers (30 - 18) had to play this game without Chris Paul, but not even his elite defense could have done anything about this onslaught. Blake Griffin did all he could for Los Angeles, as he led the team with 20 points, four rebounds and two assists, Austin Rivers played 37 minutes and accumulated 10 points, two rebounds and six assists. Raymond Felton played well off the bench, totaling 10 points, seven rebounds and five assists. The Clippers will be off until Wednesday, when they play the Phoenix Suns on the road for their next game. The Warriors (40 - 7) have the best offensive numbers in the league, but this performance may have been their best of the season. Stephen Curry was unconscious, as he tallied 43 points, nine rebounds and six assists in three quarters of action. Kevin Durant was second on the team, as he accrued 23 points, four rebounds and seven assists. Klay Thompson was the only other starter in double figures, as he dropped 16 points. Those three players combined to go 31 - of - 45 from the field. Andre Iguodala had a nice game off the bench, providing nine points, six rebounds and five assists. Golden State will play the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday for their next game in the second half of a back - to - back set.
+The San Antonio Spurs (16 - 6) defeated the New York Knicks (4 - 20) 109 - 95 on Wednesday. San Antonio was playing on the second night of a back - to - back set, coming off a 100 - 96 loss to the Utah Jazz on Tuesday. As coach Gregg Popovich is wont to do, he opted to sit all of his starters, since the team was already missing several players due to injury. Tony Parker (hamstring) missed his third straight game. Kawhi Leonard suffered a hand injury in Tuesday's game that kept him out as well. Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan sat out to get rest, though Ginobili is supposedly dealing with a shoulder issue as well. Tiago Splitter had missed all but one game so far this season with a calf injury but made his return to action Wednesday, playing eight minutes off the bench. All 10 available players saw action for the Spurs, and all of them finished with a positive plus/minus. They'll host the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, and if the team is eager to get their players more rest, it's possible they'll use the same lineup Friday. New York is on a 10 - game losing streak, and the media's honeymoon with the new front office led by Phil Jackson and the team's rookie head coach Derek Fisher seemed to come to an end this week as several outlets began questioning his rotation choices and the team's dogged push to install the triangle offense. As a team, they performed well on offense, shooting 49 percent from the field, but they committed 25 personal fouls, giving the Spurs 25 free points at the foul line, which ultimately was their downfall. Carmelo Anthony sat out the game with left knee soreness. The Knicks will continue their road trip in Boston on Friday against the Celtics, and Anthony's status for the game remains unknown.
+The normally porous Nets held the Bulls to sub - 40 percent tallies from the field and three - point range and elicited 18 turnovers. However, Jimmy Butler snapped a 99 - 99 deadlock at the buzzer, capping a 40 - point effort that he supplemented with 11 boards, four assists and four steals. Dwyane Wade went for 16 points, four boards and an assist. Robin Lopez turned in 12 points, while Rajon Rondo collected five points but supplied 12 assists, nine rebounds and a pair of steals. Brook Lopez had a remarkable night of his own, tallying 33 points. Sean Kilpatrick checked in with 18 points, six assists, three rebounds and a steal. Bojan Bogdanovic went for 10 points and Trevor Booker mustered a modest six points but hauled in 14 boards. Randy Foye's 11 points led the Brooklyn bench.
+The New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, 112 - 106, at BMO Harris Bradley Center on Thursday. The Pelicans checked in to Thursday with an 0 - 8 record, with half of those defeats having come on the road. Despite their struggles, Anthony Davis had opened the season on a tear, with four games of over 30 points. It was therefore fitting that the All-Star forward led New Orleans (1 - 8) to their first win, pacing them with 32 points and adding eight rebounds, two assists, four blocks and two steals. His last two points of the night were the most important, as he sank two free throws with 12 seconds remaining to seal the win. He was supported by double - digit scoring performances from three other members of the starting five, as well as a collective 30 points from the bench. E'Twaun Moore was second behind Davis with 20 points, three assists, two rebounds and a steal. Tim Frazier posted a 15 - point, 10 - assist double - double, along with five rebounds and a steal. Terrance Jones supplied 10 points, seven rebounds and a block. Buddy Hield paced the bench with nine points, four rebounds and a steal. Solomon Hill and Omer Asik registered a pair of eight - point efforts in reserve roles as well. The Bucks (4 - 4) were led by a game - and - season - high 33 points from Jabari Parker, and added nine rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal. Giannis Antetokounmpo posted a 17 - point, 10 - rebound double - double that also included two blocks, an assist and a steal. Malcolm Brodgon registered 10 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal to lead the reserves. New Orleans heads back home and will try for their second win against the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night, while Milwaukee remains home for their own Saturday night tussle with the Memphis Grizzlies.
+The Bucks (2 - 4) got 18 points from rookie Jabari Parker, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the Pistons in Detroit on Friday. Milwaukee fell 98 - 95 for its second consecutive defeat after losing to the Bulls on Wednesday. The Bucks, who shot 47 percent from the floor and 25 percent (5 - of - 20) from three, trailed by four entering the fourth quarter but were never able to completely erase the lead. A Parker steal and dunk trimmed the deficit to two with 1:28 to play, but Greg Monroe responded with a basket on the other end. Then, following a Brandon Knight layup, Josh Smith rebounded a Kentavious Caldwell-Pope airball and laid it in, pushing the lead back to four. Caron Butler would go on to close the game out at the free throw line. For the second straight game, the Bucks got production from a number of sources, as 10 players saw double - digit minutes. Leading scorer Brandon Knight had 17 points, nine assists and six rebounds, joining Parker as the only Bucks in double - figures. Larry Sanders had seven points and five rebounds in 25 minutes, while Kendall Marshall, who entered the starting lineup in place of Jared Dudley, added three points and four assists. Giannis Antetokounmpo contributed nine points off the bench, as did Dudley. Detroit had six players in double - figures, led by 19 points from Caldwell-Pope. Brandon Jennings added 15 points, including four three - pointers, and Andre Drummond had 11 points and 10 rebounds. Josh Smith continued to struggle from the floor, shooting 5 - of - 14 (4 - 10 FT) en route to 14 points. Milwaukee, which out - rebounded Chicago by eight on Wednesday, grabbed 35 rebounds, compared to Detroit’s 40. Looking ahead, the Bucks return home to host the Grizzlies on Saturday. Detroit hosts the Jazz on Sunday evening.
+The Atlanta Hawks defeated the visiting Boston Celtics, 89 - 72, to take a 20 series lead in the Eastern Conference first - round playoffs Tuesday at Philips Arena. The Celtics were out of it early, as they scored just seven points in the first quarter, the fewest in an opening quarter in the playoffs since the NBA adopted the shot clock in 1954. It was also a franchise low for any quarter in the playoffs. Boston missed 20 of 23 shots in the first quarter, including six 3 - point attempts, and had six shots blocked. Despite an abysmal 1 - for - 12 shooting night from star forward Paul Millsap, the Hawks easily outscored the Celtics. This was due in large part to five big 3 - pointers from sharpshooting veteran Kyle Korver, who finished with 17 points. Also recording 17 was All-Star big man Al Horford, who blocked five shots. Things have gotten off to a rocky start for the Celtics in the series. Guard Avery Bradley will likely miss the remainder of the series with a right hamstring injury, while guard Marcus Smart and big man Kelly Olynyk have more minor injuries. Overall, though, Bradley (the team's second - leading regular season scorer) was missed on Tuesday, as the team finished 28 of 88 from the floor (32 percent). Smart and forward Jae Crowder combined for a dismal 2 of 20. Boston will look to turn things around at home in Game 3 on Friday.
+The host Portland Trail Blazers took down the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday, 115 - 98. Portland (22 - 28) is now 4 - 1 in its last five games. After a tough month of December, the Blazers have come back into form, with their only loss in the past two weeks coming by two points to the Golden State Warriors. On Tuesday, Portland blew out the struggling Hornets on the backs of strong play from its guards and wings. Star point guard Damian Lillard led the team with 27, while sixth man Allen Crabbe delivered 21 points off the bench. Portland led tentatively in the first half but pulled away entirely thanks to a strong third quarter. The Blazers surprisingly excelled on the boards on Tuesday, an area where the team has seen little success all season. Portland held a 51 - 42 advantage in the rebounding column. Charlotte (23 - 26) has now lost five games in a row and is not in the position it hoped to be early in the season. The Hornets have seen one of the season's more catastrophic slides, falling from a contender at the top of the East to a team battling for the eighth seed. On Tuesday, All-Star point guard Kemba Walker dropped in 22 points to lead the team, but it was to no avail. The Hornets shot a dismal 39 percent from the field as a unit and struggled in most areas, including perimeter defense and rebounding. The Hornets will visit Golden State on Wednesday, while Portland will play host to the Mavericks on Friday.
+The Toronto Raptors shot 38 percent from the field, including an abysmal 2 - of - 15 from long range. Jonas Valanciunas double - doubled with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while DeMar DeRozan was the high - point man for Toronto with 17 points on poor 5 - of - 16 shooting. Norman Powell added 14 points, also on poor shooting, as he went 5 - of - 14 from the field. Delon Wright chipped in 13 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals, in 25 minutes off the bench. Meanwhile, The Heat were rolling as they shot 49 percent from the field, including a solid 39 percent from long range. Dion Waiters led the way for Miami with 20 points on 6 - of - 10 shooting, along with five assists, in 33 minutes. Tyler Johnson chipped in 16 points in 27 minutes off the bench, while Hassan Whiteside finished with 12 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks in 33 minutes.
+The Sacramento Kings defeated the Golden State Warriors in overtime, 109 - 106, at Golden One Center on Saturday. The Warriors had 13 - straight wins over the Kings in this series headed into this matchup, but Sacramento were able to snap that slide with this overtime win. Sacramento got out to a hot start in the extra session, as they scored the first seven points and never relinquished the lead from there. The Kings bench was the difference in the game, as their five bench players combined for 45 points, 24 rebounds, 10 assists and five steals, while Golden State's five bench players totaled just 16 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two steals. Sacramento dominated in the paint, as they won the rebounding battle, 46 - 40 and outscored the Warriors in the paint, 56 - 34. Golden State (43 - 8) have n't had many games as tough as this and they simply could n't overcome a monster effort from Sacramento. Steph Curry carried the load for Golden State, as he tallied 35 points, four rebounds, nine assists and three steals. Klay Thompson was second on the team, finishing with 26 points and five rebounds. Draymond Green accumulated 16 points, eight rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocks. Kevin Durant really struggled, as he scored a season - low 10 points on 2 - of - 10 shooting. Sacramento (20 - 31) have been plagued by Golden State over recent seasons and this overtime victory may show that they are ready to compete for a playoff berth. DeMarcus Cousins was the player of the game, as he collected 32 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists and two steals. Darren Collison was second on the team, totaling 18 points, two rebounds and three assists. Matt Barnes was huge off the bench, amassing 11 points and 14 rebounds, while shutting down Durant.
+The Detroit Pistons (23 - 19) defeated the Houston Rockets (22 - 22) 123 - 114 on Wednesday, despite a nightmare free - throw game from Andre Drummond. Drummond missed 23 foul shots, going 13 for 36 from the free - throw line to set an NBA record for most missed free throws in a game. The Pistons shot 59 foul shots to the Rockets' 18. Detroit outscored Houston, 71 - 58, in the first and fourth quarters, and it really was n't close aside from a small stretch in the third quarter when the Rockets decided to go to a hack - a - Drummond strategy.This was the first time Detroit has won in Houston since 2005. All five Pistons starters scored in double - figures. Up next for the Pistons is a date with the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday. James Harden carried the Rockets on his back with a triple - double, finishing with 33 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists. Dwight Howard suffered an ankle injury in the opening minutes. Trevor Ariza continued to struggle, as he went just 1 - for - 8 from the field to tally three points, four rebounds and one assist in another lackluster performance. Houston will look to bounce back in their next game on Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks.
+The Washington Wizards (25 - 11) defeated the Chicago Bulls (25 - 12) 102 - 86 on Friday. Washington has won three straight games to help keep them in second place in the Eastern Conference standings, just below the first place Atlanta Hawks. Marcin Gortat led the way against Chicago with a double - double of 21 points and 13 rebounds, and both Nene Hilario and John Wall finished with double - doubles as well. After sitting out Wednesday's game to get some rest, Paul Pierce returned to action Friday and finished with seven points in 29 minutes. Chicago has dropped two straight, and they struggled on both sides of the court Friday. As a team, they shot just 39 percent from the field and 63 percent from the free - throw line. Derrick Rose scored a team - high 19 points to go with two assists, and Pau Gasol put up a double - double of 12 points and 13 rebounds. Mike Dunleavy (ankle) missed a fourth straight game and will undergo an MRI on Saturday. He has not been able to run, yet, making him questionable in the short term. The Wizards will go on the road to face the Hawks on Sunday, and the Bulls will return home to host the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.
+Anthony Davis posted 40 points, 18 rebounds, two assists and three blocks over 29 minutes, before being forced from the contest with a left hip injury sustained after a flagrant - 2 foul by the Knicks' Kyle O'Quinn. Buddy Hield was the only other starter with double - digit scoring, posting 11 points. Jrue Holiday and Dante Cunningham had matching nine - point tallies. Tyreke Evans paced the bench with 12 points, while Terrence Jones went for 11 points in a reserve role as well. The Pelicans shot 48 percent overall, and 44 percent from three - point range. Brandon Jennings' 20 points led the Knicks, while Carmelo Anthony produced 18. Kristaps Porzingis generated a modest nine points, while Joakim Noah managed just four points but hauled in 10 rebounds. Justin Holiday and Lance Thomas co - led the bench with matching nine - point efforts.
+The host Sacramento Kings took down the Orlando Magic on Monday, 120 - 115. Sacramento (26 - 41) saw a well - rounded team effort in the win over Orlando. Seven players scored in double figures, and the team racked up a whopping 120 points without any 20 - point scorers. The high scorers were point guard Darren Collison, who also dished out a team - high 13 assists, and Anthony Tolliver. Both had 19 points. It was a stellar team offensive night on the whole for Sacramento, as the Kings shot almost 54 percent from the field with 16 three - pointers made. The Kings saw their best efficiency post All-Star Break, as the team continues to adjust to life without superstar center DeMarcus Cousins. Orlando (24 - 44) ended with a disappointing loss despite a stellar offensive outing of their own. Point guard Elfrid Payton recorded a triple - double, his third in six games. Payton recorded 13 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds. Magic center Nikola Vucevic also had a stellar game, scoring 23 points while shooting 10 - of - 17 from the field and pulling down nine rebounds. As a team, Orlando dished out an impressive 32 assists and shot a stellar 47 percent from the field. The Magic also hit 13 three - pointers on the night. The Kings will visit Phoenix on Wednesday, while the Magic will visit Golden State on Thursday.
+The Houston Rockets (43 - 20) beat the Denver Nuggets (23 - 40), 114 - 100. Darrell Arthur was forced to leave due to right posterior knee soreness, lasting seven minutes off the bench. James Harden led the Rockets with 28 points, seven assists, four rebounds, two steals and two three - pointers in 36 minutes. Terrence Jones failed to score at least 10 points for the first time since February 20th, sinking 3 - of - 12 from the floor. He strained his right hip Friday night but played through the injury. The Rockets only attempted 28 three - pointers, five shy of their average. After three straight double - doubles, Kenneth Faried was held to four points and nine rebounds in 34 minutes. He did manage to block a season - high three shots. Wilson Chandler picked up the offensive load with 26 points in a team - high 38 minutes. Ty Lawson nearly earned a triple - double, scoring 13 points, recording 10 assists, grabbing eight rebounds, and notching one steal in 36 minutes. Danilo Gallinari shot 3 - of - 15, and Randy Foye contributed 20 points and seven assists. The Rockets begin a three - game road trip Wednesday against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Nuggets host the New York Knicks on Monday.
+The Hornets (8 - 6) mounted a huge comeback to defeat the Kings (5 - 10) 127 - 122 in overtime at Time Warner Cable Arena on Monday. After trailing by 17 points after the third quarter, the Hornets stormed back by outscoring the Kings 38 - 21 in the fourth quarter. Kemba Walker led the way for Charlotte with a season - and game - high 39 points (16 - 23 FG, 4 - 6 3Pt, 3 - 4 FT), including the go - ahead basket late in the fourth that nearly won the game had it not been for Rudy Gay's game - tying alley - oop off an inbounds play with 1 seconds remaining. As if the loss was n't bad enough, the Kings lost DeMarcus Cousins in overtime due to a stiff back. He finished with a team - high 30 points (13 - 21 FG, 2 - 6 3Pt, 2 - 4 FT) and 11 rebounds. Point guard Rajon Rondo set the Kings' single - game record with 20 assists while adding 14 points, eight rebounds and four steals. He also threw the pass that helped force overtime and has been putting up huge numbers as of late for a Sacramento squad that has been defensively challenged this season. Rondo has four triple - doubles and two double - doubles in his past nine games. It was certainly "Kemba Time" in Charlotte on Monday night, as Walker looked like the guard that led UConn to a National Championship. He was able to get pretty much whatever shot he wanted with Rondo and Darren Collison unable to contain him. With the win, the Hornets remained one of the NBA's best home teams with a 6 - 1 record. Nicolas Batum had an off night shooting the basketball, but nearly contributed a triple - double with the extra frame, finishing with 18 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists over 43 minutes. The Kings wrap up a five - game road trip Wednesday against the Bucks; the Hornets play the fourth of a seven - game homestand against the Wizards.
+The Nets (28 - 39) defeated the Bucks (34 - 35) 129 - 127 on Friday. The game was a thriller and needed three overtimes to claim a victor. With a minute and 19 seconds left in regulation, Brooklyn's Joe Johnson hit a three - pointer that tied the game at 101 and sent the contest into its first overtime. Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo was the hero in the first overtime, tying the game at 111 with an 8 - foot jumper with 15 seconds on the clock. Joe Johnson came up big from three - point range once again in the second overtime, tying the game at 117 with 18 seconds on the clock. After a hard - fought third overtime, the Nets were able to pull away in the end. The Bucks shared the ball on Friday. Ersan Ilyasova had 20 points (8 - 19, 4 - 6 3Pt), Antetokounmpo had 23 (7 - 19 FG), Zaza Pachulia had 22 (9 - 16 FG) and Michael Carter-Williams had 19 (7 - 26 FG, 0 - 1 3Pt). Brook Lopez led the Nets in scoring with 32 points (13 - 20 FG), to go with 18 rebounds, two assists and five blocks. Thaddeus Young contributed 24 points (8 - 20 FG, 3 - 5 3Pt), five rebounds, three assists and one steal. March has been a bad month for the Bucks. They've lost eight of their last ten. The Bucks have struggled offensively since dealing Brandon Knight to the Suns. They're shooting 43 percent from the field in his absence, down from 46 percent on the season. Recent injuries have exacerbated the situation. Jared Dudley (back) and O.J. Mayo (hamstring) were out against the Nets. Both have lingering injuries, and there's no definite timetable for their return. The Nets are also struggling. They've lost six of their last ten games. On Wednesday, they were blown out by the Cavaliers 117 - 92. The Bucks are currently sixth in the Eastern Conference, six games behind fifth - place Washington. The Nets are battling for a playoff spot, 2 games out of eighth place in the East, so Friday's game was a much - needed victory. The Bucks lead the season series 2 - 1.
+The Milwaukee Bucks (1 - 3) defeated the Chicago Bulls (3 - 1), 92 - 90, on a buzzer beating shot Saturday in Game 4 of their Opening Round Series. In a potential close - out game for Chicago, it was Milwaukee who did the closing Saturday at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. The Bucks were able to put Thursday's gutting double overtime defeat behind them with a thrilling win at the buzzer to extend the series for at least one more game. When O.J Mayo canned a three pointer to put the Bucks up six with 1:44 remaining, it looked as though the Bucks were on their way to a victory in front of the home crowd. The Bulls charged back, though, mounting a six point run to tie the game. A Bulls turnover with just over a second left allowed the Bucks to call a timeout and get set for one last play. The Bulls keyed on Khris Middleton on the inbounds play, allowing Jerryd Bayless to cut to the basket where he hit the game winning layup as time expired. The series will shift back to Chicago on Monday for Game 5. Chicago trailed by as many as 18 in Game 3 but was able to mount a comeback and notch a victory in double overtime; Saturday's script went differently, however. Turnovers marred Chicago's ability to finish off the Bucks on Saturday. The Bulls committed 28 turnovers, which the Bucks turned into 39 points. Derrick Rose was responsible for eight of those turnovers and just six assists. Nikola Mirotic was able to play after missing Thursday's game with a quadriceps injury but finished with just five points on 2 - of - 7 shooting over 20 minutes on the floor. One bright spot for Chicago was the play of Jimmy Butler, who looked unstoppable on his way to scoring 33 points. Chicago will look to close out the series Monday on its home court. Milwaukee made use of its depth to get the thrilling win Saturday. Jerryd Bayless was the hero with the game winning shot, but there were other key contributors off Milwaukee's bench. O.J Mayo led the Bucks in scoring with 18 points in 24 minutes and John Henson had a huge impact on the defensive end with four blocks and a steal. Henson also pulled down three offensive rebounds and five boards overall. Three of Milwaukee's bench players scored as many or more points than all of its starters individually. The Bucks will look to use the momentum from Saturday's victory to stay alive in the series Monday.
+With double - digit scoring performances from all five starters, the Milwaukee Bucks (28 - 38) took down the New Orleans Pelicans (24 - 41) on Saturday, 103 - 92. Guard Khris Middleton neared a triple - double on Saturday, dropping 19 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists while also snagging three steals on the defensive end. Middleton went cold from deep, missing all four of his three - point attempts, but still managed to go an efficient 9 - for - 16 from the field. Red-hot sophomore Jabari Parker also grabbed three steals, while also scoring 15 points and pulling down five rebounds. The team as a whole shot an impressive 49 percent from the field while playing outstanding defense, holding the Pelicans to 39 percent shooting on the night. New Orleans could n't seal the deal despite 29 points and 11 rebounds from star Anthony Davis. While Davis had 29, the rest of the starting five scored just 30 total points, and the bench also saw struggles. Sixth man Jrue Holiday scored just eight points in 29 minutes while turning the ball over seven times. The team struggled mightily from deep, hitting just 21 percent of their three - pointers. New Orleans will face the Golden State Warriors on Monday, while the Bucks will take on the Nets on Sunday.
+There is no doubt Giannis Antetokounmpo is having an All-Star season with the numbers he has been producing, as Monday's 22 - point, 11 - rebound performance was his eighth double - double of the season and brought his season averages to 22 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists per game. But perhaps the most overlooked stat of Antetokounmpo's breakout season is his steal totals, which, after recording two in Monday's loss to San Antonio, is now up to 2 per game. The Greek Freak has now managed to record at least two steals in his last four games and in five of his last seven. He has also had five games this season where he has gotten at least four steals and is currently behind only Chris Paul for the NBA lead in steals per game. So, while all eyes are on Antetokounmpo's ability to fill up the box score on the offensive end, he is turning out to be just as effective of a player on the other side of the ball as well.
+The Orlando Magic defeated the Washington Wizards, 124 - 116, at Verizon Center on Tuesday. Just a few games ago, the Magic (10 - 12) were in the midst of a forgettable stretch where they lost five of six contests. However, after some tinkering with the starting five, they've started to find the right balance and hit their stride. Never has that been more evident than Tuesday, when they exploded for a season - high point total. It was notably the second unit, which includes a pair of former starters in Elfrid Payton and Nikola Vucevic, that carried the night for Orlando, as they combined for a whopping 73 points. That superb effort helped overcome a herculean performance from the Wizards' John Wall, who went for a season - high 52 points. Payton actually led the way for Orlando overall, posting a team - high 25 points and supplementing that total with nine assists, a rebound, three steals and three blocks over 35 minutes on the court. It was a season - high point total for the point guard, who'd posted three straight single - digit scoring outings prior to Tuesday. The second - and third - highest scorers for the Magic were also on the second unit, with Jeff Green compiling 20 points, three rebounds and a steal. Jodie Meeks was next with 18 points, two rebounds and an assist in just 16 minutes off the bench. Bismack Biyombo posted a 14 - point, 13 - rebound double - double that also featured two assists and three blocks. Evan Fournier and Serge Ibaka registered a pair of 10 - point efforts, with the former posting three rebounds and an assist, and the latter supplying five rebounds, an assist and four blocks. Vucevic managed a 10 - point, 10 - rebound double - double on the second unit as well. Wall added eight assists, four rebounds and three steals to his game - high scoring haul. Bradley Beal was a distant second on the Wizards (7 - 13) with 19 points, three rebounds and three assists. Markieff Morris tallied 10 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a block. Otto Porter (seven points) and Marcin Gortat (six points) turned in modest offensive totals, but the latter did also haul in 11 rebounds, along with an assist, a steal and a block. Marcus Thornton led the second unit with a full stat line of eight points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal. The Magic head back home to face off with the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night, while the Wizards remain home to face the Denver Nuggets on Thursday evening.
+The Boston Celtics defeated the Charlotte Hornets, 104 - 98, at Spectrum Center on Saturday. Avery Bradley has long been renowned for his stingy defense and known as more of a complementary presence on the offensive side. It was vastly different story Saturday, however, as the veteran guard exploded for 31 points and a career - high 11 rebounds. The scoring total largely consisted of a personal - best eight three - pointers, and he and backcourt mate Isaiah Thomas combined for over half of Boston's points on the night. They also helped the Celtics (2 - 1) tally a 48 percent success rate from the field, including a 48 percent figure from beyond the arc, with the latter number nearly doubling the Hornets' (2 - 1) number. Bradley added four assists and a steal to his stellar stat line. Thomas contributed 24 points and added seven assists and a rebound. Al Horford supplied 14 points, four boards, three assists, two blocks and a steal, while Jae Crowder's full stat line included nine points, nine rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals. Kemba Walker once again served as the linchpin of the Charlotte attack, which has been decidedly top - heavy so far this season. He posted 29 points, three assists, two rebounds and three steals. Nicolas Batum had his hands full all night on defense with Bradley and totaled a modest 12 points of his own, along with six assists, four rebounds and a pair of blocks. No other starter managed double - digit scoring, although Cody Zeller, starting at center, did haul in nine rebounds. Frank Kaminsky III paced the bench with 11 points. The Celtics head back home to take on the Bulls on Wednesday, while the Hornets face off with the Sixers in a home tilt Wednesday as well.
+Nicolas Batum (28 points) and Kemba Walker (20 points) countered a 33 - point, 15 - rebound, eight - assist effort from Russell Westbrook. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist posted a 14 - point, 11 - rebound double - double and Marvin Williams also supplied eight points. Big men Frank Kaminsky III and Spencer Hawes made up for Cody Zeller's absence with 17 and eight points, respectively, off the bench. Ramon Sessions and Jeremy Lamb also stepped up with a pair of nine efforts in reserve roles. The Hornets' 46 and 38 percent tallies from the field and three - point range outpaced OKC's corresponding 44 and 30 percent figures. After entering the fourth quarter with a slight 88 - 87 deficit, Charlotte outscored OKC 36 - 24 over the final 12 minutes. Victor Oladipo and Steven Adams had matching 18 - point efforts for the Thunder, while Enes Kanter went for 22 points in just 20 minutes.
+The Toronto Raptors (29 - 15) recorded their eighth consecutive win Sunday with a 112 - 94 victory against the visiting Los Angeles Clippers (28 - 16). Seven Raptors scored in double figures, led by Kyle Lowry's 21 points, as Toronto moved to within one game of matching its franchise - long winning streak set in 2001 - 2. Jonas Valanciunas added 20 and DeMar DeRozan had 18 points. Terrence Ross matched the latter with 18 off the bench as Toronto's resevers came up big. Corey Joseph had 12 points while Patrick Patterson and Bismack Biyombo both scored 10. Ross was 5 of 7 from three - point range to pace the reserves, who outscored the Clippers' bench, 51 - 29. The Raptors, who also took two games this season from the Lakers, swept the season season series from the Clippers, marking the first time in franchise history they have swept both Los Angeles teams in a season. Chris Paul totaled 23 points and 11 assists to lead the Clippers, who jumped to a 13 - point first - quarter advantage before faltering. DeAndre Jordan finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds while JJ Redick added 17 points. The Clippers' bench, though, could n't match Toronto's as the resevers were held to 39 percent shooting from the field, including 2 of 10 from three - point range.
+The Sacramento Kings (9 - 5) defeated the New Orleans Pelicans (7 - 6) 99 - 89 on Tuesday at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. Despite going into the half even at 49 points apiece, the Kings were able to out - score the Pelicans 50 - 40 in the second half to notch their third victory in as many games. The Kings were able to shoot 48 percent from the field and 36 percent from the three - point line to give them the advantage over the Pelicans, who shot 42 percent from the floor and only 18 percent from beyond the arc. Leading the Kings to the victory was the duo of DeMarcus Cousins and Omri Casspi. Cousins scored 22 points (8 - 18 FG, 6 - 6 FT), and grabbed 12 rebounds, giving him his seventh straight double - double and eleventh on the year. Casspi was in the starting lineup for the first time this season with Rudy Gay sitting out with an Achilles injury. He shot 9 - for - 14 from the field and 1 - for - 2 from the three - point line to score 22 points in 36 minutes. He's only averaging 7 points in 18 minutes per game this season, so the boost in playing time allowed him to surprise many with the dominant performance. Ramon Sessions was also a replacement in the starting lineup, as Darren Collison was out with a quad injury. Sessions also took advantage of the start and recorded 15 points and six assists. Coming off the bench, Ray McCallum had 12 points (4 - 7 FG, 0 - 3 3Pt, 4 - 4 FT) in 19 minutes. For the Pelicans, Anthony Davis was n't his normal self tonight. He struggled to post the monster line he's become accustomed to this season, as he shot only 4 - for - 12 from the field to finish with 14 points and nine rebounds. His output was well below his season averages of 26 points and 11 rebounds. Tyreke Evans played well on the other hand. He scored 22 points (10 - 17 FG, 0 - 3 3Pt, 2 - 4 FT) and added seven rebounds and five assists. The 22 points matched a season - high for Evans. Ryan Anderson was really the only other big contributor in the loss. He shot 7 - for - 14 from the field and 3 - for - 7 from beyond the arc to score 20 points. It was n't enough of a boost to beat a tough Sacramento team though. The Kings' next game will be on the road against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, while the Pelicans will travel to Atlanta to play the Hawks on Friday.
+The Cavaliers (43 - 25) defeated the Magic (21 - 47) 123 - 108 in Orlando on Sunday. Down 28 - 26 at the end of the first quarter, Cleveland took the lead 12 seconds into the second quarter and never looked back. Kyrie Irving led the team in scoring, following up his career - high 57 point performance against the Spurs on Thursday with 33 points (12 - 15 FG, 5 - 6 3Pt), four rebounds, four assists and one steal in 35 minutes. J.R. Smith contributed 25 points (7 - 14 FG, 6 - 11 3Pt) in 34 minutes, and LeBron James had 21 points (9 - 14 FG, 0 - 3 3Pt), eight rebounds, 13 assists, three steals and one block in 35 minutes. Kevin Love sat out Sunday's game to rest. Victor Oladipo led the Magic in scoring with 25 points (8 - 21 FG, 3 - 4 3Pt) to go with one rebound, seven assists and two blocks 41 minutes. Tobias Harris had 24 points (9 - 15 FG, 3 - 6 3Pt) in 46 minutes, and Nikola Vucevic had 22 points (11 - 21 FG, 00 3Pt) and 15 rebounds in 33 minutes. James continues to make his case for the MVP Award while allowing Irving to shine as well. The Cavaliers are locked into second place in the Eastern Conference playoff standings, sitting 10 games behind the East-leading Atlanta Hawks, a chasm the Cavs are unlikely to be able to close with just 14 games left on the schedule for them this season. Up next, the Cavaliers hit the road against the Heat on Monday. The Magic will play the Rockets in Houston on Tuesday.
+The Cavaliers (50 - 27) defeated the Bulls (46 - 31) 99 - 94 on Sunday at Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland went into halftime with a 10 - point lead, bolstered by a spectacular J.R. Smith 41 - foot jumper at the buzzer. The Cavaliers never surrendered their halftime lead. They came into the fourth quarter up eight points, and won by five as Chicago’s Jimmy Butler hit a three - pointer as time expired. LeBron James had a triple - double with 20 points (8 - 17 FG, 1 - 3 3Pt), 10 rebounds, 12 assists, three steals and one block in 37 minutes. Kyrie Irving was Cleveland’s leading scorer with 27 points (8 - 19 FG, 4 - 5 3Pt), to go with five rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block in 37 minutes. J.R. Smith decided to shoot all his shots from beyond the arc, going 8 - for - 17 for 24 points in 43 minutes. Kevin Love (back) returned from a one - game absence, posting 11 points (4 - 12 FG, 3 - 8 3PT), four rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block in 31 minutes. Mike Dunleavy was the Bulls’ leading scorer with 24 points (8 - 12 FG, 4 - 6 3Pt), to go with five rebounds, four assists and one steal in 33 minutes. Aaron Brooks had 17 points (6 - 13 FG, 2 - 6 3Pt), five rebounds, six assists and one steal in 38 minutes. Jimmy Butler contributed 16 points (6 - 14 FG, 2 - 3 3Pt), four rebounds, five assists and three steals in 42 minutes. The Cavaliers are second in the Eastern Conference, 8 games behind the Hawks, and have clinched a playoff berth. The Bulls are third in the East, 12 games behind Atlanta. They too have clinched a playoff spot. The Cavaliers have won the season series with the Bulls 3 - 1.
+The Toronto Raptors (46 - 32) defeated the Charlotte Hornets (33 - 45) 92 - 74 on Wednesday in Charlotte. The Raptors were dominant Monday night from start to finish, and while late in the fourth quarter it appeared as if the Hornets were looking to make one last push, Toronto had little trouble closing it out. DeMar DeRozan led the way for Toronto, scoring 18 points (6 - 16 FG, 6 - 7 FT), to go along with seven assists and three blocks in 31 minutes. Lou Williams provided solid scoring off the bench, putting up 16 points (5 - 15 FG, 3 - 8 3Pt) in 26 minutes. Despite their performances, the two still shot rather poorly, going a combined 11 - of - 31 from the field. Greivis Vasquez got the start once again with Lowry continuing to sit out with a back injury, and he matched Williams' 16 points (6 - 13 FG, 4 - 6 3Pt), while also recording five rebounds and four assists in 36 minutes. Amir Johnson missed his second consecutive game. Tyler Hansbrough got the start and logged a double - double with 12 points and 12 rebounds in 37 minutes. With the win, Toronto tied the Chicago Bulls for third place in the Eastern Conference, although the Raptors own the tie breaker so they currently sit above them. The Hornets struggled to get anything going Monday night. Kemba Walker was the only starter who scored in double figures with 15 points (5 - 13 FG, 1 - 4 3Pt), to go along with four rebounds and just three assists. The only other Charlotte players to score in double figures were the team's two point guards off the bench, with Mo Williams and Brian Roberts each scoring 10 points on a combined 8 - of - 20 shooting. As a team, Charlotte shot a dreadful 35 percent percent from the field, and the loss really hurts their playoff chances, as they are now three games behind the Celtics for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. Up next, the Raptors will travel to Orlando on Friday and play the Magic, while the Hornets will head to Atlanta Friday to take on the East-leading Hawks.
+The Los Angeles Lakers (14 - 41) defeated the Boston Celtics (20 - 33) 118 - 111 in overtime on Sunday. Los Angeles took the win to tie the season series with Boston 1 - 1. The win also helped end the Lakers' seven - game losing streak that stretched back to Feb. 1. Jeremy Lin was the catalyst Sunday, finishing with a team - high 25 points in 30 minutes off the bench. Four bench players finished with double - digit points, as coach Byron Scott turned to his reserves to lead the way. The Celtics have dropped two straight, but they did enjoy a nice debut performance from Isaiah Thomas. He finished with 21 points in 25 minutes off the bench before getting ejected for arguing an offensive foul call made against him with five minutes left in the fourth quarter. Jae Crowder lead the rally back in the fourth to push the game to overtime, but it was Avery Bradley who hit a three - pointer as time expired to send the game into the extra period. Lin was a part of every scoring play in overtime, dishing out three assists in the additional five minutes and scoring four points. Los Angeles will travel to Utah to play the Jazz on Wednesday, and the Celtics will wrap up their road trip in Phoenix on Monday.
+The Golden State Warriors defeated the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder, 120 - 111, in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals at Oracle Arena on Thursday. The Thunder lead the series, 3 - 2. The Warriors had their backs against the wall after losing Games 3 and 4 in Oklahoma City, but it’s a different game when your back is against the wall in your house. Oracle Arena was one of the toughest arenas to win in all season long for the opposition, and Golden State got back on track, ran their offense, found their stroke from behind the arc and held off a hungry Thunder team. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook did not make it an easy nine point win for the defending champions, as both players combined for 71 points and simply would not quit down double figures late in the fourth quarter. The first half went in favor of Golden State, as the small ball lineup returned to form behind Draymond Green’s physical play and an improved rebounding effort from the Michigan State product and his Australian counterpart, Andrew Bogut. The Thunder went into the half down eight points, but Durant went to another level by attacking the rim possession after possession and willed his way to the free throw line. Durant finished a perfect 13 - of - 13 from the charity stripe. Three of those free throws came late in the fourth quarter, as the Thunder were on the brink of trimming a 10 point Warriors lead to five points. The all - star forward was fouled behind the arc by Harrison Barnes, and drained all his free throws. Stephen Curry then turned the ball over, Russell Westbrook drove the lane and got himself an and - 1, missed the free throw off the front of the rim, recovered the rebound and saw Durant at the three - point line. Durant happened to miss the needed trey, and the Warriors were able to close out the rest of the game. The sequence of events proved the Thunder are at their hungriest and were not going down in Golden State without an intense fight. Westbrook finished with 31 points, seven rebounds, eight rebounds, five steals and seven turnovers, while Durant topped off the scoring column with 40 points. Serge Ibaka has resurged himself in this series, and added 13 points and eight boards. Golden State was led by Curry and Thompson, as the backcourt combined for 58 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and six steals (five of which were Curry’s), on 17 - of - 41 shooting. Draymond Green stuffed the stat sheet to the tune of 11 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and four blocks on 4 - of - 10 shooting, and added his best defense of the series when the Warriors needed it most. Game 6 will return to Oklahoma City on Saturday.
+The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the visiting Memphis Grizzlies 114 - 102, at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Friday evening. The Grizzlies led by four after three quarters, but then Russell Westbrook went absolutely ballistic in the fourth quarter, scoring 19 points in the quarter, including 15 points straight and unanswered, to take his team from down 102 - 99 to the final score of 114 - 102. This snaps the Grizzlies three - game win streak, while Westbrook added to his ridiculous triple - double count, as he notched his 25th of the season. The Thunder (29 - 22) only scored 21 points in the first quarter, before outscoring the Grizz by 12 in the second, to take an eight - point lead into half time. They were then outscored by 12 in the third, and entered the fourth down by four. The Thunder outscored the Grizz by 14 in the fourth, behind Russell Westbrook and his takeover. Westbrook finished with 38 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists and three steals to lead his squad to a big win. Westbrook also matched a career - best as he went 17 - of - 17 from the foul line. Three other players scored in double digits for the Thunder, including Steven Adams and Joffrey Lauvergne, who pitched in 16 points each. The Thunder go on to visit Portland on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies (30 - 22) saw their win streak come to an end as they went scoreless in the last 2:50 as they were stifled by an overwhelming push of energy and intensity from the Thunder and their home crowd. Marc Gasol finished with a team - high 31 points, to go along with eight assists, four rebounds, two steals and one block, in 42 minutes. Zach Randolph came up big in 29 minutes off the bench, with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Mike Conley chipped in 18 points, three steals and two assists. Chandler Parsons added 12 points on 3 - of - 6 shooting, in 25 minutes. The Grizzlies will have to put this one in the past, as they go right back in action on Saturday, when they visit Minnesota to take on the Timberwolves.
+The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Portland Trail Blazers, 121 - 120, Monday night at Staples Center. In a game of runs, the game came down to who could make their free throws in the closing moments, with the Clippers (18 - 7) converting on just enough of their free throw attempts to hold off the Trail Blazers (12 - 14), who refused to go away, in the end. Fresh off his 20 - point, 20 - assist performance Saturday against the Pelicans, Chris Paul put together yet another impressive double - double, posting 21 points and 14 assists in 36 minutes. Blake Griffin led the way scoring for Los Angeles after missing the last game with knee soreness, posting 26 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. As a team, the Clippers were lethal from downtown, shooting 48 percent from long range. The Trail Blazers, however, were equally hot from behind the arc, shooting 48 percent themselves from three - point land. Regardless, they still fell a point short despite putting up an equally impressive performance overall. Their starting backcourt consisting of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum combined to score 49 points, while starting center Mason Plumlee put together his best performance of the 2016 - 17 season, posting 18 points, seven rebounds, six assists and five blocks. Plumlee's performance put him in the same company as both Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo as the only three players to post such a stat line. Up next, the Clippers will head to Orlando Wednesday to take on the Magic, while the Trail Blazers will head home Tuesday and play the Thunder.
+The Miami Heat defeated the Indiana Pacers, 95 - 89, at American Airlines Arena on Wednesday. While these are teams that have n't quite lived up to expectations this season, they left it all on the floor here. Miami turned on the defense in the fourth quarter, as they held the Pacers to just 10 points en route to a comeback win. Indiana struggled all night from the field though, as they hit just 37 percent of their shots. Rebounding was huge for the Heat, as they won that battle, 58 - 38. In addition, Miami recorded 23 assists, while holding the Pacers to just 14. There were nine ties and 14 lead changes, as neither team led by more than seven points. Indiana (13 - 13) has been a bit of a disappointment this season and losses like this only add to the skepticism. Paul George struggled from the field, as he accumulated 22 points, seven rebounds and three assists on 8 - of - 22 shooting. C.J. Miles was second on the team, as he dropped 15 points off the bench. Myles Turner had a nice all - around game, amassing 11 points, seven rebounds, two assists and five blocks in the defeat. The Pacers will look to play better on Friday in a road matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans. Miami (9 - 17) has not had the results they want this year, but they continue to play well and wins like this only confirm that point. Hassan Whiteside was the player of the game, as he totaled 26 points and 22 rebounds on 10 - of - 16 shooting. Goran Dragic was the only other starter in double figures, as he tallied 11 points, five rebounds and six assists. The bench was huge, as Josh Richardson, Tyler Johnson and James Johnson all scored in double figures. Tyler Johnson finished with 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and four blocks, while James Johnson accrued 14 points, three rebounds and six assists. On deck for the Heat is a home matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.
+The Memphis Grizzlies (30 - 12) defeated the Toronto Raptors (27 - 15) 92 - 86 on Wednesday. After losing the teams' first matchup on Nov. 19, the Grizzlies found a way to close the season series between these teams with a win. Marc Gasol lead the way with a game - high 26 points to go with seven rebounds and five assists in 35 minutes. His frontcourt compatriot, Zach Randolph, finished with a double - double of his own, posting 19 points and 13 rebounds in 36 minutes. The Grizzlies won a rough game by holding the Raptors to 32 percent shooting from the field and 18 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Jeff Green moved into the starting lineup, replacing Courtney Lee, but Green struggled, posting just six points and two rebounds in 26 minutes. Toronto scored 24 points off of 13 turnovers, but it was n't enough to overcome their deficiencies on offense. Kyle Lowry dislocated the ring finger on his right hand, but after a brief time in the locker room, he returned, finishing with a team - high 20 points to go with eight rebounds and three assists in 40 minutes. All-Star shooting guard, DeMar DeRozan was not himself, putting up just six points on 2 - for - 11 shooting from the field in 33 minutes. After starting the season on a 24 - 7 run, the Raptors have regressed, putting together a woeful 3 - 8 record since Dec. 30. The Grizzlies will fire up the barbecue for a matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers at home on Saturday, and the Raptors will rub down the meat when they play the 76ers on Friday in Philadelphia.
+The Los Angeles Lakers (8 - 16) defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves (5 - 18) 100 - 94 on Sunday. Los Angeles has strung together three straight wins with their new starting lineup. Ironically enough, most of their success can be pointed to the improved play of their bench since Jeremy Lin and Carlos Boozer were moved into reserve roles. Taking Boozer and Lin out of the starting lineup allows Kobe Bryant to operate unecumbered as the loan dominant offensive player in the starting lineup while giving Lin and Boozer possessions off the bench that do n't require Bryant to force his touches. Boozer led the Lakers on Sunday with a bygone double - double of 22 points and 13 rebounds in 27 minutes. The Lakers will look to continue their recent success when they take on the woeful Indiana Pacers on Monday. Bryant's 26 points vaulted him over Michael Jordan in career points to land at third all - time for the NBA scoring record. Minnesota has lost two straight games, but wins and losses are no longer the focus of the Timberwolves' season as president Flip Saunders told the media this week that the team's focus is now on rebuilding for the future, a path Saunders did not plan to walk down this season. However, with Ricky Rubio (ankle), Kevin Martin (wrist) and Nikola Pekovic (wrist) all expected to miss as much as another month of action, Minnesota's hopes of competing for a playoff spot this season were dashed. They'll embark on a two - game road trip Tuesday in Washington against the Wizards.
+James Harden scored 34 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a fourth quarter run by Golden State, as the Rockets fell 105 - 93 on Wednesday. Playing without Dwight Howard, as well as a number of other key reserves, Houston shot 42 percent from the floor and 9 - of - 35 from beyond the arc. The offense relied heavily on Harden, who converted 14 - of - 27 field goals and 3 - of - 8 three - pointers to go with eight rebounds, four assists and four steals. Patrick Beverley added 12 points, while Donatas Motiejunas and Trevor Ariza (5 - 14 FG, 4 - 12 3Pt) each had 18. Golden State, winners of 14 straight, maintained its grasp on the league’s best record behind 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists from Stephen Curry. Klay Thompson added 21 points despite converting just 1 - of - 8 three - point attempts, and Harrison Barnes chipped in 20 points and seven rebounds of his own. Starting in place of the injured Andrew Bogut, Festus Ezeli had seven points and three rebounds in 16 minutes. The road ahead doesn’t get any easier for Golden State, which takes on the Mavericks on Saturday. Following that matchup, New Orleans, Memphis, Oklahoma City and Sacramento await on the schedule. Houston, meanwhile, plays in Sacramento Thursday night. Howard is not expected to play and hopes to return for Saturday’s game against Denver.
+The Chicago Bulls defeated the Boston Celtics, 104 - 103, at United Center on Thursday. In the final game before the All-Star break, these two teams left it all on the floor. In fact, there were eight ties and 14 lead changes, with neither team leading by more than 10 points. Jimmy Butler was the hero, as he hit two clutch free - throws with less than a second left to seal the win. Free-throw shooting was a key for Chicago all night, as they went a perfect 22 - of - 22 from the free - throw line. Rebounding was the decisive statistic though, with the Bulls winning that differential, 51 - 31. The Celtics (37 - 20) have been one of the hottest teams over recent weeks, but they'll head into the All-Star break with a devastating loss. Isaiah Thomas led the team once again, as he tallied 29 points, three rebounds and seven assists. No other starter had more than 10 points, with Marcus Smart, Al Horford and Jae Crowder combining to go 7 - of - 22 from the field. Kelly Olynyk came off the bench to provide 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists. The Bulls (28 - 29) are slowly climbing back to .500 and this win may be what they need to go on a run over the final couple months. Jimmy Butler led the way, as he accumulated 29 points, four rebounds and seven assists. Bobby Portis finished second on the team, collecting 19 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Robin Lopez fell just shy of a double - double, totaling 15 points and eight rebounds. Rajon Rondo had a strange line, as he went scoreless, but grabbed seven rebounds and dished out eight assists off the bench.
+The Mavericks (25 - 10) handled the LeBron-less Cavaliers (19 - 15) 109 - 90 on Sunday in Cleveland. The Mavericks scorched the nets to the tune of 56 percent shooting and converted 12 - of - 26 three - point field goals. Monta Ellis led the way with 20 points and two assists, while Dirk Nowitzki added 15 points and five boards. Tyson Chandler and Chandler Parsons each scored 14 points, and Rajon Rondo finished with four points, four rebounds and eight assists. Dallas was out - rebounded 38 - 36 but was able to control Cleveland’s transition game, holding the Cavaliers without a single fast - break point. Playing without LeBron James for the fourth straight game, Cleveland leaned heavily upon Kevin Love, who posted 30 points and 10 rebounds in 32 minutes. Matthew Dellavedova added 10 points, and Shawn Marion had 13 off the bench. No other Cavaliers player scored in double - figures. Kyrie Irving, who finished with six points in 25 minutes, departed the game in the second half due to lower back soreness and did not return. Cleveland shot just 41 percent from the field and converted 8 - of - 25 three - pointers. Up next, Cleveland travels to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers on Monday. Dallas heads east to Brooklyn to take on the Nets, also on Monday.
+The Chicago Bulls (49 - 32) defeated the Brooklyn Nets (37 - 44) 113 - 86 on Monday. Nikola Mirotic came off the bench to lead the Bulls with 26 points in 24 minutes. He has continued to impress when he gets the chance to play. In March he averaged 21 points, 8 rebounds and 1 blocks in 31 minutes a game. He was putting up 10 points and 5 rebounds in April, coming into Monday's game. His role was increased against Brooklyn because Joakim Noah sat out with a knee injury. Taj Gibson also saw an uptick in minutes. He jumped into the starting lineup at power forward for the Bulls, as Pau Gasol was moved to center. Gibson had 15 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots. Gasol had a dominant all - around performance with 22 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two blocks against a hot Brook Lopez. Chicago has the night off on Tuesday and will host the number one seed in the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday. The Bulls will either be the number two or number three seed. On their off - day Tuesday, they can watch the Toronto Raptors, who they are currently battling for the second seed with. The Nets ran into a tough Bull's defense and had a hard time getting their starters points. Lopez lead the Bulls with 13 points to go along with eight rebounds, but he would've liked to have a better game with Noah out of the lineup. Jarrett Jack and Bojan Bogdanovic combined for 32 points off the bench but it was n't nearly enough as Chicago took it too the Nets in a 30 - 15 third quarter to add to the seven point lead they already had at halftime. This loss dropped the Nets out of the eighth seed in the playoffs for the time being. The Indiana Pacers had off Monday, as they slipped into the eighth seed with the Brooklyn's loss. The Nets will host the Orlando Magic on Wednesday as they hope for a playoff birth.
+The shorthanded Memphis Grizzlies (38 - 25) shocked the Cleveland Cavaliers (44 - 18) in a 106 - 103 win on Monday. Memphis was projected to lose by 10 with all their regulars, but won this game with all those players sitting. That spread skyrocketed to 15 points once it was announced that Memphis would be without Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol, Mike Conley and Matt Barnes for this game. The backups somehow pulled out a miraculous win, thanks to forcing the Cavaliers to commit 25 turnovers, while committing just 16 of their own. Memphis started off hot, as they scored 33 points in the first quarter to take an eight - point lead. Memphis got some heroic performances tonight in a showcase win. Tony Allen was especially good, as he tallied 26 points, four assists and five steals in the win for the third - highest point total of his career. Mario Chalmers filled in for Mike Conley admirably, as he accumulated 17 points, seven assists, four rebounds and four steals. JaMychal Green totaled 16 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and four steals of his own. Lance Stephenson gave the team a nice spark off the bench as well, as he scored 17 points and snatched down seven rebounds in the victory. On deck for the Grizzlies is a matchup against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday. This was arguably the worst loss of the season for Cleveland and there will surely be plenty spoken about this bad defeat. LeBron James was one of the few motivated players, as he tallied 28 points, nine rebounds and five assists in the loss. Kyrie Irving also played well, as he amassed 28 points, five assists and four steals. The Cavaliers start a four - game West Coast trip on Wednesday against the Sacramento Kings in their next matchup.
+Anthony Davis' standout effort (31 points, 16 boards, two assists, two blocks) and a 53 - point contribution from the Pelicans bench helped them secure a 15 - point road win. New Orleans' three - point shooting was particularly impressive, as they tallied a 59 percent success rate from behind the arc. Terrence Jones was New Orleans' second - leading scorer, posting a 17 - point, 10 - rebound double - double. E'Twaun Moore supplied 15 points off the bench. Jrue Holiday tallied a modest 12 points, nine assists and four rebounds, although he shot just 4 - of - 14 from the field. Buddy Hield drew the start and poured in 10 points. Reserve big man Ersan Ilyasova led the Sixers in scoring, totaling 14 points, four rebounds and a block. Gerald Henderson managed 13 points, and Jahlil Okafor, Joel Embiid and Robert Covington turned in a trio of 11 - point efforts.
+The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in overtime, 114 - 108, at Moda Center on Thursday. Despite Portland being a huge favorite headed in, this took an extra session to decide a winner. The Blazers actually led for the majority of the game, as they held the lead for well over 40 minutes and never allowed the Sixers to lead by more than four points. Rebounding was the difference in the game, with Portland winning that battle, 55 - 44. They also dominated the assist differential, recording 25 assists to Philadelphia's 18. Another key for the Trail Blazers was their ability to draw fouls, as they went 28 - of - 33 from the free - throw line, while the Sixers took just 20 attempts. The Sixers (23 - 41) have really struggled without Joel Embiid (knee), as they've lost six of their last seven games. Dario Saric continued his Rookie of the Year campaign though, as he led the team with 28 points, nine rebounds and two steals on 11 - of - 16 shooting. Robert Covington finished second on the team, totaling 24 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and two steals. Jahlil Okafor amassed 16 points and eight rebounds. On deck for the Sixers is a road matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday. The Blazers (28 - 35) continue to battle for the eight - seed in the West, as this victory brought them within a game of the Denver Nuggets. Jusuf Nurkic was a beast, as he led the team with 28 points, 20 rebounds, eight assists and six blocks. Damian Lillard finished with 24 points, four rebounds and four assists. C.J. McCollum accumulated 23 points, four rebounds and three assists. Allen Crabbe was the lone player to score in double figures off the bench, as he provided 18 points off the pine. The Blazers will look to keep rolling on Saturday against the Washington Wizards.
+The Chicago Bulls (30) outlasted the Milwaukee Bucks (0 - 3) in double overtime Thursday, 113 - 106, at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. The Bucks had a .6% win probability with 2:0 minutes remaining in the fourth as they trailed by eight points. Milwaukee did n't look like the team that had an 18 - point lead earlier in the game as Derrick Rose and Tony Snell had started to take over for Chicago. The Bucks turned to Khris Middleton, who scored eight of Milwaukee's final nine points to force overtime. After the Bulls and Bucks traded baskets in the first overtime period, the Bulls' began to pull away in the second overtime. Milwaukee's offense sputtered out and began turning the ball over at an alarming rate, failing to register its first point of the second overtime until the final minute. Derrick Rose delivered a huge performance to lead the Bulls to victory with 34 points and eight assists over 48 minutes. The Bulls will look to close out the series Saturday in Milwaukee. Chicago survived Milwaukee's massive momentum towards the end of regulation to gain a three - game advantage in this best of seven series. Along with Rose's tremendous effort, Pau Gasol turned in another double - double with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Tony Snell was key off the bench with 16 points, nine of which came on three three pointers in the fourth quarter. The Bulls are now poised to take a series sweep over the Bucks, but if Thursday's game is any indication, they will be in for a battle in Game 4. Milwaukee's young nucleus turned in a strong performance Thursday against a more battle tested Chicago club. Giannis Antetokounmpo started off strong with 17 first half points and finished with 25 to go with 12 rebounds over 51 minutes on the floor. John Henson had a huge game off the bench with 15 points, 14 rebounds, and three blocks as he filled in ably for a struggling Zaza Pachulia. The Bucks will look to extend the series Saturday on their home floor and avoid a sweep against their division rival.
+Marc Gasol and Mike Conley combined for 52 points, exactly half of the Grizzlies' scoring total, with each logging a whopping 45 minutes. The former posted 27 points, while the latter had a near triple - double with 25 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. JaMychal Green managed a 10 - point, 11 - rebound double - double and veteran Zach Randolph led the reserves with 11 points, six rebounds, an assist, two blocks and a steal. The Sixers were led by Ersan Ilyasova, who supplied a 22 - point, 12 - rebound double - double before fouling out after 40 minutes. Robert Covington and Joel Embiid made it three - for - three in the double - double department for the first unit, with respective 19 - point, 12 - rebound and 12 - point, 11 - rebound tallies. Jerryd Bayless paced the second unit with 18 points, while Nik Stauskas scored 10 points in a robust 40 minutes off the bench.
+The San Antonio Spurs (18 - 11) defeated the Los Angeles Clippers (19 - 9) 125 - 118 on Monday at the AT & T Center in San Antonio. The Spurs seemingly could not miss in this game, as they finished at 64 percent from the field and 56 percent from the three - point line. The Clippers shot decent at 50 percent from the field and 43 percent from beyond the arc, but it was n't enough to keep up with the electric Spurs team. The Spurs were led by Tony Parker, who shot 11 - for - 18 from the field and 1 - for - 2 from the three - point line to score a game - high of 26 points, while also adding four assists. It was Parker's first game in over week after dealing with a hamstring injury, and he came back firing with a huge night on the offensive side of the ball. Tim Duncan also had a strong showing, scoring 21 points and recording 12 rebounds. It was his third double - double in a row, as he's averaged 25 points and 13 rebounds over those three games. The Spurs also had a lot of help off the bench from both Manu Ginobili and Boris Diaw. Ginobili finished with 19 points (7 - 11 FG, 2 - 5 3Pt, 3 - 4 FT) and 10 assists, while Diaw recorded 23 points (9 - 11 FG, 2 - 3 3Pt, 3 - 8 FT) and six rebounds. With that kind of production, the Spurs may be impossible to beat. Despite a ridiculous shooting performance from the Spurs, the Clippers kept it close with Blake Griffin, JJ Redick and Chris Paul all scoring over 20 points. Paul led the way with 25 points (8 - 17 FG, 3 - 6 3Pt, 6 - 7 FT) and nine assists. Over the last two games he's combined for 52 points and 18 rebounds, as he's stayed hot on the offensive side of the ball. Griffin finished with 22 points (10 - 20 FG, 2 - 4 FT), six rebounds and six assists. Griffin did a little bit of everything in this one, pushing his season averages to 23 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists per game. Redick shot 6 - for - 13 from the field and 5 - for - 8 from beyond the arc to score 25 points. It was his second game in a row scoring over 20 points, despite averaging only 15 points on the year. Jamal Crawford also played well, scoring 18 points (6 - 15 FG, 0 - 5 3Pt, 6 - 6 FT) off the bench. The Spurs' next game will be at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday, while the Clippers will travel to Atlanta to play the Hawks on Tuesday.
+The Chicago Bulls (38 - 23) defeated the Washington Wizards 104 - 96 (24 - 27) on Tuesday in Chicago. The Bulls, despite dealing with injuries to Derrick Rose (knee), Jimmy Butler (elbow), and Taj Gibson (ankle), were able to pull out a win against a struggling Wizards team. The Bulls were led by rookie Nikola Mirotic, who had a game - high 23 points on 6 - of - 13 shooting and eight rebounds in 32 minutes off the bench. In his last two games, Mirotic has totaled 52 points and 17 rebounds and has proven to be a viable option off the bench in place of Gibson. Chicago's starting frontcourt of Paul Gasol and Joakim Noah each posted double - doubles. Gasol had 20 points on 8 - of - 11 shooting and 10 rebounds, while Noah recorded 14 points on 4 - of - 5 shooting and 12 rebounds. Aaron Brooks got the start in place of Rose and while he shot an unimpressive 8 - of - 23 from the field, Brooks still finished with 22 points and eight assists in 35 minutes. Tony Snell got the start for Butler but posted just 11 points on 4 - of - 12 shooting in 40 minutes. The Bulls shot 42 percent from the field and had 16 turnovers to just 20 assists. John Wall struggled shooting the ball (8 - of - 20 from the field) but still managed to put up 21 points, 11 assists and four rebounds in 39 minutes. Marcin Gortat recorded 12 points on 6 - of - 9 shooting and 12 rebounds. The effort was his second straight double - double and his sixth straight game with double - digit rebounds. Paul Pierce (16), Bradley Beal (13), and Otto Poter Jr. (11) rounded out the Washington players in double figures. As a team, the Wizards shot 42 percent from the field and were active defensively, recording 11 blocks and 10 steals. Up next, the Bulls will stay home to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday, while the Wizards head home Friday to take on Miami.
+The Miami Heat defeated the Brooklyn Nets, 108 - 99, at Barclays Center on Friday. The two teams came into Friday's contest as polar opposites, with the Heat (24 - 30) looking to tally their 13th consecutive victory and the Nets (9 - 45) trying to avoid a 12th straight defeat. Brooklyn's one ray of hope was the fact that they'd notched seven of their nine wins on the season at home, and perhaps the more intangible factor of the odds eventually favoring a Miami loss and Brooklyn victory, given their respective extended streaks. However, as usual, the Nets could n't hang on to the ball with any degree of consistency, significantly undermining their chances. The home team committed 22 turnovers overall, while also getting outscored 59 - 46 in the second half. The Heat bench compiled 56 points overall, with James Johnson scoring a team - high 26, and adding eight rebounds, two assists, three blocks and a steal. Goran Dragic was next with 21 points, five assists, four rebounds and one steal. Tyler Johnson totaled 18 points, six rebounds, two assists and three steals. Rodney McGruder chipped in with 11 points, six rebounds, three assists and four steals. Okaro White supplied 10 points, five boards and one assist in 31 minutes as a reserve. Wayne Ellington drew the start for Dion Waiters (ankle) and went for nine points, four rebounds, two assists and one steal, and Hassan Whiteside had a quiet game despite the appealing matchup, posting eight points, nine boards, one steal and four blocks. Brook Lopez's 30 points led Brooklyn, a total he supplemented with eight rebounds, one assist and two blocks. Randy Foye tallied 15 points, one rebound and two assists. Bojan Bogdanovic was the third and final member of the Nets with double - digit scoring, collecting 10 points and six rebounds. Caris LeVert submitted a bench - leading nine points along with three rebounds and one assist. Trevor Booker was productive as a reserve as well, managing eight points, hauling in 10 boards and dishing out one assist. The Heat next head to Philadelphia to tangle with the Sixers on Saturday night, while the Nets remain home to face off with the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.
+The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Boston Celtics 128 - 122 on Thursday at Quicken Loans Arena. The score indicates a closer game than it actually was, as after the Cavaliers (50) took a 17 - point lead headed into the final period, the Celtics (3 - 2) came roaring back to at least make the game interesting, but six points was as close as they were going to get. After being rather passive scoring - wise through the first four games of the regular season, LeBron James exploded going for a game - high 30 points on top of 12 assists and seven rebounds in 36 minutes. The other two members of Cleveland's big three also put together big nights, with Kevin Love recording 26 points and eight rebounds, as he continues his hot start to the season, and Kyrie Irving scoring 23 points of his own. As a team, the Cavaliers managed to do plenty of damage from behind the arc — where they shot 41 percent from — and the free throw line — where they shot an incredible 37 shots from, making 32 of them. Boston, on the other hand, came into this game missing both Jae Crowder (ankle) and Al Horford (concussion) and were carried by their starting backcourt consisting of Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley. Thomas recorded a game - high 30 points while scoring nearly half of his points from the free throw line, as he shot 14 - of - 14 from the charity stripe. The rest of his Boston teammates struggled getting to the line, however, as they shot just 5 - of - 8 from the stripe over the course of Thursday's game. Bradley was n't too far behind, recording a double - double of 26 points and 10 rebounds over 39 minutes. It was rookie Jaylen Brown, however, who had the game's breakout performance, scoring a career - high 19 points and grabbing five rebounds after getting the start in place of the injured Crowder. Up next, the Cavaliers will head to Philadelphia on Saturday to take on the 76ers, while the Celtics will have off until Sunday when they will take on the Nuggets.
+The Denver Nuggets (8 - 13) won their second straight close game, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers (1 - 20) 108 - 105 on Saturday. Down 59 - 52 at the half, the Nuggets flipped the switch in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Sixers 30 - 19 in the final period to secure their second consecutive victory. In a game featuring two of the more permeable frontcourts in the league, Denver outrebounded Philadelphia 47 to 40 and outscored them in the paint, 44 to 34. The Sixers were further weakened up front by the absence of standout rookie Jahlil Okafor, who was serving the second game of a team - imposed two - game suspension for recent off - the - court issues. Danilo Gallinari, as he has often done this season, spearheaded the Nuggets' offensive attack with a 24 - point, seven - rebound performance, his second consecutive game over the 20 - point mark. The visitors also got a strong outing off the bench from Will Barton, who is certainly in contention for the Sixth Man of the Year award at this point. Barton contributed 16 points, and added nine rebounds, an assist and a steal over 33 minutes to come in second behind Gallinari in team scoring. For the starters, Randy Foye turned in another solid start in place of Gary Harris, notching 11 points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal. Rookie Emmanuel Mudiay only shot 33 percent but managed to pitch in 10 points, six assists, five rebounds and a steal. He did commit seven turnovers, underscoring an area of his game he must continue to focus on. Kenneth Faried came off the bench for 22 minutes and was a rebound shy of a double - double, pouring in 12 points and hauling in nine boards. Jameer Nelson was the third Denver player to manage double - digit points in a reserve role, posting 10 points, three assists and a pair of rebounds. Denver improved to 8 - 13 but remains in last place in the Western Conference's Northwest Division. They head home for a date with the Orlando Magic on Tuesday. The Sixers turned in a valiant effort without Okafor, but could n't hold on to the lead in the second half. All five starters notably turned in double - digit scoring performances, led by Robert Covington's 18 - point, 10 - rebound double - double. The starting backcourt duo of Isaiah Canaan and T.J. McConnell were also solid contributors, tallying 15 and 10 points, respectively. McConnell in particular stuffed the stat sheet by adding eight rebounds, six assists and three steals. Nerlens Noel (14 points, five rebounds, two blocks) and Jerami Grant (10 points, two assists, a rebound, four steals and a pair of blocks) pitched in all over the court as well. Jakarr Sampson (13 points) and Richaun Holmes (10 points) also got in on the act from the bench, making it one of the best team efforts for Philadelphia in what has been a miserable campaign to date. The Sixers fell to 1 - 20 and remain last in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division. They are home for a tough matchup versus the San Antonio Spurs on Monday.
+The San Antonio Spurs (62 - 12) picked up a road win over the Memphis Grizzlies (41 - 33) despite resting many of their top players Wednesday night at FedExForum, 101 - 87. Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili were both inactive, and David West, Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker all sat out as the Spurs continue to get their bodies rested for the postseason. Still, with the Grizzlies missing Marc Gasol, Mike Conley, Zach Randolph and P.J. Hairston to injuries, the Spurs faced little resistance as they took an 8 - point lead into halftime and led by double - digits for the entire fourth quarter. LaMarcus Aldridge was San Antonio's lone star in the lineup, and he dominated the game, scoring a game - high 31 points (11 - 16 FG, 9 - 11 FT) and grabbing a game - high 13 rebounds (four offensive). Patty Mills (7 - 10 FG, 3 - 4 3PT) added 17 points in 22 minutes off the bench. The Spurs shot a robust 51 percent from the field as Memphis's depleted front line offered little resistance inside. Vince Carter was Memphis's leading scorer as he managed 14 points (3 - 9 FG, 2 - 3 3PT, 6 - 7 FT) in 21 minutes off the bench. Jeff Green's 12 points (5 - 9 FG) led Memphis's starters as the toll of playing through the Grizzlie's myriad injuries is showing. Memphis managed just 40 percent from the field and committed 14 turnovers against just 19 assists as the reserves continue to have trouble producing offense. Memphis has now shot better than 50 percent from the field just once in its past 16 games. The Grizzlies remain at home for a Wednesday matchup against Denver. The Spurs return home to host the Pelicans on Wednesday.
+The Portland Trail Blazers (11 - 3) defeated the Philadelphia 76ers (0 - 14) 114 - 104 on Monday at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. Despite taking a 52 - 50 lead into halftime, the Sixers came out of the half cold and were out - scored by the Blazers 39 - 28 in the third quarter, allowing them to coast to the 10 - point victory. The Sixers big men also struggled with the Blazers' bigs, as they were out - rebounded by a hefty 52 - 29 margin. This is the eigth straight victory for the Blazers, who now have the second best record in the Western Conference. LaMarcus Aldridge was an unstoppable force on Monday, as the Sixers' young frontcourt had no answer for him. He went off for 33 points (13 - 20 FG, 1 - 1 3Pt, 6 - 7 FT) and 11 rebounds, giving him his second straight double - double and fifth on the year. Fellow superstar Damian Lillard shot 6 - for - 11 from the field and 1 - for - 4 from the three - point line to score 16 points, while also grabbing five rebounds and handing out four assists. He's now averaging 20 points and 7 assists on the year. Wes Matthews was the other major contributor on the offensive side of the ball, as he shot 6 - for - 16 from the field and 2 - for - 8 from beyond the arc to score 17 points in 32 minutes. The only other Blazer to reach double figures in scoring was Robin Lopez, who had 12 points and eight rebounds. The Sixers were led by Michael Carter-Williams, who scored a season - high 24 points, while also grabbing seven rebounds. It was his seventh game of the season after sitting out with injury, and he seems to be getting back in a rhythm. Fellow backcourt mate Tony Wroten also had a solid all - around game on Monday. He came one assist shy of his second double - double of the season and finished with 20 points and nine assists. The third Sixer who reached the 20 - point mark was starting center Henry Sims. Sims finished with 22 points, which was a nice surprise for the Sixers as he's only averaging 9 points on the season. Coming off the bench, Nerlens Noel had 12 points and five rebounds. The Blazers' next game will be on the road in Charlotte against the Hornets on Wednesday, while the Sixers will be at home against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.
+The Sacramento Kings defeated the Los Angeles Lakers,116-92, at Golden 1 Center on Monday. The Kings (9 - 15) came away with a blowout win to snap a three - game losing streak, but it took its toll on the home team, as they lost Rudy Gay (hip flexor) and Ben McLemore (quad) during the game. Before the two injuries, the physical battle between DeMarcus Cousins and Julius Randle caused Lakers (10 - 17) head coach Luke Walton to get ejected after arguing a controversial no call on Cousins. Both players went to the ground, and it appeared that Cousins had some part in pulling Randle down with him near the top of the key, off the ball. Los Angeles got some life following the ejection and used it to finish the half with a nine - point lead. DeMarcus Cousins bounced back on his own to lead the third quarter Kings surge, where the big man had a major part in outscoring the Lakers 39 - 13 during that period. Los Angeles had no response following the big scoring run for Sacramento. The Lakers are now on a seven - game losing streak. Cousins finished with 31 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, two steals and three blocks to round out his monstrous performance. The Kings all - star center went 12 - of - 21 shooting, including 2 - of - 3 from behind the arc. Darren Collison aided Cousins in the scoring department with 20 points, while Garrett Temple led the bench with 16 points. Louis Williams broke his streak of five straight games with at least 20 points after finishing with 14 points on 3 - of - 12 shooting in 26 minutes off the bench. D'Angelo Russell led Los Angeles and looked more mobile with the hindering knee injury slowly dwindling away, and finished with 17 points, two rebounds and four assists on 6 - of - 10 shooting. Both teams are on the road on Wednesday, as the Lakers visit the Brooklyn Nets and the Kings visit the Houston Rockets.
+The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Boston Celtics, 105 - 99, at Wells Fargo Center on Sunday afternoon. The Celtics (44 - 26) had come into Sunday just 2 games behind the top - seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference, with a golden opportunity to make up further ground. They knew they'd have a challenge on their hands, however, as the Sixers (26 - 43) had been playing much better basketball than their record indicated and they'd also be missing team MVP Isaiah Thomas for a second straight contest with knee soreness. Accordingly, Philadelphia managed to play spoiler effectively, overcoming a 13 - point fourth - quarter deficit. Thomas' absence certainly helped the Sixers' cause, but they earned the upset victory by limiting Boston to 40 percent shooting from the field and 21 percent from three - point range, while also forcing 17 turnovers. Al Horford paced the Celtics with 27 points, a total he supplemented with eight boards, six assists, two blocks and one steal. Jae Crowder filled out the stat sheet with 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists and one steal. Terry Rozier was next with a bench - leading 14 - point, 10 - rebound double - double that also included two assists and one steal. Avery Bradley supplied 13 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Kelly Olynyk was productive off the bench as well with 12 points, one rebound and one assist. Marcus Smart drew a second straight start in Thomas' stead and chipped in eight points, eight assists, six rebounds and two steals. Dario Saric led the Sixers with 23 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Robert Covington tallied 16 points, eight rebounds and two steals and drained the go - ahead three - pointer in the fourth period. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot supplied 13 points, two boards and one assist. Jahlil Okafor exited early with knee soreness after 12 minutes, posting four points and one rebound before heading to the bench. A trio of nine - point efforts from Sergio Rodriguez, Gerald Henderson and Nik Stauskas paced the reserves. The Celtics return home to tangle with the Washington Wizards on Monday evening, while the Sixers head to Central Florida for a Monday night date with the Orlando Magic.
+The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Detroit Pistons, 87 - 77, at Spectrum Arena on Wednesday. The Hornets (13 - 9) have often counted on their standout guard combo of Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum this season to serve as the foundation of their offense, and their contributions came in particularly handy Wednesday against the Pistons (12 - 12). Andre Drummond posted a 26 - point, 20 - rebound double - double for Detroit that also featured an assist and a pair of blocks, but the Hornets' dynamic duo countered with a 25 - point tally from Walker and a 14 - point, 15 - rebound effort from Batum. Despite the trio of remarkable performances, it was largely a defensive - minded contest, with both teams shooting under 40 percent from the field, and with the Pistons posting a particularly unsightly 15 percent success rate from behind the arc. Tobias Harris was a distant second on Detroit with 14 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a block. Reggie Jackson continued to ramp up his minutes in his third game back from offseason knee problems, totaling 10 points, three rebounds, two assists and a block over 26 minutes. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Marcus Morris had quiet nights on the scoreboard by their standards with a pair of seven - point contributions, but the latter did haul in 10 rebounds. Jon Leuer headlined a modest outing for the second unit with six points, six assists and four rebounds. Walker added four assists, three rebounds and two steals to his game - high scoring haul, while Batum also dished out three dimes. Marvin Williams was back in the starting lineup after missing six games with a knee injury and supplied 12 points, five rebounds and a steal. Cody Zeller posted nine points, six rebounds and a block, while Marco Belinelli led the reserves with 13 points, five rebounds, an assist and two steals in 28 minutes. The Pistons continue on the road and next visit with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday evening, while the Hornets remain home to face off with the Orlando Magic on Friday night as well.
+The host Dallas Mavericks (17 - 13) defeated the Chicago Bulls (16 - 12) by a score of 118 - 111, on Saturday night. The game was a back - and - forth nail - biter, which featured 15 lead changes and was tied 108 - 108 with 2:54 left in the game. Dallas grinded out the last few minutes with some solid defense, including a big steal which led to a basket that put them up by four with 50 seconds left. The Bulls then gave up an unforced turnover on a five - second inbound violation that destroyed their chance of victory. Chicago came into this game after a solid win on Christmas day and while they are still missing two big pieces in Joakim Noah and Mike Dunleavy, being short - handed on this second night of a back - to - back could be part of the reason why they collapsed late in the fourth. Five players scored in double digits for the Bulls. The high - point man was Derrick Rose, who finished with 25 points (12 - 20 FG), five rebounds and four assists, in 36 minutes. Nikola Mirotic poured in 23 points on strong 6 - 10 shooting from the field (4 - 7 3PT, 7 - 11 FT), along with seven rebounds, three blocks, two steals and one assist, in 40 minutes. Pau Gasol finished with 18 points (7 - 10 FG, 4 - 4 FT), nine rebounds, three assists and three blocks, in 38 minutes. The Bulls starters were forced to play a lot of minutes in this one, which again could have affected their play late in the game. Chicago did however shoot a strong 53 percent from the field. Dallas also had six players score in double digits. J.J. Barea had a fantastic game filling in at starting PG for the injured Deron Williams. Barea finished with 26 points, while shooting a brilliant 7 - 8 from behind the arc, along with five assists, in 32 minutes. Chandler Parsons dropped in 20 points (8 - 15 FG, 2 - 5 3Pt), five rebounds, five assists and two steals, in 35 minutes off the bench. Zaza Pachulia tallied a solid double - double with 17 points and 12 rebounds, in 29 minutes. The Mavericks shot 48 percent from long range and hit 22 - 28 free throws. With this win Dallas is now 6 - 6 against the East. Next Dallas will host Milwaukee on Monday and look to go above .500 against the pesky East. The Bulls will have their hands full once again, as they host Toronto on Monday for what should be a great Eastern Conference battle.
+The San Antonio Spurs (55 - 26) defeated the Phoenix Suns (39 - 42) 107 - 91 on Sunday at the AT & T Center in San Antonio. The Spurs continued their unbelievable stretch, winning their eleventh game in a row and propelling themselves into the second spot in the Western Conference standings. After many had criticized the defending champs for their slow start to the season, the Spurs have made them eat their words, as they now own a half game lead over the Clippers, Grizzlies and Rockets for that second projected playoff seed. The Spurs were the superior shooters in this game, going 51 percent from the field and 42 percent from the three - point line, while the Suns finished at 41 percent from the floor and just 25 percent from deep. It was the Spurs' frontcourt duo of Tim Duncan and Kawhi Leonard that helped seal the victory Sunday. Duncan finished with 22 points (7 - 11 FG, 8 - 9 FT), 10 rebounds and two blocked shots, while playing just 26 minutes. It was a very efficient showing for the veteran, who's posted two double - doubles in a row. During that two - game stretch, he's combined for 51 points and 20 rebounds, so Duncan is doing a great job of building even more momentum for himself as they head into the playoffs. Leonard, on the other hand, went 6 - for - 12 from the field and 1 - for - 2 from the three - point line to score 18 points, to go along with nine rebounds. He's had a fantastic span of games throughout April, averaging 20 points over seven games. He's also done it defensively though, posting three or more steals in four out of those seven games as well. The Spurs received some solid contributions off their bench. Cory Joseph had 13 points (5 - 7 FG, 1 - 3 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT) and four rebounds over 19 minutes, while Marco Belinelli posted 13 points (4 - 8 FG, 2 - 5 3Pt, 3 - 3 FT) and four assists over 24 minutes. Eric Bledsoe and Gerald Green were the only two Suns' players that really had any success against the Spurs' defense. Bledsoe notched a double - double with 20 points (7 - 13 FG, 0 - 3 3Pt, 6 - 6 FT) and 10 assists. He's now combined for 39 points and 17 assists over his last three games. Green, on the other hand, went 8 - for - 16 from the field and 2 - for - 3 from the three - point line to score 23 points, while also adding four rebounds over 26 minutes. Over his last five games, he's now averaging 19 points, as he's been one of the few bright spots for the Suns. Markieff Morris and Archie Goodwin were the only other two players to reach double figures. Morris finished with 12 points (4 - 10 FG, 1 - 3 3Pt, 3 - 4 FT) and five rebounds, while Goodwin recorded 11 points (5 - 15 FG, 0 - 3 3Pt, 1 - 2 FT) and four rebounds. The Spurs' next game will be on the road against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, while the Suns will be at home against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday.
+The San Antonio Spurs (47 - 9) held off the Phoenix Suns (14 - 42) for a 118 - 111 win on Sunday. This was a much closer matchup than anticipated, with the Suns hanging around all game long. The game was actually tied with six minutes left, but the Spurs went on a 70 run from there to ultimately decide the game. San Antonio's three - point shooting was the key, as they went 10 - for - 16 from long distance in the victory. They also shot 52 percent from the field, while holding Phoenix to 46 percent on their end. San Antonio hasn’t been playing impressively lately, but they continue to win games. This is the second game in a row where they allowed a double - digit underdog to hang around and score over 110 points. With that in mind, both of those games came without All-Star Kawhi Leonard. In this game, Tony Parker led the team with 22 points with Patty Mills scoring 21 of his own off the bench. LaMarcus Aldridge also played well, as he tallied 19 points and 10 rebounds en route to a double - double. The Spurs next game will be against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday. Phoenix came into this matchup as a 14 - point underdog and nearly pulled out a miraculous win. Alex Len got the start for the injured Tyson Chandler and played great, double - doubling in a 23 - point, 13 - rebound performance. The bench was what kept the Suns around though, as Jon Leuer, Mirza Teletovic and Archie Goodwin all scored at least 13 points while combing for 18 total rebounds. On deck for the Suns is a matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday in the second half of a back - to - back set.
+The Denver Nuggets (22 - 32) defeated the Detroit Pistons (27 - 27) 103 - 92 on Wednesday night. A 14 - 2 run in the fourth quarter was the decisive moment for the Nuggets in their victory. Denver held Detroit to just 39 points in the second half and allowed them to shoot only seven free - throws in the game. The benches were a huge difference as well, with the Nuggets bench scoring 46 points to the Pistons 25. Denver's goal was to start the month with four wins before the All-Star break and they did just that with this victory. The two leading scorers for the Nuggets came off the bench, as Will Barton scored 20 and Jusuf Nurkic scored 16 in a double - double. Danilo Gallinari and Emmanuel Mudiay gave the team some nice all - around performances, as they combined for 29 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and four steals in the win. Denver will be off until the 19th when they play the Sacramento Kings after the All-Star break. Detroit had to play this game without Reggie Jackson and it clearly hurt them late. Jackson is one of the leading scorers in the final five minutes of games and the Pistons were completely shut down for a long stretch in the fourth quarter. Marcus Morris scored a team - leading 19 points while also grabbing six rebounds in the defeat. Andre Drummond played a great defensive game, as he tallied 15 points, 17 rebounds, five blocks and three steals in the loss. The Pistons wo n't play again until the 19th when they take on the Washington Wizards after the All-Star break.
+It's been a rough stretch of three games over the last four days for Kawhi Leonard - - by his standards - - after he got off to a scorching hot start to the month of March. Following his 22 - point performance (20 of which came in the second half) in Tuesday's comeback victory over the Timberwolves, Leonard has now failed to score at least 25 points in each of his last three games after hitting that total in seven of his eight previous games. The All-Star also has n't been shooting the ball at an efficient rate as of late, with Tuesday's 54 percent performance from the field being his best since last Wednesday when he hit 57 percent of his shots in a loss to Portland. In the two games in between, Leonard shot a combined 9 - of - 27 (30 percent) from the field, which was easily his worst two - game shooting stretch of the season.
+The Denver Nuggets (12 - 15) defeated the Indiana Pacers (8 - 19) 76 - 73 on Saturday. Denver is on a two - game win streak. Ty Lawson led the way with 15 points and 10 assists for a double - double. Danilo Gallinari got in on the fun off the bench, scoring a team - high 19 points in 28 minutes. Both teams struggled to put the ball in the basket. Denver shot just 37 percent from the field, but they gained an advantage by holding the Pacers to an even worse 31 percent shooting. Indiana has lost two straight and ten of their last 11 games. They had just three players score in double figures Saturday, with David West scoring a team - high 19 points to go along with ten rebounds and five assists. Starting center Roy Hibbert continues to struggle in his return from a sprained ankle. He got into foul trouble Saturday that limited him to zero points and five rebounds in 24 minutes. The Pacers will finish their road trip against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.
+The Knicks have been a different team this season and dominating wins like this show their improvement. Orlando had a one - point lead early in the first quarter, but that marked their only lead of the game. Three-point shooting really killed the Magic, as they went 5 - of - 27, while the Knicks went 9 - of - 20 from long range. Serge Ibaka was Orlando's best player, as he tallied 23 points and 10 rebounds en route to a double - double. Evan Fournier was n't far behind, as he accrued 21 points, five rebounds and four assists. Nikola Vucevic, Elfrid Payton and Jeff Green came off the bench to score 10 points a piece for Orlando. The Knicks bench outmatched that though, as they got 12 assists from Brandon Jennings and a monster 14 - point, 16 - rebound double - double from Kyle O'Quinn. Derrick Rose led the Knicks starters in scoring, as he dropped 19 points, five rebounds and three assists.
+The Utah Jazz (26 - 36) defeated the Brooklyn Nets (25 - 36) 95 - 88 on Sunday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The Jazz continued their strong play of late, recording their second straight win and seventh of their last ten. Despite the loss, the Nets actually were the superior shooters in this one, going 50 percent from the field and 53 percent from the three - point line, while the Jazz finished at 47 percent from the floor and 46 percent from deep. What may have been the deciding factor were free throws though. The Jazz converted on 17 - of - 21, while the Nets shot just 11 and converted on only four of those 11 attempts. As has been the case for the Jazz all season, both Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors did the bulk of the work offensively. Hayward finished with a team - high of 24 points (7 - 15 FG, 2 - 6 3Pt, 8 - 9 FT), while adding five rebounds and three steals as well. It was his second impressive performance in a row, as he's combined for 49 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and four steals over his last two. He's now averaging 20 points and 5 rebounds on the year. Favors, on the other hand, posted 22 points (8 - 16 FG, 6 - 8 FT), eight rebounds and four assists in 37 minutes. He's also played very well of late, averaging 19 points and 7 rebounds over his last four games. Rookie Dante Exum had one of the better games of his career, notching double figures in points for just the seventh time this season and first since the end of January. He went 5 - for - 6 from the field and a perfect 4 - for - 4 from the three - point line to score 14 points, while adding four assists as well. The only other Jazz player to reach double - digit points was Trey Burke, who came off the bench for 12 points (5 - 11 FG, 2 - 5 3Pt) and four assists in 20 minutes. The Nets really struggled to score in this one, with just three players reaching double figures in points. One of those players was Brook Lopez, who took over the starting center spot for Mason Plumlee, as Plumlee was put back into a bench role. In 35 minutes, Lopez scored 19 points (8 - 17 FG, 0 - 1 3Pt, 3 - 5 FT), to go along with 10 rebounds and two blocked shots. It was his second double - double in a row, as he's combined for 38 points and 23 rebounds over that span. He's now averaging 16 points and 7 rebounds on the season. Along with Lopez, Thaddeus Young also moved into the starting lineup Sunday, pushing Alan Anderson to the bench. He matched a team - high with 19 points (9 - 17 FG, 1 - 2 3Pt), while also adding three rebounds and four steals in 32 minutes. With such a strong performance, he should continue to start for the forseeable future. Coming off the bench, Bojan Bogdanovic added 11 points (4 - 7 FG, 3 - 4 3Pt) in 21 minutes. Both Joe Johnson and Deron Williams struggled in this one, scoring nine and six points respectively. The Jazz's next game will be at home against the New York Knicks on Tuesday, while the Nets will be at home against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.
+The San Antonio Spurs (5 - 2) defeated the Sacramento Kings (1 - 7) 104 - 83 Monday at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento. The game remained close through three quarters, as the return of DeMarcus Cousins, who was out with an Achilles injury, kept the Kings in the game. However, the Spurs dominated the fourth quarter, winning the period 34 - 19 and pulling away. Kawhi Leonard continues to lead the way for San Antonio to start the season, as he finished with a game - high 24 points on an efficient 10 - of - 13 shooting in 32 minutes. Tim Duncan added a double - double of 11 points and 14 rebounds in just 23 minutes. LaMarcus Aldridge fell just short of a double - double, recording 16 points and nine rebounds in 26 minutes. For the Kings, Cousins returned in a big way, recording 21 points and 12 rebounds in 32 minutes, but shot just 5 - of - 20 from the field. Rajon Rondo played every minute at point guard and recorded eight points, 12 assists and six rebounds, but also committed nine turnovers. Marco Belinelli and Omri Casspi managed to contribute 17 and 16 points respectively off the bench. Up next, the Spurs will travel to Portland to take on the Trail Blazers Wednesday, while the Kings will stay home Wednesday to take on the Pistons.
+The Atlanta Hawks defeated the San Antonio Spurs, 114 - 112, in overtime at Phillips Arena on Sunday. Kawhi Leonard made his return for the Spurs (27 - 7) after a two - game absence due to a stomach virus, but the bigger story on the San Antonio side turned out to be LaMarcus Aldridge, who bounced back nicely from an eight - point performance against his former Trail Blazers teammates on Friday to score 27 points, along with 13 rebounds, two assists and three blocks. Meanwhile, on Atlanta's end, it was Tim Hardaway, Jr. who posted 29 points off the bench. His 26 - foot three - point jumper with three seconds remaining in regulation knotted the game at 100, and Leonard's missed 14 - foot shot as time expired insured a fifth quarter. Hardaway drained two more three - pointers early and a key free throw late in the extra period, and Leonard missed a driving layup at the buzzer, helping the Hawks (18 - 16) escape with a hard - fought win. Tony Parker tallied 22 points, six assists and three rebounds behind Aldridge. Pau Gasol had a near double - double with 18 points, nine boards, two assists, a steal and a block. Leonard had 13 points, four rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block. Manu Ginobili led the second unit with 10 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals. Paul Millsap paced the Hawks with 32 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and a block. Hardaway supplemented his point total with five rebounds and an assist. Dennis Schroder followed with 16 points, 10 assists, two rebounds and a block. Kyle Korver posted 14 points, eight rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block in 39 minutes off the bench. Kent Bazemore, Thabo Sefolosha and Dwight Howard notably underwhelmed on the starting five, combining for just 17 points overall. The Spurs head back home to face the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday evening, while the Hawks head to Orlando for a Wednesday night date with the Magic.
+Gordon Hayward and Rudy Gobert stepped up their play after Rodney Hood left the game with a right hamstring injury, and the sharp shooting and rebounding on display by both starters were able to keep the Rockets comeback attempts at bay. Hayward led the Jazz in scoring with 31 points, to go along with seven assists and five rebound. Hayward also buried a trio of three pointers, in addition to finishing 12 - of - 13 from the free throw line. Gobert notched his 11th triple - double of the season, which ties him with Andre Drummond for seventh in the NBA. The Jazz center scored 16 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in the win. Four of the 14 boards that Gobert hauled in came on the offensive end of the floor, as he dominated his matchup with Clint Capela. James Harden led the way for the Rockets with 26 points, seven assists and five rebounds on 8 - of - 23 shooting.
+In a battle of two of the NBA's biggest stars, Giannis Antetokounmpo ultimately out - dueled Russell Westbrook. The Greek Freak contributed a 26 - point, 10 - rebound double - double that also included five assists, a steal and a block. Jabari Parker supplied 19 points, while John Henson chipped in with 12 points. Malcolm Brodgon matched Henson's scoring total, draining two key free throws with eight seconds left to secure the final margin of victory. Greg Monroe's 15 points led the Bucks' bench. Westbrook scored a game - high 30 points, adding seven rebounds, six assists and three steals. Steven Adams posted 20 points and eight boards, while Victor Oladipo tallied 18 points in his second game back from a wrist injury. Semaj Christon paced the bench with 11 points. Andre Roberson and Domantas Sabonis notably both went scoreless over a combined 45 minutes.
+The Toronto Raptors (36 - 17) defeated the Washington Wizards (33 - 21) 95 - 93 on Wednesday at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. With just under 13 seconds left in the game, DeMar DeRozan was able to hit a jump shot, putting the Raptors up by two. On the Wizards next posession, John Wall attempted to drive to the hoop, but got blocked by Kyle Lowry. The Wizards got the ball back after the block, and Wall had one more shot to win the game, but he missed a three - pointer at the buzzer, giving the Raptors the close two - point victory in front of their home crowd. While the Wizards (46 percent) shot better than the Raptors from the field (41 percent), the Raptors took the advantage from the three - point line, going 42 percent from deep, while the Wizards went just 24 percent. Along with the go - ahead bucket that helped give the Raptors a victory, DeRozan also posted 23 points (6 - 18 FG, 1 - 2 3Pt, 10 - 10 FT), three rebounds and three steals in the victory. He's on an impressive stretch of three games where he's averaging 22 points, five rebounds and 3 steals per game. The Raptors also received a huge contribution off the bench, as Louis Williams went 8 - for - 16 from the field and 4 - for - 8 from the three - point line to score 27 points in 33 minutes. It was a nice turn of events for him, after going scoreless in Sunday's game against the Spurs. He's now averaging 15 points on the season. Along with the block of Wall in the final seconds, Lowry also added 13 points (5 - 12 FG, 3 - 7 3Pt), four rebounds and six assists. His points totals were down, but with DeRozan and Williams playing so well, he did n't have to do as much offensively. Greivis Vasquez recorded 11 points (4 - 7 FG, 3 - 5 3PT) in just 18 minutes as well. John Wall led the team for the Wizards, but just could n't come up clutch in the final moments. He finished with 21 points (7 - 15 FG, 1 - 6 3Pt, 6 - 8 FT), four rebounds and eight assists. He shot only 30 percent (3 - 10 FG) from the field in Monday's game against the Magic, so it was nice to see some improvement with his shot. Paul Pierce also played a factor, going 7 - for - 12 from the field and 2 - for - 4 from the three - point line to score 17 points. After combining for just eight points over his last two games, he was much more efficient with his time Wednesday. Nene had a solid showing, posting 14 points (7 - 8 FG, 0 - 2 FT), four rebounds and four steals. It was his second straight night with 14 points, while the four steals matched a season - high. The high scorer off the bench was Drew Gooden, who notched a double - double with 10 points (5 - 12 FG, 0 - 1 3Pt) and 12 rebounds. The Wizards' next game will be at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday after the All-Star break, while the Raptors will travel to Atlanta to play the Hawks on Friday after the All-Star break as well.
+The Toronto Raptors defeated the Miami Heat, 99 - 91, on Wednesday night at the Air Canada Centre to take a 3 - 2 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Raptors built a 28 - 18 cushion after one quarter that the Heat spent the majority of game trying to chip away at, but ultimately, Toronto kept pulling away just enough to ultimately secure the victory. The contest was a costly one for both teams health - wise, but particularly for a Miami squad that was already short - handed coming in. Luol Deng had to exit the game after 24 minutes due to a left wrist injury, completing the decimation of a Heat frontcourt that previously lost Chris Bosh (clots) and Hassan Whiteside (knee). Meanwhile, DeMarre Carroll mirrored Deng's misfortune, leaving with his own left wrist contusion after 26 minutes. DeMar DeRozan did n't exactly escape unscathed either, as he appeared to reaggravate the thumb injury that he originally suffered in Game 1. However, the standout two - guard finished the game and did n't allow the ailment to slow him, as he scored a team - leading 34 points and added four rebounds, two assists and two steals. The performance featured a perfect 11 - for - 11 effort from the free - throw line, with several of the baskets coming in the game's final minutes to help stave off a comeback by the visitors. Miami was led by Dwyane Wade, who scored 20 points, along with seven rebounds, four assists and a block. Goran Dragic, who appeared to come up limping after a change of possession late in the fourth quarter, was next with 13 points, five rebounds and a pair of dimes. Joe Johnson pitched in 11 points, eight rebounds and an assist. Josh Richardson paced the reserves with 13 points, three rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block over 22 minutes. Josh McRoberts and Udonis Haslem, who both stand to see an uptick in playing time if Deng is forced to miss a do - or - die Game 6, tallied six points and three boards apiece off the bench. The former also added a steal. Kyle Lowry may have played second fiddle in terms of scoring to his talented backcourt mate, but drained several key buckets in the final two minutes to secure the win. He finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, three steals and a block. Although he only managed to net nine of his 25 shot attempts, he did sink four of his nine tries from beyond the arc, including a 25 - footer with 52 seconds remaining. Bismack Biyombo acquitted himself well in his second start in Jonas Valanciunas' (ankle) stead, tallying 10 points, six rebounds, two steals and four blocks. He scored two for the other team as well, as he was called for goal tending late in the fourth quarter. Corey Joseph paced the second unit with nine points, five assists, a rebound and two steals. The two teams reconvene down in South Florida for a pivotal Game 6 on Friday night at American Airlines Arena, with the respective statuses of Deng and Carroll currently up in the air.
+The Washington Wizards (28 - 30) defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers (41 - 17) 113 - 99 on Sunday. LeBron James was given an off day for only the second time this season and unfortunately for the Cavs, the results of his absence were somewhat predictable. The final margin of victory for the Wizards belied their game - long dominance of Cleveland, who was already staring at a 96 - 70 deficit heading into the final period. Washington's first unit unsurprisingly bested Cleveland's starting five in all major categories, and only Kyrie Irving appeared determined to try and keep the game respectable for the short - handed visitors. The victory was a crucial one for a Wizards squad that needs every win it can get down the stretch, and the comfortable second - half lead allowed their front - line players some much needed rest. All five members of the first unit were able to play under 30 minutes for the Wizards, a welcome luxury in the latter stages of what has been a tough season for them to date. Irving's 28 points spearheaded Cleveland's attack on the afternoon, and the game - high scoring total was supplemented by six assists and a rebound. Kevin Love was a distant second with 12 points, five rebounds and an assist in just 24 minutes of play. Veteran Richard Jefferson drew the start in James' place, and contributed 10 points, five boards and an assist. Tristan Thompson (two points, two rebounds, two assists) and J.R. Smith (eight points, four rebounds, an assist and two steals) were underwhelming while rounding out a generally forgettable afternoon for the Cavs' first unit. Timofey Mozgov contributed a 10 - point, 10 - rebound double - double off the bench to pace the reserves. Despite the defeat, the Cavs continue atop the Eastern Conference Central Division and also possess the first seed in the conference by one and a half games over the Toronto Raptors, who can make up some ground by defeating the Detroit Pistons later Sunday. Cleveland heads back home to face off against the Indiana Pacers on Monday evening. John Wall led the way for Washington with 21 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds in just 29 minutes. Otto Porter encouragingly matched Wall's point total and added five rebounds, three assists and a block. It was notably only the second performance of over 20 points for the struggling forward in February, and first since Feb. 6 versus the Hornets. Marcin Gortat contributed a near double - double with 13 points, nine rebounds, three assists and a block. Bradley Beal, still coming off the bench, poured in 17 points and added three rebounds, an assist and a pair of steals to pace the reserves. The Wizards are currently in fourth place in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division, and two games back of the eighth - seeded Chicago Bulls. They remain home to face the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night.
+The Atlanta Hawks (27 - 8) defeated the Memphis Grizzlies (25 - 10) 96 - 86 on Wednesday. Jeff Teague lead the way for the Hawks with 25 points, three rebounds, six assists, two steals and one block in 34 minutes. Paul Milsap was 2 - of - 9 from the field but hit 3 - of - 4 free throws to finish with 11 points. He also pitched in nine rebounds and four assists for the Eastern Conference leading Hawks. Zach Randolph (knee) missed his ninth straight game, and the Grizzlies have struggled without him, going 4 - 5 in his absence. Marc Gasol had 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks, and Mikey Conley finished with 17 points, nine rebounds, six assists, three steals and five turnovers. The Grizzlies now hold the fourth spot in the Western Conference. The Atlanta Hawks will go to Detroit to play the Pistons on Friday, and the Grizzlies will head to New Orleans to play the Pelicans on Friday.
+The Los Angeles Clippers (5 - 3) defeated the Phoenix Suns (5 - 5) 120 - 107 on Saturday. Los Angeles has been trading wins for losses lately. They began the season with a two - game win streak, but since then, the Clippers have recorded wins and losses like coin flips. Matt Barnes was moved back into the starting lineup at small forward, and Jamal Crawford moved back to a bench role. Both players played 27 minutes and were positive contributors in plus/minus. Los Angeles will host the Chicago Bulls on Monday before embarking on a seven - game roadtrip. Phoenix was playing the second night of a back - to - back, coming off a loss at home to the Charlotte Hornets. The Suns shot 38 percent from the field, while the Clippers converted 53 percent of their shots, a statistic that tells the game story simply. Phoenix began a six - game roadtrip Saturday, and their next game will be against the Celtics in Boston on Monday.
+The San Antonio Spurs (37 - 23) routed the Sacramento Kings (21 - 38) 112 - 83 on Wednesday at the AT & T Center. San Antonio fans had n't gotten to watch their team play a home game since Feb. 6 against Miami, but Wednesday's performance was worth the wait. The Spurs were down 27 - 26 after the first quarter, but held the Kings to just 11 points in the second as they took over the game. Kawhi led the way with 21 points to help give the Spurs their second win over the Kings in less than a week. Sacramento kicked off a huge eight - game road trip on Tuesday with a convincing 124 - 86 victory over New York. The Kings could n't match that effort Wednesday, however, as they were handled by the Spurs. DeMarcus Cousins had a subpar game by his standards, posting just 14 points and three rebounds to go with five turnovers. Sacramento will resume its road trip Friday in Orlando. Questions about San Antonio's chances this season started to swirl after it dropped its fifth game on its rodeo road trip. Since then, the Spurs have looked like the team that everyone figured would be a contender in the West with three - straight double - digit wins. Marco Belinelli and Manu Ginobili both scored 13 off the bench Wednesday. The Spurs also played suffocating defense, holding the Kings to just 37 percent from the field. San Antonio will return to action Friday when it hosts Denver.
+Defense has been a strong suit of these teams in the past, but that was not the case in this close - fought battle. The Pistons defense was especially bad, as they allowed the Pacers to shoot 58 percent from the field, 87 percent from the free - throw line and 56 percent from three - point range. Paul George was the player of the game, as he dropped a game - high 32 points. Many of those points came in the final six minutes, as he scored 12 of his points in that period to close things out. Jeff Teague and Myles Turner dropped 17 points a piece, while Turner added seven rebounds and Teague handed out eight assists. Monta Ellis was perfect off the bench, as he scored 17 points on 6 - of - 6 shooting. Tobias Harris led the Pistons in scoring, as he totaled 22 points and six rebounds off their bench. Reggie Jackson recorded a season - high in assists, tallying 20 points, seven rebounds and 12 assists. Andre Drummond recorded a 20 - point, 14 - rebound double - double.
+Houston had a nightmare game from long distance, but they managed to pull out a win with some quality defense. In fact, the Rockets held the Magic to 42 percent from the field, 69 percent from the free - throw line and 35 percent from three - point range. The second half is where Houston did their damage, outscoring the Magic, 56 - 41. Ryan Anderson led Houston in scoring, as he dropped 17 of his 18 points in the third quarter. James Harden went 0 - of - 8 from three - point range, but still accumulated 14 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists in the win. Eric Gordon also struggled from three, going 3 - of - 16, but led the bench with 17 points, three rebounds and four assists. Patrick Beverley totaled 17 points and nine rebounds on 7 - of - 9 shooting. D.J. Augustin led Orlando in scoring, as he scored 19 points off the bench. Aaron Gordon accrued 18 points, six rebounds and seven assists in the loss, while Serge Ibaka recorded a double - double.
+The Detroit Pistons defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder, 104 - 88, at Palace of Auburn Hills on Monday. The Pistons have been a different team at home this season, as this win made them 50 at Palace of Auburn Hills. Defense was key for Detroit, as they held Oklahoma City to 38 percent from the field and 19 percent from three - point range. They also dominated the paint, as they scored 60 points in the paint to the Thunder's 44. Detroit never relinquished the lead after the first quarter, as they led by 19 points at the peak of their win. Oklahoma City (6 - 5) has been living off the production of Russell Westbrook this season and he simply did n't have any help in this loss. Westbrook finished the game with 33 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, with no other starter reaching double figures in any statistic aside from minutes. Victor Oladipo really struggled, as he scored just nine points on 4 - of - 17 shooting. Enes Kanter and Jerami Grant played well off the bench, combining for 21 points and eight rebounds. Steven Adams scored just four points, but grabbed 11 rebounds in the defeat. On deck is a home matchup against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, in what should be a high - scoring game. Detroit (6 - 5) had to play this game without center Andre Drummond (ankle), but they did n't miss a beat. Aron Baynes filled in for Drummond and totaled 20 points and eight rebounds on 8 - of - 13 shooting in his best game of the season. Tobias Harris led the team in scoring, dropping 22 points, six rebounds and three assists. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope tallied 17 points, three rebounds and four assists of his own. Detroit's next game will be on Wednesday, when they travel to face the New York Knicks.
+The Oklahoma City Thunder (39 - 14) defeated the Phoenix Suns (14 - 39) 122 - 106 on Monday. The high - octane Thunder got a bit more than they likely bargained for from a game Suns squad, beginning in the second period. After Oklahoma City jumped out to a 28 - 19 lead after the first 12 minutes, Phoenix answered with a 38 - point second quarter in which they outscored the Thunder by nine. Entering the fourth quarter, the visitors clung to a surprisingly thin 89 - 85 lead. After P.J. Tucker sank a four - footer with 5:43 remaining, Phoenix had closed to within three, 99 - 96. However, the Thunder scored seven of the next eight points, led by a pair of free throws apiece from Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. Although the Suns got as close as four points on one more occasion, Oklahoma City pulled away over the final 3:47 to seal the harder - than - expected win. Durant led the charge for the Thunder with 32 points - - a scoring haul that included five three - pointers - - and added six rebounds, three assists, a steal and two blocks. Westbrook came close to one of his trademark triple - doubles, managing 29 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and two steals. The one blemish on his otherwise stellar outing was the six turnovers he committed. Dion Waiters pitched in with 15 points, four assists, three steals and a block. Enes Kanter and Cameron Payne paced the reserves with a pair of 11 - point efforts, with Kanter adding six rebounds and Payne registering four rebounds and four assists. Oklahoma City remains atop the Western Conference's Northwest Division. They're back home on Thursday for a showdown with Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans. Phoenix's attack was spearheaded by 23 points from a resurgent Markieff Morris. He also supplied seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. However, like Westbrook, Morris was also guilty of handing the ball to the opposition on six occasions. Archie Goodwin continued his solid play as the starting point guard, managing 20 points, seven assists and four boards. Tucker amassed 16 points, five rebounds, two assists and five steals, while Tyson Chandler totaled 11 points, seven boards and a block. Mirza Teletovic paced the Phoenix reserves with 17 points, and also added an assist. Alex Len had a near double - double off the bench as well, registering 13 points, eight boards, two assists, two steals and a block. The Suns remain in fourth place in the Western Conference's Pacific Division. They're at home again Wednesday for another tussle with a high - powered offense, as the reigning champion Golden State Warriors come to town.
+While the Lakers have been struggling after their shockingly impressive start to the regular season, there is a silver lining in the form of rookie forward Brandon Ingram. The rookie struggled to acquiesce to the speed and strength of the NBA to start his career, but since the start of the new year, Ingram has begun to produce on a consistent level. After his 11 - point performance Tuesday against the Trail Blazers, Ingram is now averaging 14 points over his last four games and has scored in double - digits in each of those contests. Additionally, he has now shot at least 50 percent from the field in five straight games. This stretch comes after Ingram reached double - digit scoring in just eight games all season, as it appears the rookie is growing more and more comfortable in the big leagues with every game played.
+The Denver Nuggets (16 - 20) defeated the Orlando Magic (13 - 25) 93 - 90 on Wednesday at the Pepsi Center in Denver. The Nuggets were the better shooting team in this one, going 45 percent from the field and 41 percent from the three - point line, while the Magic went 40 percent from the floor and 36 percent from beyond the arc. Along with the shooting advantage, the Nuggets also out - rebounded the Magic 47 - 42, helping them edge the Magic with a three point victory. As has been the case for the majority of the season, the Nuggets relied on their starting backcourt for their offensive production. Ty Lawson led the team with 23 points, as he was able to shoot 9 - for - 14 from the field and 3 - for - 5 from the three - point line. After recording only eight points against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, this performance was a nice bounce back game for him. Arron Afflalo had a solid contribution of his own, scoring 17 points (7 - 13 FG, 0 - 2 3Pt, 3 - 6 FT), while adding six rebounds and three assists. He's had the hot hand of late, as he's averaging 23 points over his last four games. The Nuggets also saw their bench chip in as Nate Robinson recorded 13 points (1 - 6 FG, 1 - 1 3Pt). While he really struggled with his shot from the field, he forced his way to the line all game, converting on a perfect 10 - of - 10 from the free throw line. J.J. Hickson recorded a double - double off the bench with 11 points (4 - 5 FG, 3 - 4 FT) and 10 rebounds as well. The Magic took advantage of Nuggets' starting center Jusuf Nurkic, who is in his rookie season and was forced into the starting lineup after Timofey Mozgov was traded to the Cavaliers. They fed the ball to Nikola Vucevic all night, who finished with 20 points (8 - 18 FG, 4 - 6 FT) and 11 rebounds in 34 minutes. It was his second 20 - point performance in a row, along with his second double - double in as many games. Victor Oladipo had a strong night offensively. He went 7 - for - 13 from the field and 3 - for - 4 from the free throw line to score 17 points, while also recording six assists. He also added three steals, after posting four on Sunday against the Charlotte Hornets. Coming off the bench, Evan Fournier stayed productive. He went 4 - for - 8 from the field and 2 - for - 5 from beyond the arc to score 14 points in 18 minutes. Tobias Harris did n't have the offensive numbers he's come accustomed to this year, as he finished with only 12 points (5 - 13 FG, 2 - 3 3Pt, 0 - 1 FT) and six rebounds. The Nuggets' next game will be on the road against the Sacramento Kings on Friday, while the Magic will travel to Los Angeles to play the Lakers on Friday.
+The Toronto Raptors defeated the Denver Nuggets 105 - 102 at Air Canada Centre on Monday. Through the season's first two games, Kyle Lowry could n't seem to find the bottom of the net, shooting just 8 - for - 29 from the fiedl. Backcourt mate DeMar DeRozan, meanwhile, was playing like a man fully deserving of the $139 million commitment the Raptors (2 - 1) made in him this past offseason. Monday, it all came together for the talented guard duo, as they combined for a 62 - point tally to spearhead Toronto in a victory that was in doubt until the final buzzer. Danilo Gallinari's last - gasp three - point heave nearly found the basket as the clock hit double zeros, but the Raptors averted overtime and won their second home game in three tries. A trio of 16 - point efforts from Gallinari, Will Barton and Emmanuel Mudiay paced the scoring output for the Nuggets (1 - 2) on the night. Gallinari did a lot of his damage from the free - throw line, where he converted all eight attempts, and was just 3 - for - 11 from the field. Jusuf Nurkic was dominant down low, notching 13 points, 18 rebounds, an assist, five blocks and a steal. Frontcourt mate Nikola Jokic turned in a solid 12 points, along with four boards and an assist. Jameer Nelson paced the bench with a 13 - point effort. DeRozan's 33 points led the Raptors, a scoring total he supplemented with five rebounds, an assist and a steal. Lowry followed with a season - high 29 points and added seven assists, five rebounds and three steals. His final points of the night, a driving layup with 45 seconds remaining, also gave Toronto a little breathing room by extending the lead to 105 - 102. Jonas Valanciunas continued his strong early - season play with 12 points, nine boards, an assist and a block, while DeMarre Carroll supplied 10 points, a pair of rebounds and a block. The Nuggets next head to Minnesota for a Thursday showdown with the Timberwolves, while the Raptors hit the road for the first time this season. Toronto will face off with Golden State in Oakland on Wednesday.
+The Washington Wizards (26 - 12) defeated the San Antonio Spurs (23 - 16) 101 - 93 on Tuesday at the Verizon Center in Washington. After ending the third quarter up just 75 - 72, the Wizards were able to go on a fourth quarter run, out - scoring the Spurs 26 - 21 to secure the eight point victory in front of their home crowd. The Wizards were the superior shooters in this game, going 49 percent from the field and 50 percent from the three - point line, while the Spurs went 40 percent from the floor and just 31 percent from beyond the arc. John Wall led the Wizards, going 9 - for - 15 from the field and 2 - for - 3 from the three - point line to score 25 points, while adding eight assists and two blocks as well. He's recorded at least eight assists in each of his last nine games, as he continues to find his teammates at a high rate. Bradley Beal did n't have his best night from the field, but finished with 13 points (4 - 10 FG, 0 - 1 3Pt, 5 - 6 FT), five rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocked shots. He did a little bit of everything in this game, getting involved on not only the offensive side of the ball, but the defensive side as well. The Wizards received a strong effort from their bench. Kevin Seraphin recorded 17 points (6 - 8 FG, 5 - 5 FT) and eight rebounds while Kris Humphries had 10 points (5 - 10 FG) and eight rebounds of his own. Finally nearing a full games worth of minutes after coming back from a hamstring injury a week ago, Tony Parker got the start and led the team in scoring with 14 points (7 - 18 FG, 0 - 2 3Pt), while adding two assists in 30 minutes. Ever since returning a week ago, his minutes have slowly increased and this marked his first 30 minute game in his last five outings. Tim Duncan recorded a double - double, finishing with 11 points (5 - 14 FG, 1 - 2 FT) and 12 rebounds in 25 minutes. It marked his eighteenth double - double of the season thus far. Patty Mills came off the bench and added 12 points (4 - 8 FG, 4 - 6 3Pt) in slightly over 24 minutes. He still received a good portion of minutes in relief of Tony Parker. Both Tiago Splitter and Danny Green reached double figures as well with 10 points apiece. The Wizards' next game will be on the road against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, while the Spurs will travel to Charlotte to play the Hornets on Wednesday.
+The Oklahoma City Thunder (29 - 25) defeated the Dallas Mavericks (36 - 20) 104 - 89 on Thursday at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. Russell Westbrook picked up where he left off with another great performance. Westbrook finished the night with a game - high 34 points on an efficient 9 - for - 17 shooting performance from the floor to go with 10 assists. The Thunder built a commanding lead in the third quarter, but the Mavericks chipped away at it to make the game competitive late until Oklahoma City finally pulled away. The Thunder have now moved into the eighth spot in the Western Conference. The Mavericks had Tyson Chandler and Rajon Rondo return to action Thursday, but that was n't enough to secure a victory against a surging Thunder team. Dallas was badly out - rebounded Thursday by a count of 62 to 39. The Mavericks also shot a woeful 36 percent from the floor. Dallas has a quick turnaround, with a matchup against Houston coming on Friday. Oklahoma City capped off a busy Thursday trade - deadline with a big win over a playoff contender. In addition to Westbrook's big night, Serge Ibaka had a 20 - 20 outing with 21 points and 22 rebounds. The Thunder made moves for Enes Kanter and DJ Augustin as well on Thursday, adding depth as it begins its push towards the postseason. Oklahoma City will return to action Saturday in Charlotte.
+As was often the case on the road last year's NBA championship, the combination of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love were almost enough to conquer the opposition on their own Tuesday. Irving led the way against the Knicks with 29 points on 12 - for - 22 shooting, while James and Love managed a triple - double and double - double, respectively. The pair combined for 23 boards (18 defensive) and 16 assists while shooting 27 - for - 51 (53 percent). The trio's combined scoring total of 71 points accounted for all but eight of the first unit's scoreboard contributions. By comparison, Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Rose and Kristaps Porzingis managed only a combined 52 points on a 42 percent (20 - for - 48) success rate from the floor, while the other two members of the Knicks' first unit, Courtney Lee and Joakim Noah, notably failed to score altogether.
+The Cleveland Cavaliers (23 - 9) defeated the Toronto Raptors (21 - 15) 122 - 100 on Monday. Already known for their suffocating defense, the Cavaliers flipped the switch on another aspect of their game Monday, one that should put the rest of the league on notice. Cleveland caught fire from the field and turned into Warriors East for the evening, knocking down 55 percent of their attempts from the field and an outstanding 52 percent of the 33 they took from beyond the arc. The Cavs' starting five impressively drained 13 long - range buckets, with the reserves pitching in another four. Their sharpshooting resulted in a season - high 122 points for Cleveland, who pulled away from the Raptors in the second half by winning the final two quarters by a pair of 32 - 22 margins. The visitors were led by Kyle Lowry's 23 - point, 10 - assist double - double, his third straight such performance. He supplemented the effort with four rebounds, a pair of steals and a block. Partner in crime and backcourt mate DeMar DeRozan was right behind Lowry with 19 points, four assists, a pair of rebounds and a steal. The remaining members of the starting five managed modest - to - subpar efforts, with Jonas Valanciunas' nine points and eight rebounds serving as the most notable. Patrick Patterson paced the Raptors bench with 15 points. Toronto fell to 21 - 15 but remains in first place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division. They now head to Brooklyn to take on the Nets on Wednesday. Cleveland's formidable attack was spearheaded by Kyrie Irving, who can be officially considered back to full strength. The 23 - year - old played a season - high 29 minutes and was highly productive with them, pouring in a season - best 25 points, dishing out eight assists and hauling in six boards. J.R. Smith pitched in with a 24 - point effort that consisted exclusively of three - pointers, while LeBron James managed 20 points, seven assists, a pair of rebounds and three steals. Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson rounded out a stellar night for the starters with a pair of 14 - point efforts, totals that were complemented with nine and 11 rebounds, respectively. Matthew Dellavedova led the reserves with 11 points, four assists and three rebounds over 25 minutes. The Cavaliers improved to 23 - 9 and continue atop the Eastern Conference's Central Division. They now head to Washington to take on the Wizards on Wednesday.
+The box score numbers all got slightly padded given the 10 extra minutes of play spread out over two overtimes in the thrilling matchup. James Harden's triple - double headlined the game, given the Rockets big win, even after the Warriors simply would not go away at the end of regulation and the first overtime. Harden went on to finish with 29 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists on 8 - of - 23 shooting, including 11 - of - 14 from the charity stripe. Kevin Durant, on the other side of the box score, had an even more impressive night when it came to the numbers. Across 49 minutes of action, the former MVP finished with 39 points, in addition to 13 rebounds, two assists, three blocks and three steals on 12 - of - 28 shooting. The offseason acquisition also went a perfect 12 - of - 12 from the free throw line.
+The sliding Chicago Bulls (28 - 26) bounced back for a 116 - 106 win over the red - hot Toronto Raptors (35 - 18) on Friday night. Chicago, still without star guard Jimmy Butler (knee), has fallen in the Eastern Conference standings. Once rivaling Cleveland for top of the conference, Chicago started February 1 - 6 and remains at risk for losing a playoff spot. Friday's win certainly helps the Bulls' case, however, as they were able to upend the dominant Toronto Raptors. Sophomore Doug McDermott came up big for the Bulls, scoring a career - high 30 points on 13 - for - 17 shooting. "McBuckets" played big minutes due to the absence of Chicago's All-Star wing, and he did not crack under the pressure. The Creighton alumni did not turn over the ball in 31 minutes of play. Former MVP Derrick Rose continued his hot start to 2016, pouring in 26 points on solid 12 - for - 20 shooting. The Raptors came into the All-Star break as one of the NBA's hottest teams, but faltered in Chicago on Friday. While every starter reached double - digits, their bench combined for just nine points with no backup contributing more than two. The second unit went a combined 4 - for - 15 in what was a disastrous bench performance from the Raps. The starters, however, came up big for Toronto, with Kyle Lowry, Jonas Valanciunas, and DeMar DeRozan posting 27, 25, and 22 respectively. Valanciunas added 12 rebounds for one of his biggest nights of the season. Both teams will host Western Conference opponents on Sunday. Chicago will host the struggling Lakers, while the Raptors are scheduled to take on the Memphis Grizzlies.
+The Los Angeles Clippers (20) defeated the Los Angeles Lakers (0 - 3) 118 - 111 on Friday. Blake Griffin scored a game - high 39 points to pace the Clippers, and proving that everyone in the NBA is shooting three - pointers these days, Griffin also connected on both of his three - point attempts. Jamal Crawford added 22 points off the bench, but the Clippers barely pulled out the win against the struggling Lakers. Kobe Bryant is doing his best to prove his doubters wrong. He finished with 21 points and seven assists in 35 minutes. Jeremy Lin had his breakout game with the Lakers after having struggled through the first two games of the season. He finished with 17 points and nine assists in 35 minutes. Jordan Hill scored a team - high 23 points, making a series of jumpers that are generally perceived to be out of his range. The Lakers showed a lot of fight in Friday's game, and where there seemed to be only despair following their first two blowout losses, the Lakers played well enough to offer some hope for their prospects this season if everything goes right and they stay healthy. The Clippers' next game is at home Sunday against the Sacramento Kings. The Lakers will complete their back - to - back set on the road Saturday against the Golden State Warriors.
+The host Sacramento Kings took down the eighth - seeded Denver Nuggets on Thursday, 116 - 100. The game was the first for Sacramento (25 - 33) since the team dealt superstar center DeMarcus Cousins to the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night. Rookie shooting guard Buddy Hield, the reigning sixth overall pick and centerpiece of the trade, made a strong debut on Thursday, scoring 16 points and shooting an efficient 6 - of - 10 from the field. It was sophomore center Willie Cauley-Stein, however, who made the strongest impression in the new - look Kings lineup. After spending the first part of his career playing alongside or behind Cousins in the rotation, Cauley-Stein had a breakout game on Thursday, scoring 29 points on 14 - of - 22 shooting to go along with 10 rebounds. Despite dealing Cousins and veteran forward Rudy Gay (achilles) being out for the remainder of the season. the Kings saw a high - functioning offense against Denver. The team shot over 52 percent from the field and made half its three - point attempts. Denver (25 - 32) was left disappointed by the outcome, as the Nuggets were blown out by a gutted Kings team. One of the biggest obstacles for Denver was overcoming the defense of Sacramento's Willie Cauley-Stein. The Kings successfully hounded the Nuggets all night and held Denver's star center, Nikola Jokic, to just four points on the night. Denver shot only 44 percent and was out - rebounded by seven in the game. The team's high scorer was shooting guard Gary Harris with 23 points. Denver will host the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, while Sacramento will host the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday.
+The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 117 - 96 at Philips Arena on Saturday. This was expected to be a blowout in the Hawks favor and they did n't let up against a weak Sixers team. The second and fourth quarters is when Atlanta made their mark, as they outscored Philadelphia 66 - 39 in that 24 - minute stretch The Hawks shot over 50 percent from the field and recorded 31 assists on their 48 made baskets. They also outrebounded the Sixers 52 - 39 and also outscored them in the paint 50 - 34. Philadelphia (1 - 8) is coming off their first win of the season on Friday and they simply did n't have enough juice to get that elusive second win in a tough situation. Jahlil Okafor got the start after resting on Friday, as he led the team with 18 points and six rebounds in 23 minutes of action. Sergio Rodriguez was second on the team, as he accumulated 13 points, three rebounds and four assists. Dario Saric and Nik Stauskas finished with 12 points apiece. Robert Covington was the only other player in double figures, scoring 11 points and swiping four steals. The Sixers will have another road game on Monday against the Houston Rockets for their next fixture. Atlanta (7 - 2) continues to get it done and wins like this are par for the course. Tim Hardaway Jr. led the team in scoring, as he scored 20 points on 7 - of - 13 shooting off the bench. Kent Bazemore led the starters in scoring, with his 18 points, five rebounds and three steals on 8 - of - 13 shooting. Dwight Howard recorded another double - double, totaling 10 points and 11 rebounds. Point guard Dennis Schroeder amassed 16 points, five rebounds and eight assists in the win. Atlanta has a few days off before they play the Miami Heat on the road for their next game.
+Wednesday's game was a shockingly strong performance from the Mavericks, as the 104 points they scored against the Clippers was the first time they scored over 100 points since Nov. 9 against the Lakers, which also happened to be the last time they won a game. In their six games prior to Wednesday, Dallas was averaging a lowly 82 points per game, a stretch highlighted by a 64 - point performance against the Grizzlies. There were a lot of signs as to why the Mavericks managed to have an effective scoring night Wednesday, including shooting a high mark from behind the arc (11 - of - 24), capitalizing on their trips to the free throw line (17 - of - 18) and most importantly, rebounding. The Mavericks actually out - rebounded the Clippers 44 to 43 and managed to grab 10 offensive rebounds against a strong rebounding team in Los Angeles, giving them multiple possessions and opportunities for second - chance points.
+The Milwaukee Bucks (8 - 13) defeated the New York Knicks (10 - 11) by a score of 106 - 91, on Saturday night in Milwaukee. Milwaukee led pretty much the whole way in this one, after going up 8 - 6 in the first quarter the Bucks did not look back and entered the fourth quarter up 81 - 69. New York had won two straight coming into this game but their mojo ran out Saturday night as they shot a brutal 6 - 25 from long range and only 42 percent from the field. Carmelo Anthony struggled shooting, going 6 - 17 from the field but led his team in scoring with 18 points, along with five rebounds and three assists, in 31 minutes. Lance Thomas looked good in 24 minutes off the bench as he finished with 17 points on 6 - 11 shooting. Kristaps Porzingis chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds but gave up five turnovers. Milwaukee only shot four threes in the game and shot a responsible 50 percent from the field as a team, but struggled from the free throw line, going 16 - 24. Greg Monroe logged a big double - double with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Michael Carter-Williams led the Bucks in scoring with 20 points on 9 - 16 shooting, along with five assists and three rebounds, in 28 minutes off the bench. O.J. Mayo had a strong game finishing with 17 points, five assists and three rebounds as a starter. Jabari Parker added 17 points, seven rebounds and two assists, while Giannis Antetokounmpo also dropped 17 points, along with six assists, six rebounds and two blocks. Next up the Bucks will host the Trail Blazers on Monday, while the Knicks will host Dallas on Monday.
+The Los Angeles Clippers (10) defeated the Houston Rockets (0 - 1) 117 - 101 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals on Monday. Blake Griffin not only dropped a triple - double, but also saw some time at point guard on offense in the fourth quarter for the Clippers, who were without their leader Chris Paul. He hurt his hamstring in the miraculous Game 7 of Los Angeles' win over the San Antonio Spurs. On Monday they turned their attention to a different Texas team but wound up with the same result. Griffin's triple - double marks his third of the postseason, no other player has recorded one triple - double so far. DeAndre Jordan did a bang up job on the inside. He finished with 10 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, four blocks, two steals and just two late fouls when the game was already seemingly out of hand for the Rockets. Austin Rivers, who started in place on Paul, finished with 17 points and four steals in 28 minutes. Jamal Crawford quietly had a good game with 21 points, five boards, four assists and two steals. However, like many players in this game, was bit by the turnover bug. Crawford had six of his teams 21 turnovers. The Rockets had a 13 - point in the first lead but could n't hold on, even without Paul in the opposing lineup. Houston's lead shrank to just four points at halftime. They kept it close for a little while but Los Angeles was able to skip away slowly and won the game going away. With plenty of hack - a - whoever to go around in this one, the Clippers were able to win both the third and fourth quarters by 10 points each, and now hold a 10 lead in the series to go along with homecourt advantage. James Harden learned Monday that Stephen Curry won the MVP. He had a solid game with 20 points, 12 assists, five rebounds and four steals. Unfortunately for the Rockets, he also had nine costly turnovers.
+The Golden State Warriors (41 - 4) defeated the San Antonio Spurs (38 - 7) 120 - 90 at Oracle Arena on Monday. The most anticipated matchup of the season resulted in a surprising 30 - point rout in favor of the Warriors. The first of four regular season matchups between the NBA’s two best teams started off shaky for San Antonio, as they converted eight turnovers in the first quarter, and never truly recovered over the next three periods. The turnovers started at the expense of Tony Parker, the 15 year veteran who uncharacteristically made bad passes, was out played by Stephen Curry on the defensive end. Kawhi Leonard was eventually switched to guard the reigning MVP, but was as unsuccessful as Parker in trying to slow down Curry. Leonard led the Spurs in scoring and finished with 16 points on 4 - of - 6 shooting, to go along with five rebounds and two assists. David West started in place of Tim Duncan (knee), and also finished in double - figures with 12 points. LaMarcus Aldridge was unable to get comfortable in the post, Boris Diaw faced difficulty getting space and Manu Ginobili was equally ineffective from behind the arc and on the drive. The loss snapped a 13 game winning streak for San Antonio. The Spurs will look to bounce back when they host the Houston Rockets (25 - 22) on Wednesday. The Warriors did not disappoint in their own arena, and were more impressive on the defensive end of the floor as compared to their high powered offense. While Golden State dropped 120 points, they harassed the Spurs and forced 26 turnovers which led to an early first half lead, in which they did not let go of the rest of the game. The quickness of the Warriors offense caused constant mismatches, especially in the paint after the drive, where Shaun Livingston was the first to wreck havoc in transition. Livingston’s 13 points were mostly seen in the second quarter. Stephen Curry was far from quiet and started to heat up where Livingston left off, as he scored 37 points on 12 - of - 20 shooting, including six three - pointers in 28 minutes. Draymond Green commanded the offense during many of the Warriors possessions, as a result, he rounded out the box score with 11 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Six Warriors players finished in double figures with no one player going for more than 28 minutes, as the lead in the fourth quarter was comfortable enough to run the reserves. The win marks the fourth straight for Golden State. The Warriors will host the Dallas Mavericks (25 - 21), one of the only teams to beat them this season, on Wednesday.
+Hassan Whiteside spearheaded Miami to their 10th straight win with a monstrous 30 - point, 20 - rebound double - double, and the Heat bench totaled 50 points. They also posted outstanding 59 and 55 percent success rates from the field and three - point range, respectively, allowing them to overcome 20 turnovers. Dion Waiters followed Whiteside with 21 points. Goran Dragic was next with 16 points, and Tyler Johnson matched Dragic's point total to lead the bench. Wayne Ellington and James Johnson were productive as reserves as well, tallying 11 and 10 points, respectively. The Sixers were led by Ersan Ilyasova, who posted 21 points. Gerald Henderson was next with 12 points, while Richaun Holmes followed with a near double - double consisting of 12 points and nine rebounds. T.J. McConnell generated 11 points, while Sean Rodriguez contributed 10 points as a reserve.
+There were 12 ties and 13 lead changes, as this game came down to the final seconds. In fact, no team led by more than 10 points in the tightly contested game. Portland took much better care of the ball than Chicago, as they recorded 25 assists to just nine turnovers. The Bulls on the other hand, committed 15 turnovers, while assisting on just 16 buckets. Portland were able to prevail, despite being outrebounded, 50 - 38. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum led the Blazers once again, as they combined for 54 points and 12 assists. The Bulls backcourt of Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade did everything they could to match that, as they combined for 60 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. The other six starters combined for just 46 points, as those four superstars were leaned on heavily in this matchup. Nikola Mirotic and Allen Crabbe were nice sparks off the bench, as Crabbe dropped 17 for the Blazers and Mirotic scored 18 for the Bulls.
+In a down - to - the - wire game, the Orlando Magic (10 - 8) were able to pull out a win against the Minnesota Timberwolves (8 - 10), finishing up 96 - 93. Orlando is now in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, and the win against the Timberwolves marks the team's fourth straight. Center Nikola Vucevic was a difference - maker for the Magic, recording a team - high 37 minutes and an 18 - point, 12 - rebound double - double. Orlando seemed to ride Vucevic's hot hand all night, as he took a game - high 19 shots. The game also marked the continuation of shooting guard Victor Oladipo's new role as a sixth man, a change that seems to have benefited Orlando's rotations. Oladipo followed up a 19 - point outing off the bench against Boston with 13 points tonight to go with four rebounds, four assists, and three steals. All in all, the Magic appear to be clicking, as they now have a substantial win streak and sit two games above .500. For the Timberwolves, meanwhile, the close loss saw some unorthodox rotations from coach Sam Mitchell. As rookie center Karl-Anthony Towns struggled from the field (2 - for - 11), backup big man Gorgui Dieng stepped in to play a season - high 29 minutes. Dieng looked solid defensively, recording three blocks and a steal while also playing efficient offense, tallying 11 points on 4 - of - 6 shooting. The Louisville alum has seen a steady uptick in minutes recently, and with his elevated play, this could be a continuing trend in the crowded Minnesota frontcourt. With four straight wins under their belt, the Magic will hope to extend the streak even further as they face the Jazz on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves will look to bounce back on Saturday as they prepare to square off against Portland.
+The Atlanta Hawks (22 - 8) defeated the Milwaukee Bucks (15 - 16) 90 - 85 on Saturday. Playing on the second night of a home - and - home back - to - back between these two teams, the Hawks came into Saturday's game looking for revenge after they took a beating at the hands of the Bucks 107 - 77 on Friday, and they got their revenge. Atlanta jumped out to a 21 - 10 lead after the first quarter. They gave up most of their lead in the second quarter but had enough to hang on for the win. Jeff Teague paced the team with a game - high 25 points in 37 minutes, indicating that he is probably over his hamstring injury. The Hawks shot a putrid 37 percent from the field but were able to secure the win by holding the Bucks to an unremarkable 39 percent shooting from the field and by getting 32 easy points on 19 turnovers by the Bucks. Milwaukee was playing without Ersan Ilyasova (concussion) and Larry Sanders (illness), leaving them inadequately supplied to deal with the strength and skill of Al Horford and Paul Millsap. Khris Middleton found success off the bench, putting up a team - high 21 points in 37 minutes. The Bucks will continue their road trip against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday.
+The Brooklyn Nets defeated the Detroit Pistons, 109 - 101, at Barclays Center on Wednesday. The Pistons came in to Wednesday riding a 3 - 1 record, while the Nets sported a 1 - 3 mark that seemed indicative of their lack of offensive firepower. However, a pair of standout efforts from Brook Lopez on the first unit and Sean Kilpatrick off the bench led Brooklyn (2 - 3) to the upset victory and stellar 54 and 48 percent success rates from the field and three - point range, respectively. The Nets were also superior around the basket, as they outrebounded the visitors by a 45 - 38 margin, with 40 of those boards on the defensive end. They also outscored Detroit (3 - 2) 50 - 34 in the paint, while holding standout big man Andre Drummond to a season - low six points and six rebounds. The reliable duo of Marcus Morris and Tobias Harris co - led the Pistons with a pair of 23 - point efforts, with the former adding four rebounds, two assists and three steals and the latter also supplying four boards, an assist and a steal. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was the only other member of the starting five with double - digit scoring, totaling 15 points and also registering seven rebounds, two assists and four steals. Jon Leuer continued his strong work off the bench in the early going this season, compiling 11 points, seven rebounds and two blocks, while fellow veteran Beno Udrih managed 10 points, four assists, a rebound and a steal. Lopez exploded for a 34 - point, 11 - rebound double - double to lead the way for the Nets, and added an assist, a steal and a block. The versatile big man went 12 - of - 21 from the field and also impressively drained half of his eight long - range tries. Bojan Bogdanovic collected 11 points, four rebounds and a pair of assists, while Jeremy Lin supplied 10 points, four assists and a pair of boards. Kilpatrick led the bench with a season - high 24 points and 10 rebounds while also dishing out three assists and recording two steals. Joe Harris was also strong in a reserve capacity, contributing a 13 - point effort. The Pistons head back home to face off with the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night, while the Nets remain in the Empire State to tangle with the Hornets on Friday evening.
+The Oklahoma City Thunder (27 - 25) beat the Denver Nuggets (19 - 33), 124 - 114, on Monday. Kevin Durant had his second - best scoring performance of the season with 40 points on 13 - of - 19 from the field. Russell Westbrook added 26 points with five rebounds and nine assists. Starting in place of Steven Adams, who recently had surgery on his fractured hand, Kendrick Perkins played 20 minutes, recording four points and two rebounds. Mitch McGary followed up his 19 - point, 10 - rebound performance from Sunday with 17 points and 10 rebounds. He did n't play more than 25 minutes in either game but could be a force going forward with Perkins underproducing and Adams out for a few weeks. The Nuggets are slipping fast. They are 1 - 13 since winning five straight in early January. Kenneth Faried put up 22 points and 10 rebounds, but it was n't nearly enough to overcome Durant's hot shooting night. Jusuf Nurkic had 16 points, 14 rebounds and two steals. Denver was without JaVale McGee (illness) and Jameer Nelson (Achilles), who were both questionable going into Monday's game. The Nuggets are now nine - and - a - half games back from the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Thunder will take on the Grizzlies in Memphis on Wednesday, while the Nuggets will travel to Los Angeles to play the Lakers on Tuesday.
+The Orlando Magic (7 - 8) defeated the New York Knicks (8 - 8) 100 - 91 on Wednesday. The Magic and Knicks played a very strange game on Wednesday, as both teams shot terribly, but did n't make many mistakes. In fact, Both teams shot below 40 percent from the field and the two teams combined for just 18 turnovers. Defense was clearly the focus for both teams, as the Knicks failed to record a fast - break point all game long. There were very little differences in the stat sheet and it simply came down to the fact that the Magic's bench signicantly outplayed the Knicks bench. Orlando got 43 bench points to the Knicks 12 and that proved to be the difference. The Knicks came into this game as one of the hottest teams in the league, but struggled offensively in this matchup. This Scott Skiles defense stifled the Knicks, despite the fact that Carmelo Anthony and Jose Calderon scored season - highs in points. Anthony had his best game of the season statistically speaking, as he tallied 28 points and 13 rebounds in the loss. Calderon also had his best game in years, as he totaled 25 points, four assists and three rebounds in the defeat. It was the "others" who killed this team though, as no other player scored more than 10 points in the loss. It's clear that this team plays better when Anthony takes less shots and that was the fact yet again on Wednesday. The Knicks will play the Miami Heat on Friday in their next scheduled game. The Magic made a strange move by relegating Victor Oladipo to the bench, but that proved to work wonders here. It's unclear if it lit a fire under him or that he just played better in the second unit, but Oladipo had one of his best games of the season in that role. Oladipo scored a team - high 24 points off the bench and did that damage in just 26 minutes of action. Tobias Harris, Nikola Vucevic and Elfrid Payton all recorded double - doubles as well, and this was one of the best all - around team efforts the Magic have had all season. Orlando will look to play like this again when they take on the struggling Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.
+The Clippers (12 - 5) extended their winning streak to five games Monday night, knocking off the Timberwolves 127 - 101 at the Staples Center. It was the second loss in as many nights for the Timberwolves, who fell to Portland 107 - 93 on Sunday. The Wolves were led Monday by second - year swingman Shabazz Muhammad, who scored 18 points to go with 10 rebounds and four assists in 27 minutes off the bench. Robbie Hummel and Zach Lavine had 13 and 10 points, respectively, while Andrew Wiggins was the only starter in double - figures with 14. Minnesota shot just 43 percent as a team and was out - rebounded 50 - 32. The Clippers were led by 23 points and eight rebounds from Blake Griffin, who converted 8 - of - 14 field goal attempts. J.J. Redick added 23 points of his own, and DeAndre Jordan had an 11 - point, 13 rebound double - double. Spencer Hawes provided a solid 20 minutes off the bench, knocking down four threes en route to 14 points, four rebounds and two assists. Up next, the Timberwolves play host to the winless 76ers on Wednesday. The Clippers remain home and will face the Magic, also on Wednesday.
+The Los Angeles Clippers (21 - 13) held on for a road victory Thursday over the New Orleans Pelicans (10 - 22) at the Smoothie King Center, 95 - 89. Despite one of Chris Paul’s worst shooting games as a professional — 3 - 18, including 0 - 4 from three - point land — the Clippers held on and extended their winning streak to five games. After trailing for most of the first half, the Clippers took a 50 - 48 lead late in the second quarter and trailed only for 17 seconds in the second half as they managed to stave off a late but futile New Orleans run. J.J. Redick’s hot shooting night, including 9 - 15 from the field and 4 - 7 from three - point land, gave him 26 points to lead all scorers. Paul still scored nine points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out 12 assists despite his awful shooting night. DeAndre Jordan was a monster on the glass, as he grabbed 20 rebounds — including eight on the offensive end — and scored 11 points as he owned the paint in Blake Griffin’s absence. The Pelicans had six players finish in double figures, but Ryan Anderson was the only one to find his groove, as he led the club with 17 points on an efficient 7 - 11 shooting. Anthony Davis and Tyreke Evens scored 14 points each and Norris Cole scored 15, but none managed to shoot 50 percent from the floor. The Pelicans shot 44 percent as a team and needed to be more accurate to overcome their rebounding disadvantage. The Clippers match up next with Philadelphia at home on Saturday. The Pelicans travel to Dallas for a Saturday date with the Mavericks.
+The Orlando Magic (26 - 32) took care of the Philadelphia 76ers (8 - 51) in a 130 - 116 win on Sunday. Orlando came into this game as a rare double - digit favorite and didn’t disappoint. They really took control in the first half, as the Magic led 77 - 51 at the half. The shooting was stellar for Orlando, as they shot 57 percent from the field, 88 percent from the free - throw line and 63 percent from three - point range. The Magic starters actually combined for over 100 points for the first time all season. Not much is going right for the Sixers right now, as this marks their eighth - straight loss. Jahlil Okafor had yet another good game though, as he scored 26 points in the loss. Ish Smith also had a nice game, as he tallied 17 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Philadelphia has a short turnaround, as they play the Washington Wizards on Monday. Orlando has one of their best offensive games of the season, even without Evan Fournier. Victor Oladipo and Nikola Vucevic tied for the team - lead with 28 points in the win. Aaron Gordon continued his good play, as he amassed 22 points, seven rebounds and three assists in the victory. Elfrid Payton got out of his recent slump, as he scored 11 points and dished out 10 assists in the win. Up next for the Magic is a date with the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday.
+The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the visiting New York Knicks, 117 - 88, at Quicken Loans Arena on Tuesday. The new - look Knicks (0 - 1), who added Joakim Noah, Derrick Rose and Courtney Lee in a makeover of their starting five this offseason, had their moments at various points until the middle of the third quarter, at which point LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and rest of the defending NBA champions started to exert their dominance. New York's comeback efforts were ultimately undermined by a collectively poor shooting night, vulnerability down in the paint despite the presence of Noah and standout second - year forward Kristaps Porzingis, and carelessness with the ball. New York managed just 37 percent shooting from the field, was out - rebounded on the defensive glass by a 40 - 29 margin, was outscored 52 - 28 in the paint, and allowed 21 points to the Cavs off 18 turnovers, all pivotal factors in a 29 - point defeat. New York was led by Carmelo Anthony, who played only 30 minutes in the blowout but managed 19 points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal. Rose put together a 17 - point effort in his Knicks debut after missing most of the preseason, but could only supplement the scoring with three rebounds, an assist and a block. Porzingis was solid with 16 points, seven rebounds, a steal and a pair of rejections, with more than half his scoring coming on three made three - pointers on five attempts. However, Noah and Lee were shut out on the scoreboard altogether, with the former making up somewhat for his lack of points with six boards, three assists and a steal in a modest 20 minutes. The decisive second - half lead the Cavs (10) eventually built up allowed their two biggest superstars to finish the last several minutes on the bench. Irving, often matched up against a rusty Derrick Rose, paced the Cavs with 29 points, four assists, two rebounds and two steals. James posted a triple - double, totaling 19 points, 14 assists, 11 rebounds and a block in just 32 minutes. Kevin Love contributed a double - double with 23 points, 12 boards, a pair of assists and a trio of steals. The recently re - signed J.R. Smith supplied eight points on 3 - for - 13 shooting against his former Knicks teammates. The Knicks head back to New York for their home opener against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night. The Cavaliers hit the road for the first time this season to take on the Toronto Raptors on Friday evening.
+C.J. McCollum led the way for Portland in the overtime victory with 35 points, three assists, two rebounds and three steals. Damian Lillard provided 28 points, two of which on free throws came with a second left in overtime to seal the win. Meyers Leonard led the second unit with 17 points, while Evan Turner went for 12. Mason Plumlee generated 10 - point, 11 - rebound double - double and Al-Farouq Aminu tallied 11 points off the bench. Isaiah Thomas scored a game - high 41 points, which he supplemented with six assists and three rebounds. Al Horford and Marcus Smart posted matching 17 - point efforts, while Jae Crowder managed 16. Rozier led the second unit with 15 points, including a three - pointer with 10 seconds left in regulation to tie matters up at 113. Kelly Olynyk was productive as a reserve with 10 points.
+Brooklyn shot a respectable 46 percent from the field and committed a relatively modest 12 turnovers, but Mike Conley took the reins of the Grizzlies offense with a 32 - point, six - assist, one - rebound, one - steal performance over 37 minutes. Five players hit double digits in the scoring column for the visitors, and they shot 51 percent from the field overall. Marc Gasol had a near triple - double of 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Brandan Wright posted a season - high 17 points to lead the bench. Vince Carter supplied 14 points, while JaMychal Green totaled 10. Brook Lopez and Spencer Dinwiddie led Brooklyn with matching 17 - point efforts. Sean Kilpatrick led the bench with 15 points, while Rondae Hollis-Jefferson collected 13 points. Trevor Booker matched Hollis-Jefferson's scoring total, and Bojan Bogdanovic submitted 11 points, five rebounds and two assists.
+The Portland Trail Blazers (8 - 12) took the lead with a 41 - point third quarter Thursday night against the Indiana Pacers (12 - 6) and held on for the 123 - 111 victory at the Moda Center. Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard scored 11 of his 26 points in the third quarter. With 6:52 remaining in the period, Lillard knocked down one of his five three - pointers of the game to give Portland a 74 - 71 lead, a lead they would not relinquish. Lillard's 26 points led Portland, and his eight assists were a game high. Backcourt mate C.J. McCollum added 21 points, five rebounds and five assists. Allen Crabbe tied his career high set on Tuesday with 18 points off the bench. He shot 4 - 5 from three - point land, helping the Trail Blazers shoot a robust 18 - 36 from deep on the night. Pacers guard C.J. Miles caught fire from three as well, as he poured in 27 points to lead Indiana, fueled by eight three - pointers. George Hill scored 18 points and Ian Mahinmi notched a double - double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, but Pacers superstar Paul George was quiet, scoring 11 on a poor 4 - 17 shooting night. Despite shooting 43 percent from three, the Pacers shot just 43 percent from the floor overall. Indiana will look to rebound Saturday night against the Jazz in Utah. Portland's next game comes on the road at Minnesota on Saturday.
+The Memphis Grizzlies (5 - 6) defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves (5 - 5) 114 - 106 on Sunday. Second-year Timberwolves point guard Zach LaVine had several breakout performances during his rookie campaign after starter Ricky Rubio went down for the season. Early in the 2015 - 16 campaign LaVine has once again benefited from Rubio's injury troubles, and only foul trouble hindered him Sunday from potentially posting his best day as pro. LaVine tallied an incredible 25 points in just 17 minutes of court time, shooting 8 - for - 15 from the field, including 4 - for - 7 from three - point range. The scoring was LaVine's second highest total of the season, and would have shattered his high - water mark of 26 points had his time on the court not been curtailed. Another pair of dynamic young Timberwolves, Andrew Wiggins and 2015 first overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns, stepped up offensively in their own right to lead Minnesota. Wiggins amassed 21 points, while Towns (14 points, nine boards) came within a rebound short of a double - double for the second straight game. The Timberwolves also enjoyed an extremely balanced effort from their bench, with four players (Shabazz Muhammad, Andre Miller, Nemanja Bjelica, and Gorgui Dieng) all pitching with eight - point efforts. The Timberwolves fell to 5 - 5 and reside in fourth place in the Western Conference's Northwest Division. They now head to Miami for a Tuesday tilt versus the Heat. The Grizzlies received a much - needed offensive boost from a somewhat unlikely source Sunday, as Jeff Green reentered the starting lineup with rousing success. Green poured in 21 points over a season - high 35 minutes on impressive 7 - of - 12 shooting. Meanwhile, Mike Conley continued to claw back from the low point of his season, a four - point, 1 - of - 12 shooting performance last Wednesday versus the Warriors. Conley tallied his first 20 - point effort since Nov. 7, and chipped in seven assists and two steals. Frontcourt mates Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph had strong games of their own, with Gasol holding his own against the rookie sensation Towns to the tune of 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and a pair of blocks. Even new acquisition Mario Chalmers got into the act, pitching in 16 points off the bench over 18 minutes for his best game yet in a Grizzlies uniform. JaMychal Green also represented the Memphis reserves well, with a 12 - point outing. Memphis improved to 5 - 6 and resides in third place in the Western Conference's Southwest Division. They head home for a date with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday.
+The Oklahoma City Thunder (44 - 37) defeated the Portland Trail Blazers (51 - 30) 101 - 90 on Monday at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City. The Thunder were able to keep their playoff hopes alive with the win over the Blazers. The New Orleans Pelicans also came out with a win on Monday, so both the Thunder and Pelicans remain tied for the eighth and final projected playoff seed in the West. The Pelicans own the tiebreaker though, so in order for the Thunder to get into the playoffs, they'll need a win of their own, as well as a Pelican's loss on Wednesday in the finale. The Trail Blazers, on the other hand, have locked up the fourth seed in the West. It's still up in the air who they'll end up having to play, but it could be either the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies or Los Angeles Clippers. Despite finishing with worse shooting percentages than the Blazers, the Thunder came out with a huge advantage on the boards, out - rebounding them 58 - 35. It was the duo of Enes Kanter and Russell Westbrook who helped keep the Thunder in playoff contention. Westbrook went 13 - for - 27 from the field and 2 - for - 5 from the three - point line to score a game - high of 36 points, to go along with 11 rebounds and seven assists. He's been absolutely phenomenal throughout the whole second half of this season and he continues to put all the pressure on his own shoulders here in the final stretch, as he's averaging a ridiculous 39 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists over his last three games. Kanter, on the other hand, finished with 27 points (13 - 20 FG, 1 - 2 FT) and 13 rebounds over 36 minutes. Kanter has scored over 20 points in five of his last seven games, a seven - game stretch where he's averaging 21 points. Dion waiters (4 - 21 FG, 0 - 5 3Pt, 5 - 5 FT) and Anthony Morrow (4 - 10 FG, 2 - 7 3Pt, 1 - 2 FT) were the only other two players in double figures with 13 and 11 points respectively. Already heavily hit by the injury bug, this was another damaging game for the Blazers, as both Nicolas Batum and C.J. McCollum had to leave the game with injuries. McCollum went down with a nasty looking ankle injury, while Batum's leg appeared to buckle as he went down with a knee injury. It's an awful amount of bad luck for this Trail Blazers' team, who could now go into the playoffs very shorthanded. With Aldridge also sitting this game out due to a foot injury, it was Meyers Leonard who led this team while in the starting lineup. Leonard posted a season - high of 24 points (9 - 17 FG, 5 - 9 3Pt, 1 - 1 FT), while also adding four rebounds and a blocked shot over 32 minutes. He'll go into the season finale averaging 6 points and 5 rebounds in his second season as a pro. Damian Lillard did n't have his best showing of the season, posting just 10 points (3 - 9 FG, 1 - 4 3Pt, 3 - 4 FT) and six assists in the loss. After going off for 28 points in Saturday's game against the Jazz, it was a disappointing performance for Lillard, who will need to play much better in the playoffs if the Blazers want any shot at making it past the first round. Joel Freeland added 16 points (8 - 13 FG) and five rebounds off the bench, while Chris Kaman chipped in with 14 points (7 - 9 FG) and four rebounds. The Thunder's final game will be on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, while the Trail Blazers will travel to Dallas to play the Mavericks on Wednesday.
+This game was tight throughout, as there were eight ties and 16 lead changes in total. The key to victory for Houston was the rebounding, as they won that differential, 52 - 38. The Rockets actually won this game despite being outshot from the field, from three - point range and from the free - throw line. There were 88 combined three - point attempts, which tied an NBA record. LeBron James carried the Cavs, as he tallied 30 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Kyrie Irving accumulated 28 points, three rebounds, eight assists and two blocks. Richard Jefferson was the only other Cleveland player in double figures, as he dropped 16 points on 6 - of - 6 shooting. James Harden added another triple - double to his tally, as he collected 38 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. Ryan Anderson finished second on the team, totaling 16 points and six rebounds. Eric Gordon led the bench with 13 points, three rebounds and three assists.
+The Oklahoma City Thunder (40 - 30) defeated the Miami Heat (32 - 37) 93 - 75 on Sunday in Oklahoma City. The Thunder essentially controlled the game from start to finish with Enes Kanter leading the way in one of his best performances of the season. Kanter finished with 27 points on 12 - of - 20 shooting and 12 rebounds in 34 minutes. Kanter has now had five straight games with a double - double and is averaging 22 points and 14 rebounds over that stretch. Russell Westbrook had yet another triple - double in Sunday's game, posting 12 points on 5 - of - 16 shooting, 17 assists and 10 rebounds in 34 minutes. The triple - double is now Westbrook's league - leading 10th. Steven Adams and Dion Waiters each scored 10 points to round out the four Oklahoma City starters who scored in double figures, while Mitch McGary (14) and Anthony Morrow (12) round out all six Thunder players in double figures. Andre Roberson left the game early in the first quarter after suffering from a sprained ankle. Oklahoma City has now won three in a row and five of their last six, and the win brings their lead for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference to 3 games over the Pelicans. This loss ended a three - game winning streak for the Heat, and they played pretty poor as a team in the losing effort, recording just 13 assists to 18 turnovers. Hassan Whiteside recorded just 13 points on 5 - of - 6 shooting and six rebounds in 24 minutes. Dwyane Wade has been hot as of late, but he cooled off in Sunday's matchup, scoring just 12 points on 6 - of - 15 shooting in 31 minutes. Goran Dragic also struggled, also posting 12 points on 4 - of - 10 shooting in 34 minutes. Mario Chalmers (12) and Michael Beasley (10) round out the five Miami players who scored in double figures. Despite the loss, the Heat remain in seventh place in the Eastern Conference playoff race and are just 2 games behind the Bucks for sixth. Up next, the Thunder will head to Los Angeles Tuesday and go up against the Lakers, while the Heat will travel to Milwaukee and play the Bucks on Tuesday.
+The Denver Nuggets defeated the host Orlando Magic, 121 - 113, at Amway Center on Saturday. In a game between two struggling teams, Orlando could n't quite keep up in their fourth game in five nights. That was clearly evident late, as the Nuggets ended the game on a 17 - 5 run to pull off the comeback. While the defense struggled all night, Denver held Orlando to just 18 points in the fourth quarter, while scoring 29 points on their end. The Nuggets offense was on point, as they shot 57 percent from the field and recorded 25 assists in the victory. Rebounding was key as well, with Denver winning that battle, 44 - 31. Denver (9 - 15) rode one of their best offensive performances here to an impressive road win. While no player on the Nuggets had more than 21 points, they had six players score at least 14. Danilo Gallinari led the team in scoring, tallying 21 points, six rebounds and three assists. Jusuf Nurkic scored 17 points and grabbed eight boards on 8 - of - 11 shooting in just 20 minutes of action. Kenneth Faried was huge off the bench, dropping 19 points and 10 rebounds on 9 - of - 10 from the field. Nikola Jokic and Juancho Hernangomez each scored 14 a piece off the bench. On deck for the Nuggets is a road matchup against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday.. Orlando (10 - 15) had to play this game without Nikola Vucevic and it clearly hurt their defense. Evan Fournier did all he could against his former team, as he led the Magic with 24 points, four rebounds and six assists. Serge Ibaka was n't far behind, accumulating 22 points, four rebounds and four blocks in the defeat. Jeff Green was questionable coming in to this game with an ankle injury, but provided 17 points off the bench. Orlando's next game is on Tuesday in a road matchup against the Atlanta Hawks.
+The host Orlando Magic defeated the Dallas Mavericks, 97 - 87, at Amway Center on Saturday. In a battle between two inept offenses, the Magic were able to prevail with a much - needed victory. They took care of business late, as the Magic outscored the Mavericks 31 - 18 in the fourth quarter. Defense was key for Orlando, as they held Dallas to 34 percent shooting from the field and dominated the rebounding, 50 - 34. The Magic not only controlled the paint through rebounding, as they outscored Dallas 32 - 16 in the paint as well. No team led by more than nine points, as this was tightly - contested throughout. Dallas (2 - 10) is in a historically bad stretch offensively right now and a 34 percent night just adds to those struggles. Newly-acquired, Jonathan Gibson, was the Mavericks best player, as he tallied 26 points, six rebounds and three assists off the bench. Wesley Matthews and Seth Curry led the starters in scoring, as they scored 13 apiece. Harrison Barnes went just 3 - of - 13 from the field, en route to an 11 - point night. The offensive struggles are likely to continue, as they travel to San Antonio on Monday to face the Spurs for their next game. Orlando (6 - 7) has been just as bad on offense as Dallas, but they were able to win here thanks to some elite defense. D.J. Augustin led the team in scoring, totaling 18 points and six assists off the bench. Serge Ibaka was second in scoring, tallying 15 points, nine rebounds and three blocks in the win. Nikola Vucevic amassed 12 points and 12 rebounds, despite going 5 - of - 16 from the field. Bismack Biyombo recorded a double - double off the bench, accruing 13 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks in the win. Orlando will look to keep rolling, as they travel to Milwaukee on Monday to face the Bucks.
+Kevin Durant's 29 - point first half is easily his best performance of the season, but it's even better when you consider he single - handedly outscored the Thunder in the second quarter. The 39 points was a season - high and the seven made threes tied a career - high. While Draymond Green and Zaza Pachulia failed to reach double figures in scoring, their combined 20 rebounds, three steals and seven blocks played a huge factor on the other end of the floor. Despite leading the team with 21 points, Victor Oladipo provided just three rebounds, no assists and no steals or blocks in the blowout loss. That led to his - 25 plus - minus, which was one of the worst for the game. Enes Kanter talked a lot to Durant during the loss, but did almost all of it from the bench. In fact, he failed to score or rebound and played just three minutes in the defeat. Things should get better for the Thunder though, as they start a five - game homestand on Saturday and play three teams in that stretch expected to finish below .500. The Warriors also have a nice five - game stretch approaching, as their next five games come against teams who failed to miss the playoffs last season.
+James Harden has been seen as a legitimate MVP candidate in this young NBA season with his ability to stuff the stat sheet with points, assists and rebounds. He has, however, also managed to stuff it with turnovers as of late, especially when his assist number is high. In his last three games with at least 15 assists - - one of which happened in Wednesday night's loss - - Harden has also posted at least eight turnovers. The 12 turnovers he had Wednesday was his season high and the first time he reached double - digit turnovers this season. For the Raptors, their MVP candidate DeMar DeRozan had another strong, 24 - point performance, but did n't come as easy as the box score may indicate. An astonishing 21 of of his 24 points came in the third quarter Wednesday night, as he managed to score 11 straight points for Toronto at one point in the period. He's managed to keep his scoring average above 30 points, now at 31 points per game after Wednesday's performance.
+Heading into the fourth quarter with an 87 - 73 deficit, the Bucks outscored their hosts by a 32 - 17 margin in the final 12 minutes, capping off the comeback with a 15 - foot bucket from Giannis Antetokounmpo as time expired. The aptly - named Greek Freak led the Bucks with 27 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, a steal and three blocks. Greg Monroe posted a near double - double off the bench with 18 points and nine boards. Jabari Parker contributed 15 points, Malcolm Brogdon went for 12, and Mirza Teletovic was productive in a reserve role as well, generating 13 points. Carmelo Anthony's 30 - point, 11 - rebound double - double led the Knicks. Derrick Rose supplied 15 points, while Courtney Lee checked in with 11. Joakim Noah mustered a modest eight points but hauled in 16 boards. Mindaugas Kuzminskas paced the second unit with 15 points.
+The San Antonio Spurs (14 - 5) edged the Memphis Grizzlies (15 - 4) 107 - 101 at FedEx Forum on Friday. Coming off an overtime loss to the Nets on Wednesday, San Antonio jumped out of the blocks and were never headed after Tony Parker got the first bucket of the night. Parker scored 14 points before leaving the game due to a hamstring strain, of which the severity is unknown at this point. Tim Duncan accumulated the fourth triple - double of his illustrious career, scoring 14 points with 10 rebounds and 10 assists in 36 minutes. Duncan also added two blocks to his impressive stat line. Danny Green's hot streak continued, pouring in 16 points, including three three - pointers, bringing his recent tally to 17 made three - pointers in his last five games. The Spurs face off against the Timberwolves back home in San Antonio on Saturday. Marc Gasol pushed through the bone bruise on his knee to lead the Grizzlies in scoring, ending the game with 28 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks. He was ably assisted by Mike Conley, who had 23 points of his own, along with 10 assists. Tayshaun Prince turned back the clock, joining Gasol and Conley with 20 points, including hitting all four of his attempts from behind the three - point line. The Grizzlies had been undefeated at home before coming up against the Spurs, and have now lost two consecutive games for the first time this season. They will try to right the ship Sunday against the visiting Miami Heat.
+The Chicago Bulls (7 - 2) took down the Toronto Raptors (7 - 2) 100 - 93 on the road at the Air Canada Centre on Thursdsay night. The Bulls look to be the part of a serious contender to this point, and beating a strong team like the Raptors on the road just proves that. Chicago was led by an impressive team effort, and Pau Gasol posted yet another double - double with 27 points (12 - 19 FG, 3 - 4 FT), 11 rebounds, three blocks, two assists and one steal. Jimmy Butler also had a huge game, playing a total of 40 minutes and producing in a big way, scoring 21 points (7 - 10 FG, 1 - 3 3Pt, 6 - 8 FT) with nine rebounds, six assists and one block. The Bulls will now head back home and take on the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night. For the Raptors, they nearly got a triple - double from Kyle Lowry. He had 20 points (8 - 19 FG, 3 - 7 3Pt, 1 - 3 FT), eight rebounds and eight assists, but it just was n't enough in the end. James Johnson also filled up the box score off the bench, scoring 16 points (7 - 9 FG, 0 - 1 3Pt, 2 - 3 FT) to go with five rebounds, four steals, four blocks and one assist in just 24 minutes. The Raptors get a night off before taking on the Utah Jazz on their home floor on Saturday night.
+The Washington Wizards (40 - 28) defeated the Utah Jazz (30 - 37) 88 - 84 on Wednesday in Salt Lake City. Following what was a tough stretch after the All-Star break, the Wizards are rolling and winners of five games in a row and seven of their last nine. John Wall led the way for Washington in this one, recording 24 points on 9 - of - 13 shooting, nine rebounds and six assists in 37 minutes. Wall has been hot as of late, averaging 25 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds in his last three outings. Paul Pierce was the only other Wizard to score in double figures, finishing with 18 points on 6 - of - 10 shooting (4 - 5 3Pt) in 28 minutes. The win pushes Washington to just a half game behind the Bulls for fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings, while also giving them a six - game lead over Milwaukee for fifth place. The loss for the Jazz ended a six - game winning streak, but Utah has still won nine of its last 11 games. Gordon Hayward has been great in that stretch for them, and he played well once again Wednesday night, scoring a game - high 26 points on 9 - of - 19 shooting, to go along with four rebounds and four assists in 35 minutes. Derrick Favors was the only other Jazz starter to score in double figures, finishing with 16 points on 8 - of - 18 shooting and nine rebounds. Trey Burke made a strong contribution off the bench, recording 14 points on 5 - of - 8 shooting and six assists in 28 minutes. Rudy Gobert finished with nine points and 14 rebounds, extending his streak of games with double - digit rebounds to 10. Dante Exum was brutal in the start at point guard, as he shot 0 - for - 6 from the field and finished with zero points and zero assists in 20 minutes. Up next, the Wizards will head to Los Angeles Friday to take on the Clippers, while the Jazz will also head to Los Angeles and go up against the Lakers on Thursday.
+The Cleveland Cavaliers (20) took a 20 lead in their opening round series with the Boston Celtics (0 - 2) on Tuesday with a 99 - 91 victory at the Quicken Loans Arena. Unlike in Game 1 where Boston could n't hang with Cleveland for all 48 minutes, the Celtics hung close with the Cavaliers for the entirety of Tuesday's Game 2. The Celtics had a chance to cut the Cavaliers' lead to four with just under two minutes remaining, but Tyler Zeller's jumper was blocked by LeBron James. Cleveland proceeded to run the clock down thanks to some timely offensive rebounding from Tristan Thompson. LeBron James finished with 30 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. During the game, James passed Jerry West for 7th on the all - time postseason scoring list. The series will head to Boston for Game 3 on Thursday, where Boston will look to avoid a nearly insurmountable 30 deficit. Boston battled throughout, but was ultimately unable to steal a game on the road. Isaiah Thomas was an offensive catalyst off the bench with 22 points to lead the team in scoring. Thomas also managed to get to the line with some frequency, going 10 - for - 10 from the charity stripe. The only other Celtic with more than two free throw attempts was Evan Turner, who was 3 - of - 4. There were some positives on the defensive end for Boston, however, as it forced 18 turnovers and held Cleveland to 24 percent from beyond the arc. If Boston can match that effort again on the defensive end in Game 3, it will give the Celtics a shot to extend the series to at least Game 5. Cleveland's stars were the story once again as LeBron James and Kyrie Irving combined for 56 of the Cavaliers' 99 points. That said, Tristan Thompson's impact off the bench can not be understated. Thompson finished with 11 rebounds, with six of those boards coming on the offensive end. Timofey Mozgov was also effective before fouling out with 16 points, seven rebounds, and five blocks. The Cavaliers will look to take a commanding 30 lead in the series Thursday in Boston.
+The Miami Heat (36 - 26) defeated the Philadelphia 76er (8 - 54) 112 - 102 on Friday. As they've been prone to do on occasion this season, the Sixers give a considerably superior team trouble late into the game. The performance was even more surprising considering that it came on the road, and on a night where Philadelphia sported a depleted roster that was devoid of two of their most talented players. With Nerlens Noel (knee) and Jahlil Okafor (shin) sitting out, it was up to the likes of Ish Smith and Robert Covington to step up if Philadelphia was going to keep the game competitive. Both players answered the bell, tallying 26 and 25 points, respectively, which helped the Sixers impressively battle back from a 40 - 29 deficit after one quarter. Philadelphia even turned the tables on the Heat in the turnover department, doubling them up by eliciting 16 miscues from them while only committing eight themselves, less than half of their per - night average this season. Smith added eight rebounds, five assists and a steal to his team - leading point tally. Covington supplemented his scoring with five rebounds, three assists, a pair of steals and a block. Hollis Thompson drew the start at shooting guard, and contributed a solid 14 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. Richaun Holmes, garnering some extra minutes off the bench with all of the injuries in the frontcourt, paced the reserves with 13 points, eight rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block. The Sixers remain in last place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division, and have the worst record in the league. They head down to Miami for the second game of the home - and - home series against the Heat on Sunday. The Heat likely planned to give a much more abbreviated allotment of minutes to their front - line players going in, but all five members of the first unit ended up playing sufficient time to tally double - digit scoring. Dwyane Wade led the field with 21 points, eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block. Hassan Whiteside paced the bench and was also the second - highest scorer on the team, tallying 19 points, 19 rebounds, two assists and two blocks over 34 minutes. Goran Dragic continued his recent stretch of outstanding play with a 15 - point, 11 - assist double - double that also included five rebounds and a steal. Luol Deng posted a near double - double, registering 13 points, hauling nine boards and dishing out a pair of assists. Joe Johnson and Amar'e Stoudemire rounded things out with a pair of 12 - point efforts, with the former adding two assists and two steals, and the latter posting four rebounds and a steal. Miami remains atop the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division, and holds the fourth seed in the conference as well. They're home on Sunday to face off in a return match with the Sixers.
+The Magic (18 - 13) pulled away in the second half to defeat the Pelicans (10 - 21) 104 - 89 at Amway Center on Monday. Orlando has found success the past month largely due to the effort of Nikola Vucevic, who posted a season - high 28 points on 14 - of - 21 shooting from the field while adding eight rebounds and seven assists over 37 minutes. The Magic shot 55 percent on the night and destroyed the Pelicans in the paint, but were also incredibly efficient from beyond the arc, shooting 7 - of - 17. The Pelicans got a brief scare in the third quarter when All-Star Anthony Davis went to the locker room after receiving a knee to the groin area. Fortunately he was able to return and finished with a team - high 20 points (9 - 16 FG, 0 - 2 3Pt, 2 - 5 FT) to go along with eight rebounds. The minor injury caused a down night by Davis's standards as he had posted at least 24 points and 12 rebounds in his previous three contests. New Orleans did however get a big effort from Norris Cole, who scored a season - high 17 points on 8 - of - 14 shooting with eight rebounds and three assists over 30 minutes. Behind Vucevic were a slew of contributors, including Evan Fournier, who had another nice game shooting the ball Monday. Fournier has hit at least two 3 - pointers in his past four games and is shooting 46 percent from downtown in his past five. The Magic have now won six of their past eight games and are in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race with a matchup against the Nets set for Wednesday in Orlando.
+The Denver Nuggets defeated the Dallas Mavericks 117 - 107 at Pepsi Center on Monday. The wire - to - wire affair never saw one team pull away from the other, however, the control was mostly in favor of the Nuggets. The Mavericks (7 - 21) entered the game with an onslaught of injuries facing their lineup, including Dirk Nowitzki (achilles), Andrew Bogut (knee) and J.J. Barea (calf). All five Nuggets (12 - 16) starters finished in double figures scoring, led by Nikola Jokic and his 27 points. The impressive performance from Denver's power forward also fell just one assist shy of a big triple - double, as he finished with 15 rebounds and nine assists on 13 - of - 17 shooting. Jamal Murray saw 14 minutes of action after dealing with soreness, but only contributed three points on four shots. The injuries have derailed the season for the Mavericks, who will struggle to compete with even the mid - level opponents. The road struggle continues for Dallas as well, who have just one road win on the year. Deron Williams led the team with 23 points, to go along with rebound and eight assists. Harrison Barnes also contributed an efficient effort with 19 points on 9 - of - 15 shooting. Impressively, both teams shot above 50 percent as a unit, but the strong 53 percent effort from the Mavericks was overshadowed by the even more powerful 57 percent effort from the Nuggets. The Nuggets play the second game of a back - to - back when they visit the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday, while the Mavericks visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.
+It was an odd statistical night for the Warriors in every sense except the win column on Thursday. The top team in the Western Conference reached the free - throw line only eight times and hit just four of its attempts in the win. Golden State saw an unusual off night from beyond the arc, hitting only nine threes on 28 percent shooting. Reigning MVP and scoring champ Steph Curry had more rebounds than points, ending with a line of eight points, eight assists, and 10 rebounds. Curry shot just 3 - of - 14 on the night. Fellow All-Star Draymond Green had a strangely similar line, shooting 2 - of - 12 for five points to go along with seven assists and 11 rebounds. Former MVP Kevin Durant added 17 points, a team - high 14 rebounds, and yet another eight assists. Golden State finished with a ridiculous 41 assists on 45 shots, just the sixth game ever in which a team assisted on over 90 percent of its shots. For New York, it was a dismal offensive night, as only three players scored in double digits and no starter scored more than 10. Point guard Brandon Jennings had 10 points to go along with six rebounds and six assists, while bench guard Justin Holiday led the team with 15 points and five steals. The team shot just 40 percent and made only five three - pointers on the night.
+The Golden State Warriors fell to the San Antonio Spurs 113 - 100 Thursday at the ORACLE Arena, despite shooting an impressive 54 percent from the field. In the second game of a back - to - back, coach Gregg Popovich uncharacteristically opted to play his veterans, and it paid off in a big way. Tim Duncan had himself a double - double in the contest, with 12 points (5 - 13 FG, 2 - 3 FT) and 13 rebounds; he added three assists and two turnovers, while turning the ball over once. Tony Parker posted an equally impressive line of 28 points (11 - 17 FG, 2 - 2 3Pt, 4 - 4 FT), seven assists, one rebound, and one turnover in 30 minutes of action. Warriors' guard Klay Thompson exploded Thursday for 29 points (9 - 17 FG, 5 - 6 3Pt, 6 - 6 FT). His effort was n't enough, though, as Golden State turned the ball over way too frequently, finishing with a total of 19 as a team. Harrison Barnes chipped in with a season - high 22 points (9 - 12 FG, 1 - 3 3Pt, 3 - 4 FT) and Stephen Curry added 16 (7 - 18 FG, 0 - 7 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT). Curry did not score in the second half. The San Antonio Spurs attempted an astounding 23 more shots from the field than the Golden State Warriors in this matchup.The Warriors will play next at home against the Brooklyn Nets Thursday, while the Spurs will travel to Los Angeles to play the Lakers on Friday.
+The Houston Rockets (27 - 25) narrowly defeated the struggling Suns (14 - 37) in Phoenix on Thursday, 111 - 105. Corey Brewer unexpectedly provided a team - high 24 points for Houston, helping lead the balanced offensive effort the Rockets took in Phoenix. Superstar James Harden scored 17 points, below his average, but also pulled down nine rebounds and dished out six assists. Big man Dwight Howard, meanwhile, was not particularly present in the scoring column (5 points), but made his presence felt on the boards, tallying 16 rebounds on the night. Overall, Houston had a strong offensive showing, racking up points and hitting 15 three - pointers on the night. Phoenix has seen a steady plummet towards the bottom of the Western Conference following an injury to star point guard Eric Bledsoe. The team's loss on Thursday was their 21st in 23 games. Despite holding major advantages at the line and on the boards, the Suns struggled offensively, recording 24 turnovers and shooting just 39 percent from the field. Even in the loss, however, rookie standout Devin Booker made himself known with 17 points and four assists. The Rockets will host the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday. Phoenix next sees the court on Saturday as well, as the team will face off against the Utah Jazz.
+The Detroit Pistons (36 - 34) defeated the visiting Brooklyn Nets (19 - 50) 115 - 103, at The Palace of Auburn Hills, Saturday. This was the second game of a back - to - back for the Pistons but that has not been a problem for them at all, as they have now won their last six games on the second night of a back - to - back. This was an important win for the Pistons as they remain in competition for the eighth spot in the East. The Nets put up a good fight but the Pistons were more determined down the stretch as they scored 38 points in the final quarter to seal the deal and improve their home record to an impressive 21 - 12. Seven players scored in double digits for Detroit, as the bench chipped in 52 points to help get over the hump on the second night of a back - to - back. Aron Baynes finished with a team - high 21 points (8 - 13 FG, 5 - 5 FT), along with seven rebounds, one assist and one blocked shot, in only 18 minutes off the bench. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope tied a career - high with eight assists, to go along with 11 points and four rebounds, in 39 minutes, while Stanley Johnson finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals, in 31 minutes off the bench. The Pistons totaled 30 assists on 46 made field goals, while giving up only eight turnovers. Despite shooting 53 percent from the field, the Nets could not find the momentum to get passed the Pistons. The Nets have now lost five in a row on the road and 14 of 17 overall. Thaddeus Young led the way for Brooklyn, with 24 points (12 - 17 FG, 0 - 1 3Pt, 0 - 2 FT), nine rebounds, two assists, two blocked shots and one steal, in 26 minutes. Five other players scored in double digits for Brooklyn, including Bojan Bogdanovic, who finished with 19 points, along with five rebounds and two assists, in 33 minutes. Sean Kilpatrick chipped in 15 points and two rebounds, in 21 minutes off the bench. Brook Lopez sat this one out with an illness. The Nets now have a couple days rest before they host the Hornets on Tuesday. The Pistons will host the Bucks on Monday, in what will be the fourth game of a nine - game home stand for Detroit.
+The Dallas Mavericks (34 - 33) defeated the Charlotte Hornets (37 - 29) 107 - 96 on Monday. In the midst of a five - game losing streak and with their grip on a Western Conference seed growing increasingly tenuous, Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle decided to call an audible with his starting five against one of the hottest teams in the league. In to the first unit stepped Raymond Felton, sending Zaza Pachulia to the bench for the night. The rather unusual move worked, as Felton hauled in 12 rebounds in addition to contributing nine points, helping to lead Dallas to a much - needed victory that snapped the Hornets' seven - game winning streak. The Mavericks played stingy defense against a Charlotte team that had been essentially hitting on all cylinders, holding them to a 42 percent success rate from the field, and a 30 percent figure from three - point range. They also elicited 15 turnovers on the night from the home squad, and hung on for the win despite a furious Hornets comeback in the third quarter. Chandler Parsons led the way for Dallas with 24 points, nine rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block. Dirk Nowitzki was right behind him with a 23 - point, 11 - rebound double - double against the Hornets' vulernable frontcourt. He also added an assist and two blocks. Deron Williams pitched in 15 points, five assists, a steal and a block. Devin Harris and David Lee paced the bench with a pair of 12 - point efforts. The former also supplied two rebounds, an assist and a steal, while the latter pitched in with seven rebounds and a block. The Mavericks remain in third place in the Western Conference's Southwest Division, and have a hold of the seventh seed in the conference as well. They head to Cleveland to face off against the Cavaliers on Wednesday night. As customary, Kemba Walker spearheaded the Hornets' attack, tallying 25 points, nine assists, four rebounds, two steals and a block. He did, however, commit five turnovers, the sole blemish on an otherwise typically remarkable performance. Nicolas Batum followed with 20 points, seven assists, three rebounds, two steals and two blocks, although he also was guilty of four miscues. Marvin Williams continued his stretch of productive play at power forward, contributing 19 points, seven rebounds and a block. Courtney Lee registered 12 points, three rebounds and two steals. The Hornets are currently in third place in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division, and are presently slotted in the sixth seed in the conference. They're home again on Wednesday night for a date with the Orlando Magic.
+The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 122 - 111, at American Airlines Center on Tuesday. All the talk around this game will be around Dirk Nowitzki and rightfully so. Nowitzki became the sixth player in NBA history to reach 30,0 points, as he did it with a patented Nowitzki fade away. That feat came in a relatively easy win too, as it was a wire - to - wire victory for Dallas, with them leading by double - digits for the final 35 minutes. The Mavericks actually took a 29 - point lead into the fourth quarter, but the Los Angeles starters used that garbage time to cut it to a respectable scoreline. Dallas was lights out from the field, as they shot 52 percent from the field and 55 percent from three - point range. The Mavericks also thrived off turnovers, winning the points off turnover differential, 29 - 14. The Lakers (19 - 45) have been one of the worst teams in the league over recent months and this loss was much worse than it looks in the box score. Julius Randle was a bright spot, as he accumulated 13 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists en route to a triple - double. D'Angelo Russell led the starters with 22 points, four assists and four steals. Jordan Clarkson led the bench, as he provided 22 points and two assists. The Lakers will return to action on Thursday in a road matchup against the Phoenix Suns. The Mavericks (27 - 36) now find themselves within two games of the eight - seed in the West and wins like this show just how hard they're fighting for that spot. Nowitzki not only reached the 30,0 - point threshold, he scored a game - high 25 points to go along with 11 rebounds. Seth Curry finished second on the team, collecting 18 points, two rebounds and five assists. Yogi Ferrell finished with 16 points and seven assists, while Harrison Barnes accrued 14 points and six rebounds. Nerlens Noel came off the bench to amass 11 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks. Dallas will look to keep rolling on Friday against the Brooklyn Nets.
+Houston welcomed Memphis to town on Thanksgiving Eve, and was unable to defend its home court. The Grizzlies ended up taking the win 102 - 93. While the score was relatively close, Memphis held the upper hand through the majority of the contest. The Rockets continued their early season struggles and fell to 5 - 10, while the Grizzlies improved to 9 - 7. After starting the season slowly, the Grizzlies have heated up and won six of their last seven games. Four of those games have been without Zach Randolph, who has been sidelined with a knee injury since Nov. 16. With their star power forward absent, Matt Barnes entered the lineup and provided efficient statistics. He helped out with 13 points (5 - 11 FG, 2 - 6 3PT, 1 - 1 FT) eight rebounds, three assists, and one steal in 31 minutes of action. Memphis hopes to get Randolph back as they carry their momentum into Friday's game versus Atlanta. It was an all - around team effort for Memphis, who had six players, including all five starters, score in double digits. Jeff green led the way with 20 points (4 - 10 FG, 0 - 1 3PT, 10 - 10 FT) and seven rebounds. Courtney Lee added a spark off the bench scoring 17 points on 8 - 14 shooting from the field. The only player to touch the court and not score was veteran Vince Carter, who did help out with six rebounds, two assists, and three steals. Houston was able to win their first game following the firing of former head coach Kevin McHale last week, but have lost three games since. James Harden did his part to help the Rockets take off, but was unable to do enough. He did finish the night with an impressive 40 points (12 - 19 FG, 5 - 9 3PT, 11 - 11 FT), five rebounds, five assists, three steals, and one block in 41 minutes. Jason Terry and Dwight Howard also chipped in with double figures, scoring 13 and 12 points respectively. The Rockets will look to turn things around Friday when they take on the winless 76ers in Houston.
+The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Brooklyn Nets, 130 - 101, at AT & T Center on Saturday. The Nets (6 - 16) have shown perhaps a bit more than was expected of them, even factoring in an injury to key offseason acquisition Jeremy Lin. However, most of their successes have come at home, as they entered Saturday with a 1 - 8 road record. Their futility away from Barclays Center unsurprisingly continued against the stingy Spurs (19 - 5), who elicited 16 turnovers from the visitors and held them to 41 percent and 26 percent success rates from the field and three - point range, respectively. Kawhi Leonard also cut right through the heart of the Brooklyn defense, going for 30 points, six rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block. Brooklyn was led Bojan Bogdanovic's 20 points, which he supplemented with four rebounds and two assists. Brook Lopez was next with 14 points, five boards, five assists and a block. Trevor Booker contributed nine points, four rebounds and two assists, but Isaiah Whitehead and Sean Kilpatrick could only muster a combined 11 points. Luis Scola led the bench with a 15 - point contribution, while Joe Harris registered 10 points in a reserve role as well. Pau Gasol was second on the Spurs with 15 points, six rebounds, four assists and a block. LaMarcus Aldridge and Tony Parker contributed a pair of 12 - point efforts, with the former also supplying nine rebounds, three assists and a block, and the latter compiling seven assists, a rebound and a steal. Patty Mills paced the second unit with 16 points over 16 minutes, while Jonathon Simmons was right behind him with 14 points. The Nets continue remain in the Lone Star State and face off with the Houston Rockets on Monday night, while the Spurs are off until Wednesday night, when the Boston Celtics come to town.
+The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 116 - 108 Tuesday at Target Center. The Timberwolves (21 - 35) managed to keep pace with the East-leading Cavaliers (38 - 16) for a majority of Tuesday's contest, and they were well within striking distance down the final stretch of the game. That was until LeBron James hit a step back three - pointer with two minutes remaining to take his team's lead from three points to six. At that point, Minnesota was finished. James finished with 25 points on an efficient 10 - of - 14 shooting from the field to go along with 14 assists and eight rebounds as the Cavaliers walked out of the Target Center with their second straight victory and their sixth win in their last seven games. Kyrie Irving added 25 points of his own, Channing Frye posted a double - double of 21 points and 10 rebounds as Kevin Love's replacement and the newest Cavalier, Derrick Williams, came off the bench to score 13 points Tuesday. As for those Timberwolves, a brilliant performance from Andrew Wiggins ended up not being enough for a team that has lacked a strong supporting cast all season. After scoring 20 points in the third quarter, Wiggins finished the game with 41 points on 16 - of - 29 shooting from the field. Karl-Anthony Towns had yet another productive night as well, scoring 26 points and grabbing eight rebounds, but besides those two, Minnesota failed to get much else offensively from their team. Ricky Rubio did manage to dish out a game - high 16 assists and grab eight rebounds, but he was n't able to produce enough in the scoring column, ending with just five points on 2 - of - 8 shooting from the field. Up next, the Cavaliers will look to continue to build on their lead in the Eastern Conference on Wednesday against the Pacers, while the Timberwolves will travel to Denver on Wednesday to take on the Nuggets.
+The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Indiana Pacers, 122 - 100, at Spectrum Center on Monday. The Hornets (5 - 1) improved their sterling start to the season with a blowout win against the strong conference opponent in the Pacers (3 - 4). The win extends Charlotte's streak to three games, but they did suffer a setback after Michael Kidd-Gilchrist left the game twice with back soreness. Kidd-Gilchrist returned to the floor after halftime, but his back flared up again and he'll now be questionable heading into Wednesday's contest against the Jazz. While the injury did not help the Hornets, it also had little impact on the outcome. Cody Zeller and Marvin Williams had the hot hand in the first quarter, as they both powered their team to an early 18 - point lead with 6:30 remaining in the first quarter. Paul George and C.J. Miles aided the Pacers in cutting that lead to nine points by the end of the first quarter, but Charlotte got back into their groove after pulling away by another 18 - point margin halfway through the second quarter. The story remained the same for the second half, as the Hornets spread the ball, and the scoring efforts, across nine different players. The Hornets saw nine players scoring in double figures on Monday, with Kemba Walker leading the way. The Charlotte point guard finished with 24 points, 10 assists, two rebounds, two steals and one block in an all around fantastic performance that included 7 - of - 11 shooting from the field. Walker buried five three pointers in the win to go along with his game leading stats. Before exiting, Kidd-Gilchrist was a perfect 4 - of - 4 from the field with 13 points, one board and one assist, while Marvin Williams and Cody Zeller pitched in with a combined 25 points and nine rebounds. The Pacers (3 - 4) simply could not get enough offense moving to match the Hornets pace, and have yet to pick up a win on the road. Paul George finished with 10 points, six assists and seven rebounds, while C.J. Miles had a standout performance off the bench with 23 points in 25 minutes. Both teams play at home on Wednesday, as the Pacers host the Philadelphia 76ers, while the Hornets welcome the Utah Jazz.
+The San Antonio Spurs (45 - 26) blew out the Oklahoma City Thunder (41 - 31) 130 - 91 on Wednesday. Tony Parker outplayed Russell Westbrook and led his team to victory with 21 points, six assists, six rebounds and three steals in 28 minutes. The Spurs led by four after the first quarter and then increased that lead to 21 points at halftime after a phenomenal 39 - point second quarter. They continued there dominant performance in the second half, averaging 30 points in the final two quarters. With the game in hand, the Spurs were able to deploy their bench players into the game early, every San Antonio player played at least 10 minutes. Russell Westbrook took a break from putting up Oscar Robertson numbers for an evening. For just the third time this month he failed to record double - digit assists or rebounds, and for just the second time in March he did n't record 24 points or more. Enes Kanter had a nice game in a losing effort. He matched Westbrook's 16 points to go along with 10 rebounds in 22 minutes. Mitch McGary had eight points, seven assists, three steals and one block in 23 minutes. His playing time had increased as the Thunder have dealt with injuries to pivotal players such as Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka. Oklahoma City still holds the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Thunder will try and regroup before they play the Jazz on Saturday, and the Spurs will host the Mavericks on Friday.
+The Detroit Pistons (24 - 43) defeated the Memphis Grizzlies (47 - 21) 105 - 95 on Tuesday at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Coming close to playing themselves completely out of the playoffs after losing 10 games in a row, the Pistons gave themselves some hope Tuesday, as they came out with a 10 - point win over the Grizzlies. The win brings them within six and half games of the Miami Heat for the final projected playoff seed in the Eastern Conference, but they will still need to keep on winning with just 15 games left in the season. The Grizzlies, on the other hand, continue to sit as the second seed in the West, seven games behind the Golden State Warriors, but just one and a half games ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers. They've lost five of their last ten games now, but they will still likely finish in the top half of the standings if they do n't go on some extended losing streak in the near future. A big part of the win should be attributed to the Pistons' defense, as they forced the Grizzlies into 18 turnovers, while committing just nine of their own. Reggie Jackson led the way on the offensive side of the ball though, scoring 23 points (10 - 18 FG, 2 - 5 3Pt, 1 - 1 FT), while also handing out a ridiculous season - high of 20 assists. It was only his third game posting double - digit assists this season, while this arguably marked his best game since joining the Pistons at the trade deadline. Andre Drummond notched a double - double of his own, finishing with 16 points (6 - 12 FG, 4 - 6 FT), 16 rebounds and five blocked shots. He had suffered a concussion during Saturday's game, but cleared the concussion protocol prior to this matchup and played as if there were no lingering problems. With Greg Monroe sitting out due to a knee injury, Anthony Tolliver moved into the starting lineup. He took advantage of the start and recorded 15 points (4 - 12 FG, 4 - 9 3Pt, 3 - 4 FT) and seven rebounds. After failing to reach double - digit points in nine straight games, he's now gone two straight with 14 points or more. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had a solid shooting effort as well and added 24 points (10 - 16 FG, 2 - 7 3Pt, 2 - 3 FT) in 37 minutes. With Mike Conley sidelined due to an ankle injury, it was the Grizzlies' frontcourt that had the most production, despite still suffering the loss. Gasol posted a double - double with 17 points (6 - 11 FG, 1 - 1 3Pt, 4 - 4 FT), 11 rebounds and six assists. He had scored less than his season average of 18 points per game in each of his last three outings, so it was good to see the center get back on track Tuesday. Jeff Green was locked in with his shot, going 7 - for - 12 from the field and 3 - for - 3 from the three - point line to score a team - high of 21 points. He's now pushed his season averages to 15 points and 4 rebounds on the year. Zach Randolph and Vince Carter were the only other players in double figures for points. Randolph finished with 13 points (6 - 13 FG, 1 - 1 FT) and five rebounds, while Carter had 14 points (4 - 8 FG, 4 - 6 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT) and three rebounds off the bench. The Pistons' next game will be on the road against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, while the Grizzlies will travel to Dallas to play the Mavericks on Friday.
+The Los Angeles Cippers (2 - 2) defeated the San Antonio Spurs (2 - 2) 114 - 105 on Sunday in game four of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. After losing two games in a row and falling behind the Spurs 2 - 1 in the series, the Clippers did something that most thought might not be possible, they took home a victory on the road in San Antonio. The Spurs are known for being very tough to play at home in the playoffs, but the Clippers were able to get it done and regain home court advantage as they head home to Los Angeles for game five. The Clippers were the superior shooters in this outing, going 54 percent from the field and 28 percent from the three - point line, while the Spurs finished at 44 percent from the field and 24 percent from deep. It was Chris Paul who did most of the damage offensively for the Clippers. He went 11 - for - 19 from the field and 2 - for - 6 from the three - point line to score a game - high of 34 points, while also recording seven assists. He forced his way to the free throw line all game long, converting on all 10 of his free throw attempts. Paul shot just 27 percent to score seven points in Friday's game three loss to the Spurs, so it was a much needed confidence builder for the guard. Blake Griffin was also dominant in the win, finishing with 20 points (9 - 17 FG, 2 - 5 FT), 19 rebounds and seven assists. Griffin has recorded a double - double in all four playoff games so far, averaging 22 points and 13 rebounds during that stretch. The biggest surprise during this game was the strong bench play for the Clippers, which has n't been a strength for the majority of this season. In a postgame interview, Paul heaped praise on Austin Rivers. Rivers came off the bench for 16 points, as he shot nearly perfect from the field, going 7 - for - 8 from the floor over 17 minutes. Jamal Crawford also played well off the bench though, scoring 15 points (6 - 13 FG, 0 - 3 3Pt, 3 - 3 FT) in 28 minutes. He scored seven of those points in the fourth quarter, as he was a big help in closing out the win. The Spurs were down 14 points with three minutes left in the fourth. They were able to cut the lead down to eight with a minute and a half left, giving the home crowd some hope, but the Clippers were still able to close them out. The Spurs remained close in this game due to their frontcourt duo of Kawhi Leonard and Tim Duncan. Leonard finished with 26 points (10 - 19 FG, 3 - 6 3Pt, 3 - 4 FT), seven rebounds and five assists, while Duncan recorded an efficient 22 points (8 - 13 FG, 6 - 10 FT), 14 rebounds and three blocked shots. Duncan had only four points in their game three win over the Clippers, so he was able to have much more success this time around despite playing the very tough defensive bigs of the Clippers. Leonard has been very consistent with his impressive play during this series, as he's averaging 25 points during the first four games. Tony Parker has had to play through an Achilles injury over the past few games, but he was able to fight through the pain in this one and posted 18 points (7 - 15 FG, 0 - 3 3Pt, 4 - 8 FT), to go along with just one assist over 28 minutes. With Parker playing a smaller amount of minutes, Patty Mills saw some increased playing time off the bench, as he recorded 14 points, while shooting 4 - for - 10 from the field and 2 - for - 5 from the three - point line. These two teams will play again on Tuesday in Los Angeles for game five of this best - of - seven series.
+The Houston Rockets (30) escaped with a 130 - 128 win over the Dallas Mavericks (0 - 3). Monta Ellis missed the game - tying 19 - foot jumper just before the buzzer sounded. This performance marks the first time since 1994 a team scoring at least 128 points in a non - overtime playoff game didn’t come away with the win. MVP candidate James Harden hit the game - clinching jumper over the Mavericks’ Tyson Chandler with 12 seconds remaining. The bucket gave him a playoff career - high 42 points to go along with nine assists, five rebounds, one steal and five three - pointers in 36 minutes. Dwight Howard played 38 minutes and grabbed 26 rebounds, more than half the team’s 46 boards. He was one of five players on the Rockets not names James Harden to score at least 12 points, a unit led by Josh Smith’s 18 points in 27 minutes off the bench. Without Rajon Rondo and Chandler Parsons, both done for the rest of the postseason, the Mavericks held firm with a combined 68 points from Monta Ellis and Dirk Nowitzki. Ellis recorded playoff career - highs of 34 points and nine assists in 39 minutes. Nowitzki pulled the Mavericks to within one with 33 seconds left by converting three free throws, but it wasn’t enough. Raymond Felton started for the ailing Rondo, but he was held scoreless in 13 minutes with the team deferring to Ellis as the primary ballhandler. J.J. Barea and Devin Harris combined for 21 points and 11 assists off the bench. After converting 91 percent of their free throws in the first two contests, the Mavericks sank 27 - of - 35 from the charity stripe. The series resumes Sunday night. A Rockets’ win in Dallas eliminated the Mavericks from the playoffs.
+The Spurs saw a multitude of strong performances in their win over the Celtics on Wednesday night. All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard led the team with 26 points and had six assists. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year hit 9 - of - 17 from the field and all seven of his free - throws. Veteran big man Pau Gasol, meanwhile, had 17 points and a team - high 13 rebounds. Gasol shot 7 - of - 12 and also dished out six assists. Point guard Tony Parker also scored 16 points. The team shot over 55 percent as a whole and hit eight three - pointers. For the Celtics, shooting guard Avery Bradley stepped up to lead the team in points, rebounds, and assists. Bradley scored 25 points, had 10 rebounds, and passed for six assists. Four other Celtics scored double digits, with forward Jae Crowder coming up as the next - highest with 15.
+The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the visiting Portland Trail Blazers, 115 - 95, in Game 1 of the Western Conference first - round playoffs Sunday at Staples Center. The opening games to the opening round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs closed with another rout, this time it belonged to the Clippers. Heading into the series, some analysts pegged the Blazers and Clippers series to be the toughest of the first round in terms of the Western Conference, but Chris Paul and Blake Griffin played fantastic basketball and handled Damian Lillard’s group with relative ease in Game 1. Los Angeles built upon a five point first quarter lead incrementally through the remainder of the game. The second half proved to be on the side of interminable length after Terry Stotts elected to foul DeAndre Jordan, and although the big man finished 8 - of - 18 from the charity stripe, the strategy failed after the Blazers shooters could not get a clean look at the basket. Portland was swarmed by Los Angeles, and even when they broke through the double team, they were unable to finish at the rim. Paul finished with 28 points, six rebounds and 11 assists on 10 - of - 19 shooting, while Griffin played the best game since returning from injury and contributed 19 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. Jordan had a block party while he patrolled the paint and added 18 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks. JJ Reddick played more inside the arc, but the strategy paid off, as he shot 8 - of - 12 from the floor on only three attempts from the three - point line on his way to 17 points in the contest. The Clippers shot 53 percent from the floor as a unit and outrebounded the Blazers 48 - 40 in the win. The prevention of Damian Lillard from heating up, in combination with C.J. McCollum’s inefficient shooting, put the game out of reach for Portland early in the second half. It seemed as though every pull up shot was contested and there was no easy way to get a bucket for Portland. Lillard finished with 21 points and eight assists, while McCollum could only pitch in nine points on 11 shots. Gerald Henderson showcased his athleticism, but even the acrobatic forward could found it tough to finish at the rim, as he added 16 points on 7 - of - 12 shooting in just under 30 minutes off the bench. Game 2 is scheduled for 7:30 PM Eastern Time on Wednesday in Los Angeles.
+The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Toronto Raptors 108 - 106 Tuesday at AirCanada Centre. The Spurs (36 - 9) came into Tuesday's matchup without Pau Gasol (finger), Kawhi Leonard (hand) and Tony Parker (foot), but it did n't matter. Even without three regular starters, San Antonio was able to hold off a struggling Raptors (28 - 17) team, who remains without their All-Star shooting guard DeMar DeRozan (ankle). In the absence of three stars, LaMarcus Aldridge stepped up with a solid performance, recording a team - high 21 points on 6 - of - 14 shooting from the field to go along with seven rebounds. Patty Mills then added 18 points in 30 critical minutes off the bench. Overall, it was n't the prettiest performance from San Antonio, as they shot just 45 percent from the field and 29 percent from behind the arc, but they still managed to notch their fifth straight victory. As for the Raptors, they continue to struggle, as they have now lost four games in a row after winning four in a row just before that. They had a prime opportunity to end that streak against a banged up San Antonio team, but while Kyle Lowry and the Toronto backcourt managed to take advantage, the frontcourt players struggled to do so. Lowry finished with a game - high 30 points and five rebounds, while Terrance Ross and Norman Powell added 21 and 16 points, respectively. The team's start frontcourt, however, made up of Jonas Valanciunas, Jared Sullinger and DeMarre Carroll combined to score a grand total of just 11 points. Ball disruption was the ultimate problem, however, as the team managed just 10 assists to their 10 turnovers. Up next, the Spurs will try to make it six straight wins Friday in New Orleans, while the the Raptors will look to end their losing streak when they take on the Grizzlies on Wednesday.
+The Portland Trail Blazers (19 - 6) defeated the San Antonio Spurs (17 - 8) 108 - 95 on Monday. Portland has won two straight games, taking Monday's win on the back of LaMarcus Aldridge's double - double of 23 points and 14 rebounds. Damian Lillard also recorded a double - double of 23 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Starting center Robin Lopez suffered a broken hand in the game and is expected to be sidelined for a considerable amount of time. San Antonio has lost three of their last five, and surprisingly, the team continues to rest several of their key players despite losing games. Tim Duncan, Tiago Splitter and Manu Ginobili all sat out for rest, while Tony Parker missed the game with his lingering hamstring injury. Kawhi Leonard scored a team - high 21 points, and six total players finished in double figures for the Spurs. Portland will host the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday. The Spurs will host the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.
+The Bulls, perhaps surprisingly, shot well from beyond the arc Saturday, hitting 9 of 21 in their rout of the Pacers. The Pacers who have been known to shoot the three, were out - done as they went 7/18 from distance. The Bulls also took care of business from the free throw line, hitting 19 of 21, while the Pacers only managed to earn nine free throw attempts. Chicago dominated the glass and were plus - 14 in rebounds, including 13 offensive rebounds. Jeff Teague was held scoreless in 28 minutes, but dished eight assists. The Pacers had 13 players hit the court, with nine of them logging at least 15 minutes. Myles Turner, Paul George and Thaddeus Young all shot over 60 percent from the field. Rajon Rondo was the only Bulls' starter to shoot under 50 percent.
+The Sacramento Kings (23 - 45), the league’s worst defense since the All-Star break, defeated the Charlotte Hornets (29 - 38), 101 - 91. DeMarcus Cousins warmed up prior to the game, but ultimately decided not to play for the second straight game with an ailing calf. Rudy Gay nearly accounted for a third of the team’s points, scoring 33 to go with nine rebounds, four assists, two steals and two three - pointers in 37 minutes. Omri Casspi replaced Ryan Hollins in the starting lineup, compiling 10 points, five rebounds, two assists and one three - pointer in 33 minutes. Reggie Evans grabbed 16 rebounds in 21 minutes, helping the Kings end a four - game losing streak. Derrick Williams threw down a monster dunk on Bismack Biyombo, scoring 13 points in 25 minutes off the bench. The Hornets fell half a game behind the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers for the final spot in the Eastern Conference playoff push, losing their third straight game. Kemba Walker was inserted into the starting lineup after coming off the bench the previous four games. Walker and the man he replaced, Mo Williams, were each assessed a technical foul. Even worse, Williams missed his first 11 shots and finished 3 - of - 15 from the field for nine points. Walker scored 18 points and accumulated four steals in 31 minutes. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist blocked a shot for the seventh straight game. The Kings play their fourth straight home game when they face the Washington Wizards on Sunday. The Hornets begin a stretch of five games in seven nights Sunday when they take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.
+The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 97 - 81 at Staples Center on Sunday. The Trail Blazers (35 - 38) picked up a third win in a row and are heating up at the right time, given the Nuggets loss earlier Sunday, they are now tied for the eighth seed in the Western Conference. In addition, they host the Nuggets on Tuesday in an important game in the battle for the final playoff spot out West. Depth made the difference for Portland, as their bench ran seven players deep, while the Lakers (21 - 52) totaled nine players in rotation. Brandon Ingram (knee) was sidelined in the contest. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum were not spectacular, but did enough on the offensive end to keep the Blazers ahead, while the Lakers 39 percent shooting effort was far from enough to match that of Portland. Lillard finished with 22 points, five assists, seven rebounds and three steals and McCollum added 13 points on 5 - of - 13 shooting. Allen Crabbe totaled 28 minutes off the bench and pitched in 18 points and six boards, while Al-Farouq Aminu fell one points shy of a double - double and went for nine points and 10 rebounds across 26 minutes of action. D'Angelo Russell matched Lillard's 22 points. Jordan Clarkson did not find a rhythm at any point and finished with just 10 points on 4 - of - 16 shooting, while Tyler Ennis led the bench with 14 points, five assists and three rebounds. Next up, the Blazers host the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday, while the Lakers play the same night and host the Washington Wizards.
+On opening night for both teams, the Hornets held off the Bucks 108 - 106 in overtime. Milwaukee got off to a hot start, shooting nearly 53 percent from the field en route to a 57 - 46 halftime advantage. A Brandon Knight-led run early in the third quarter pushed the lead up to 24 points, but the new - look Hornets would fight back. Charlotte outscored Milwaukee 32 - 15 in the final period, slowly chipping away at the lead by stifling the Bucks’ ballhandlers on the defensive end. Brandon Knight and Khris Middleton committed some key turnovers down the stretch, setting the stage for Kemba Walker’s heroics. Walker, who signed a four - year, $48 million extension Tuesday, converted a layup to bring the Hornets within two points with seven seconds to play. Then, after Middleton made 1 - of - 2 free throws, Walker came off a high screen and drilled a running three - pointer with less than two seconds remaining to send the game into overtime. A pair of Jabari Parker free throws gave the bucks the early overtime lead, but with the game tied at 106 with 16 seconds left, Charlotte again looked to Walker. He sized up Knight at the top of the key and connected on a tough, step - back jumper to give Charlotte a 108 - 106 advantage with five seconds remaining. Following a timeout, the Bucks were able to get Middleton an open look, but he misfired from the left wing as time expired. Knight led the way for Milwaukee, scoring 22 points (5 - 17 FG, 10 - 10 FT) to go with 13 assists and eight rebounds. O.J. Mayo added 17 points off the bench, and Parker chipped in eight to go with four boards. Middleton finished with 17 points and six rebounds. It was a tough Hornets debut for Lance Stephenson, who finished with just seven points on 3 - of - 12 shooting. However, he added eight assists and a team - high 13 boards. Walker led all scorers with 26 points, while Al Jefferson chipped in 14 to go with 10 rebounds. The Bucks now head back to Milwaukee to host the 76ers on Friday. Charlotte hosts Marc Gasol and the Grizzlies on Saturday.
+The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Indiana Pacers, 113 - 104, at Quicken Loans Arena on Wednesday. The final scoreline indicates a somewhat lopsided game, but this was much closer than it looks. It was actually a tied ball game early in the fourth quarter, before Cleveland went on a 23 - 6 run to open things up. What the Cavaliers did especially well was limit mistakes, as they committed just eight turnovers and allowed the Pacers to record just three combined blocks and steals. Despite Indiana shooting a better percentage from three, the Cavaliers lived there, going 18 - of - 39 from long distance in their win. The Pacers (29 - 27) have now lost five - straight, as the All-Star break could n't come at a better time. Glenn Robinson III led the team in scoring, as he dropped 19 points to go along with six rebounds. Paul George really struggled, as he went just 4 - of - 19 from the field to accrue 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Jeff Teague was their best player, collecting 15 points, four rebounds and 11 assists. Myles Turner finished with 15 points and seven rebounds on 7 - of - 12 shooting. Monta Ellis was a nice spark off the bench, providing 14 points and seven assists. The Cavaliers (39 - 16) have now won nine of their last 11 games, as they continue to surge headed into the All-Star break. LeBron James was the catalyst once again, as he accumulated 31 points, five rebounds and four assists on 12 - of - 17 shooting. Kyrie Irving was equally as good, tallying 26 points, two rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Kyle Korver came off the bench to provide 22 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals on 6 - of - 8 from three - point range. Tristan Thompson recorded a 12 - point, 12 - rebound double - double.
+The Atlanta Hawks defeated the host Milwaukee Bucks, 114 - 110, at BMO Harris Bradley Center on Friday. The recent form of these teams would indicate an easy Milwaukee win, but Atlanta made a huge comeback for a much needed victory. In fact, they trailed by 20 headed into the half and proceeded to outscore the Bucks, 70 - 46, over the final two quarters. Milwaukee actually led for over 42 minutes of this game, as Atlanta's only leads were in the first six minutes and final four minutes. The Hawks offense was extremely efficient, as they shot 48 percent from the field and assisted on 32 of their 40 made baskets. Atlanta (12 - 12) has really been struggling lately, but a comeback win like this could be the spark they need going forward. Dennis Schroeder was the catalyst of the comeback, as he dropped a career - high 33 points in the win. Paul Millsap was also huge, accumulating 23 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and three blocks. Tim Hardaway Jr. got a rare start and accrued 18 points, four rebounds and four assists in the win. Atlanta will be off until Tuesday, when they host the Orlando Magic for their next game. Milwaukee (11 - 10) has been playing some great ball recently, but heartbreaking losses like this are par for the course for such a young team. Giannis Antetokounmpo has carried this team on his shoulders all season long, but he totaled just 14 points, six rebounds and one assist, dealing with foul trouble throughout the game. Jabari Parker continued his great form though, tallying 27 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals in the defeat. The other three starters combined for just 20 points, as the bench did everything they could to hold onto this game. In fact, Michael Beasley, Michael Brogdon, Greg Monroe and Jason Terry combined for 49 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists on 20 - of - 35 shooting as the only four bench players to appear. Luckily for the Bucks, they return to action on Saturday in a road matchup against the Washington Wizards.
+A combined 47 points from Kyrie Irving and LeBron James made up for the absence of Kevin Love (back), and Cleveland posted respective success rate of 51 percent from the field and 44 percent from three - point range. They also held the Suns to a 21 percent tally from long distance and forced 14 turnovers. Irving's 26 points paced Cleveland, while James generated a near triple - double with 21 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds. Channing Frye supplied an 18 - point, 10 - rebound double - double off the bench. Iman Shumpert provided 17 points, while James Jones compiled 14 points in Love's stead. Matching 22 - point efforts from Eric Bledsoe and Tyson Chandler led Phoenix, with the former adding nine assists and six rebounds, and the latter hauling in 16 boards. Devin Booker went for 21 points, while T.J. Warren registered 18.
+The Orlando Magic (20 - 17) defeated the Brooklyn Nets (10 - 26) 83 - 77 on Friday. Ever since he regained a spot in the starting lineup at point guard in Elfrid Payton's stead three games ago, Victor Oladipo has played with a renewed vigor and confidence.The talented guard has now posted 18, 20 and 20 points, respectively, over those three contests, while shooting an outstanding 60 percent from the field during that span. Oladipo was stellar again Friday, sharing the team lead with 20 points and adding nine rebounds, a pair of assists, three steals and a block. Considering his recent performances, the Magic will certainly have a good problem on their hands upon Payton's return to health from his ankle injury, as they'll be faced with trying to get a talented backcourt trio that also includes Evan Fournier sufficient playing time. Nikola Vucevic was Oladipo's co - leading scorer on the night with a 20 - point, 10 - rebound double - double that also included four assists, a pair of steals and a block. Unsurprisingly, the productive outing came against a Nets defense that has allowed the most points per game (22) to opposing centers this season. Fournier made it three starters with double - digit scoring by tallying 13 points, which he supplemented with three assists, a rebound and a pair of steals. Aaron Gordon had an efficient 14 - point, five - rebound effort off the bench over 23 minutes to lead the Orlando reserves. The Magic improved to 20 - 17 and are currently in second place in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division. They head home to face the Wizards on Saturday. The Nets' ninth straight home loss was due in large part to the suffocating defense of an Orlando unit ranked in the top 10 in points allowed per game (99). They stymied Brooklyn across the board, with Brook Lopez serving as the top scorer with a modest 17 points. He added eight rebounds, a steal and a block. Joe Johnson continued his solid offensive play of late with a serviceable 13 points, three assists, three rebounds and a steal. Shane Larkin and Thaddeus Young were able to contribute 12 and 11 points, respectively, with the former also pitching in four rebounds, three assists and a steal, and the latter hauling in nine boards and matching Larkin's production in the other categories. Bojan Bogdanovic was notably held to two points, while Wayne Ellington scored eight to pace the Brooklyn bench. The Nets fell to 10 - 26 and remain in fourth place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division. They head to Detroit to take on the Pistons on Saturday night.
+The Los Angeles Clippers (7 - 7) defeated the Denver Nuggets (6 - 9) 111 - 94 on Tuesday. After outlasting the Kings in Sacramento 111 - 104 on Opening Night, the Clippers had dropped four straight road games heading into Tuesday. They also were losers of three straight overall, and the criticism had been seemingly mounting with each defeat. The Clippers gave themselves a respite from all of the negativity for at least one night, turning in a true team effort that saw all five starters and sixth man Jamal Crawford collect double - digit points, as well as three of the starting five post double - doubles. Blake Griffin bounced back from a season - low nine points on Sunday versus Toronto to fill out the stat sheet in impressive fashion. The All-Star power forward collected 18 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block in an encouraging, all - around performance. Chris Paul pitched in with 15 points, 10 assists, a pair of rebounds and three steals. Meanwhile, DeAndre Jordan was sent to the charity stripe an absurd 26 times by the Nuggets. Jordan converted 12 of those opportunities into points, matching Griffin for the team lead in scoring with 18 points overall. He added 11 rebounds, three assists, a steal and four blocks in one of his best games of the season. J.J. Redick had his second consecutive strong game by pouring in 16 points, while Wesley Johnson acquitted himself admirably in a spot start with 11 points, a pair of rebounds, an assist and a block. The Clippers evened their record at 7 - 7 and moved into a second - place tie with the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference’s Pacific Division. They head home for a Wednesday tilt versus the Jazz. With Kenneth Faried (ankle) and his rebounding prowess absent for the night, Danilo Gallinari played like a man possessed on the defensive glass for Denver. The veteran forward hauled in a season - high 18 boards, while also posting 20 points. Like Jordan, Gallinari was a frequent visitor to the free - throw line, converting 16 of his 17 chances from the charity stripe. Nikola Jokic was effective once again at center with 16 points, six rebounds and a pair of assists over 24 minutes, as was Darrell Arthur in another start at power forward. The veteran was solid once again in Faried’s stead, collecting 11 points and five rebounds. Gary Harris pitched in 14 points and a trio of boards, leaving rookie Emmanuel Mudiay as the only Denver starter in the single digits in scoring (seven points) in a tough learning experience versus Paul. Nuggets’ sixth man extraordinaire Will Barton was notably held to a single point and three rebounds over 20 minutes, and was 0 - for - 6 from the field. The Nuggets fell to 6 - 9 and are currently in last place in the Western Conference’s Northwest Division. They remain home for a Friday showdown versus the Spurs.
+The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Orlando Magic, 109 - 88, at Spectrum Center on Friday. While the Magic (10 - 14) has generally played tough defense this season, their efforts on that side of the ball have often been undermined by a lack of offensive proficiency. The most recent example was Friday, when Orlando was only able to post 37 percent and 27 percent success rates from the field and three - point range, respectively. Meanwhile, the backcourt duo of Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum combined for 31 points on 13 - of - 24 shooting to spearhead a 48 percent tally for the Hornets (14 - 9), who pulled away with a 39 - point third quarter. Orlando was led by a modest 14 points from Evan Fournier, who added two rebounds. Serge Ibaka followed with 12 points, seven boards, three assists and a block. Aaron Gordon and Bismack Biyombo supplied a pair of nine - point efforts, while D.J. Augustin managed just eight points, two rebounds, an assist and two steals in 19 minutes despite drawing the start. Matching 16 - point totals from Nicolas Batum and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist paced the Hornets, with the former adding nine boards and seven assists, and the latter hauling in seven boards and dishing out an assist. Walker was close behind with 15 points, five assists and a steal. Cody Zeller registered nine points, seven rebounds, an assist and a steal, while the bench was led by a pair of 12 - point efforts from Jeremy Lamb and Ramon Sessions. The Magic head back home to face the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night, while the Hornets head to Cleveland for a Saturday night showdown against the Cavaliers.
+The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 110 - 93, at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Friday. Oklahoma City was expected to win this game easily and they took care of business against a struggling Lakers team. The Thunder actually won all four quarters, as they led for the final 44 minutes. Defense was key for the Thunder, as they held the Lakers to under 40 percent from the field and just 20 percent from three - point range. Los Angeles also hurt themselves with free - throw shooting, as they went just 6 - of - 14 from the charity stripe. The Lakers (19 - 40) have just seven wins on the road for the entirety of the season and this defeat added to their road struggles. D'Angelo Russell was a lone bright spot, as he led the team with 29 points, four rebounds and six assists. Julius Randle totaled 13 points, 11 rebounds and three assists. Jordan Clarkson led the bench with 14 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals. Things do n't get any easier for Los Angeles, as they play the San Antonio Spurs for their next game on Saturday. The Thunder (33 - 25) have a new - look squad after the All-Star break, but Russell Westbrook continues to stack up the triple - doubles. Westbrook collected 17 points, 18 rebounds and 17 assists, despite going going just 4 - of - 18 from the field. Steven Adams recorded a double - double, accumulating 15 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks. Alex Abrines and Andre Roberson scored 19 points a piece, combing to go 15 - of - 22 from the field. Oklahoma City will host the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday for their next game.
+The New York Knicks (3 - 4) defeated the Los Angeles Lakers (1 - 5) at home on Sunday, putting an end to their three - game losing streak. Star small forward Carmelo Anthony led the way for the Knicks with 24 points while also tacking on eight rebounds in the hotly - contested game. Facing a tough challenge from opposing center Roy Hibbert (18 points,10 rebounds), New York big man Robin Lopez was able to effectively crash the glass, posting a 14 - point, 13 - rebound double - double. The win marked the end of a three - game losing streak for the Knicks, as well as the team's first win at home on the season. Despite the victory, the Knicks' shooting woes persisted, as the team shot just 39 percent from the floor and 33 percent from beyond the three - point arc. Despite keeping it close, the Lakers were unable to avoid the loss, falling to just 1 - 5 on the season. The Lakers' issues with efficiency and shot selection were on display in New York, as the team shot a dismal 38 percent from the floor and recorded just 19 assists on the night. 20 - year veteran Kobe Bryant struggled again on Sunday, making just six of his team - high 19 shot attempts. Rookie D'Angelo Russell also continued his slow start to the season, posting just six points in 28 minutes of action. The Lakers will look to recover from their funk on Tuesday as they travel to Miami to take on the Heat. Meanwhile, the Knicks will look to even out their record on Tuesday in Toronto.
+The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the visiting Atlanta Hawks on Monday, 104 - 90. After a tough Christmas Day loss, Minnesota (10 - 21) received a confidence boost as it cruised to a win over the Hawks. The team's young core of Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins, and Zach LaVine all impressed on Monday, scoring 22, 21, and 21 respectively. Towns was particularly potent on offense, as the reigning Rookie of the Year shot a perfect 8 - of - 8 from the field, including three three - pointers, and 3 - of - 3 at the free - throw line. Towns made a big impact on the defensive end as well, recording three blocks. The team was immensely successful while shooting the ball, as they hit 15 three - pointers on over 48 percent shooting. Six of those three - pointers came from LaVine, who is having a breakout season and averaging over 20 points per game for the first time in his career. Atlanta (15 - 16), meanwhile, has crumbled since its hot 9 - 2 start to the season. Once again, the Hawks looked lost on Monday, entering the fourth quarter down by 24 points. Center Dwight Howard interestingly was also perfect from the field as he scored a team - leading 20 points. Howard also had 12 rebounds and two steals. It was not a good overall offensive night for Atlanta, though. The team shot just 42 percent including 25 percent from three - point range, and had 19 turnovers on the night. On Wednesday, the Hawks will host the Knicks and the Wolves will visit the Nuggets in Denver.
+The Chicago Bulls narrowly escaped with 114 - 107 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Rookie of the Year contender Nerlens Noel missed the game with a sprained right ankle. His availability for the final two games is in doubt. Derrick Rose played his third straight game since returning from knee surgery, compiling 22 points, eight assists, six rebounds and three steals in 28 minutes. Most Improved Player of the Year frontrunner, Jimmy Butler, was held to 15 points on 3 - of - 11 shooting to go with six rebounds, three assists, and two steals in 36 minutes. He leads the NBA with 39 minutes per game and is one of 19 players averaging at least 20 points per game this season. Pau Gasol recorded his league - leading 52nd double - double, notching 24 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks in 31 minutes. The Sixers lost their eighth straight contest. They’ve clinched at least a bottom - three record, pulling to within one and a half games of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who square off against the Golden State Warriors later Saturday night. Ish Smith and Isaiah Canaan, the team’s only functional point guards, were unavailable, forcing JaKarr Sampson to run the offense. He finished the game with 18 points, seven rebounds, four assists and one three - pointer in 28 minutes. Six of the nine players who suited up scored at least 10 points, led by Robert Covington’s 22 points and team - high five assists. The sophomore D-league call - up and Sixers’ leading scorer shot 1 - of - 9 on three - pointers. Hollis Thompson and Jason Richardson combined for 34 points and eight three - pointers. The Bulls play their final road game Monday against the Brooklyn Nets. The Sixers commence a two - game homestand Monday against the Milwaukee Bucks.
+Russell Westbrook tied Wilt Chamberlain for second - most 40 - point triple - doubles in NBA history, as he notched his 29th triple - double of the season, with 41 points 11 rebounds and 11 assists, in 37 minutes. Enes Kanter followed up with 20 points on 6 - of - 9 shooting, and hit 8 - of - 10 from the free throw line, along with nine rebounds and three assists, in 24 minutes. Steven Adams chipped in 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while the only other player to score in double digits for the Thunder was Alex Abrines, who tallied 13 points. Meanwhile, Anthony Davis led the way for the Pelicans with 38 points, seven rebounds and four assists. DeMarcus Cousins was right behind him with 31 points and 10 rebounds in only 21 minutes. The only other player to score in double digits for the Pelicans was E'Twaun Moore, with 10.
+The visiting Orlando Magic took down the host Toronto Raptors on Sunday, 114 - 113. Orlando (19 - 30) bounced back from a 30 - point blowout loss at the hands of the Celtics for the win in Toronto on Sunday. Big man Nikola Vucevic led the team with 25 points and 10 rebounds against Toronto. Despite trailing early in the game, the Magic were able to come back and hold on to a lead for the entirety of the second. Orlando finished the first half on a 20 - 2 run, with Toronto making no field goals during the stretch. Point guard Elfrid Payton played a major piece in the Orlando offense, recording a double - double with 11 points and 10 assists. The Magic were red hot on Sunday, hitting over 53 percent of their shots from the field and making 10 three - pointers. Toronto (29 - 19) has struggled mightily of late, losing six of its last seven games. The Raptors, once solidly holding second place in the East, have slipped to third behind Cleveland and Boston in the standings. On Sunday, the clock was Toronto's greatest enemy, as the Raptors came to within one point of the win after trailing by 11 with two minutes left to play. Recently injured star DeMar DeRozan came back but looked rusty, as he shot just 6 - of - 18 on the night. All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry, however, led the team with an efficient 33 points and eight assists. Toronto will host the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, while the Magic will visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday.
+The Pelicans improved to 16 - 15 on the season Tuesday night by knocking off the Suns by a score of 110 - 106. Anthony Davis was dominant yet again as he nearly posted a 20 - 20 performance. He ended up with 19 points on 7 - of - 15 shooting and added 18 rebounds to cement his fourth double - double in five games. The Suns (18 - 15) had their six - game winning streak snapped. They shot well from the floor with a 48 percent mark, but were out - rebounded by a count of 49 - 38. Phoenix has one more chance to end 2014 on a high note as they take on the Thunder in Oklahoma City on New Year's Eve. The Pelicans benefited from Davis' big night, but Tyreke Evans was key down the stretch for New Orleans. Evans had ten points in the fourth quarter to help seal the victory for the Pelicans. New Orleans also has a quick turnaround as they travel to San Antonio to take on the Spurs on Wednesday night.
+The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, 125 - 97, at Quicken Loans Arena on Wednesday. The Cavaliers and Timberwolves made a huge trade last season that sent Kevin Love to Cleveland and Andrew Wiggins to Minnesota, but nether player had much of an impact in this blowout Cavaliers win. Cleveland did most of their damage in the second half, outscoring Minnesota, 62 - 37. Rebounding and assists were a huge difference, with the Cavaliers winning both of those differentials by double - digit margins. Cleveland ended up shooting 54 percent from the field, while holding Minnesota to just 44 percent on their end. The Timberwolves (19 - 30) have been climbing back into the playoff hunt recently. but this was a tough task against a hungry Cavaliers team. Karl-Anthony Towns carried the load for Minnesota, as he tallied 26 points, 12 rebounds and four assists. Andrew Wiggins did score 23 points, but provided just two rebounds, no assists and zero defensive statistics in his revenge game. Ricky Rubio recorded a double - double, accruing 14 points and 13 assists. Shabazz Muhammad was the only other T'Wolf in double figures, dropping 16 points and six rebounds off the bench. The T'Wolves will be in Detroit on Friday to play the Pistons for their next game. The Cavaliers (33 - 15) had lost seven of their last 11 games headed into this matchup, so a blowout win is just what the doctor ordered. LeBron James was the player of the game, as he accumulated 27 points, eight rebounds and 12 assists. Kyrie Irving scored just 14 points, but matched that with a career - high 14 assists. Channing Frye started for Love and finished with 18 points and four rebounds. Tristan Thompson recorded an 18 - point, 14 - rebound double - double. Kyle Korver scored a season - high 20 points off the bench, on 8 - of - 11 shooting. Cleveland will play the New York Knicks on the road for their next game on Thursday.
+The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Phoenix Suns, 122 - 110, at Staples Center on Thursday. The Lakers (20 - 45) picked up their 20th win of the season after D'Angelo Russell buried 28 points on 10 - of - 20 shooting in a win over the Suns (21 - 44). Both teams are battling for draft lottery position and only one game separates the two from the bottom of the Western Conference. Los Angeles was consistent on the scoring end through each quarter, scoring no less than 29 points per quarter and no more than 32 points. Defensively, they stunted the Suns in the third quarter, besting them 29 - 18 in that period, one in which they have struggled through most of this season. Russell added four rebounds and three assists, including six three - pointers, which marked a strong bounce - back from his 2 - of - 6 three - point shooting in the loss to the Mavericks. Rookie Brandon Ingram added 14 points, six boards and three assists, while Jordan Clarkson pitched in 19 points on 7 - of - 18 shooting off the bench. Devin Booker scored 23 points to lead all Suns scorers, and finished 10 - of - 21 from the field alongside six rebounds and three assists. Eric Bledsoe struggled to find a rhythm, but managed a quality stat line of 13 points, seven rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block. T.J. Warren completed a double - double with 17 points and 13 rebounds, while rookie Marquese Chriss managed 18 points on 3 - of - 4 shooting from behind the arc. Next up, the Suns visit the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday, while the Lakers host the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.
+With Milwaukee winning six - straight and Memphis losing five - straight headed into this matchup, a wire - to - wire win for the Grizzlies is a rather surprising result. That was just the case though, as Memphis led by at least seven points for the entirety of the second half. The Grizzlies ended up shooting 52 percent from the field and 52 percent from three - point range. Memphis also dominated the assist - to - turnover ratio, recording nine more assists than Milwaukee, despite committing five less turnovers. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 18 points, five rebounds and four assists. Malcolm Brogdon came off the bench to provide 15 points and eight assists. Vince Carter was perfect, as he scored a game - high 24 points on 8 - of - 8 shooting, Mike Conley totaled 20 points, 10 assists and three steals. Marc Gasol finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
+The Golden State Warriors (26 - 1) held off the Milwaukee Bucks (10 - 18) to eek out a surprising 121 - 112 win on Friday. Most people had this pegged as a Warriors blowout in a revenge situation, but it was far from that. Milwaukee came out with some fire and took an early 12 - point lead going into the half and nearly held off the Warriors for an unlikely win. The Bucks made some lineup changes and the whole team played extremely well, shooting 60 percent from the field in the first half and 47 percent for the game. Both teams continually got to the free - throw line in the game as well, as the Bucks went 24 - for - 28 from the charity stripe while Golden State went 28 - for - 37. The Warriors really took it to them in the fourth quarter though, as they outscored them 36 - 19 to run away with the win. Milwaukee ended the Warriors 24 - game winning streak last week and appear to have the Dubs number. They got some great performances all - around, as seven players scored in double - figures. Greg Monroe made a shocking return to the lineup and flirted with a 10 point - 13 rebound - seven assist triple - double. Michael Carter-Williams also returned to the starting - five and tallied 24 points, four rebounds and four assists in the loss. This team has simply been bad this year and it's hard to figure why they play so well against the best team in the NBA. They'll look to build off this performance against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday in their next scheduled game. The Warriors just ca n't figure out this Bucks team and it's just one of those phenomenons that’s hard to understand. Steph Curry and Draymond Green both flirted with triple - doubles and carried the Warriors in their win. Curry accumulated 26 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, while Green amassed 21 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. This was a close call, but the versatility and grittiness of this team is hard to match. Golden State will have a few days off until they host the Utah Jazz on Wednesday in their next game.
+The Los Angeles Clippers (38 - 21) defeated the Memphis Grizzlies (41 - 16) 97 - 79 Friday. Los Angeles stopped their two - game skid with the win, and they're still an impressive 5 - 3 without Blake Griffin, who continues to sit out while recovering from elbow surgery to remove an infection. DeAndre Jordan posted a double - double of 15 points and 22 rebounds in 41 minutes, continuing the dominant play that has seen him pull down at least 15 rebounds for seven straight games. The one game in which he finished with only 15 rebounds, Jordan played just 20 minutes as the Clippers blew out the Kings. Five players scored in double figures for Los Angeles as Chris Paul orchestrated the offense and collected a double - double of 19 points and 13 assists. Memphis has dropped two straight with their offense sputtering in both games. They shot just 38 percent from the field, 25 percent from beyond the arc and 67 percent from the stripe as a team Friday. Jeff Green was an anemic 0 - for - 6 from the field and played just 16 minutes despite starting at small forward. Since joining the Grizzlies, Green has struggled on offense, shooting 41 percent from the field and 31 percent from three. After losing the first two games of their season series, the Clippers were able to take the win on the road to put them in position to try and tie the series up in their final matchup when the two teams meet on April 11. The Clippers will continue their road trip against the Bulls on Sunday, and the Grizzlies will head out on the road as well to play the Timberwolves on Saturday.
+The Toronto Raptors (36 - 18) defeated the Memphis Grizzlies (32 - 23) 98 - 85 on Sunday. The 13 - point margin is not indicative of how this game was played, as it was a close grinder throughout. The Raptors ended the game on an 8 - 1 run and really stifled the Grizzlies late. Both teams struggled from the field, with Toronto shooting 41 percent, with Memphis shooting 37 percent on their end. The Raptors actually held the Grizzlies starters to just 33 points in the win. Memphis came into this game as a sizable underdog and just couldn’t muster up enough offense to hang around. Zach Randolph was the only starter who played well, as he amassed 18 points and six rebounds in the defeat. The bench was very good though, as Lance Stephenson, Vince Cater and Mario Chalmers all scored between 16 and 17 points. The Grizzlies next game will be much easier, as they host the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. Toronto played their first home game in nearly a month and didn’t disappoint. DeMar DeRozan led the team with 21 points, while going 9 - for - 10 from the free - throw line. Kyle Lowry tallied 18 points, seven assists and four rebounds in the victory. Patrick Patterson and Cory Joseph gave the team a nice spark off the bench, as they totaled 25 points and 12 rebounds between the two. On deck for Toronto is a matchup versus the New York Knicks on Monday in the back end of a back - to - back set.
+The Cavaliers (34 - 22) blew out the Wizards (33 - 22) in Washington on Friday night. Cleveland came out hot early, scoring 35 points in the first quarter and jumping out to a nine - point lead. The advantage reached 14 points by halftime, and the Cavaliers continued to pour it on in the second half. They won the third quarter 29 - 20 and outscored Washington 33 - 18 in the fourth. LeBron James led all scorers with 28 points on 12 - of - 21 shooting to go with six assists and five rebounds in only 25 minutes. Kyrie Irving added 25 points, while J.R. Smith finished with 15 points, including three three - pointers. Kevin Love was limited to only eight points and six boards in 30 minutes. Cleveland shot a scoring 51 percent from the field while limiting the Wizards to 44 percent shooting. Washington, which committed 17 turnovers, was led by 18 points apiece from John Wall and Nene. Wall also added nine assists and five rebounds. The Wizards did not place any other players in double - figures, though Paul Pierce and Otto Porter - starting in place of Brad Beal (leg) - scored nine points apiece. The win vaulted Cleveland a half - game ahead of Washington in the Eastern Conference standings. Up next, the Cavs take on the Knicks in New York on Sunday, while Washington heads to Detroit to face the Pistons, also on Sunday.
+The Indiana Pacers (41 - 36) defeated the New York Knicks (31 - 47) 92 - 87 on Sunday. This game meant a whole lot more to the Pacers than the Knicks and they were lucky to escape with a win. The second quarter was the only quarter that Indiana won, but they domianted to the tune of a 36 to 18 scoreline. The key for the Pacers was their defense, as they held the Knicks to 34 percent shooting. The Knicks played this game without Carmelo Anthony and Jose Calderon and had one of their best peformances in weeks. Robin Lopez stepped up big, as he amassed 10 points, 15 rebounds and six blocks. Sasha Vujacic led the team with 21 points in his revived role. Arron Afflalo was leaned on late and scored 15 points on just 5 - for - 15 shooting. On deck for the Knicks is a matchup with the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday. Indiana is now 3 games up in the eight - seed, so this was obviously a crucial win. Paul George was the star for the Pacers, as he tallied 20 points and nine rebounds. Rodney Stuckey gave the team a great spark off the bench, as he scored 17 points. Up next for Indiana is a matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.
+The Dallas Mavericks (7 - 3) took down the Minnesota Timberwolves (2 - 7) in impressive fashion 131 - 117 on Saturday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. The Mavericks are simply on a roll right now, and seem to be hitting their stride early on in this 2014 season. On Saturday, they got the definition of a "team win", with eight players scoring in double figures, and Monta Ellis leading the charge with 30 points (11 - 21 FG, 3 - 7 3Pt, 5 - 5 FT). While Ellis played 35 minutes, he was the only starter to see more than 29 minutes, as Dirk Nowitzki played just 23 and Tyson Chandler played only 24. Dallas was up by 19 at halftime, so they were able to rest some key players and get the reserves some additional playing time. Al-Farouq Aminu had an impressive night off the bench with 10 points (5 - 7 FG, 0 - 2 3Pt), six rebounds, three steals, two blocks and one assist in 23 minutes. The Mavericks will now head to Charlotte to take on the Hornets on Monday night. For the Timberwolves, we saw them drop their fifth straight on Saturday, and each loss has been by at least nine points. They have n't been the same team without Ricky Rubio (ankle), and the minutes were spread out in a big way on Saturday night. A total of 11 players played, and everyone was out there for at least 12 minutes. Interestingly, Nikola Pekovic was the one who played just 12 minutes, scoring only two points (0 - 2 FG, 2 - 2 FT) to go with five rebounds and one assist. One of the few bright spots for Minnesota was Kevin Martin, who scored 34 points (12 - 17 FG, 4 - 6 3Pt, 6 - 6 FT) to go with three rebounds and one assist. Another name that fans had to be happy to hear was Shabazz Muhammad, who put up 18 points (6 - 7 FG, 1 - 1 3Pt, 5 - 5 FT) to go with four rebounds and two assists in only 14 minutes. Minnesota gets three days to recover before taking on the New York Knicks at home on Wednesday night.
+The Atlanta Hawks (23 - 8) defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers (18 - 13) 109 - 101 on Tuesday at Philips Arena in Atlanta. After the Hawks took a 51 - 41 lead into halftime, the Cavaliers out - scored the Hawks 32 - 27 in the third quarter to bring the game back to five points. Atlanta was able to close out strong though and finish with an eight - point victory behind their strong shooting, where they went 51 percent from the field compared to Cleveland who went just 44 percent from the field. The Hawks got most of their production from the trio of Paul Millsap, Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver. Millsap had a team - high of 26 points (10 - 17 FG, 0 - 2 3Pt, 6 - 6 FT), while also coming one rebond shy of a double - double with nine. He also matched a season - high with three blocks, as he did a little bit of everything in this game. Teague had a solid all - around game as well. He scored 23 points (8 - 13 FG, 1 - 4 3Pt, 6 - 10 FG) and handed out 11 assists. It was his third double - double of the season and he's now combined for 48 points and 18 assists over his last two outings. In 40 minutes of action, Korver went 7 - for - 11 from the field and 5 - for - 8 from the three - point line to score 19 points, while also grabbing eight rebounds. Coming off the bench, Mike Scott and Dennis Schroder had 12 and 11 points respectively. The Cavaliers came into this game without LeBron James, who sat out with a knee injury. With James out of the lineup, Kyrie Irving had most of the production, going 13 - for - 27 from the floor and 3 - for - 10 from beyond the arc to finish with 35 points. He had nine assists and six rebounds, but struggled with turnovers as he added eight of those. Tristan Thompson continued to start at center with Anderson Varejao out for the season. Thompson was very effective in this one, scoring 18 points and grabbing 13 rebounds before fouling out. It was his second consecutive double - double and also back - to - back nights with 18 points. The only other Cavalier to reach double figures in points was Joe Harris, who chipped in 13 (4 - 7 FG, 3 - 4 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT) off the bench in 27 minutes. The Hawks' next game will be on the road against the Utah Jazz on Friday, while the Cavaliers will be at home against the Milwuakee Bucks on Wednesday.
+The Utah Jazz defeated Denver Nuggets, 108 - 83, at Vivint Smart Home Arena on Wednesday. Utah pulled out the rare wire - to - wire win, as this game was decided well before the final whistle. The first and third quarters is where they really made their mark, as they outscored the Nuggets 67 - 41 in that 24 - minute span. Defense was key for Utah, as they held Denver to 31 percent from the field. Utah was very efficient on their end, as they shot 50 percent from the field and assisted on 19 of their 39 made baskets. The Jazz dominated in the paint, outscoring the Nuggets 52 - 30 in the key. Denver (6 - 9) had to play this game without Danilo Gallinari and they simply did n't have enough offense in his absence. Jamal Murray carried the load, as he followed up his career - high 24 points on Tuesday with a 23 - point night here, off the bench. Wilson Chandler also played well off the pine, totaling 13 points and nine rebounds. The starters were atrocious, as Will Barton, Emmanuel Mudiay and Jusuf Nurkic combined for six points on 2 - of - 22 shooting. Kenneth Faried finished with eight points and 10 rebounds. On deck for the Nuggets is a home matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. Utah (8 - 8) have made their bread and butter off their defense and it was at its best in this win. Rudy Gobert was the catalyst on defense, as he tallied 19 points and 13 rebounds as the starting center. George Hill provided 22 points, five rebounds and three assists om 8 - of - 13 shooting. Gordon Hayward accrued 22 points, five rebounds and seven assists of his own.Rodney Hood finished with 16 points and six boards. Utah's next game will be on Friday when they host the Atlanta Hawks.
+The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the host Detroit Pistons, 101 - 91, to take a commanding 30 series lead Friday in the Eastern Conference first - round playoffs at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The last time Detroit hosted a playoff game was in 2009 and coincidently it also ended in a loss to the Cavaliers, who went on to sweep the Pistons in that first - round series. With this series now tilted at 30, the Pistons will need to lay it all on the line in the next game to avoid the fate as 2009. It was a close game for three quarters before Cleveland created some separation early in the fourth by opening up their first nine - point lead of the game; up 82 - 73. The Pistons managed to battle back, bringing it to a two - point game with 3:56 to go, but that would be as close as they would come, as the Cavs hit a couple of clutch three - pointers down the stretch to put the game out of reach. Kyrie Irving led the way offensively for Cleveland as he poured in 26 points (11 - 20 FG, 3 - 6 3Pt, 1 - 1 FT) and dished four assists, in 39 minutes. LeBron James did not have his best shooting night, going 8 - 24 from the field but still made a major impact with 20 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and one blocked shot, in 43 minutes. Kevin Love added 20 points, 12 rebounds and two assists, while Matthew Dellavedova was the only other player to score in double digits for the Cavs, with 12 points. The Pistons once again had all five starters post double digits in the points column, however their bench was only able to contribute 14 points. They also limited themselves to only eight turnovers but struggled from beyond the arc, hitting 6 - 23. Reggie Jackson finished with 13 points, 12 assists, four rebounds and two steals, in 39 minutes, while Tobias Harris added 13 points, seven rebounds, four assists, one steal and one blocked shot, in 42 minutes. Andre Drummond was forced to sit the last six minutes as the Cavs elected to go with the hack - a - Drummond strategy. The fourth and possible final game of this series will take place in Detroit, on Sunday.
+The Golden State Warriors defeated the host New Orleans Pelicans, 113 - 109, at Smoothie King Center on Tuesday. The records of these teams would indicate a lopsided result, but this game was tight until the final whistle. While there were only eight ties and 13 lead changes, neither team was able to grab a double - digit lead for the entirety of the game. The key for the Warriors was the assist - to - turnover ratio, with the Warriors recording 30 assists to 12 turnovers, while the Pelicans committed 17 turnovers to 26 assists. That's evident by the fact that Golden State took 13 more shots than New Orleans. Golden State (22 - 4) did n't have their best game here, but they escaped with a big road victory. Draymond Green was the second - lowest scoring starter, but accrued 12 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and four steals en route to another triple - double. Stephen Curry led the team in scoring. dropping 30 points, four rebounds and seven assists. Kevin Durant was n't far behind, as he scored 27 points on 10 - of - 19 shooting. The Warriors will look to keep rolling on Thursday, when they host the New York Knicks. New Orleans (8 - 18) has struggled mightily recently, but losses like this against elite teams have to be encouraging despite the result. Anthony Davis did all he could, as he lead the team with 28 points, eight rebounds and five blocks on 10 - of - 14 shooting. Jrue Holiday went just 3 - of - 12 from the field, but accumulated 10 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals in the defeat. Langston Galloway was a great spark off the bench, tallying 20 points, five rebounds and three steals. Tim Frazier also played well off the bench, scoring 13 points and handing out eight dimes. On deck for the Pelicans is a home matchup against the Indiana Pacers on Thursday.
+The Raptors came into this game as a 13 - point favorite and it's a miracle that they covered that spread. Memphis actually led for the majority of the game, until Toronto turned it on in the fourth. There were 15 lead changes in total, as no team led by more than nine points until the final minutes. Shooting was key for the Raptors, as they went 55 percent from the field and 50 percent from three - point range. With Memphis playing without Mike Conley and Zach Randolph, they got contributions from everyone. In fact, all five starters scored in double figures, with Andrew Harrison leading the team with 21 points. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan carried the load for Toronto. Lowry finished with 29 points and eight assists, while DeRozan tallied 24 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Those two combined to go 14 - of - 22 from the field and 19 - of - 21 from the free - throw line. Patrick Patterson and Cory Joseph combined for 30 points and 21 rebounds off the bench for the Raptors.
+The Toronto Raptors (26 - 15) used a big fourth quarter to hold home court Monday night against the Brooklyn Nets (11 - 31) at Air Canada Centre, Toronto trailed by three entering the fourth quarter the game remained tight until the final six minutes, when the Raptors defense clamped down on the Nets. After tying the game at 98 - 98 with 6:11 to go in the game, the Nets went ice cold and did n't score for the next 4:33. By then, the Raptors had rattled off 14 straight points and had sealed the victory. Kyle Lowry caught fire, as he shot 10 - 13 from the floor and a ludicrous 7 - 9 from three - point land to finish with 31 points to go with eight assists and three steals. DeMar DeRozan scored 30 (12 - 25 shooting) and added five assists as part of Toronto's one - two punch. Toronto shot over 50 percent from the field (43 - 85) and three - point land (13 - 24) and the offensive onslaught was too much for the Nets to bear. Brook Lopez dominated inside as he led the Nets with 29 points (13 - 22 shooting), 10 rebounds and a pair of blocked shots. Joe Johnson had a hot shooting night (9 - 12 FG, 3 - 4 3PT) and chipped in 22 points and seven assists. The Nets shot well inside (55 percent on two - point shots) but made just five three - pointers compared to Toronto's 13. The Raptors draw the Celtics on Wednesday as they continue a homestand against Eastern Conference opponents. The Nets return home for a Wednesday date against Cleveland.
+The Detroit Pistons defeated the Charlotte Hornets 114 - 108 Thursday in overtime at the Palace in Auburn Hills. The Hornets (24 - 33) actually held the lead for majority of Thursday's contest, as they entered halftime with a 12 - point lead and the fourth quarter with a 15 - point lead. But a big run from the Pistons (28 - 30) in the final period, which included some great back - and - forth between Kemba Walker and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the closing moments, ultimately forced the game into overtime. From there, it was all Detroit as Caldwell-Pope carried them through the final five minutes. Caldwell-Pope hit seven three - pointers en route to scoring a game - high 33 points and grabbing nine rebounds in 43 minutes. Detroit also got yet another great performance off the bench from Tobias Harris, who scored 25 points on 9 - of - 17 shooting from the field in 37 minutes as a reserve. Walker did everything he could for the Hornets in the closing moments, matching every punch Caldwell-Pope threw at him and his team. He finished with a game - high 34 points, seven rebounds and six assists in 42 minutes, but unfortunately for Charlotte, it was n't enough. The loss results in the fifth straight loss for the Hornets and their 12th loss in their last 13 games. Every starter for Charlotte managed to score in double figures Thursday, but the team's bench unit continues to be a problem for this team, as the four players who saw minutes off the bench scored just 14 points on 6 - of - 21 shooting from the field. Up next, the Pistons will remain home Sunday to take on the Celtics, while the Hornets will look to end their losing streak Saturday against the Kings.
+The Toronto Raptors (50) defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder (3 - 2) 103 - 98 on Wednesday at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City. After a back and forth battle over the first two quarters, the Raptors took a one - point lead into halftime. The Thunder then went off in the third quarter and gained some momentum, outscoring the Raptors 42 - 33 to take an eight - point lead. While the Thunder looked as if they were in control following that third quarter, the Raptors exploded in the fourth and pushed their way to a tough 103 - 98 victory on the road in Oklahoma City. Overall, it was a relatively sloppy game, with the two teams combining for a whopping 34 turnovers. DeMar DeRozan had the hot hand for the Raptors, finishing with a game - high of 28 points (7 - 18 FG), to go along with five rebounds and three assists. He constantly forced his way to the free - throw line, hitting an impressive 14 - of - 15 attempts on the night. DeRozan is on a hot streak right now, combining for 48 points over his last two games and has been a huge reason the Raptors are still undefeated. Kyle Lowry also did his part Wednesday, contributing 17 points (5 - 14 FG, 3 - 8 3Pt, 4 - 6 FT), four rebounds, and one assist. After averaging eight assists coming into this outing, it was quite uncharacteristic of Lowry to only dish out the one dime. His five turnovers also matched a season - high. Jonas Valanciunas double - doubled with 17 points (6 - 9 FG, 5 - 5 FT) and 11 rebounds over 29 minutes, which marked his second of the young season. The Thunder's superstar duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook did everything they could to push Oklahoma City to a win. Durant finished an impressive 10 - for - 18 from the field and 2 - for - 5 from the three - point line for 27 points, while also adding seven rebounds and four assists. Offensively, Durant has been unstoppable to start this season, scoring 25 points or more in four of five games. Westbrook, on the other hand, nearly recorded the unconventional triple - double with 22 points (8 - 21 FG, 3 - 9 3Pt, 3 - 4 FT), 16 assists, and eight turnovers. The 16 assists were a season - high for the guard, although the eight turnovers were as well, so it was n't all good. Enes Kanter had a big day as well, pitching in 15 of the bench's 22 points. The Raptors will next head to Orlando to play the Magic on Friday, while the Thunder will be on the road against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.
+The Boston Celtics defeated the visiting Atlanta Hawks, 111 - 103, in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first - round playoffs Friday at TD Garden. The Hawks lead the series, 2 - 1. Boston came out with some fire early, as they took a 37 - 20 lead after the first. The Hawks overcame a 20 - point deficit to take a lead in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t overcome a late fury by Boston. The Celtics starters outscored the Hawks starters by 13 points and were led by a 42 - point gem from Isaiah Thomas. Game 4 will be on Sunday, when the Celtics look to even up the series in their home building. The Hawks played hard, but simply built too deep of a hole to overcome in this game. Despite Paul Millsap and Al Horford grabbing double - digit rebounds, both players failed to reach double figures in scoring. Jeff Teague led the team with 23 points and also dished out five assists. Kent Bazemore provided 20 points and eight rebounds of his own. Dennis Schroeder led all bench scorers in this game with 20 points as well. Atlanta shot just 25 percent from three - point range in this loss, as they missed 27 of their 36 attempts. To say this was a must win for Boston would be a drastic understatement. Isaiah Thomas was the player of the game, as he scored a career - high 42 points, which also happens to be a playoff - high for this current season. Jonas Jerebko got a rare start and double - doubled in a 11 - point, 12 - rebound, four - assist performance. Evan Turner also got a rare start and tallied 17 points, seven assists and five steals. Six players played at least 31 minutes and the once clustered rotation has turned into a short one for the postseason.
+The Brooklyn Nets (7 - 15) defeated the Philadelphia 76ers (1 - 22) 100 - 91 on Thursday for their second consecutive home victory. The story of the game turned out to be the two teams' big men, who both put together atypical performances as compared to their recent efforts. Sixers center Jahlil Okafor had endured a rough last two weeks, posting three lackluster performances before serving a two - game suspension earlier this month for off - the - court scuffles on Thanksgiving Eve. He then was relegated to the bench in his first game back Monday, and shot 3 - for - 14 from the field during an embarassing 119 - 68 beatdown at the hands of the Spurs. Thursday, Okafor came back with a vengeance, responding with a 22 - point, 10 - rebound double - double over 31 minutes. Meanwhile, Lopez got into foul trouble and therefore was limited to just 19 minutes, leading to his worst overall outing of the season. The eight - year veteran was held to single - digit scoring for the first time in the 2015 - 16 campaign, posting seven points, seven rebounds, an assist and a block during his limited time on the court. Okafor was actually the only starter for the visitors that was able to tally double - digit points, as the majority of support he received came from the bench in the form of T.J. McConnell and Richaun Holmes. McConnell collected 17 points and added a rebound, an assist and three steals, while Holmes managed double - digit scoring for the third time in the last four games (14 points). Nerlens Noel and Robert Covington could only pitch in a pair of six - point efforts, while Isaiah Canaan struggled through a 2 - for - 10 shooting night on the way to only four points. The one other bright spot in the starting five was Tony Wroten, who continued his comeback from January knee surgery by posting a season - high nine points, along with four rebounds, a pair of assists and a steal over 17 minutes. It was the third time in his three games this season that Wroten has increased his time on the court, as he works his way back to a starter's allotment of minutes. The Sixers dropped to 1 - 22 and remain in last place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division with the worst record in the league. They head home for a date with the Detroit Pistons on Friday. The Nets used a 30 - 19 fourth quarter to come back from a 74 - 70 deficit entering the period. With Lopez spending large chunks of time on the bench, it was veteran big man Andrea Bargnani, making his return from a four - game absence due to a hamstring injury, that posted a season - high and game - high 23 points. Bargnani added six rebounds and an assist over a highly productive 23 minutes. Thaddeus Young was solid once again despite being without his customary frontcourt mate for a large part of the game, collecting his fourth consecutive double - double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Bojan Bogdanovic pitched in with his second consecutive double - digit scoring game, amassing 10 points, three rebounds, and three assists, along with another pair of his trademark three - pointers. Like fellow reserve Bargnani, Shane Larkin also made significant contributions off the bench, tallying 14 points, six assists, four rebounds and a steal over an efficient and stat - sheet - stuffing 27 minutes. Brooklyn improved to 7 - 15 and remains in fourth place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division. They remain home for a Saturday afternoon showdown against the Clippers.
+The Oklahoma City Thunder (24 - 10) routed the Hornets (17 - 16) in Charlotte on Saturday, 109 - 90. The Thunder have been on a tear of late, picking up 13 of their last 15 games. After a mediocre start, OKC has established themselves comfortably as the third - ranked team in the Western Conference, and have slowly been gaining on the second seed San Antonio Spurs, who currently rank dead last in strength of schedule. 2014 MVP Kevin Durant led the way for the Thunder with a 29 - point scoring performance. Durant paired the impressive points total with 11 rebounds and four blocked shots, contributing to the Thunder's impressive 15 total blocks. All-NBA point guard Russell Westbrook showcased his skill too, posting a well - rounded stat line of 16 points, six rebounds, and seven assists. The dynamic duo of Durant and Westbrook has been elecrtic this season, as both players rank in the top four in the league in scoring. The Hornets, meanwhile, got off to a blazing hot start this season but have slowed down recently. Charlotte is now just 7 - 9 in the month of December and have dropped three straight games. Star point guard Kemba Walker, however, has not wavered in the face of the losing streak. Walker delivered a dominant 32 points, which he coupled with three steals on the defensive end. Walker's effort was not enough, however, as the team was held to just 35 percent shooting from the field on the night. OKC will hope to continue playing winning basketball as they prepare to take on the Sacramento Kings on Monday. Charlotte, on the other hand, will face a tough challenge as they take to the road against the 30 - 2 Golden State Warriors on Monday.
+The Oklahoma City Thunder (47 - 22) defeated the Philadelpia 76ers (9 - 60) 111 - 97 on Friday. The Thunder could have easily been tempted to think a playoff spot was in the bag coming into Friday night, considering that all they needed to do was take care of business against an overmatched Sixers squad. However, as has been the case on several occasions this seasons, Philadelphia proved to be a tough out for a considerable portion of the game against a vastly superior opponent. The Sixers hung with the Thunder well into the third quarter, and did get a boost with the return of Jerami Grant (concussion) to the starting five. The hapless home squad also turned the tables on the visitors in the turnover department, eliciting 20 from the Thunder and commiting only eight themselves. Ultimately, however, Russell Westbrook's league - leading 13th triple - double and Kevin Durant's double - double were too much for the Sixers, and helped lead Oklahoma City to victory. Durant finished with 26 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and a block, although he did account for a quarter of the turnovers for the Thunder. Westbrook was guilty of committing five miscues himself, but more than made up for it by supplying 20 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists, two blocks and a steal. Steven Adams also tallied a double - double, which consisted of 12 points, 11 boards, three blocks and an assist. Enes Kanter paced the reserves with 16 points, seven rebounds and a block, although he handed the ball over to the opposition a team - high six times. The Thunder remain in first place in the Western Conference's Northwest Division, and currently hold the third seed in the conference as well. They hit the road again for a date with the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night. The Sixers' starters were led by Hollis Thompson's 16 points, which he complemented with four rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals. Grant pitched in with 15 points, seven rebounds, two assists and three blocks. Nerlens Noel managed a near double - double with 12 points, nine boards, two assists, a steal and two blocks. Isaiah Canaan registered 10 points, four rebounds, two assists and three steals. Nik Stauskas paced the reserves - - and the team as a whole - - with 23 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals over 34 minutes off the bench. The Sixers remain in last place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division with the worst record in the NBA. They're home again Sunday for a date with the Boston Celtics.
+Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns overpowered the Kings defense in a rather easy road victory for Minnesota, a team that's been far from strong on the road this season. Wiggins finished with 27 points, four rebounds and one assist on 10 - of - 22 shooting, while Towns added 29 points, 17 rebounds, two assists and three blocks. Nemanja Bjelica put up a strong bench performance in his 35 minutes, as he posted 10 points and 12 boards. All five Kings starters did finish in double figures in scoring, with three tying for the team lead of 14 points. Kosta Koufos, Ben McLemore and Willie Cauley-Stein each had 14 points, while Darren Collison and Ty Lawson pitched in 10 points and 11 points, respectively. Newcomer Tyreke Evans played 25 minutes off the bench and scored 13 points, to go with five rebounds and two assists.
+The Orlando Magic (15 - 11) defeated the Portland Trail Blazers (11 - 17) 102 - 94 on Friday. The Trail Blazers came into Friday's contest with one of the worst defensive frontcourts in the NBA, surrendering a league - worst average of 22 points and 17 rebounds to opposing centers. This troubling trend for Portland was on full display Friday, with the Magic's Nikola Vucevic tallying 25 points and 11 rebounds for his ninth double - double performance of the season. The Orlando center made a season - high 22 shot attempts, draining 12 of them for a solid 55 percentage from the field. Meanwhile, forward Tobias Harris pitched in with his own 25 - point double - double, and added 12 boards. Orlando completely dominated the contest down low, outscoring Portland by a resounding margin of 52 to 18 in the paint and outrebounding them 48 to 42. Portland was led by a valiant effort from C.J. McCollum, who drained 11 of 19 shots on his way to a game - high 27 points. The third - year pro added six assists and a pair of rebounds. Backcourt mate Damian Lillard was solid as well, although he slogged through an atypical 4 - for - 15 shooting performance. Lillard did tally 19 points, but it was a total that was significantly supplemented by the nine free throw attempts that he successfully converted. Al-Farouq Aminiu had his most prolific scoring night in nearly two weeks with 16 points, an amount he reached with the help of a season - high four three - pointers. Allen Crabbe paced the Portland bench with the only other double - digit scoring effort on the team, amassing 14 points and adding four rebounds and an assist. The Trail Blazers fell to 11 - 17 and remain in fourth place in the Western Conference's Northwest Division. They head to Miami to face the Heat on Sunday. In addition to Vucevic's and Harris' outstanding efforts, Orlando also enjoyed the benefit of a stat - sheet - stuffing evening from point guard Elfrid Payton. The second - year pro managed 19 points, six rebounds, three assists, a pair of steals and a block, while visiting the free throw line a season - high 17 times. Victor Oladipo was also outstanding off the bench, pouring 15 points and adding six assists, four rebounds, three steals and a block over a robust 35 minutes. The third - year pro was pressed into extended action after starting shooting guard Evan Fournier sustained a dislocated pinkie finger and thus was limited to only 22 minutes. The Magic improved to 15 - 11 and currently reside in third place in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division. They remain home for a date with the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday.
+The Pistons have been a different team at home this season and much of it is reliant on their defense. Not only are they 50 at Palace of Auburn Hills, they are allowing just 85 points a game at home this season. Three-point shooting killed the Thunder, as they went just 5 - of - 27 in the defeat. Without Andre Drummond, Aron Baynes had his best game of the season, recording a season - high 20 points and eight rebounds. Jon Leuer and Beno Udrih were very effective off the bench, combining for 18 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists in the win. Victor Oladipo continues to struggle in a Thunder uniform, as he scored just nine points on 4 - of - 17 shooting in the defeat. Russell Westbrook did all he could to keep Oklahoma City in the game, as he accumulated 33 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists.
+The Detroit Pistons defeated the Charlotte Hornets, 112 - 89, at Spectrum Arena on Tuesday. The Pistons (9 - 10) checked in to Tuesday's contest with an unsightly 1 - 8 road record, a sharp contrast to the 7 - 2 mark they've compiled at the Palace at Auburn Hills. However, Tobias Harris took matters into his own hands, ensuring that Detroit would stop the bleeding away from home, at least for a night. He tallied a team - high 24 points and supplemented it with seven rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal. He was aided by a pair of 18 - point efforts from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Marcus Morris, which helped make up for a forgettable outing from Andre Drummond, who played just 13 minutes and scored three points on 1 - of - 6 shooting. Overall, the Pistons enjoyed one of their better shooting nights of the season, posting a 49 percent success rate from the field, while also limiting the Hornets (10 - 8) to sub - 40 percent tallies from both the field and three - point range. Caldwell-Pope added seven rebounds, seven assists, a steal and a block to his scoring total. Morris checked in with four rebounds and a steal in addition to his points. Ish Smith supplied 13 points, three assists, two rebounds and a steal, while Jon Leuer led the reserves with 12 points, seven rebounds, an assist and a steal. The Hornets found scoring to be at a premium throughout the night, with only three players across the entire roster managing double - digit points. Kemba Walker unsurprisingly led the way with 23 points, four assists, two rebounds, two steals and a block. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was next with 10 points, four rebounds, a steal and a block. Cody Zeller registered a modest eight points but did haul in 10 rebounds. Nicolas Batum and Frank Kaminsky could only combine for 10 points, although Batum also brought in 11 boards and dished out five assists. Marco Belinelli paced the second unit with 11 points, two rebounds, two assists and a block. The Pistons continue on the road, as they face the Boston Celtics on Wednesday. The Hornets are off until Thursday, when they welcome the Dallas Mavericks to town.
+Mike Conley needed only 33 minutes to turn in his best outing of the season, as the point guard tore up the Suns for 38 points, nine assists and six rebounds. Conley also added seven three - pointers, and finished a remarkable 12 - of - 18 from the field. Marc Gasol has cooled off considerably from his three straight 30 - plus point games, but was still efficient in his 18 points after going 6 - of - 12 from the field. The Suns had no answer for the Grizzlies 16 - of - 28 shooting from behind the three - point line. Marquese Chriss did have a solid outing in his starting role, as he finished with 20 points on 8 - of - 12 shooting, to go with six rebounds, two steals and one block. Devin Booker could not find a rhythm and scored 22 points on 20 shots, alongside two assists and six boards.
+If you told the Knicks that they'd lose Derrick Rose to injury, have Carmelo Anthony shoot 20 percent and see Kristaps Porzingis foul out, it likely would n't be a pretty result. Despite all that, New York overcame a double - digit deficit in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime, but still could n't quite prevail. The key to victory for the Suns was defense, as they held the Knicks to 39 percent shooting and out - rebounded them, 61 - 43. Despite fouling out, Porzingis led the team with 34 points, eight rebounds, three steals and three blocks in the loss. Kyle O'Quinn was huge off the bench for New York, totaling 22 points and 14 rebounds. Eric Bledsoe was the Suns best player, accumulating 31 points, six rebounds and eight assists. Tyson Chandler was a monster down low, scoring 13 points and snatching down a season - high 23 rebounds. Both Devin Booker and Carmelo Anthony struggled big time, as Anthony went 3 - of - 15 and Booker went 3 - of - 16.
+The Bulls and Celtics have always been rivals and this thriller added to the historic matchup. Jimmy Butler was the hero, as he hit two late free - throws with 1 seconds left to win the game. Rebounding was the decisive statistic, with Chicago winning that differential, 51 - 31. Isaiah Thomas led the way for Boston, as he tallied 29 points, three rebounds and seven assists. No other starter had more than 10 points. Kelly Olynyk finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists off the bench. Butler added a big game to his heroics, as he led the Bulls with 29 points, four rebounds and seven assists. Bobby Portis finished second on the team with 19 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Taj Gibson and Robin Lopez combined 27 points and 17 rebounds as the starting frontcourt.
+The Utah Jazz (23 - 25) picked up a Western Conference home win Wednesday over the Denver Nuggets (19 - 31) at Vivint Smart Home Arena, 85 - 81. Neither team had its deep shots working Wednesday night, as the two clubs combined to shoot 9 - 40 (23 percent) from three - point range, and both teams finished under 25 percent from deep. The Jazz won behind a strong defensive showing, primarily six blocks that helped them limit Denver to a poor 22 - 52 (42 percent) on two - point shots. Derrick Favors and Gordon Hayward scored 16 points apiece to share the team high for the Jazz. Favors notched a double - double with 11 rebounds and added a whopping six blocks as he imposed his will inside. Hayward missed all four of his three - point attempts but finished a perfect 6 - 6 at the free throw line and dished out five assists. Trevor Booker and Trey Lyles added a spark off the bench, as they combined for 15 points on 7 - 9 shooting in 31 total minutes. Danilo Gallinari battled through a tough shooting night (5 - 16 FG) to score a game - high 24 points, powered by a brilliant 12 - 14 performance at the free throw line. Kenneth Faried scored an efficient 14 points on 5 - 8 shooting and Will Barton dropped a 10 - point, 10 - rebound double - double in 23 minutes off the bench. But the offense for the Nuggets was stagnant, as they assisted on just 11 field goals and turned the ball over 14 times, preventing them from snatching the road win. Denver returns home for a matchup Friday against the Bulls. The Jazz continue their homestand with an interconference matchup Thursday against the Bucks.
+The Oklahoma City Thunder (33 - 27) defeated the Los Angeles Lakers (16 - 42) 108 - 101 on Sunday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The Thunder got out to a quick start Sunday, out - scoring the Lakers 28 - 19 right away in the first quarter. That was really important for the Thunder, as the Lakers ended up as the better shooting team. The Lakers finished at 44 percent from the field and 36 percent from the three - point line, while the Thunder went 41 percent from the floor and 34 percent from deep. The Thunder did finish with a 54 - 49 rebounding advantage though, which may have been just enough of an edge to overcome the Lakers push. This was a big win for the Thunder, who had lost two games in a row. To make things worse, they were also without both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, so they had some role players really step up. D.J. Augustin was a big reason for the success without the Thunders' superstars. Starting at point guard, he finished with 18 points (6 - 15 FG, 4 - 10 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT), eight rebounds and five assists. It was far - and - away his best showing since coming over to the Thunder at the trade deadline just six games ago. It was also a very timely performance, considering the injury woes. Serge Ibaka was also a huge factor in the win, posting 18 points (6 - 17 FG, 0 - 1 3Pt, 6 - 7 FT) of his own, to go along with 14 rebounds and three blocked shots. He's picked it up offensively of late, averaging 18 points over his last seven games. Enes Kanter also took advantage of a good matchup against the Lakers' frontcourt. He finished with 16 points (6 - 10 FG, 4 - 6 FT), 15 rebounds and five assists, notching his third double - double since joining the Thunder. In the five games since the trade deadline, he's averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds. The Lakers saw a ton of production from their bench Sunday. Jeremy Lin was a big reason the Lakers had a chance at a win. He went 7 - for - 14 from the field and 1 - for - 3 from the three - point line to finish with a game - high of 20 points, while adding six rebounds and eight assists in a near triple - double. He's picked his game up for the Lakers lately, averaging 17 points and six assists over his last four outings. Also off the bench, Jordan Hill posted 14 points (5 - 10 FG, 1 - 1 3Pt, 3 - 4 FT) and 12 rebounds. Despite coming off the bench, he's stayed prodcutive and has combined for 44 points over his last three games. He's now averaging 12 points and 8 rebounds on the season. Running with the starters, both Jordan Clarkson and Wayne Ellington had some success. Clarkson finished with 12 points (5 - 14 FG, 2 - 4 3Pt) and four assists, while Ellington had 12 points (5 - 15 FG, 1 - 8 3Pt, 1 - 3 FT), six rebounds and six assists. The Thunder's next game will be at home against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, while the Lakers will travel to Charlotte to play the Hornets on Tuesday.
+The Atlanta Hawks (4 - 2) defeated the Brooklyn Nets (2 - 4) 111 - 87 on Friday in Brooklyn in Game 6 of their first - round playoff series to win the series and advance to the second round. While facing elimination, the Nets were able to keep it close going into halftime, as they were down just six points heading into the locker room. The Hawks, however, were able to kick it into another gear to start the third quarter and open the period on an 18 - 3 run to take a 21 - point lead. From there, they never looked back and cruised to a series victory. Paul Milsap lead the way for the Hawks, recording a game - high 25 points (9 - 15 FG, 2 - 4 3Pt) to go along with nine rebounds and six assists in 31 minutes of play. It had been a bit of an up - and - down series for Milsap, but he finished strong and averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds through the six games. DeMarre Carroll was not far behind, scoring 20 points (7 - 8 FG, 3 - 4 3Pt) and five rebounds in just 24 minutes, capping off a great series for him where he was arguably Atlanta's best player. He scored 20 - plus points in four of the six games and finished with averages of 18 points and 7 rebounds while shooting 54 percent from the field and 48 percent from three. Kyle Korver also scored 20 points (6 - 10 FG, 6 - 10 3Pt) in 32 minutes, while Al Horford scored 18 points (8 - 14 FG) and grabbed seven rebounds in 31 minutes. The Hawks' fifth and final starter, Jeff Teague, had a rough outing, scoring zero points on 0 - for - 5 shooting, but he was still able to dish out 13 assists in 24 minutes. Dennis Schroder scored 12 points in 21 minutes off the bench and rounds out the five Atlanta players who scored in double figures. The Hawks will now head back home Sunday to take on the Washington Wizards in their second - round playoff series. The Wizards are coming off a first - round sweep of the Toronto Raptors. As for the Nets, their lone bright spot was the play of Brook Lopez, who has been phenomenal all season and in this playoff series. Lopez scored 19 points (7 - 15 FG) and grabbed seven rebounds in 35 minutes, bringing his playoff averages 20 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks as he caps off a very solid 2014 - 15 campaign. Brooklyn could not get much else out of their rotation with Deron Williams scoring 13 points (5 - 10 FG) to go along with five rebounds and four assists in 27 minutes, while Joe Johnson scored just 12 points on 5 - of - 13 shooting to go along with six rebounds and six assists. Jarrett Jack (11) was the only other Net to score in double figures while playing 27 minutes off the bench.
+The Indiana Pacers (30 - 34) defeated the Milwaukee Bucks (34 - 31) ,109 - 103, on Thursday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. In a matchup between the East's sixth and seventh seeds, Milwaukee and Indiana went back and forth all the way through overtime, but the Pacers outlasted the Bucks. Milwaukee went on an 11 - 2 run to cut the Pacers' lead from 10 to one midway through the fourth quarter. From there, Milwaukee had an answer every time Indiana tried to pull away. Ersan Ilyasova had his 11th point of the fourth quarter to tie it at 96, but could n't convert the second free throw to give Milwaukee the lead. Luis Scola was huge off the bench with 17 points and 15 rebounds, including a jumper that helped spark a 90 Pacers run in overtime. Indiana has taken two out of three in the season series with Milwaukee. They will meet for the final time in the regular season in two weeks. Milwaukee faltered in overtime to drop the second half of a back - to - back set. Michael Carter-Williams had his best game as a member of the Bucks with 28 points, 12 rebounds, and two steals. O.J Mayo and Jerryd Bayless were both sidelined for this contest, which allowed Tyler Ennis to play 15 minutes, although he only managed six points and four assists in that span. Milwaukee returns to action Saturday in Memphis. The Pacers have now won a season - high seven games in a row and nine of their last ten. Roy Hibbert was sidelined with an elbow injury, but Ian Mahinmi filled in admirably as the rim protector. Mahinmi finished with 10 boards and four blocks in 29 minutes before fouling out in overtime. Rodney Stuckey continued his scoring tear with a team - high 23 points in 37 minutes off the bench. The Pacers resume play Saturday when they host the Celtics.
+The Golden State Warriors (220) did not surprise anybody as they beat the Brooklyn Nets (5 - 15) by a score of 114 - 98 on Sunday evening, in Brooklyn. Brooklyn led 76 - 72 with two minutes left in the third quarter and for a couple of minutes allowed people to wonder if they would be the ones to stop the Warriors. However, Golden State out - scored Brooklyn 42 - 22 the rest of the way, building up to a decisive victory. Thaddeus Young led the Nets in scoring and rebounding with a huge double - double, consisting of 25 points on 11 - 19 shooting and 14 rebounds. Brook Lopez finished with 18 points, eight rebounds, three assists, one steal and one blocked shot, in 27 minutes. Shane Larkin pitched in 13 points, six assists and four steals, in 27 minutes off the bench. The Nets as a team shot only 43 percent from the field and went 15 - 23 from the free throw line. Golden State was up to business as usual; led by Stephen Curry who finished with a game - high 28 points on 11 - 17 shooting, including 5 - 9 from deep, along with five rebounds and two assists. Klay Thompson chipped in 21 points, three assists and three rebounds, while Draymond Green finished with 22 points, seven assists and nine rebounds. The Warriors shot a strong 51 percent from the field and 42 percent from long range. Harrison Barnes was not active. The Warriors will continue their road trip by dropping in at Indiana on Tuesday. Brooklyn will host Houston on Tuesday.
+The Golden State Warriors (53 - 13) defeated the Los Angeles Lakers (17 - 49) 108 - 105 on Monday at Oracle Arena in Oakland. While the Lakers have already been eliminated from the playoffs, this win pushes the Warriors to six and a half games ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies, who sit second in the Western Conference standings. The Warriors have now won two games in a row and eight of their last ten, as they comfortably hold their lead in the West. Despite taking the loss, the Lakers finised with a 45 - 37 rebounding advantage and shot an impressive 50 percent from the three - point line. The Warriors' superstar duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson did it again Monday. Thompson went 10 - for - 22 from the field and 3 - for - 9 from the three - point line to score a game - high of 26 points, while also adding three rebounds. Thompson has been scoring at a high rate lately, as he's averaging 25 points over his last five games. Curry, on the other hand, finished with 26 points (5 - 14 FG, 2 - 6 3Pt, 7 - 7 FT), nine assists and three steals in 33 minutes. He's put in two solid performances in a row, combining for 44 points, 20 assists and six steals in his last two outings. Also playing a big factor in the win was Draymond Green, as he recorded 16 points (7 - 14 FG, 1 - 5 3Pt, 1 - 1 FT), to go along with eight rebounds and a game - high of five steals. He's been a force defensively for the Warriors, with this marking his second game in a row with five steals. Harrison Barnes chipped in with 11 points (3 - 8 FG, 1 - 4 3Pt, 4 - 4 FT) as well. The Lakers saw a true team - effort in the loss, with six players reaching double figures in points. Jordan Clarkson was impressive, going 7 - for - 13 from the field and 1 - for - 2 from the three - point line to score 17 points, while also adding six rebounds and a pair of steals in just 25 minutes. He has shot below 35 percent from the field in each of his last three games, so it was good to see him get pointed back in the right direction Monday. Wayne Ellington posted 17 points (6 - 13 FG, 3 - 5 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT) of his own in 30 minutes. It was some nice production from the guard, with this being his highest scoring performance since the beginning of February. Notching a double - double, Jordan Hill finished with 15 points (6 - 14 FG, 1 - 1 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT) and 12 rebounds. The Lakers also saw some good contributions off the bench. Jeremy Lin had 15 points (3 - 8 FG, 1 - 3 3Pt, 8 - 10 FT) and four assists, while Carlos Boozer added 10 points (5 - 12 FG) and nine rebounds. The Warriors' next game will be at home against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, while the Lakers will be at home against the Utah Jazz on Thursday.
+The Portland Trail Blazers beat the host Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, 95 - 89. With star point guard Damian Lillard (ankle) sidelined, shooting guard C.J. McCollum led the Blazers (15 - 21) to victory with a career - high 43 points. McCollum had been performing at a high level with Lillard out, averaging 26 points per game over the team's last three games. Sunday, however, saw the biggest performane of McCollum's career, as the guard scored 43 points along with five rebounds, three assists, three steals, and a block. As a team, the Blazers had a respectable offensive night despite shooting just 6 - of - 22 from beyond the arc. Portland finished the game shooting over 49 percent from the field. Minnesota (11 - 23), meanwhile, kept the game close despite a shoddy shooting night. The team hit just 40 percent of its shots and only seven three - pointers. Leading scorer Andrew Wiggins still impressed, however, scoring 24 points and shooting 10 - of - 20 from the field. Star center Karl-Anthony Towns, meanwhile, had an off night on offense, scoring just 11 points and shooting only 3 - of - 15 overall. The Wolves will visit Philadelphia on Tuesday, while the Blazers will take on the Warriors on Wednesday.
+On Sunday, the Orlando Magic bounced back from a tough stretch to take down the Toronto Raptors. Center Nikola Vucevic led the team with 25 points and 10 rebounds while also dishing out five assists and blocking four shots. Another 20 - point outing came from D.J. Augustin, who came off the bench for 21 on 7 - of - 10 shooting. Starting point guard Elfrid Payton, meanwhile, recorded a double - double with 11 points and 10 assists. The team was scorching hot, shooting over 53 percent on the night. For the Raptors, All-Star starter DeMar DeRozan had a poor outing after returning from injury. While he scored 22, he shot just 6 - of - 18 on the night. Star point guard Kyle Lowry, meanwhile, scored an efficient 33 to lead the team. Lowry added a team - high eight assists.
+The Los Angeles Lakers (21 - 58) beat the Minnesota Timberwolves (16 - 63) 106 - 98 on Friday. Ryan Kelly showed off his passing skills from the frontcourt against Minnesota. He finished with seven assists to go along with 21 points and four rebounds. Jordan Clarkson has been one of very few bright spots for the Lakers in what has been a dreadful season. He put up 18 points, nine assists, six rebounds and four steals in a dominant performance against a youthful Timberwolves squad. Los Angeles only sent eight players to the court tonight so many of them put of nice statistical lines. Jabari Brown had 20 points and seven assists as well. Los Angeles ended a five - game losing streak. After the Dallas Mavericks, the Lakers will play their two final games against the Sacramento Kings. Andrew Wiggins proved again why he was the number one overall selection in last summer's draft, as well as how much his game has matured since the beginning of the season. He had a monster game against the Lakers, with 29 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. However it was n't enough to end his team's eight game losing streak, that initially started with a 101 - 99 loss in overtime against the Lakers back on Mar. 25. The Golden State Warriors will host the Timberwolves on Saturday, as the Lakers will welcome the Dallas Mavericks to the Staples Center on Sunday.
+The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on Monday. Paul MIllsap was the hero for Atlanta, as he drained a floating layup with 0:1 remaining in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime, and then assisted Kent Bazemore on game winning jumper in the extra time. Millsap went on to put the game out of reach the free throw line and secure the road victory for Atlanta (32 - 23). The Blazers (23 - 32) dropped to 14 - 13 on their home court, but were hanging tough with the Hawks throughout the contest. Damian Lillard was flexing his range from way beyond 24 - feet, while C.J. McCollum was clutch with needed baskets down the stretch. The duo combined for 47 points, but it took 45 shots, and outside of the strong shooting in the fourth quarter, Lillard ended up going 6 - of - 21 from the field. Millsap was far from efficient in his effort as well, but his play when it mattered most shined through on his way to 21 points, nine rebound, five assists, two steals and four blocks on 4 - of - 12 shooting. Tim Hardaway Jr. punched in 25 points across 43 minutes, and has really been phenomenal in his starts for Thabo Sefolosha. Hardaway added seven rebounds, four assists and one steal. Dwight Howard was monsterous on the boards, and ended up with 19 points and 16 rebounds. Next up, the Hawks will visit the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, while the Blazers play the same night on the road at the Utah Jazz.
+It was an absolute rout in Thursday's Spurs-Lakers game, with San Antonio taking the contest by 40 points. Superstar forward Kawhi Leonard played only 26 minutes, but still led the team with an impressive 31 points on 10 - of - 13 shooting. Leonard added two steals on the defensive end. Veteran big man Pau Gasol scored an additional 22 points and recorded nine rebounds and six assists. As a team, San Antonio simply annihilated the Lakers in every category. The Spurs shot a whopping 60 percent and had 10 three - pointers. They also held a 46 - 29 rebounding advantage. The Lakers, meanwhile, saw abysmal play from four of their starting five. While forward Julius Randle scored a team - high 22 points, the remaining starters combined for only 20. The team shot just 41 percent and made only six three - pointers on the night.
+The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Brooklyn Nets, 106 - 101, at Barclays Center on Tuesday evening. The Sixers (28 - 46) continue to push for as many victories as possible after such a considerable degree of futility over the last several seasons, and their fighting spirit helped them prevail against an equally feisty Nets (16 - 58) squad on Tuesday. Philadelphia had forged a razor - thin 58 - 57 lead by halftime but had to fight until the closing seconds to pull out the win. Neither team shot particularly well but it was two 20 - point - plus efforts by Robert Covington and Dario Saric that led the way for the Sixers and spearheaded their 11th road win of the season. Saric paced Philadelphia with 23 points, which he supplemented with seven rebounds, an assist and a block. Covington produced a 21 - point, 13 - rebound double - double that also included an assist, two steals and two blocks. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot produced a near double - double with 17 points, nine boards, three assists, a steal and a block. Richaun Holmes generated 13 points, five boards and two assists. T.J. McConnell supplied a full stat line of eight points, 10 assists, two rebounds, three steals and a block. Nik Stauskas led the bench with 11 points, four rebounds, two assists and a block. Brook Lopez led Brooklyn with 26 points, nine rebounds, six assists and two blocks. Jeremy Lin filled out the stat sheet with 11 points, seven assists, six rebounds and four steals. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson matched Lin's point total and added seven rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocks. Caris LaVert turned in nine points and five rebounds, while Spencer Dinwiddie led the bench with 10 points, five assists, four rebounds and one steal. The Sixers head back home to tangle with the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday evening, while the Nets head to Motown to do battle with the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night.
+The Toronto Raptors defeated the host Washington Wizards 113 - 103 at Verizon Center on Wednesday. In a game that was never separated by more than 12 points, the Raptors were able to prevail by getting to the basket at will. Both teams shot very efficiently, as they both shot over 55 percent from the field. The big difference was the interior play, as the Raptors scored 68 paint points, while holding the Wizards to just 28. Turnovers were an issue for Washington as well, as they committed 21 and allowed the Raptors to score 31 points off those turnovers. Toronto (3 - 1) continues to score at will and they are riding the hot shooting hand of DeMar DeRozan. The shooting guard has scored at least 32 points in all four games this season and finished this outing with a 40 spot. He added five rebounds and five assists with his 40 points and shot 14 - of - 23 from the field and 11 - of - 16 from the free - throw line. Kyle Lowry was the only other starter with more than 10, as he scored 18 points and recorded four steals in the win. Patrick Patterson and Terrence Ross were a nice spark off the bench, accumulating 25 points, five rebounds and four assists. Washington (0 - 3) has gotten off to a rough start this season, as the defense continues to struggle. In fact, they have now allowed at least 112 points in every game so far this season. John Wall did everything he could to pull out a win though, as he tallied a season - high 33 points, 11 assists and five rebounds in the loss. It was n't all sunshine and roses though, as Wall also committed nine turnovers and missed two late crucial free - throws. Otto Porter had his best game of the season, totaling 23 points and 13 rebounds on 11 - of - 13 shooting. Bradley Beal and Marcin Gortat finished with 15 points a piece as well. Both teams return to action on Friday, as the Raptors host the Miami Heat and the Wizards host the Atlanta Hawks.
+The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Toronto Raptors, 121 - 117, at Quicken Loans Arena on Tuesday. The two teams had already engaged in a tight defensive battle in the second game of the season, with the Cavs emerging as 94 - 91 victors. Tuesday saw a completely different game unfold, with both teams exploding for some of their best point totals of the season. As usual, Cleveland (8 - 1) was led by the Big Three of Kyrie Irving, LeBron James and Kevin Love, who combined for 71 of the Cavs' 121 points, which included double - doubles from the latter two. Strong performances from Tristan Thompson and Channing Frye also helped lead to a stellar 53 percent team tally from the field. The Raptors (7 - 3) were led by Kyle Lowry, who posted a near double - double with 28 points, nine assists, five rebounds and four steals. DeMar DeRozan followed with 26 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals, but struggled from the field, going just 10 - of - 27. Jonas Valanciunas compiled 14 points, nine rebounds and a pair of dimes. Norman Powell drew the start at small forward and contributed 12 points, three rebounds, three assists and a block. Terrence Ross paced the reserves with an 18 - point effort that he complemented with three rebounds and two steals. His impressive performance included a 4 - of - 7 tally from three - point range. James scored a team - high 28 points and added 14 assists, nine boards and a steal, but committed a game - high five turnovers as well. Irving supplied 24 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals, although he also handed the ball to the opposition on five occasions. Love registered a 19 - point, 13 - rebound double - double that also included an assist and three blocks. Thompson got in on the act with 15 points, 11 boards and a block, while Frye paced the bench with 21 points in just 20 minutes. He also hit a huge three - point jumper with 59 seconds remaining that gave Cleveland a 117 - 115 lead that they would n't relinquish again. The Raptors head back home to take on the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, while the Cavaliers hit the road for their own Wednesday night tussle with the Indiana Pacers.
+The San Antonio Spurs (46 - 9) took care of the Los Angeles Lakers (11 - 45) in a 119 - 113 win on Friday. The Spurs were embarrassed in their first game out of the All-Star break and bounced back nicely here. Despite allowing the Lakers to score 113, the Spurs recorded 30 assists and won every significant statistic in this game, including shooting, rebounding, assisting and turnovers. San Antonio's shooting was especially impressive, as they shot 55 percent from the field, 94 percent from the free - throw line and 50 percent from long distance. This wasn’t the defensive performance the Spurs are known for, but a win is a win. Tony Parker had a renaissance game, as he scored 25 points and dished out six assists in the win. Tim Duncan also turned back the clock, as he double - doubled in a 12 - point, 13 - rebound outing. Nine players scored at least seven points for the Spurs, with the bench accumulating 50 points of their own. Up next for San Antonio is a date with the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. The Lakers have been dreadful all season, but they continue to play the Spurs tough. This is the third - straight time that these two teams have gone down to the final minutes and it's a wonder why. Kobe Bryant showed up big time in this game, as he scored 25 points in the loss. Lou Williams and Jordan Clarkson also played well, as they each scored 20 - plus points while combining for 41 in total. Julius Randle double - doubled in the loss, as he amassed 11 points and 15 rebounds as well. On deck is a matchup against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday.
+The Cleveland Cavaliers (31 - 12) held on Wednesday night to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves (14 - 32) at Quicken Loans Arena, 114 - 107. The Cavaliers took an eight - point lead into the fourth quarter and led by as many as 15 in the final frame, but a furious comeback effort by the Wolves closed the gap to 94 - 91 with just 6:5 to go. The Cavaliers responded with a 70 run that seemed like it would ice the game for sure, but another run from the Timberwolves closed the gap to 110 - 107 with just 16 seconds to play. A pair of LeBron James free throws and two missed three - pointers by the Wolves on the other end finally sealed the win for Cleveland. James finished with 25 points to lead the Cavaliers on a brutally efficient 11 - 15 shooting night. He completed his offensive dominance with a game - high nine assists, and he added four rebounds, a steal and a block. Tristan Thompson was a wrecking ball inside, as he scored 19 points on 8 - 10 shooting and pulled down 12 rebounds (seven offensive). Matthew Dellevadova scored 18 as he knocked down four three - pointers, and he added seven assists to serve as a spark off the bench. Karl-Anthony Towns was fantastic in the losing effort, as he scored 26 points on 11 - 16 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds for his third double - double in the past four contests. Andrew Wiggins added 20 and Zach Lavine came off the bench with an electric 21 points, six assists and four rebounds. The Wolves just could n't get anything going from the three - point line - - 4 - 16 compared to Cleveland's 11 - 31 - - and that proved to be the difference. Minnesota will return home to face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday. Cleveland continues their homestand Wednesday against Phoenix.
+The Golden State Warriors defeated the host Memphis Grizzlies, 122 - 107, at FedEx Forum on Friday. Memphis had beat Golden State in their two previous meetings this season, but it was clear the Warriors were having none of that here. It was a wire - to - wire win for Golden State, as they held a double - digit lead for the final 20 - plus minutes. Defense was key for the Warriors, with Memphis being held to 39 percent shooting and committing 18 turnovers. That's especially evident through the blocks and steals, with Golden State recording 27 combined blocks and steals to the Grizzlies 10. Golden State were efficient on their end, as they shot 51 percent from the field and recorded 31 assists to just 12 turnovers. The Warriors (45 - 8) were clearly not happy with the first two losses against the Grizzlies, as they took it to them in this effort - filled performance. Draymond Green was the player of the game, despite scoring just four points, as he provided 12 rebounds, 10 assists, 10 steals and five blocks in an all - around gem. Klay Thompson led the team in scoring, as he dropped 36 points on 8 - of - 15 from three - point range. Steph Curry finished with 18 points, four rebounds and five assists. Kevin Durant accumulated 24 points, five rebounds and four assists. Andre Iguodala was a nice spark off the bench, amassing 22 points and four assists on 6 - of - 7 from the field. The Grizzlies (33 - 23) had a tough task here against a hungry Warriors team and they simply did n't have enough to compete in this game. Mike Conley carried the load, as he collected 20 points, five rebounds and nine assists. Marc Gasol shot just 4 - of - 14 from the field, but still totaled 17 points, six rebounds and seven assists. Zach Randolph was a bright spot off the bench, contributing 17 points and 13 rebounds.
+The Washington Wizards took game one of their series with the Toronto Raptors, 93 - 86, in overtime Saturday at the Air Canada Centre. The opening game of the 2015 playoffs was a tightly contested, back and forth affair that could n't be decided in just four quarters. Paul Pierce, who was Toronto's kryptonite a season ago as a member of the Nets, had another huge playoff outing. Pierce finished with a game - high 20 points on 7 - of - 10 shooting, including the go - ahead three pointer in overtime. Toronto mustered just four points in overtime to finish with just 86 points, which is well below its season average of 104 points. The Raptors are now 0 - 7 in opening games of the first round. Game two will take place Tuesday in Toronto before the series moves to Washington on Friday. Washington was 0 - 3 against Toronto during the regular season, but Paul Pierce and a combination of strong outings from its big men helped lead the Wizards to victory. Nene Hilario, who had been hampered by an ankle injury, posted a double - double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. John Wall and Bradley Beal had underwhelming shooting performances, but they made solid contributions in other facets of the game. Still, the Wizards will need their young guards to improve their shooting efficiency to maintain the advantage in the series. Toronto was stifled on the offensive end, shooting just 38 percent from the floor as it dropped the opening game of the series. Kyle Lowry had a frustrating game with just seven points on 2 - of - 10 shooting before fouling out. The Raptors also struggled on the boards as they were out - rebounded by 13. Outside of DeMar DeRozan's 15 points, the Raptors' starters combined for just 23 points. The Raptors will need Lowry and the rest of their starters to bounce back in order to even the series at one game apiece on Tuesday.
+2016 ended on a high note for the NBA, and 2017 has picked up right where the league left off. The NBA saw 50 - point outings from Boston's Isaiah Thomas and Houston's James Harden on the last two days of 2016, and on Monday, just two days later, Jimmy Butler delivered the first 50 - point game of the New Year. Butler scored 52 points on 15 - of - 24 from the field and a ridiculous 21 - of - 22 from the free - throw line. Chicago as a team shot just 46 percent and had no other player score over 12. Butler, however, was able to single - handedly carry his team to victory, as he also recorded a team - high 12 rebounds and six assists. On Charlotte's side, star point guard Kemba Walker also kicked off 2017 in a big way. Walker scored 34 points, including six three - pointers, and also grabbed 11 rebounds. The team shot an impressive 49 percent and had nine three - pointers, but turning the ball over 14 times while forcing just nine ended up making a difference in what was a close game.
+The Houston Rockets defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder, 137 - 125, at Toyota Center on Sunday. In a battle between two potent offenses, scoring came at ease. It was a wire - to - wire win for Houston, as they held a double - digit lead for the majority of the second half. The Rockets offense was unstoppable, shooting 63 percent from the field (50 - of - 79) and 51 percent from three - point range (20 - of - 39). The Thunder (41 - 31) had a few days off before this matchup, but they simply were n't prepared for this Rockets attack. Russell Westbrook was though, as he collected 39 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists en route to his 36th triple - double of the season. Enes Kanter finished second on the team, dropping 23 points, four rebounds and two assists off the bench. Victor Oladipo finished with 15 points, four rebounds and four assists. On deck for Oklahoma City is a road matchup against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday. The Rockets (51 - 22) have now won four - straight, as the offense continues to set records. Lou Williams was the star of this one, as he provided 31 points, three rebounds and four assists on 11 - of - 15 shooting off Houston's bench. James Harden accrued 22 points, five rebounds and 12 assists. Trevor Ariza accumulated 24 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals on 9 - of - 11 shooting. Eric Gordon started for Ryan Anderson (ankle) and contributed 24 points and two rebounds. Nene Hilario was a nice spark off the bench, amassing 17 points, four rebounds and three assists. The Rockets next game will be on Monday, when they host the Golden State Warriors.
+The Utah Jazz (4 - 6) defeated the New York Knicks (2 - 8) 102 - 100 on Friday. The Jazz were coming off back - to - back losses heading into Friday's game, and their star player made sure they came away with a win. Gordon Hayward scored a season - high 33 points in 38 minutes. Utah has one more game on their five - game Eastern Conference road trip. They'll go on to Toronto to finish off their back - to - back set against the Raptors on Saturday. Carmelo Anthony's 46 points were impressive, but they were n't enough to earn the win for the Knicks. Only one other Knicks player, Pablo Prigioni scored in double - digits. Prigioni finished with 13 points in 29 minutes off the bench. New York is struggling to find their groove this season, and with defensive wing Iman Shumpert going down with right hip contusion Friday, they'll have another hurdle to jump. Shumpert is questionable for the Sunday's game against the Nuggets. They've lost seven straight games.
+The Dallas Mavericks (38 - 20) defeated the Charlotte Hornets (22 - 32) 92 - 81 on Sunday. With the win, the Mavericks swept the season series against the Hornets 20. Dallas has played three games already since the All-Star break ended, losing Thursday's game to the Thunder before taking home wins on Friday and Sunday. Chandler Parsons sat out with a sprained ankle and bone bruise against the Hornets and is expected to miss at least two more games. Richard Jefferson started in Parsons' place, putting up 10 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists in 33 minutes. The Mavs welcomed Amar'e Stoudemire to the team, and he put up 14 points and three rebounds in just 11 minutes off the bench in his debut. Charlotte has dropped five straight games going back to Feb. 7, but they still sit just a half game out of the final playoff spot in the East. Kemba Walker should be out another three to four weeks recovering from knee surgery, but the team traded for Mo Williams last week, and Williams made his debut Saturday, stepping right into the starting lineup at point guard. To follow up his double - double of 24 points and 12 assists from Saturday, Williams put up 22 points and three assists Sunday. He played 38 minutes in each game, showing that the Hornets plan to use him as much as possible until Walker returns. The Mavericks will stay home to host the Raptors on Tuesday, and the Hornets will have off until Wednesday when they continue their road trip in Chicago.
+The host Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Phoenix Suns, 120 - 105, at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday. These are two teams at the bottom of the barrel and the Sixers wanted to capitalize on one of their best opportunities for a win. They did just that, as they came out early with a 32 - 19 first quarter. In addition, they led for the entirety of the game, pulling out the rare wire - to - wire win. The Sixers' offense was very efficient, as they shot 52 percent from the field and assisted on 33 of their 45 made baskets. Their defense was n't bad either, as they held Phoenix to 42 percent from the field, 61 percent from the free - throw line and 29 percent from three - point range. Three-point shooting was especially decisive, with Philly going 17 - of - 35 and Phoenix going just 6 - of - 21. Phoenix (4 - 10) was traveling in the second half of a back - to - back set and it was clear they did n't have the legs here to compete. Eric Bledsoe did all he could though, accumulating 27 points, five rebounds and six assists in the defeat. Devin Booker was the only other starter in double figures, scoring 10 points on 4 - of - 13 shooting. Alan Williams recorded his second - straight double - double, scoring 12 points and grabbing 11 rebounds off the bench. Tyler Ulis had one of his best games as well, accruing nine points, four rebounds, five assists and five steals in the defeat. The Suns will stay on the road for their next game, as they face the Washington Wizards on Monday. Philadelphia (3 - 10) saw an opportunity to win here as a one - point underdog and they did n't let up. Joel Embiid played just 20 minutes, but led the team with a career - high 26 points and seven rebounds. Sergio Rodriguez flirted with a triple - double, accumulating eight points, eight rebounds and 11 assists. Nik Stauskas was a nice spark off the bench, dropping 21 points on 8 - of - 9 shooting. Dario Saric provided 10 points, seven rebounds and five assists of his own off the bench as well. On deck for Philadelphia is a home matchup against the Miami Heat on Monday.
+The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the visiting Atlanta Hawks, 104 - 93, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday at Quicken Loans Arena. Atlanta looked very much like the team that the Cavaliers had steamrolled in last season's conference championships after one quarter, as they were already staring at a 30 - 19 deficit. However, they came out for the second period with a renewed sense of purpose, which almost carried them to a significant upset. The Hawks had whittled the Cleveland down to 74 - 70 by that point, and found themselves with an 80 - 79 lead, their first of the game, after an Al Horford dunk of an alley - oop pass from Dennis Schroder with eight minutes remaining in regulation. After the teams traded the advantage on multiple occasions over the next few minutes, Atlanta took what would be its final lead at 88 - 87 on a Horford driving hook shot with 4 remaining. The Cavs then went on a 100 run that helped seal the victory, as it gave them an insurmountable 97 - 88 lead with 1:40 to go. The Hawks received an outstanding effort off the bench from Schroder, who tallied a game - high 27 points, and added six assists and three rebounds. It was an encouraging sign for Atlanta, who saw their valuable sixth man held to 6 points per game in last year's conference finals against Cleveland. Paul Millsap paced the starters with a 17 - point, 13 - rebound double - double that also included three assists, four blocks and two steals. Kent Bazemore continued his stellar stretch of postseason performances in a tough matchup against LeBron James, collecting 16 points, 12 boards, four assists and a pair of steals. Horford supplied 10 points, six rebounds, an assist, three blocks and two steals. The starting backcourt of Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver could only combine for 11 points, a meager total that Schroder helped offset with his remarkable performance. James paced the Cavs' attack with 25 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, five steals and a block. Kyrie Irving was right behind him with 21 points, eight assists, a rebound, two blocks and a steal. Kevin Love checked in with 17 points, 11 rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block. J.R. Smith registered 12 points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal. He encouragingly drained four of his seven three - point attempts as well. Tristan Thompson was productive in his start at center, producing eight points but hauling in 14 rebounds, handing out two assists and blocking a pair of shots. The two teams will reconvene at Quicken Loans Arena on Wednesday night for Game 2.
+The Charlotte Hornets (30 - 27) defeated the Indiana Pacers (31 - 27) 96 - 95 on Friday. The entertaining back - and - forth affair featured solid ball security from both clubs, as well as stellar offensive performances on each side. Paul George led the Pacers' effort with 32 points, while Marvin Williams continued his outstanding campaign with a 26 - point effort for Charlotte. The highly competitive matchup between the two evenly - matched teams unsurprisingly came down to the final seconds, with Kemba Walker erasing Indiana's fourth - quarter comeback with a driving layup with just two seconds remaining. The Pacers' last gasp effort following the subsequent inbounds pass fell short, as Paul George missed an 18 - foot jumper at the buzzer. Williams added 13 rebounds, an assist, a steal and two blocks to his team - leading scoring tally. The remarkable performance notably represented the veteran's first game with more than 20 points and 10 boards since April 2012. Walker was right on his heels with his own double - double, consisting of 22 points, 10 assists, three rebounds and a steal. Cody Zeller amassed 14 points, five rebounds and a block. Al Jefferson paced the reserves while coming off the bench for the fourth straight game since returning from injury, totaling nine points, three rebounds, an assist and a pair of blocks. The Hornets are currently in third place in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division, and hold the eighth seed in the conference as well. They travel to Atlanta for a date with the Hawks on Sunday afternoon. George nailed a 40 - footer to close out the first half as part of his team - high point total, and also supplied six rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block. Rookie Myles Turner had a difficult time defensively against Williams, but did turn in a solid 15 points and four boards. Monta Ellis was next in line with 14 points, six rebounds and a pair of assists, and George Hill followed him with 10 points, seven assists, six rebounds and a pair of steals. Jordan Hill led the reserves with a modest six points, five rebounds and an assist. Indiana is in third place in the Eastern Conference's Central Division at the moment, two percentage points behind the second - place Bulls, who are currently in action against the Atlanta Hawks. They hold the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference as well, and are home again Sunday versus the Portland Trail Blazers.
+The Boston Celtics defeated the Portland Trail Blazers, 120 - 111, at Moda Center on Thursday. The Celtics (34 - 19) improved to 15 - 11 on the road and pulled closer to the top - seeded Cleveland Cavaliers with the tough road victory against the Blazers (23 - 31). Portland got off to a strong start and led the game at the half 55 - 49, but an explosive offensive outburst by the Celtics in the final period where Boston scored 43 points was enough to tilt the matchup in their favor. Boston was down as many as 15 points at one point earlier on, however, Isaiah Thomas, who has built upon his league - leading fourth quarter points total, put up another big 15 points in the final period. Thomas went on to lead all scorers with 34 points in the contest. Portland saw most of its offense from three specific players. Unsurprisingly, the backcourt duo of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum combined for 48 points on 38 shots, while Al-Farouq Aminu poured in 26 points on 8 - of - 12 shooting off the bench. Portland out shot the Celtics from both the field and behind the arc, but Boston had a major advantage on steals (8 - 4) and turnovers (8 - 15), which was part of the reason the Blazers were unable to hold on to their lead. Celtics rookie Jaylen Brown had an all - around solid performance with 14 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two three - pointers made. Next up, the Celtics visit the Utah Jazz on Saturday, while the Blazers take some time off before hosting the Atlanta Hawks on Monday.
+Russell Westbrook put up yet another night of historic numbers in Friday's win over Denver. The All-Star recorded just the fourth 35 - point, 15 - assist, 10 - rebound game in NBA history, one of which already belonged to himself. Westbrook scored a game - high 36 points, had 18 assists, and pulled down 12 rebounds. The triple - double was Westbrook's sixth of the season, and his 18 assists were the NBA's single - game season high thus far. Westbrook brought his rebounding average up to 10 per game, leaving him just short of a triple - double average on the season. Westbrook's dominance helped contribute to Oklahoma City's 50 percent shooting both from the field and from beyond the arc. Denver, meanwhile, kept the game competitive through dominance on the boards. The Nuggets are the number one rebounding team in the NBA, and showed it with 51 rebounds against a strong OKC team. Forward Wilson Chandler led the offense with 30 points, while rookie Jamal Murray had 20 off the bench.
+The New York Knicks (7 - 36) defeated the Philadelphia 76ers (8 - 34) 98 - 91 on Wednesday at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The Knicks were the better shooters in this game, going 41 percent from the field and 35 percent from the three - point line, while the Sixers went just 37 percent from the floor and 35 percent from beyond the arc. The Knicks also out - rebounded the Sixers 52 - 43, even furthering their advantage in this one. For the Knicks, Carmelo Anthony came out firing Wednesday, scoring 27 points (8 - 24 FG, 2 - 7 3Pt, 9 - 10 FT), while also recording 11 rebounds and four assists. It was his fourth double - double of the season, while he's averaged 25 points and 8 rebounds per game over his last three matchups. Jose Calderon had a strong showing of his own. He went 5 - for - 10 from the field and 3 - for - 6 from the three - point line to score 15 points, while adding seven assists as well. He had a very poor showing in Monday's game against the Pelicans, so it was good to see him regain some of his confidence and shoot the ball well. In just his sixth game and second start of the year, rookie Langston Galloway had a solid day, filling up the stat sheet with 11 points (5 - 11 FG, 1 - 2 3Pt, 0 - 1 FT), seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block. The rebounds, assists, steals and blocks all either marked a new season - high or matched one from earlier this month. Coming off the bench, Tim Hardaway Jr. added 13 points (5 - 13 FG, 0 - 3 3Pt, 3 - 4 FT) in 20 minutes. The Sixers saw most of their production from the duo of Michael Carter-Williams and Robert Covington. Carter-Williams had himself a day, finishing with 27 points (10 - 26 FG, 0 - 1 3Pt, 7 - 8 FT), six rebounds, seven assists and five steals. He's now scored 20 or more points in four out of his last six games, as he's the clear scoring leader for this struggling Sixers team. Covington on the other had finished with 17 points (5 - 11 FG, 3 - 8 3Pt, 4 - 4 FT) and four assists. The four asssists marked a new season - high for him, as he's averaged only 1 assists per game so far this season. Henry Sims was able to notch a double - double, contributing 11 points (4 - 12 FG, 3 - 4 FT) and 12 rebounds. It was only his third double - double of the season, but second in his last three games. The only other Sixer to reach double figures in points was K.J. McDaniels who had 12 points (4 - 13 FG, 2 - 3 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT) in 24 minutes. The Knicks' next game will be at home against the Orlando Magic on Friday, while the Sixers will be at home against the Toronto Raptors on Friday.
+The visiting Dallas Mavericks defeated the Phoenix Suns, 113 - 108, at Talking Stick Resort Arena on Thursday. Dallas (12 - 27) was able to pull away with a strong start to the second half. All five Dallas starters scored in double digits, with the lead coming from veteran point guard Deron Williams. Williams scored 23 points to go with a team - high 12 assists. Forward Harrison Barnes also had a strong outing, scoring 22 points. As a whole, the Mavericks shot an impressive 48 percent from the field and buried 15 three - pointers. The team also dished out an impressive 29 assists. Phoenix (12 - 27) was kept afloat by strong play from sophomore guard Devin Booker. Booker scored 39 points, including six three - pointers, two of which came with under 45 seconds remaining in the game. Unfortunately for the Suns, Booker's cold - blooded performance was not enough for the win. The team struggled to maintain possession all game, finishing with 19 turnovers. Even in the face of the loss, however, Phoenix was able to attain a stellar advantage on the boards, out - rebounding Dallas, 47 - 32. Phoenix will host the Spurs on Saturday, while Dallas will see the Timberwolves on Sunday.
+The Detroit Pistons (30 - 47) dealt a crushing blow to the Miami Heat's (34 - 42) playoff chances Saturday with a 99 - 98 victory at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Miami had a golden opportunity to tie Brooklyn in the standings after the Nets were routed in Atlanta earlier Saturday, but let this game slip away for a gut - wrenching loss. The Heat appeared to be on their way to a victory with a seemingly comfortable 12 point lead with 4:13 to go, but the Pistons battled back with a 14 - 3 run. Dwayne Wade, who had been efficient from the floor through three quarters, missed all four of his field goal attempts in the fourth quarter. Wade's miss with 10 seconds to go led to Reggie Jackson's go ahead layup with five ticks left on the clock. The Heat's playoff hopes now hang in the balance with several teams within one game of overtaking them. Miami appeared to be a lock for the playoffs two weeks ago, but a 2 - 6 record over its last eight games has put its post season hopes in serious jeopardy. Dwayne Wade was able to play 35 minutes on a banged up knee, which he aggravated Thursday in Cleveland. He finished with 24 points, but could n't convert down the stretch. The Heat are in direct competition with the Pacers and Hornets for one of the final two spots in the East, which could be a blessing or a curse depending on how they perform against them in their next two games. Miami draws a matchup in Indiana on Sunday before hosting Charlotte on Tuesday. Detroit gave Miami a scare late in their last meeting, but it was able to complete the comeback Saturday with a big win. Reggie Jackson was sensational with 29 points and 11 assists, but did commit seven turnovers. Andre Drummond had 11 points and 17 rebounds. The Pistons are off until Wednesday when they host the Celtics.
+The New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, 123 - 109, at Smoothie King Center on Sunday. In a battle between two teams looking to keep playoff hopes alive, New Orleans were able to prevail with a gigantic win. They really turned it on in the second half, as they dropped 75 points and outscored Minnesota by 20 to complete the comeback. Rebounding was a huge factor for the Pelicans, as they won that battle, 42 - 36. New Orleans also took advantage of transition baskets, winning the fastbreak differential, 33 - 13. The Timberwolves (28 - 41) needed this win to keep their playoff hopes alive, as they now sit 5 games behind the eight - seed in the west. Karl-Anthony Towns did all he could for Minnesota, as he led the way with 33 points and six rebounds. Andrew Wiggins was the only other starter with more than 10 points, as he tallied 25 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals. Ricky Rubio accrued 10 points, three rebounds and 14 assists. Shabazz Muhammad was huge off the bench, providing 20 points and six rebounds. On deck for Minnesota is a home matchup against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday. The Pelicans (29 - 41) are starting to find some rhythm, as they've now won four of their last five games. Anthony Davis was the player of the game, as he collected 28 points, 12 rebounds and three assists on 11 - of - 16 shooting. Jrue Holiday finished second among starters, amassing 21 points, three rebounds and seven assists. DeMarcus Cousins totaled 15 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three steals. Jordan Crawford led the bench with 22 points on 9 - of - 13 from the field. New Orleans will look to keep rolling on Tuesday in a home matchup versus the Memphis Grizzlies.
+The Chicago Bulls defeated the Washington Wizards 106 - 95 at United Center on Saturday. The Wizards came into this game extremely shorthanded and it was simply too much to overcome. While they held the lead for the majority of the first half, Chicago responded by running away late. A 90 run at the end of the third quarter is when it really opened up, as it was tied before that. Both teams really struggled shooting, as the Wizards shot 42 percent to the Bulls' 40 percent. Free-throw shooting carried Chicago, as they went 23 - of - 25 in the win. Fastbreak points was a huge difference as well, with the Bulls scoring 22 fastbreak points to the Wizards six. Washington (2 - 7) had to play this game without John Wall and Bradley Beal, which was simply too much production to overcome. Markieff Morris did all he could though, leading the team with 24 points and 15 rebounds. Marcin Gortat also recorded a double - double, totaling 18 points and 14 rebounds. Sheldon McClellan and Tomas Satoransky filled - in for Wall and Beal, combining for 27 points, six rebounds and 10 assists in pleasantly surprising performances. Washington will be off until Wednesday, when they take on the Philadelphia 76ers in a much needed favorable matchup. Chicago (6 - 4) has now won three of their last four after losing three - straight, so it appears they've steadied the ship. Jimmy Butler had one of the best games of his career, accumulating 37 points, eight rebounds and nine assists in the win. Robin Lopez finished with 10 points and 13 rebounds, despite going 5 - of - 16 from the field. Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade struggled with their shots as well, combining for 14 points on 5 - of - 23 shooting. Nikola Mirotic was huge off the bench, scoring 17 points and grabbing 11 boards en route to a double - double. Chicago's next game will be on Tuesday, when they travel to play the Portland Trail Blazers.
+The San Antonio Spurs (34 - 6) extended their winning streak to nine with a victory Wednesday over the Detroit Pistons (21 - 17) at The Palace of Auburn Hills, 109 - 99. The Spurs exploded for a 29 - 19 second quarter to take a nine - point halftime lead, a lead they would hold for the rest of the game. San Antonio point guard Tony Parker had scored 20 points just three times all season, but he exploded for a season - high 31 points on a brilliant 13 - 19 shooting to lead the Spurs to victory. Parker was supported by a double - double from power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who dropped 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Manu Ginobili came off the bench to score an efficient 15 points (5 - 12 shooting) and collect five rebounds in 27 minutes. The Spurs shot a healthy 41 - 85 (48 percent) from the field despite an off game from Kawhi Leonard (seven points, 1 - 7 shooting). Kentavious Caldwell-Pope knocked down four three - pointers and led the Pistons with 25 points in the losing effort. Andre Drummond picked up his fourth double - double in the past five games with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and backup big man Aron Baynes scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds in just 19 minutes. The Pistons shot poorly, however - - 42 percent from the floor and just 6 - 23 (26 percent) from three - - and were n't able to overcome the Spurs efficient attack. San Antonio returns home from the two - game road trip Friday to take on the Cavaliers. Detroit will head on the road to Memphis for a Friday night contest.
+It was the closest thing to a one - man show that San Antonio basketball has seen in a while on Wednesday, as superstar Kawhi Leonard propelled his team to victory. Leonard scored a team - high 31 points and pulled down a team - high 10 rebounds. He went 11 - of - 22 from the field, while no other Spur attempted more than nine field goals. He also added three steals on the defensive end in a performance that may help to add fuel to his MVP campaign. Indiana's star small forward, meanwhile, did not have as pleasant a night. Paul George shot just 5 - of - 18, though he still managed a team - high 22 points. Sophomore big man Myles Turner shot 7 - of - 11 for 16 points and added three steals. Indiana managed to hold an advantage in the rebounding column despite no Pacer coming up with more than six boards.
+The Dallas Mavericks (11 - 5) defeated the New York Knicks (4 - 12) 109 - 102 in overtime on Wednesday. Dallas was coming off of back - to - back losses heading into Wednesday's game, and a matchup against the Knicks was just what the doctor ordered. Tyson Chandler wowed the crowd with a 25 - rebound performance, and he even chipped in on offense, putting up 17 points in his 43 minutes. Dirk Nowitzki scored a game - high 30 points. The Mavericks will begin a four - game road trip in Toronto on Friday against the Raptors. New York has dropped two straight games, but they put up a fight Wednesday even with Carmelo Anthony (back spasms) out of action. J.R. Smith stepped into the starting lineup in Anthony's place. He finished with 15 points and five assists in 36 minutes. Jose Calderon, in just his third game back from a calf injury, put up 21 points and 10 rebounds against his former team. The Knicks will finish their three - game road trip against the Thunder in Oklahoma City on Friday. Anthony is not expected to play in that game, either.
+These are two defenses that usually stifle their opponents, but both offenses played better than expected. The Memphis offense was especially good, as they shot 51 percent from the field, 90 percent from the free - throw line and 42 percent from three - point range. The second quarter was the difference in the game, with the Grizzlies outscoring the Jazz, 26 - 16, in that quarter. Zach Randolph was the player of the game, as he dropped 28 points and nine rebounds off the bench. Mike Conley led the starters, as he tallied 23 points, three rebounds and three assists. Marc Gasol was n't far behind, accumulating 18 points, four rebounds and five assists. Rodney Hood led the Jazz in scoring, as he scored 20 points. Gordon Hayward did n't shoot well, but he accrued 13 points, eight rebounds and five assists. George Hill collected 16 points, three rebounds and five assists, while Rudy Gobert totaled 15 points and nine boards.
+The Los Angeles Lakers (3 - 9) defeated the Houston Rockets (9 - 3) 98 - 92 on Wednesday at the Toyota Center in Houston. The Lakers have now won two games in a row, stealing a surprising four - point victory on the road in Houston. Without Dwight Howard, who sat out with a knee injury, the Rockets did n't have their usual presence inside the lane, and were out - rebounded 47 - 38. They also were out - scored 28 - 17 in the fourth quarter, as the Lakers closed out strong and sealed the victory. As always, the Lakers were led by their superstar Kobe Bryant. Bryant shot 10 - for - 28 from the field and a dismal 1 - for - 7 from the three - point line, but still scored 29 points, while adding seven assists. He got a boost in scoring from the free - throw line though, as he converted on 8 - of - 10. In his second game back from a thumb injury, Nick Young was able to put up solid numbers again. He scored 16 points off the bench, as he shot 6 - for - 15 from the field and 2 - for - 8 from beyond the arc. The Lakers frontcourt of Jordan Hill and Carlos Boozer were both big in the victory, with each posting a double - double of their own. Hill had 16 points and 10 rebounds, marking his fourth double - double in as many games. Boozer finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds, as he posted his second double - double in a row. For the Rockets, James Harden posted a very efficient 24 points (7 - 11 FG, 2 - 3 3Pt, 8 - 10 FT), while also handing out seven assists. He's now averaging 24 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists on the year. Starting at point guard, Patrick Beverley was able to score 15 points, equaling a season - high for him. The Rockets received a big boost off the bench from Kostas Papanikolaou as well. He went 6 - for - 10 from the field and 4 - for - 7 from the three - point line to score 19 points, while also grabbing six rebounds. He's only reached double figures in scoring twice this year, so it was a nice surprise for the Rockets. Trevor Ariza was the only other player in double - digits, as he had 13 points and seven rebounds. The Lakers' next game will be on the road against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, while the Rockets will be at home against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday.
+The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Chicago Bulls, 117 - 89, at Target Center on Sunday afternoon. The Bulls (26 - 29) came in to Sunday's contest at a significant disadvantage, considering that Jimmy Butler (heel), Dwyane Wade (wrists), Nikola Mirotic (back) and Paul Zipser (ankle) were all out of commission. That left Chicago with a tight rotation of 10 players, not to mention a major offensive void. The handicap spelled disaster against a Timberwolves (21 - 34) squad at full strength that ambushed their visitors out of the gate by a 34 - 17 first - quarter margin. Although the Bulls battled back in the second period, the cushion afforded by that lead was enough to carry the hosts the rest of the way. Chicago also committed 18 turnovers, further hampering their chances at keeping matters competitive. The rather unlikely duo of Doug McDermott and Bobby Portis led the way for the Bulls with matching 16 - point efforts, with the former adding two assists and one rebound and the latter also supplying six boards. Michael Carter-Williams pitched in with 12 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two steals. Robin Lopez provided 10 points, four rebounds, two assists and one block, while Rajon Rondo matched Lopez's scoring total and added six assists, three rebounds and one steal in 24 minutes off the bench. Jerian Grant totaled eight points, three assists, a rebound and a block, and Taj Gibson, the only other member besides Carter-Williams and Lopez to take the court, tallied two points, five rebounds and one assist. Andrew Wiggins paced the Timberwolves with 27 points, six boards, four assists, two steals and one block. Karl-Anthony Towns followed with 22 points, seven boards, four assists and one steal. Ricky Rubio turned in a 17 - point, 11 - assist double - double that also included six rebounds and two steals. Nemanja Bjelica led the bench with 16 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block in 19 highly efficient minutes. Shabazz Muhammad was productive as a reserve as well with 12 points, two rebounds and one steal. Gorgui Dieng posted a 10 - point, 13 - rebound double - double that also included two steals and one block. The Bulls return home to face off with the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday evening, while the Timberwolves remain home to do battle with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night as well.
+The Portland Trail Blazers (36 - 34) defeated the New Orleans Pelicans (25 - 43) 117 - 112 on Friday. A wild back - and - forth battle featured plenty of offensive fireworks, most coming from the ususal suspects on either squad. Portland's dynamic duo of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum put together a pair of 30 - point - plus performances, while Jrue Holiday bounced back from a pair of lackluster games to hit that number as well. The fourth member of the 30 - point club was a Pelicans power forward, but not the one most likely to achieve the mark. It was notably Ryan Anderson, and not Anthony Davis, that accomplished the feat, in an outstanding 37 minutes off the bench. As has happened on multiple occasions this season, Davis was forced to exit the game early with an injury, suffering a left knee ailment that prevented him from taking the floor in the second half. Despite having held a lead as large as 20 points and not having to face Davis over the final two quarters, the Trail Blazers were forced to fight until the final whistle, as the Pelicans mounted a furious comeback. Holiday's clutch 26 - foot three - pointer with four seconds remaining kept things interesting until the very end, and it was n't until McCollum drained two subsequent free throws with one second remaining that Portland was able to breathe easy. Lillard's 33 points paced the visitors, and he added eight rebounds, six assists and a block. McCollum followed closely behind with 30 points, six assists and three rebounds. Mason Plumlee was next among the starters with 11 points, six rebounds and four assists. Gerald Henderson paced the reserves with 19 points, six rebounds and a steal. Ed Davis was productive in a reserve role as well, posting a 10 - point, 10 - rebound double - double. He added a pair of blocks and a steal. The Trail Blazers remain in second place in the Western Conference's Northwest Division, and are currently in the sixth seed in the conference as well. They head to Dallas to face off with the Mavericks on Sunday. Holiday paced New Orleans with 30 points, six assists, two rebounds and two steals. Davis managed 19 points and a rebound in only 14 minutes before exiting with his injury. Toney Douglas was productive in another start, totaling 12 points, six assists, a rebound and two steals. Anderson paced the reserves with his 30 - point scoring total, and added seven rebounds, three assists and a block. New Orleans remains in last place in the Western Conference's Southwest Division and is 10 games behind the eighth - seeded Dallas Mavericks. They're home against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.
+The Golden State Warriors (35 - 2) defeated the Sacramento Kings (15 - 22) 128 - 116 on Saturday. The Warriors extended their win streak to six games through excellent ball movement and selfless basketball, which has become a staple to their improved season. It was the fifth time over the last six games that Golden State eclipsed 30 assists in a game, as they passed their way to 35 total dimes. Stephen Curry is making the strongest case to defend his MVP title and led all scorers with 38 points, 11 assists and six rebounds on 12 - of - 21 shooting. Curry added eight more 3 - point shots to his NBA leading 162 treys. Klay Thompson is currently second amongst all deep threats, but was not nearly as effective as his backcourt partner, and finished 1 - of - 7 from behind the arc. Thompson was effective late in the game, hooking up with Andrew Bogut for some devastating backdoor cuts and added 15 points, four rebounds and six assists. Draymond Green is becoming accustomed to rounding out the box score, and although Green did not capture his ninth triple - double of the season, he did finish with 25 points, nine assists and four rebounds on 8 - of - 12 shooting in 34 minutes. Harrison Barnes was reserved to the bench and is being given slightly more minutes, as he eases his way back after missing 16 games with an ankle injury. The UNC product shot the ball much better in his 24 minutes, adding 10 points on 4 - of - 7 shooting. The Warriors will welcome the Miami Heat (22 - 15) on Monday. Sacramento mounted a late comeback to pull the game within striking distance in the 4th quarter to pad the 12 points loss, as DeMarcus Cousins found his stroke from beyond the arc. Cousins went 2 - of - 6 from 3 - point territory, but the two that fell came at clutch moments. The Kings’ star center scored 33 points, in addition to 10 rebounds on 12 - of - 27 shooting. Rudy Gay contributed on the scoring front and poured in 23 points in a game high 38 minutes, while Darren Collison and Marco Belinelli scored double figures off the bench. Willie Cauley-Stein (finger) was probable before the game, but suited up and added 10 points in nine minutes. The return of the Kings first round draft pick provides some extra depth, especially on the defensive end, for Sacramento moving forward. The Kings will take a few days off before hosting the New Orleans Pelicans (11 - 24) on Wednesday.
+The New Orleans Pelicans (40 - 34) defeated the Los Angeles Lakers (20 - 54) 113 - 92 on Wednesday. Anthony Davis put on another show and the Lakers did n't have an answer for him. He had 20 points, seven rebounds, six assists, four blocks and one steal in 35 minutes. He got some big bench contributions from Ryan Anderson and Norris Cole, who each scored 17 points. Tyreke Evans has continued to relish his role as the Pelican's point guard, he had 16 points and eight assists with zero turnovers in 28 minutes. He's put up averages of 20 points and 8 assists over his last five games. New Orleans has won three straight and hope to dethrone the Oklahoma City Thunder for the final playoff spots in the Western Conference. The Lakers got a solid performance from Jordan Clarkson but got little help from teammates, as they currently do n't have a go - to guy. Clarkson led Los Angeles with 18 points and 10 assists to go along with seven rebounds in 31 minutes. The Lakers have an eye on the future as the season rolls to an end in just a couple weeks. The Lakers will host the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, as the Pelicans will play in Sacramento against the Kings.
+The host Golden State Warriors blew out the injury - riddled Utah Jazz on Tuesday, 104 - 74. Golden State (25 - 4) remains the league's top team thanks to the win. The Warriors have now won five straight and sit atop the Western Conference, though San Antonio sits just one game back from the lead. On Tuesday, the sailing looked as smooth as ever for the Golden State "superteam," as former MVPs Steph Curry and Kevin Durant combined to score 47. All-Star forward Draymond Green, meanwhile, had 15 points and 11 assists, as well as five steals on the defensive end. All-Star Klay Thompson also had 17. The Jazz (18 - 11) had won four straight before being blown out on Tuesday. Utah remains hampered by major injuries, as starters George Hill and Derrick Favors were forced to sit out the game in Oakland. It was nothing short of an awful offensive performance for the depleted team, as the Jazz shot just 35 percent from the field and turned the ball over 23 times. Despite the team's intense struggles, big man Rudy Gobert continued to dominate, recording a game - high 16 rebounds and shooting 5 - of - 6 on the night. The Jazz will host the Kings on Wednesday, while Golden State will travel to Brooklyn to face the Nets on Thursday.
+The Utah Jazz (8 - 7) held off the New Orleans Pelicans (4 - 13) 101 - 87 on Saturday. Utah had a 16 - point lead going into the fourth quarter and it's nearly impossible to beat this stingy defense with that sort of deficit. The rebounding was the big difference in the game, as the Jazz snatched 49 boards compared to 35 for the Pelicans. These are teams going in opposite directions and the Jazz proved tonight that good defense will always prevail. New Orleans came into this game as the worst defense in the NBA and the 101 points allowed is a significant improvement on those ugly numbers. It's still not good enough to win and it does n't look that great when you notice that Utah currently has one of the three - worst offenses in the league. New Orleans got a fantastic game out of Anthony Davis though, as he tallied 36 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks and two steals in the loss. The more amazing part about that game is that it's one night after being carried off the floor with a knee injury. What hurt the Pelicans on this night was the rest of the starters, as the four others combined for just 14 points, six rebounds, and five assists. That's almost a nearly identical line to what Ish Smith provided off the bench on Saturday as well, and the Pelicans simply need more from their other starters. New Orleans will have to take on another potent defense when they play the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday. The Jazz played this game without Derrick Favors and they did n't miss a beat. Favors missed the game for an unknown personal reason, but Trevor Booker filled - in spectacularly. Booker amassed 13 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals in the win. Alec Burks was also fantastic off the bench, as he led the team with 21 points and provided an additional five rebounds and four assists. This is a dominant defense, so when players like Booker and Burks can produce like this, they'll be tough to beat. Utah will play the undefeated Golden State Warriors on Monday in their next scheduled game and it should be a great test for this defense against the best offense in the NBA.
+This win for Boston completed the season sweep over Indiana, as the Pacers have now traded off wins and losses across their last 15 games. The key for the Celtics here was their shooting, as they hit 51 percent of their shots, while holding the Pacers to under 44 percent. Boston also took care of the defensive rebounding, winning that differential, 33 - 27. Paul George carried Indiana, as he accrued 37 points, five rebounds, two assists and three steals. Jeff Teague was the only other Pacer in double figures, as he tallied 25 points, two rebounds and six assists on 10 - of - 15 from the field. Isaiah Thomas led Boston with 25 points and five assists. Avery Bradley amassed 18 points and eight rebounds. Jae Crowder and Al Horford both scored 15 points, with Horford also providing eight rebounds and eight assists.
+The recent form of these teams would indicate an easy Atlanta win and that was just the case. In fact, the Hawks pulled out a wire - to - wire victory, as they held a double - digit lead for the final 30 - plus minutes. Defense was key, as they held Brooklyn to 40 percent shooting, while forcing 17 turnovers. Much of that was attributed to the 11 steals and 12 blocks the Hawks recorded. Dennis Schroder led Atlanta, tallying 20 points and 10 assists. Dwight Howard played just 27 minutes, but totaled 14 points and 16 rebounds. Paul Millsap provided 14 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Brook Lopez led the Nets in scoring, as he dropped 20 points in an otherwise empty stat line. Bojan Bogdanovic was Brooklyn's best player, accruing 16 points, six rebounds and four assists.
+Miami have been the hottest team in the league over the past two months, as this marks their 22nd win in 27 games. More importantly, it put the Heat in a tie with the Milwaukee Bucks for the eight - seed in the east. Rebounding was the biggest difference in the game, with Miami winning that battle, 45 - 38. Anthony Davis led the way for New Orleans, as he collected 27 points, eight rebounds, three steals and three blocks. DeMarcus Cousins amassed 19 points and nine rebounds. E'Twaun Moore led the bench, as he dropped 18 points. Goran Dragic returned from his eye injury to tally 33 points and five rebounds to lead the team. Hassan Whiteside totaled 20 points and 17 rebounds on 9 - of - 11 shooting. The bench was huge, as Wayne Ellington, James Johnson and Tyler Johnson all scored in double figures, while combining for 39 points, nine rebounds, 14 assists and four steals.
+One night after engaging in a triple - overtime game that lasted just under three hours, the Brooklyn Nets defeated the Indiana Pacers in regulation, 123 - 111. The Nets were the sixth team to win a game the second night of a back - to - back after playing multiple overtimes the night before. Rodney Stuckey exited early due to a sore left calf, playing just 13 minutes in the first half. The Nets pulled to within one game of the eight seed in the Eastern Conference with their second straight win. However, they're still behind the Pacers and Charlotte Hornets in the standings, both teams on the outside looking in. As a team, the Nets shot 61 percent and scored 123 points one night after scoring 129 points in triple - overtime. Brook Lopez has hit a new gear this month, both on the defensive end and boards. He scored 26 points, grabbed four rebounds, and blocked four shots in 31 minutes. Bojan Bogdanovic supplied 21 points off the bench for the second time in four games. The Pacers lost their fifth straight game, falling half a game behind the Boston Celtics for the final spot in the playoffs. They shot 50 percent from the field but only made 8 - of - 23 three - pointers and allowed a season - high 123 points. The loss snapped a streak of five straight wins over the Nets. Paul George didn’t play, but his return appears imminent. George Hill fouled out but not before providing 18 points, nine assists and four rebounds in 32 minutes. Six Pacers, including all the starters, scored in double figures. David West scored 13 points and played 28 minutes after exiting Friday’s game early due to an illness. The Nets take on the eight seeded Boston Celtics on Monday in a battle that will have heavy playoff implications. The Pacers conclude a two - game homestand when they play the Houston Rockets on Monday.
+The Detroit Pistons (20) won their second game in a row to start the regular season, defeating the Utah Jazz (0 - 1) 92 - 87 on Wednesday. The meeting stayed close wire - to - wire, and the Pistons held just a five - point lead at the start of the fourth quarter. Following a Gordon Hayward layup that put the Jazz up 87 - 86 with just 23 seconds left in the game, Detroit was able to counter quickly, as Reggie Jackson made a layup of his own with 17 seconds left that put the Pistons up for good. A pair of free throws from both Jackson and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ultimately sealed the deal for the home team in Auburn Hills. For the second game in a row to start the season, Andre Drummond led the way for the Pistons, recording a double - double of 18 points (5 - 11 FG, 8 - 11 FT) and 10 rebounds on top of two blocks in 36 minutes. Drummond has recorded a total of 36 points and 29 rebounds to start the season and has clearly established himself as the focal point down low for this Pistons team following the departure of Greg Monroe. Reggie Jackson led all Pistons scorers Wednesday night, scoring 19 points (7 - 14 FG, 1 - 3 3Pt, 4 - 7 FT) on top of four assists in 31 minutes. Caldwell-Pope (16) and Marcus Morris (14) were the other two Detroit starters to score in double figures, while rookie Stanley Johnson added 11 points and five rebounds of his own in 20 minutes off the bench. For the Jazz, Derrick Favors got off to a very strong start to the season and lead the way in the losing effort, scoring a game - high 26 points (10 - 15 FG, 6 - 8 FT) and six rebounds in 35 minutes. Alec Burks served as a solid contributor off the bench, scoring 18 points (6 - 14 FG, 6 - 7 FT) and grabbing six rebounds in 26 minutes. Rodney Hood, who started in favor of Burks at shooting guard, scored just 12 points (6 - 15 FG, 0 - 7 3Pt) in 29 minutes, but managed to dish out a team - high six assists and grab four rebounds. Gordon Hayward rounds out the Utah players in double figures, scoring 13 points (5 - 11 FG) in 35 minutes, while Rudy Gobert remained active on the boards and on defense, recording a team - high 12 rebounds and three blocks while managing just six points. Up next, the Pistons will stay at home to take on the Bulls Friday, while the Jazz will head to Philadelphia Friday to take on the 76ers.
+The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Orlando Magic, 120 - 101, at Amway Center on Wednesday. While this game was close in the first half, the Hornets stung the Magic in the third quarter to run away with this one. In fact, they outscored Orlando, 35 - 13 in the third quarter, as the Magic simply could n't recover from that blow. The Charlotte offense was on point, as they shot 55 percent from the field, 95 percent from the free - throw line and 42 percent from three - point range. Rebounding was also a huge factor, as the Hornets won that battle, 46 - 34. Charlotte (18 - 14) has thrived in the third quarter all season and they rode that momentum once again here. Nicolas Batum continued his fantastic form, as he accumulated 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in the win. Kemba Walker led the team in scoring, as he accrued 21 points, three rebounds and five assists. Ramon Sessions and Jeremy Lamb combined for 27 points and seven rebounds off the bench. On deck for the Hornets is a home matchup against the Miami Heat on Thursday. Orlando (15 - 19) have really struggled at home this season and this tough defeat adds to those deficiencies. Serge Ibaka was the Magic's best player, as he tallied 20 points, seven rebounds and three assists. The issue with that line is the fact that he went scoreless in the second half, going 0 - for - 4 from the field. The other four starters really struggled, as they combined for 25 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Nikola Vucevic led the team in scoring, as he provided 21 points, six rebounds and four assists on 10 - of - 13 shooting off the bench. Orlando will be off until Sunday, when they play the Indiana Pacers on the road for their next game.
+The Spurs jumped out to a 30 - 16 first - quarter lead, held the Magic to 37 first - half points, and limited them to success rates of 40 percent from the field and 22 percent from three - point range. Orlando also committed 17 turnovers on the night and saw only three players hit double digits in the scoring column. Aldridge's game - high 23 points paced the Spurs, while Leonard was right behind him with 22. Dewayne Dedmon generated a 10 - point, 11 - rebound double - double, and Patty Mills led the bench with 13 points. Nikola Vucevic's 16 - point, 10 - rebound double - double led the Magic. Jeff Green and Aaron Gordon turned in matching 11 - point efforts, while Evan Fournier provided nine points, five rebounds, five assists and one steal. Mario Hezonja led the Orlando second unit with eight points, one rebound, one assist, one steal and one block.
+The Charlotte Hornets (33 - 28) defeated the visiting Indiana Pacers (32 - 30) 108 - 101, on Friday night at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Hornets came into this game ranked sixth in the East, half a game ahead of the seventh place Pacers, whom they recently overtook in the standings. After a tight three quarters Charlotte pulled away thanks to a 26 - 8 run to end the third and begin the fourth quarter. The Hornets started out shooting 10 - 15 from distance but cooled off and finished the game 13 - 31 from beyond the arc. With this win Charlotte sweeps the season series against Indiana (30), for the first time in franchise history. The Hornets have now won 11 of their last 14 and three in a row as they continue to push ahead in the East, while their home record improves to an impressive 21 - 9. Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum led the way for Charlotte, combining for 64 points. Walker dished 10 assists along with his 33 points (9 - 17 FG, 4 - 10 3Pt, 11 - 11 FT), while Batum tallied seven rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots along with his 31 points (12 - 22, 4 - 10 3Pt, 3 - 4 FT). The only other player to score double figures for Charlotte was Al Jefferson, who chipped in 13 points, in 20 minutes off the bench. The Hornets shot 48 percent from the field and held the Pacers to only 41 percent, on their way to the statement victory. Paul George has averaged 27 points in the last two meetings with the Hornets this season. He topped that in this game as he finished with a game - high 35 points (11 - 23 FG, 4 - 9 3Pt, 9 - 10 FT), along with seven assists, seven rebounds and five steals, in 36 minutes. Ian Mahinmi tallied a double - double with 10 points and 14 rebounds, in 32 minutes, while Monta Ellis added 15 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals, in 37 minutes. The Pacers now fall to 2 - 5 in their last seven games and are in danger of losing grip on their playoff position. The Pacers will head straight to Washington to play the final game of their current four - game road trip, on Saturday. The Hornets host the Timberwolves on Monday.
+The Denver Nuggets (10) defeated the Detroit Pistons (0 - 1) 89 - 79 on Wednesday at the Pepsi Center in Denver. Neither team could get into a rhythm on offense Wednesday. The Nuggets shot 35 percent from the field and 25 percent from behind the arc, while the Pistons shot 37 percent from the field and 23 percent from behind the arc. Josh Smith got plenty of shots up and finished with 25 points (9 - 22 FG) to go with five rebounds, three assists, a steal, and two blocked shots. Playing next to Smith, Andre Drummond had 11 points and added nine rebounds, one assist, two steals, and one block before fouling out. Coming off the bench and playing 28 minutes of action, D.J. Augustin scored 15 points (5 - 10 FG, 2 - 6 3Pt, 3 - 4 FT) while adding six rebounds and three assists. He played nearly 10 more minutes than current starting point guard Brandon Jennings, who scored four points and had four rebounds, two assists, and three turnovers in 19 minutes. Kenneth Faried showed exactly why he was given a lucrative contract extension. Faried had 22 points and a beastly 17 rebounds to record his first double - double of the season. Arron Afflalo was the next highest scorer for the Nuggets, finishing with 15. He contributed four rebounds, an assist, and a steal as well in the 39 minutes he played. Starting center Timofey Mozgov had 13 points and 11 rebounds, matching Faried with a double - double. Mozgov also had two blocks, showing how he can make a difference on the defensive side of the ball this season. Danilo Gallinari had a tough time finding his shot, as he went 1 - for - 8 from the field and shot 1 - for - 5 from behind the arc, scoring only seven points. The Pistons' next game will be on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday. The Nuggets' next game will be against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday.
+The Cleveland Cavaliers (38 - 14) defeated the Los Angeles Lakers (11 - 44) 120 - 111 on Wednesday. The new - look Cavaliers are certainly playing up in pace under new coach Tyronn Lue, but an unintended consequence of their more prolific offense has been increased vulnerability on defense. Cleveland has been giving opposing teams extra possessions under their more aggressive style, resulting in some uncharacteristic shootouts in recent games that have them looking a bit like Warriors East. Such was the case Wednesday, with the Lakers managing one of their best scoring hauls of the season. Both teams shot well from the field and behind the arc, but the Cavs were just a tad more effective and also took better care of the ball. Cleveland was guilty of only seven turnovers on the night, as compared to 11 for Los Angeles. The home squad also managed 51 percent accuracy from the field overall and 42 percent from three - point range, while the Lakers posted respective 44 and 46 percent tallies in those categories. The visiting Lakers were led by Louis Williams, who totaled 28 points, four rebounds, two assists and a block. The steady Jordan Clarkson was next in line with 22 points, seven assists, six rebounds and a steal. Kobe Bryant, making his final visit to Cleveland, compiled 17 points, six rebounds, three assists and a steal. D'Angelo Russell led the reserves with 15 points, three assists, two rebounds and two steals. The Lakers remain in last place in the Western Conference's Pacific Division. They're back in action for the first time after the All-Star break on Friday, February 19th at home versus the San Antonio Spurs. Kyrie Irving continued a recent stretch of outstanding play in leading the Cavs' attack, supplying 35 points, seven assists, three rebounds and two steals. LeBron James registered a double - double, amassing 29 points and dishing out 11 assists. He also hauled in seven boards and recorded a steal. Tristan Thompson got the starting call at center and contributed a double - double of his own, compiling 15 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and a block. Anderson Varejao paced the Cleveland bench with eight points and six rebounds. Cleveland heads into the All-Star break comfortably atop the Eastern Conference's Central Division. They get back on the court Thursday, February 18th in a home matchup with the Chicago Bulls.
+The Sacramento Kings defeated the Boston Celtics, 108 - 92, on Wednesday at Golden 1 Center. The Kings (21 - 32) came into Wednesday's contest with a plethora of injuries, missing the likes of Rudy Gay (Achilles), Omri Casspi (foot) and Garrett Temple (hamstring). However, to make matters worse, DeMarcus Cousins picked up his 15th and 16th technical fouls a game prior, which prompted a one - game suspension, thus ruling out the team's best player. While the Kings were n't expected to even keep the game close, they fought through the adversity and picked up an impressive 16 - point win in front of their home crowd. Much of the credit can be given to Darren Collison, who blew up for 26 points, while shooting 12 - of - 21 from the field and 2 - of - 4 from the three - point line. To go along with the aforementioned points, Collison also added one rebound, five assists and four steals. Sacramento's bench also came up big, outscoring the the Celtics' reserves, 50 - 32. That included three double - digit scoring efforts from the likes of Ben McLemore (17), Willie Cauley-Stein (14) and Matt Barnes (14). As a team, the Kings shot 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from beyond the arc, which easily bested the Celtics' 40 percent and 31 percent success rates, respectively. Isaiah Thomas did everything he could to keep the Celtics (33 - 19) alive, posting 26 points (6 - 16 FG, 4 - 11 3Pt, 10 - 10 FT), four rebounds and seven assists. He did n't shoot the ball at a high clip, but he got it done at the free throw line, as he connected on all 10 of his attempts. The only other two starters to reach double figures were Amir Johnson and Al Horford, who posted 14 and 10 points, respectively. Perhaps it was the uncertainty of the opposing team, but the Celtics just could n't keep up with the injury - depleted Sacramento team. The Celtics were once again without Avery Bradley, who's now expected to miss the team's upcoming four - game road trip with a lingering Achilles injury. Up next, the Kings will remain at home to play the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday, while the Celtics will remain on the road with a trip to Portland, where they'll be taking on the Trail Blazers.
+With the Wizards surging and the Bulls struggling, this result is far from surprising. The shooting was a glaring difference in this matchup, as Washington shot over 52 percent from the field and the Bulls hitting just 40 percent of their shots. The fastbreak points was huge as well, with the Wizards doubling up the Bulls, 32 - 16. John Wall carried the load for Washington, as he tallied 23 points, six rebounds, nine assists and three steals in the win. Bradley Beal finished with 21 points and five assists. Marcin Gortat recorded another double - double, totaling 14 points and 11 boards. Jimmy Butler tried to keep the Bulls hanging around, as he led the team with 20 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Taj Gibson was Chicago's most efficient player, as he accrued 17 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. Butler, Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade combined to shoot 14 - of - 50 from the field in their defeat.
+The Indiana Pacers defeated the Chicago Bulls 111 - 94 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Saturday. In a game between two Eastern Conference contenders, the Pacers looked like the far superior team in a wire - to - wire win. Indiana got off to a hot start, as they took a 40 - 19 lead early in the second quarter. Chicago played better after that, but the deficit was simply too large to overcome, as they seemingly could n't get the margin within single - digits after that. The assist - to - turnover ratio was the difference, as the Pacers recorded 27 assists to their 11 turnovers, while the Bulls handed out just 17 assists to their 16 turnovers. The Pacers shot 54 percent from the field, while holding the Bulls to just 43 percent on their end. Chicago (3 - 3) got off to a great start with three - straight wins, but have regressed to lose their last three games. Jimmy Butler was the lone starter to play well, as he totaled 16 points, two rebounds and two assists on 5 - of - 7 shooting. Bobby Portis was a bright spot in the blowout loss, as he tied the team lead with 16 points off the bench, with most of that coming in garbage time. Taj Gibson fell one point shy of a double - double, accumulating nine points, 12 rebounds and two blocks. Dwyane Wade struggled mightily, as he scored just four points on 1 - of - 9 shooting. Indiana (3 - 3) came into this game losing three of four, but this result never seemed to be in doubt after the first quarter. Jeff Teague had his best game in a Pacer uniform, scoring a team - high 21 points on 9 - of - 14 shooting with six dimes in the win. Paul George tallied 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists before being ejected in the third quarter for kicking the ball into the stands. C.J. Miles was great off the bench, scoring 20 points on 8 - of - 14 shooting. Both teams return to action on Monday, as the Pacers travel to Charlotte to play the Hornets, while the Bulls host the Orlando Magic. These teams have now split their two meetings and will face off one again on December 26 in Indiana.
+Last year's top two Rookie of the Year vote - getters squared off in epic fashion on Wednesday night. Minnesota's Karl-Anthony Towns posted an absurd career - high 47 points on 15 - of - 22 shooting and 17 - of - 20 from the line. The big man also pulled down a game - high 18 rebounds and had three blocks. Towns hit three of the Wolves' four made three - pointers on the night and accounted for nearly half the team's scoring output. Aside from his strong play, the Wolves struggled, shooting just 44 percent as a team and hitting only four three - pointers on the night. Sophomore big man Kristaps Porzingis, meanwhile, led the way for the victorious Knicks. The forward had 29 points on 11 - of - 20 shooting, including three three - pointers. Porzingis added eight rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. The Knicks eviscerated Minnesota from beyond the arc, hitting 13 three - pointers to Minnesota's four.
+The Nets scored a season - high 143 points, as they shot 58 percent from the field, to dominate the Pelicans. Eight players scored in double digits for the Nets, with five of those players coming off the bench. Brook Lopez was the high - point man for Brooklyn, with 23 points on 8 - of - 15 shooting, to go along with eight rebounds, three assists and three blocks, in 24 minutes. Bojan Bogdanovic also scored 23 points, and added six rebounds and two assists. Rookie Caris LeVert chipped in 17 points off the bench, on perfect 6 - of - 6 shooting, in 25 minutes. Meanwhile, five players scored in double digits for the Pelicans, led by Anthony Davis, who finished with 22 points on 10 - of - 17 shooting, in 27 minutes. Davis added nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Dante Cunningham was the next highest scorer for New Orleans, as he added 14 points.
+The Philadelphia 76ers (12 - 40) defeated the Charlotte Hornets (22 - 28) 89 - 81 on Saturday at the Wells Fargo Center. Philadelphia won its fourth straight home game despite being without point guard Michael Carter-Williams, who was sidelined with a foot injury. The 76ers were down by six at the half, but outscored the Hornets 28 - 13 in the third quarter to gain the lead. Charlotte's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist went down with a hamstring injury and did not return. The Hornets were outscored by 17 after Kidd-Gilchrist left the contest. Charlotte notched two victories against Washington earlier in the week, but was unable to carry that momentum into Saturday's contest. Lance Stephenson had a tough night from the floor, going 3 - for - 11 on field goal attempts to finish with six points in 33 minutes on the floor. Charlotte has a slim one - game lead on Miami for the seventh spot in the East, with Brooklyn and Detroit also within striking distance. The Hornets have a quick turnaround as they will host the Pacers on Sunday. Philadelphia bounced back from a 107 - 96 loss in Boston on Friday to beat a Charlotte team that had won seven of its last ten games entering Saturday. Tim Frazier moved into the starting lineup and dished out eight assists in 37 minutes of play. Robert Covington had a game - high 22 points to go with eight rebounds and a block. On the injury front, Michael Carter-Williams will work with team trainers Sunday to test out his injured foot and is considered questionable for Philadelphia's next game, which is Monday against Golden State.
+The Boston Celtics defeated the Phoenix Suns, 130 - 120, at TD Garden on Friday. Boston were expected to win this game easily and they left no doubt with this dominating victory. In fact, the Celtics pulled out a wire - to - wire win, as they held a double - digit lead for the final 40 minutes of action. Scoring in the paint was a big factor for the Celtics, as they won that battle, 48 - 38. Boston also took advantage of the points off turnovers, winning that differential, 23 - 14. The 31 assists for the Celtics on 44 made baskets dominated the 23 assists for the Suns as well. The Suns (22 - 51) have now lost seven - straight games, as they ca n't wait for the season to end. Devin Booker had the game of his life though, scoring a career - high 70 points to add to eight rebounds, six assists and three steals. Those 70 points are a franchise record for Phoenix, as he went 21 - of - 40 from the field. Alex Len finished with 11 points, six rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Jared Dudley came off the bench to provide five points, four rebounds and 10 assists. Alan Williams also played well off the bench, amassing nine points and 14 rebounds. On deck for the Suns is a road matchup against the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday. The Celtics (47 - 25) have now won six of their last seven, as they continue to battle for the top - spot in the east. Isaiah Thomas led Boston, as he accumulated 34 points, two rebounds and seven assists. Al Horford collected 15 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and two steals. Amir Johnson started and accrued eight points, eight rebounds, three steals and three blocks. Gerald Green and Kelly Olynyk both came off the bench to score in double figures. Boston's next game is against the Miami Heat on Sunday.
+The Milwaukee Bucks (32 - 47) narrowly edged the Philadelphia 76ers (10 - 70) on Sunday, 109 - 108, in overtime. Guard Khris Middleton exploded on both ends of the floor, finishing with 36 points and four steals. His partner in crime, multi - position phenom Giannis Antetokounmpo also had a big night, narrowly missing out on a 5x5. The Greek Freak had 14 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, five blocks, and three steals. Big man John Henson also impressed with 18 points and 10 rebounds. The Sixers, meanwhile, became the second team ever to hit 70 losses just days after the Golden State Warriors achieved the exact opposite feat. Philly did n't go down easily, however, as they took Milwaukee to overtime on Sunday. Point guard Ish Smith scored 22 and neared a triple - double with nine rebounds and eight assists. Forward Jerami Grant also contributed 21 points in what was an impressive night for the youngster. Both teams will close out what has been a disappointing season next week.
+The Chicago Bulls defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 121 - 108, at United Center on Sunday. Despite Philadelphia leading for the first six minutes, Chicago took control from there. In fact, the Bulls finished the first quarter on a 32 - 12 run and never relinquished the lead from there. Bench production was huge for the Bulls, as they outscored the Sixers bench, 49 - 15. Three-point shooting was a decisive statistic as well, with Philly going 10 - of - 28 from long range, while Chicago went 8 - of - 14. The Bulls also took advantage of the whistle. taking twice as many free - throws as the Sixers, while shooting a better percentage. The Sixers (17 - 29) had to play this game without Joel Embiid (rest) and they simply could n't overcome his absence. Ersan Ilyasova led the team in scoring, totaling 31 points and 11 rebounds in the defeat. Robert Covington was second on the team, amassing 21 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks. T.J. McConnell also recorded a double - double, scoring 14 points to go along with three rebounds and 12 assists. Nerlens Noel started for Embiid and finished with 12 points, six rebounds, two steals and three blocks. The six bench players combined for just 15 points. The Bulls (24 - 25) have had a lot of issues on and off the court recently, but dominating wins like this show just how good they can be. Jimmy Butler bounced back from his benching to lead the team with 28 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and four steals. Robin Lopez was second on the team, collecting 21 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. Dwyane Wade accumulated 14 points, six rebounds and six assists. Paul Zipser, Doug McDermott, Nikola Mirotic all finished between 13 and 14 points off the bench. Rajon Rondo also played well off the pine, accruing eight points, five rebounds and 10 assists.
+The Boston Celtics (39 - 27) took care of the shorthanded Memphis Grizzlies (38 - 26) in a 116 - 96 win on Wednesday. This game appeared to be lopsided on paper and that proved to be the case on the floor. The Celtics really took it to the Grizzlies in the second half, as they outscored them 64 - 4`.The key for Boston was the defense, as they held Memphis to 38 percent shooting and drew 19 turnovers in the win. Memphis won their last game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in a similar circumstance, but this was the result that was much more likely with such a limited roster. Once again, Mike Conley, Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol missed this game and it clearly hampered the Grizzlies. JaMychal Green got the start for Randolph and double - doubled in a 17 - point, 13 - rebound performance. Jarrell Martin and Vince Carter both played well off the bench, as they went for 33 points combined, despite much of that coming in garbage time. Mario Chalmers tallied 11 points, five rebounds and five assists before leaving with what looked like a leg injury after 21 minutes of play. On deck for Memphis is a matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday. Th Celtics came into this game as a double - digit favorite and didn’t disappoint. Seven players scored in double - figures for Boston, with 13 players playing in total. The team combined for 26 assists on 41 made shots. Isaiah Thomas led the team with 22 points in the win, despite playing under 30 minutes. Evan Turner continued his good form off the bench, as he amassed 16 points, four rebounds and eight assists in the win. Boston's next game will be on Friday, when they host the Houston Rockets.
+The Thunder (6 - 13) knocked off the 76ers (1 - 18) 103 - 91 in Philadelphia on Friday night. Oklahoma City jumped out to a seven - point first quarter lead and led by 10 points at halftime. The lead was extended to as much as 18 in the third quarter, and coach Scott Brooks held out many of his regulars for most of the fourth quarter. In just his second game back, Kevin Durant struggled, finishing with 10 points on 3 - of - 11 shooting to go with six rebounds and three assists in 29 minutes. Serge Ibaka had 19 points and four rebounds, and Russell Westbrook put up a game - high 27 points (10 - 14 FT) with seven assists and six turnovers. The Thunder also got contributions from the bench, with Reggie Jackson and Jeremy Lamb contributing 11 and 15 points, respectively. Oklahoma City shot nearly 50 percent from the field and converted 24 - of - 31 free throws. The Sixers, meanwhile, came back to reality after winning their first game of the season over Minnesota on Wednesday. Philadelphia shot a paltry 38 percent from the floor and committed 17 turnovers. Robert Covington led the way with 21 points (8 - 13 FG) off the bench, and K.J. McDaniels added 11 points. Four Sixers’ starters finished in double - figures, with Michael Carter-Williams’ 16 points and 14 rebounds setting the pace. Nerlens Noel added 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute had 11 points in 27 minutes. Next up, the Sixers head to Detroit to take on the Pistons on Saturday night. The Thunder will also travel to the Motor City for a date with the Pistons on Sunday evening.
+The Atlanta Hawks (51 - 14) defeated the Phoenix Suns (34 - 33) 96 - 87 on Friday at the US Airways Center in Phoenix. Despite coming out of the third quarter down 73 - 65, the Hawks lit it up in the fourth, out - scoring the Suns 31 - 14 to finish the game and steal the nine - point victory on the road in Phoenix. It's a tough loss for the Suns, as that marks their fifth loss over their last ten games. It also pushes them three games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans, who sit tied for the eigth and final projected playoff seed in the Western Coference standings. The Hawks, on the other hand, only furthered their already comfortable lead atop the Eastern Conference standings. They now sit 10 games ahead of LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers for the first overall seed. Paul Millsap was a big reason for the Hawks' success. He went 10 - for - 18 from the field and 3 - for - 6 from the three - point line to score a team - high of 23 points, while also adding nine rebounds, three steals and three blocked shots. He's been very impressive on the defensive side of the ball lately, finishing with two or more steals in each of his last six games. He's pushed his season averages to 17 points, 8 rebounds and three assists. Kyle Korver also played a big factor in the win, finishing with 14 points (5 - for - 8 FG, 3 - 4 3Pt, 1 - 1 FT), four rebounds and two blocked shots. He has been unbelievable shooting the ball over his last three games, combining to go 18 - for - 25 from the field and 14 - for - 19 from the three - point line to score 52 points. Coming close to a double - double, Al Horford added 12 points (5 - 11 FG, 2 - 2 FT) and seven rebounds in 34 minutes. He dominated Alex len in the post, not only scoring some points on him, but keeping Len scoreless himself in 24 minutes. Both Dennis Schroder and Kent Bazemore reached double figures off the bench with 11 points apiece. While their bench combined for only 15 points, the Suns' starters did plenty of scoring. The Morris twins formed a solid duo at the forward positions. Markieff Morris finished with 22 points (9 - 18 FG, 0 - 2 3Pt, 4 - 5 FT), six rebounds and five steals, while Marcus Morris posted 18 points (7 - 18 FG, 3 - 9 3Pt, 1 - 2 FT) and six rebounds. Markieff has posted two impressive games in a row, combining for 46 points on 19 - of - 33 shooting from the field. Marcus was in the starting lineup, as P.J. Tucker shifted down to a guard position with Brandon Knight sitting out with an ankle injury. Eric Bledsoe did his best to make up for the loss of Knight as well. He went 7 - for - 12 from the field and 3 - for - 4 from the three - point line to score 21 points, to go along with six assists. He did have seven turnovers though, as he was a little sloppy in the loss. Tucker added 11 points (4 - 9 FG, 2 - 4 3Pt, 1 - 2 FT) and nine rebounds. The Hawks' next game will be on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, while the Suns will be at home against the New York Knicks on Sunday.
+The Chicago Bulls (41 - 28) dominated the Indiana Pacers (30 - 37) 103 - 86 on Wednesday in Chicago. Nikola Mirotic has thrived in his sixth man role, as Taj Gibson missed his 10th straight game, and Wednesday was no different. Mirotic scored a game - high 25 points on 8 - of - 15 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds in 30 minutes off the bench. In his last two games, Mirotic has scored 52 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and is due for a minutes increase even when Gibson returns from injury. After four straight games scoring in single digits, Mike Dunleavy put together a solid performance, scoring 21 points on 7 - of - 14 shooting, to along with five rebounds. Pau Gasol recorded yet another double - double, posting 19 points on 7 - of - 13 shooting and 12 rebounds in 33 minutes, while Joakim Noah scored just six points, but was active elsewhere, recording 14 rebounds and seven assists. The win pushes Chicago to just a half game behind the Raptors for third place in the Eastern Conference standings and two and a half games behind the second - place Cavaliers. However, they still only hold a one - game lead over the Wizards for fourth place. Four starters scored in double figures for the Pacers in the losing effort, but as a team, they could not get anything going, shooting poorly at 40 percent from the field. Solomon Hill led the team in scoring, putting up just 13 points on 5 - of - 10 shooting, six rebounds and three rebounds. Roy Hibbert (12), George Hill (10) and C.J. Miles (10) round out the four Indiana starters in double figures, while Rodney Stuckey put up just 11 points on 4 - of - 11 shooting in 31 minutes off the bench. The loss moves Indiana out of the current playoff race in the East, as the Celtics own the tie breaker over them. However, they still stand just one game behind the seventh - place Heat. Up next, the Bulls will take on the Raptors at home on Friday, while the Pacers will head to Cleveland on Friday to play the Cavaliers.
+The Bulls (11 - 5) came away with a 99 - 90 win against the Nuggets (6 - 13) at United Center on Wednesday. With guards Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose struggling to find their shots, the Bulls turned to Pau Gasol, who posted season highs in both points (26) and rebounds (19) while adding four blocks over 36 minutes. The win helped the Bulls improve to 7 - 1 at home this season and moved them into a tie with the Pacers for second place in the Eastern Conference standings. The Nuggets managed to take a four - point lead into the fourth quarter after a 13 - 3 run to end the third, but Gasol was just too much in the final frame. Denver had an awful night shooting from the field, hitting 35 - of - 90 and got absolutely no production from any guards, who combined to score 11 points. Emmanuel Mudiay had the worst night with just four points on 2 - of - 12 shooting, though he did dish out seven assists. The lone bright spot for the Nuggets was Kenneth Faried, who has been working his way back from an ankle injury. Faried scored 14 points (7 - 10 FG, 0 - 2 FT) with eight rebounds and three assists over 28 minutes. The Bulls came away with the win, but lost a key contributor in the process after Nikola Mirotic was elbowed in the face in the first period and did not return. Mirotic played just five minutes before leaving, hitting a lone 3 - pointer to go along with three rebounds and a steal. With Mirotic gone for the game, coach Fred Hoiberg turned to Joakim Noah, who has looked more like his old self lately. Noah played a season - high 34 minutes, piling on 11 rebounds to go with his nine points and four blocks. Chicago returns to action Saturday in the third game of a four - game homestand against the Hornets; the Nuggets play the fourth of a five - game road trip Thursday against the Raptors.
+The Los Angeles Clippers (29 - 14) defeated the Phoenix Suns (26 - 19) 120 - 100 on Sunday. Los Angeles has won four straight games. Six players scored in double digits for the Clippers on Sunday, and Chris Paul (23), J.J. Redick (20) and Blake Griffin (23) all scored over 20 points. Phoenix has dropped two straight games, but they had won four straight prior to this road bump. Isaiah Thomas led the way Sunday with a game - high 25 points in 25 minutes off the bench, but the Suns lost the game on the boards, allowing the Clippers to out - rebound them 50 - 31. This was third game the Clippers and Suns have played against each other this season, with the Clippers winning all three of the matchups. The final game in their season series will take place on Apr. 14, the final day of the regular season, in Phoenix.
+There was n't a whole lot to separate these two teams, as there were 19 lead changes and 14 ties in this Eastern Conference battle. No team led by more than eight points either, with neither team letting up at any point. Many of the statistics were very even, as they were nearly tied in rebounds, assists, turnovers and points in the paint. Despite Jimmy Butler, Robin Lopez, Rajon Rondo, Doug McDermott and Dwyane Wade all shooting below 50 percent, they all scored at least 13 points in the win. The 16 points and 12 rebounds for Rondo marked his second double - double in a Chicago uniform. Strangely enough, he's yet to reach double - digit assists in any game this season, after leading the league in that category last year. Hassan Whiteside's 20 points and 20 rebounds looks even more impressive when you consider the Bulls are the second - best rebounding team in the NBA.
+The Washington Wizards (38 - 40) defeated the Brooklyn Nets (21 - 57) 121 - 103 on Wednesday. The Wizards announced earlier in the day that John Wall would miss the game to rest a sore right knee, particularly relevant considering the must - win situation that Washington found itself in to keep their playoff hopes alive. As it turned out, they got by just fine without their All-Star against a Nets squad that was undermanned in its own right. Ramon Sessions stepped in to the starting five and the offense never skipped a beat, as he managed an 18 - point, 13 - assist double - double that also included a trio of rebounds. Despite the victory, the Wizards still depend on other teams for assistance to sneak into the playoffs, but must keep winning regardless to be able to take advantage of any help they might receive. The Nets were paced by another stellar performance by Thomas Robinson, who tallied 23 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Wayne Ellington was next among the starters, managing 14 points, four rebounds and an assist. Although no other starter recorded double - digit scoring, Shane Larkin did fill out the stat sheet with nine points, eight rebounds and a block. The reserves enjoyed a productive night as well, with three players managing double - digit points. Sean Kilpatrick paced the bench with 15 points, a rebound and an assist. Markel Brown supplied 13 points, two assists and a rebound, while Chris McCullough pitched in with 10 points, three rebounds, an assist, five steals and a block. Brooklyn remains in fourth place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division. They head to Charlotte to face the Hornets on Friday night. It was standout night for the Wizards backcourt overall, as Bradley Beal paced all scorers with 25 points, five assists, three rebounds, a steal and a block. Marcin Gortat posted a 16 - point, 12 - rebound double - double that also included an assist and four blocks. Otto Porter, Jr. registered 15 points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Nene Hilario led the reserves with 13 points, seven rebounds, two assists, a steal and two blocks. Garrett Temple made his presence felt off the bench as well, filling out the stat sheet with 10 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals. Washington remains in fourth place in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division, but remains 4 games behind the eighth - seeded Pistons, who also won Wednesday. They face off with the Pistons in Detroit on Friday night.
+Before Tuesday night's game against the Magic, Trevor Ariza had been serving as an offensive liability for the Rockets. Over his previous eight games, he had failed to score in double figures six times and was shooting just 23 percent from the field and 24 percent from behind the arc over the course of those eight games. Against Orlando, however, Ariza found a way to shoot himself completely out of that slump. The wing shot 4 - of - 9 from behind the arc and 7 - of - 15 from the field overall to put in 20 points Tuesday - - his highest scoring total since Jan. 15. And while Ariza is primarily known for his prowess on the defensive end, if he can consistently hit a high percentage of his jump shots like he did Tuesday night, it only makes the Rockets more dangerous.
+The Sacramento Kings (24 - 25) routed the visiting Washington Wizards (40 - 30) ,109 - 86 on Sunday at the Sleep Train Arena. Sacramento simply outplayed Washington for much of the game and really started to pull away in the third. A seven point lead at halftime for the Kings suddenly ballooned to 20 by the end of the third quarter. Bradley Beal was the only Wizard in double figures until midway through the third and finished with a team - high 19 points. Sacramento built a large lead over Washington when they met last Saturday, but was intent on not letting the lead slip away this time as they evened the season series at one game apiece. Washington's four - game road trip got off to a promising start Wednesday with a hard fought victory over Utah, but has since sputtered out with two straight losses. John Wall had a poor outing by his standards, going 3 - for - 10 from the field to end up with nine points in 33 minutes of action. Kris Humphries missed Sunday's game and has not played since late February. Washington has an opportunity to salvage this road trip with a big game Monday against Golden State. Sacramento got its second straight win on Sunday with a terrific shooting performance. The Kings shot 51% from the field and 47 percent from beyond the arc. DeMarcus Cousins returned to action Sunday after missing two games with a calf injury. The star big man finished with 20 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals in just 23 minutes on the floor. Ben McLemore had a strong outing, scoring all 17 of his points in the second half. The Kings will return to action Tuesday when they host the 76ers.
+The Dallas Mavericks (20 - 8) defeated the San Antonio Spurs (17 - 11) 99 - 93 on Saturday. Dallas welcomed Rajon Rondo to the team with a victory. Rondo was acquired by the Mavericks in a five - player trade with the Boston Celtics on Thursday. He moved directly into the starting lineup, putting up six points, seven rebounds, nine assists and two steals in 34 minutes. Monta Ellis capitalized on Rondo's passing to score a game - high 38 points. The Mavericks have won three straight games and will try to extend their streak when they host the Atlanta Hawks on Monday. San Antonio has lost four straight games during a stretch of their schedule that's seen them face off against the Western Conference's elite teams (Trail Blazers twice, Grizzlies and Mavericks). Coming into Saturday's game, the Spurs played two triple - overtime games in a row that saw some of their veteran players, like Tim Duncan, play over 40 minutes in each game. So, even without Tony Parker (hamstring) and Kawhi Leonard (hand) available to play, the Spurs decided to rest Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green, putting them behind the eight ball trying to win Saturday. San Antonio will try to stop the bleeding when they host the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.
+The New York Knicks defeated the Indiana Pacers 109 - 103 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Monday. Carmelo Anthony finally got a game winning jumper to fall after a handful of failed attempts though January, and the Derrick Rose assisted baseline fadeaway with :23 remaining in the fourth quarter was enough for New York (20 - 26) to come away with a road victory. The Pacers (22 - 22) made one crucial error that put the game away for the Knicks, as Myles Turner mishandled a pass resulting in a turnover following Anthony's go - ahead jumper. Courtney Lee was able to add on to the Knicks lead with seconds remaining from the free throw line to put the game away for good. Myles Turner had a series on the defensive end of the floor where he blocked a Derrick Rose transition layup and then followed up by going coast - to - coast to put back a misfired shot from the Pacers. Save for Turner's costly error at the end of the game, the young Indiana center went on to score 22 points and grab 10 rebounds, to go along with two blocks. Paul George led all scorers in the contest with 31 points on 11 - of - 24 shooting, while Jeff Teague scored seven points, dished out seven assists and grabbed four rebounds. Anthony led the Knicks in scoring with 26 points on 9 - of - 17 shooting, in addition to two assists and five boards. Kristaps Porzingis fouled out of the game late in the fourth quarter, which went along with the rough night of eight points on 11 shots. Rose added 20 points, six assists and three rebounds across a game high 40 minutes. Next up, the Knicks visit the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, while the Pacers visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday.
+The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the visiting Toronto Raptors, 115 - 84, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals at Quicken Loans Arena on Tuesday. LeBron James and company stayed unbeaten in the NBA Playoffs thus far, improving to 90 and storming out to a 22 - point halftime lead, which held up through the remainder of the game, to take Game 1 on their home court. The Raptors were coming off their biggest win in franchise history, and the back - to - back seven game series looked like it took its toll on the team. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan were hounded by the Cavs guards and forwards throughout the whole game, and even when the backcourt duo got a clean look, they were unable to get into a rhythm, especially from behind the arc. Kyrie Irving continued to play his role as a scorer while the offense ran through LeBron James. J.R. Smith was running up and down the length of the court with impressive play on both ends of the floor as well. James stuffed the stat sheet, and it only took 28 minutes of action, as he finished with 24 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block on 11 - of - 13 shooting, while Irving led all scorer with 27 points, to go along with two boards and five dimes. Kevin Love was the only other Cavaliers player to finish in double figures, as he added 14 points, but four bench players (Iman Shumpert, Richard Jefferson, Matthew Dellavedova and Channing Frye) all contributed 8 - plus points. Irving barely eclipsed the 30 minute mark, which also led all Cavaliers players, but the starters sat throughout the fourth quarter. Lowry and DeRozan seem to be the make or break factor for the Raptors to compete in the Playoffs, but only DeRozan was able to get into a shooting rhythm, while the rest of the team looked abused with the Cavaliers matchups. The Toronto shooting guard scored 18 points on 9 - of - 17 shooting, but Lowry finished with eight points, four boards and five assists on 4 - of - 14 shooting (0 - of - 7 from behind the arc). The Raptors were unable to find a scoring option off the bench either, save for James Johnson, who muscled his way to 10 points in 20 minutes of play. Toronto is still awaiting Jonas Valanciunas (ankle) return to the lineup, which might have to wait until Game 3 or 4 of the series, but his absence is proving vital to the Raptors chances. The Raptors will look to even the series in Game 2 on Thursday.
+The Atlanta Hawks (24 - 17) handed the Brooklyn Nets (11 - 30) their 12th loss in 13 games Saturday, 114 - 86. Atlanta was emphatic in its victory, outscoring Brooklyn 30 - 18 in the fourth quarter. The Hawks were a pinnacle of ball - movement in Saturday's game, recording 34 assists on the night and hitting 56 percent of their attempts from the field. Six Hawks scored in double digits, with forward Paul Millsap leading the way with 21 points. Backup point guard Dennis Schroeder, meanwhile, exploded off the bench for 15 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds. The team also had a strong outing on the defensive end, stealing the ball 14 times in total. Brooklyn's loss marks the continuation of the team's slide towards the bottom of the NBA totem pole. The Nets have lost 12 of their last 13, and have also had to deal with the resignation of GM Billy King and the firing of coach Lionel Hollins. Despite the Nets' woes, forward Thaddeus Young has played solid basketball, which he continued on Saturday. Young led the Nets with 18 points and added seven rebounds and two steals. Brooklyn will visit Toronto on Monday. The Hawks, meanwhile, will be visited by the Orlando Magic on Monday.
+The Los Angeles Clippers (45 - 25) defeated the Washington Wizards (40 - 29) 113 - 99 at the Staples Center on Friday. The Clippers took the lead two minutes into the first quarter and held on for the rest of the game, dominating behind the three - point line and on the glass. The Clippers shot 52 percent from three - point range and pulled down 46 boards, while the Wizards shot 32% from behind the arc and had only 36 rebounds. Chris Paul led the Clippers in scoring with 30 points (12 - 21 FG, 1 - 3 3Pt) to go with six rebounds, 15 assists and one steal. J.J. Redick contributed 26 points (9 - 15 FG, 4 - 7 3 Pt), and Blake Griffin had 22 points (10 - 19 FG). John Wall had a team - high 19 points (7 - 18 FG, 1 - 3 3Pt) for the Wizards. Bradely Beal had 18 points (5 - 10 FG, 3 - 5 3Pt). With Friday's win, the Clippers extend their winning streak to three games. They've won seven of their last 11. The Wizards five - game winning streak has been snapped, but they're still hot, having won six of their last nine games. The Clippers are currently fifth in the Western Conference and only a half - game behind the fourth - place Trail Blazers. The Wizards are fifth in the Eastern Conference and one game behind the Raptors. The Clippers avoided the series sweep on Friday, going 1 - 3 against the Wizards this season.
+The Portland Trail Blazers (16 - 24) defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder (26 - 12) 115 - 110 on Sunday. The Thunder shot the ball more efficiently than the Blazers and looked to rip off a strong run behind the highest scoring duo in Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, but the high power offense came up just short, as Damian Lillard drained back - to - back 3 - pointers late in the 4th quarter. While Durant was heating up, primarily on strong ball movement lead by Westbrook, the Thunder tried to pull away by double - digits in the 3rd and 4th quarters, but the Blazers simply hung around for long enough to turn the momentum in their favor. Oklahoma City received almost the entirety of their offense from the starters, as the bench provided a lowly 16 points combined from Dion Waiters, Enes Kanter and Cameron Payne. Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 28 points, to go along with six rebounds and four assists, while Russell Westbrook added 25 points, 15 assists (10 dimes in the first half) and nine rebounds. Steven Adams hauled in a double - double, as he contributed 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Serge Ibaka and Andre Roberson finished in double - figures to round out the starting five. Billy Donovan did not rely on his bench and only Dion Waiters eclipsed 20 - plus minutes on a reserved role, as the starters all played 30 - plus minutes in the contest. The Thunder will continue their road trip when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves (12 - 26) on Tuesday. Damian Lillard did not back down from the difficult matchup against Russell Westbrook, and knocked down the game tying and go ahead 3 - pointers to earn the comeback win. The Blazers were battling uphill throughout the majority of the game and it came behind sub - 40 percent shooting through three quarters of play. The 4th quarter was an entirely different story, and when Lillard gets a hot hand, he can be one of the deadliest deep ball shooters in the league. The all star point guard finished with 31 points on 9 - of - 18 shooting (8 - of - 14 from 3 - point territory), to go along with seven rebounds and nine assists. C.J. McCollum poured in 22 points to aid the scoring, adding four 3 - pointers of his own. Mason Plumlee pitched in 11 points and 11 rebounds, while Allen Crabbe and Ed Davis (knee) contributed double figures from the bench. Portland has been one of the bigger surprises this season, after many predicted them to have one of the league’s worst records after the departure of LaMarcus Aldridge, the Blazers improved to 9 - 9 at home and are approaching 20 wins before the all - star break. The Blazers will host the Utah Jazz (17 - 20) on Wednesday.
+The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the San Antonio Spurs 116 - 92 at Staples Center on Saturday. The Clippers (5 - 1) took advantage of a major scoring drought at the hand of the Spurs (5 - 2) from the 9:0 mark to the 3:0 point of the first quarter, where San Antonio was only able to salvage one basket during that period. The Clippers went on a scoring run anchored by Blake Griffin, who went on to score 16 points in the opening period. Los Angeles maintained their strong start throughout the second quarter, and entered the half with an 18 point lead. The Spurs were unable to cut into the lead in the second half, as the Clippers rallied behind impressive bench performances from Marreese Speights and Jamal Crawford. Griffin led the way for Los Angeles with 28 points, five rebounds and three assists, while Chris Paul almost notched a triple - double with nine points, eight rebounds and 10 assists. Speights and Crawford combined for 31 points on 10 - of - 18 shooting. San Antonio struggled with their shooting efficiency and finished just over 40 percent as a unit. LaMarcus Aldridge has the standout performance amongst his teammates with 19 points and six rebounds, while Kawhi Leonard has a quiet night with just 14 points, six boards and one assist. Once the blowout was too much for San Antonio, coach Gregg Popovich started to utilize the depth of his bench and rotated eight different players off the bench into the game. No one player on the Spurs played more than 28 minutes. Next up, the Clippers host the Detroit Pistons on Monday, while the Spurs get some time off before Spurs host the Rockets on Wednesday.
+The Miami Heat (10 - 5) defeated the New York Knicks (8 - 9) 97 - 78 on Friday. Gerald Green's first season in a Heat uniform has been anything but dull. The veteran has managed to overcome recent personal problems to serve as an integral part of the Miami bench, as well as a terrific spot starter. Green filled in at small forward for Luol Deng for a second consecutive contest and propelled the Heat to a road victory with a team - high, game - high, and season - high 25 points. The particularly remarkable aspect of his performance was the fact that Green had only tallied only 5 points by intermission. However, a second - half offensive barrage that included three of his four three - pointers on the night helped Miami significantly extend what had been a razor - thin 50 - 49 halftime lead, and cruise to an eventual 21 - point win. Green's effort was complemented nicely by Chris Bosh, who managed 20 points, five rebounds, three assists and a block. Dwyane Wade pitched in with 17 points, five rebounds and a trio of assists. Hassan Whiteside had his worst shooting night of the season, going only 1 - for - 6 from the field, making it his first single - digit scoring night in over two weeks and only the fourth game in which he has scored under 10 points. However, the standout center did haul in 14 boards, the third consecutive game in which he's hit double - digit rebounds. Rookie Justice Winslow received a robust 35 minutes off the bench, and although he was n't terribly efficient with them, he did round out the stat sheet nicely. The Heat's 2015 first - round pick finished with nine points, seven rebounds, an assist and a steal. The Heat improved to 10 - 5 and are in possession of first place in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division. They remain home for a date with the Celtics on Monday. The Knicks were thoroughly stymied by Miami's suffocating defense, shooting only 38 percent from the field for the game and barely seeing two of five starters crack double - digit scoring. Carmelo Anthony was one of those players, but the superstar small forward could only muster 11 points, three rebounds, an assist and a steal over 34 minutes. It tied the veteran's season - low scoring total, which he'd posted in the opener versus Milwaukee. Kristaps Porzingis matched Anthony's 11 points and added eight rebounds, two steals and three blocks. Robin Lopez, Arron Afflalo and Jose Calderon-the rest of the starting five - - only totaled eight points between them. Reserve forward Kevin Seraphin was the only other New York player to reach double figures, tallying 10 points, three rebounds and an assist over a very efficient 17 minutes. The Knicks fell to 8 - 9 and currently reside in third place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division. They remain home for a date with the Rockets on Sunday.
+Statistics are a strange thing and they're even more bizarre when looking at this box score. The Bucks actually won the shooting percentage, rebounding battle, fastbreak points, points in the paint and assist - to - turnover ratio differentials, despite losing the game. No team led by more than 10 points, but there were only five ties and four lead changes. DeMar DeRozan once again carried the Raptors, as he tallied 26 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Kyle Lowry finished with 19 points, five rebounds and six assists, hitting numerous big shots late to cap the win. Giannis Antetokounmpo continued his MVP form for the Bucks, accumulating 29 points, six rebounds and 11 assists in the defeat. Both benches struggled in this game, with Toronto getting 28 bench points to Milwaukee's 24. These two teams will have a rematch on December 12 in Toronto.
+These are two teams that have been struggling mightily, but the Grizzlies have been the better team this year and they showed why in this game. The assist - to - turnover ratio was the big difference, as the Grizzlies recorded 25 assists to just eight turnovers, while the Pistons matched their assists to turnovers at 17 a piece. Marc Gasol was the only Memphis player with more than 10 points, as he tied a career - high with 38 points. Gasol also added five rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks on 14 - of - 17 shooting to his impressive stat line. Reggie Jackson departed the game in the first three minutes due to a leg injury, but returned to lead the Pistons with 18 points and seven assists. Jon Leuer also dropped 18 points, as he added six rebounds off the bench. Andre Drummond recorded another double - double, totaling 13 points and 19 rebounds in the defeat.
+As has become the usual for Sacramento, superstar center DeMarcus "Boogie" Cousins led the way in just about every area for the Kings. Cousins posted team highs in points, rebounds, assists, and steals, with 22, 14, six, and two respectively. The impressive numbers came on what was a relatively "off" night for the star, as he shot just 8 - of - 21 from the field and 5 - of - 8 from the free - throw line with six turnovers. Sixth man Ty Lawson was dominant off the bench, posting 19 points and six assists in just 23 minutes. Detroit's bench, meanwhile, did it no favors. While typical starter Tobias Harris scored 15, the remaining backups combined for only 15 themselves. Two starters posted double - doubles, as center Andre Drummond scored 14 with 12 rebounds, and point guard Reggie Jackson scored 18 to go with 11 assists.
+DeMar DeRozan's 18 - foot basket with one second remaining proved to be the game - winning shot, as Carmelo Anthony's 25 - foot three - point jumper at the buzzer failed to find the net, clinching Toronto's hard - fought road win. DeRozan compiled a game - high 37 points, while Serge Ibaka was a distant second with 15 points. Jonas Valanciunas totaled 10 points, while DeMarre Carroll supplied nine. Cory Joseph, now presumably the starting point guard for the remainder of the campaign due to Kyle Lowry's wrist injury, contributed a modest six points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals over 34 minutes. Anthony paced the Knicks with 24 points. Derrick Rose and Courtney Lee were next with matching 16 - points efforts. Lance Thomas drew another start for Kristaps Porzingis and registered 12 points. Willy Hernangomez posted eight points, nine boards and two assists.
+The Pistons utilized a balanced offensive attack and a stingy defense to record their first road victory against the Nuggets. All five members of the starting five reached double - digit scoring, led by Tobias Harris' 19 points. The remainder of the first unit, Marcus Morris, Andre Drummond, Ish Smith and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, combined for another 55 points, while Jon Leuer posted a 14 - point, 10 - rebound double - double off the bench. All of the strong offensive performances led to a 51 percent success rate from the field for Detroit. The Nuggets received double - digit scoring efforts from Danilo Gallinari, Emmanuel Mudiay and Gary Harris, but also saw Jusuf Nurkic held scoreless over 17 minutes. Jameer Nelson was the only bench player to hit double digits in the scoring column, although forward Wilson Chandler did manage to haul in 10 rebounds.
+The Toronto Raptors (39 - 18) defeated the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers (41 - 16) 99 - 97, Friday night at Air Canada Center. The Raptors came into this one three games behind the Cavs for first place in the East and made a statement by grinding out a win after trailing by 14 with four minutes left in the third. DeMar DeRozan had a tough game, starting 0 - 10 from the field before leaving mid - way through the third with flu - like symptoms. Kyle Lowry then put the team on his shoulders, scoring 16 of his career - high 43 points in the fourth quarter. With Lowry's help the Raptors outscored the Cavs 31 - 20 in the final quarter. This win means that Toronto takes the three - game season series against Cleveland, 2 - 1. Toronto has now won 18 of its last 21 games and four in a row. This win marks a single - season, franchise - high, 10th straight home victory for Toronto and improves their home record to 21 - 6. DeRozan actually returned to the game midway through the fourth quarter, where he scored his only bucket of the game, contributing to a 90 run by Toronto that tied the game with three minutes left. DeRozan finished with six points, six rebounds, two assists and one steal, in 32 minutes. Kyle Lowry was lights out as he tallied a career - high 43 points on 15 - of - 20 shooting from the field, including 2 - 5 from deep and 11 - 15 free throws. He also contributed nine assists, five rebounds and four steals, in 43 minutes. Terrence Ross chipped in 15 points (6 - 11 FG, 3 - 6 3Pt), two rebounds and one assist, in 27 minutes off the bench while, Jonas Valanciunas was solid in the middle as he racked up 11 points and nine rebounds, in 28 minutes. Toronto has now won 26 games in a row when they hold their opponents below 100 points. LeBron James led the Cavs in scoring with 25 points (9 - 18 FG, 2 - 4 3Pt, 5 - 9 FT), along with eight rebounds, seven assists but gave up six turnovers, in 40 minutes. Kevin Love added 20 points (5 - 15 FG, 2 - 5 3Pts, 8 - 10 FT), nine rebounds and five assists, in 35 minutes while, J.R. Smith chipped in 13 points (5 - 8 FG, 3 - 6 3Pt), along with three rebounds, in 32 minutes. The Cavs shot 50 percent from long distance and 47 percent from the field over all but it was not enough to avoid their fifth loss under coach Lue. Next, the Cavs visit Washington to challenge the Wizards on Sunday. The Raptors head to Detroit to face the Pistons on Sunday. The Raptors will be looking their fifth straight win.
+The Dallas Mavericks proved to be too much to handle for the Sacramento Kings Tuesday night at the America Airlines Center, winning 106 - 98. The Kings got off to a fast start, led by Rudy Gay, accumulating a lead as high as 24 points in the first half. Dallas promptly responded though, battling back to cut the deficit to nine, as the buzzer sounded signifying the end of the second quarter. Gay tallied a line of 26 points (7 - 14 FG, 1 - 3 3Pt, 11 - 13 FT), eight rebounds, eight assists, and two steals while turning the ball over seven times. Monta Ellis was held scoreless in the first half, but was a huge factor in the second half finishing with 16 points (7 - 16 FG, 1 - 4 3Pt, 1 - 3 FT). Maverick's superstar Dirk Nowitzki registered a team - high 23 points (7 - 12 FG, 2 - 3 3Pt, 7 - 8 FT), seven rebounds, three assists, and a block with two turnovers. The future hall of famer certainly did the heavy lifting Tuesday, against a Kings team looking to regain their form after a tough loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder Monday. Thursday, the Dallas Mavericks look ahead to their next game against the Philadelphia 76ers while the Sacramento Kings will go on the road Thursday to take on the Memphis Grizzlies in their next matchup.
+The Sacramento Kings (16 - 22) fell to the Dallas Mavericks (27 - 12) on Tuesday at the Sleep Train Arena 108 - 104. The Kings looked to be on their way to closing this game out late in the fourth quarter after surrendering just 10 points to the Mavericks through the first ten minutes of the period. However, thanks to some clutch throw shooting and an offensive foul from DeMarcus Cousins, Dallas was able to send this contest to overtime. Recently acquired Rajon Rondo drained the go - ahead three with just over a minute to go in the overtime period to give the Mavericks a lead they would not relinquish. Dallas snapped its two - game losing skid in a tight game that went down to the wire. Monta Ellis led the Mavericks in scoring with 28 points and he added 10 assists. The Mavericks have a quick turnaround as they will travel to Denver to take on the Nuggets on Wednesday. Sacramento had a chance to win consecutive games for the first time since late November, but came up short. The Kings were n't able to survive overtime without their best player, Cousins, who fouled out late in the fourth. Sacramento was also without Rudy Gay for most of the game after he suffered a sprained knee in the first quarter. He is considered day - to - day at this point. The Kings will have a couple of days off before hosting the Heat on Friday.
+The Indiana Pacers (37 - 43) defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder (43 - 37) 116 - 104 on Sunday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. While Russell Westbrook did everything he could to bring the Thunder back in this game, he just did n't get enough help in the end, as the Thunder took the loss. This was a tough defeat for the Thunder, as it pushes them to a half - game back from the New Orleans Pelicans for the final projected playoff spot in the West. The Pelicans play the Houston Rockets on Sunday as well, so they could extend their lead to a full game. The Pacers, on the other hand, remain alive in the East with their fifth straight win. They're now even with the Brooklyn Nets for the final playoff spot in the East, although the Nets hold the tie breaker over them, so they'll likely need to win their last two games in order to pass up the Nets. It was C.J. Miles who came up with the huge night on Sunday. He went 9 - for - 14 from the field and 6 - for - 8 from the three - point line to score a team - high of 30 points, while also posting 10 rebounds. It was his second impressive performance in a row, as he's combined for 54 points and 15 rebounds over his last two games. The 10 rebounds were a new season - high, with the double - double marking his first of the season. Notching a double - double of his own was Roy Hibbert, who finished with 17 points (7 - 12 FG, 3 - 4 FT), 10 rebounds and two blocked shots. The double - double was his third in a row, a stretch where he's averaging 13 points and 11 rebounds per game. Including some clutch buckets during the final few minutes of the game, George Hill added 19 points (6 - 10 FG, 2 - 3 3Pt, 5 - 7 FT) and seven assists over 40 minutes. He shot just 2 - of - 6 from the field in Friday's game against the Pistons, so the guard was able to get pointed back in the right direction Sunday. Westbrook did everything he could to try and pick up the win for the Thunder. Westbrook took nearly half of the teams' total shot attempts in this one, recording a ridiculous 43 field goal attempts, while converting on 21 of them. He finished with a monster line of 54 points (21 - 43 FG, 5 - 15 3Pt, 7 - 11 FT), nine rebounds and eight assists over 40 minutes, but he just did n't get enough help from his teammates to convert those impressive numbers into a win. Westbrook has combined for 81 points over his last two games alone. Dion Waiters and Enes Kanter were the only other two Thunder players to reach double figures in points. Waiters posted 16 points (7 - 16 FG, 2 - 5 3Pt, 0 - 4 FT) and two rebounds, while Kanter recorded 13 points (5 - 11 FG, 1 - 1 3Pt, 2 - 3 FT), five rebounds and a block. The Thunder received only 14 points from their bench. The Pacers' next game will be at home against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday, while the Thunder will be at home against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday.
+The Golden State Warriors (51 - 12) defeated the Detroit Pistons (23 - 40) 105 - 98 on Wednesday in Oakland. The Warriors were able to open up their lead in the fourth quarter behind Klay Thompson, who finished with 27 points on 11 - of - 19 shooting. Thompson's running mate in the backcourt, MVP-candidate Stephen Curry, struggled shooting the ball in the victory and finished with just nine points on 11 - of - 10 shooting, but was still able to dish out 11 assists. Draymond Green and Andrew Bogut combined for a solid effort in the frontcourt, putting together 25 points and 13 rebounds between the two of them. Andre Iguodala (13), Marreese Speights (12), and Leandro Barbosa (10) all scored in double figures off the bench for Golden State. The win brings the Warriors' lead as the one - seed in the Western Conference to a commanding 7 games. Andre Drummond was a force in the paint for the Pistons in the losing effort, scoring 22 points on 11 - of - 25 shooting and grabbing 27 rebounds, 17 of them offensive, in 34 minutes. Greg Monroe also had a solid outing, recording 20 points on 7 - of - 18 shooting and nine rebounds in 32 minutes. After having just two points and three assists in his last outing, Reggie Jackson bounced back to put up 14 points on 7 - of - 15 shooting and nine assists. Caron Butler replaced Tayshaun Prince in the starting lineup, but only scored four points in 20 minutes. The loss further hurts Detroit's already slim playoff chances, as they currently sit six games behind the eighth - place Miami Heat. Up next, the Warriors will head to Denver Friday to take on the Nuggets, while the Pistons will travel to Portland Friday to go up against the TrailBlazers.
+The Houston Rockets defeated the host Washington Wizards 114 - 106 at Verizon Center on Monday. The game was tight throughout, as neither team led by more than 11 points while the lead changed hands 25 times. The Wizards held a 95 - 94 advantage with 6:45 left, but the Rockets used a 120 run to put it out of reach with just a few minutes left. Shooting was the big difference, as Houston shot 52 percent, while holding Washington to just 42 percent on their end. The Rockets played efficiently as well, as they assisted on 28 of their 41 made baskets. The Rockets (4 - 3) continue to blitz opponents with their up - tempo offense, and the Wizards simply could n't keep up with them. James Harden led the team with 32 points, 15 assists and six rebounds. Ryan Anderson had one of his best games in a Houston uniform, recording a season - high 23 points and seven boards on 9 - of - 15 shooting. Trevor Ariza provided 15 points, five rebounds and three steals of his own. The Rockets return to action on Wednesday, when they travel to San Antonio to face the Spurs. The Wizards (1 - 5) continue to be one of the disappointments of the league, as they melted down in their own building. John Wall led the team in scoring with his 21 points, five rebounds and eight assists, but picked up his second technical in the final minute of the game to get ejected. Bradley Beal had one of his best games of the year, totaling 20 points, three assists and four steals in the defeat. Marcin Gortat recorded a double - double, amassing 14 points and 12 rebounds. Otto Porter tallied 20 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Washington will look to play better on Wednesday, when they host the Boston Celtics.
+The Boston Celtics (39 - 42) defeated the Toronto Raptors (48 - 33) 95 - 93 on Tuesday at the TD Garden in Boston. Down two points with just over 10 seconds left in the game, Kyle Lowry brought the Raptors back to tie the Celtics after a driving layup. It was the Celtics who came out with the last laugh though, as Jae Crowder hit a clutch jump shot with just under a second left in regulation to pull out the victory. It was a solid victory for the Celtics, as they're now going to go into the playoffs as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference standings, meaning they'll take on the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first round. The Raptors, on the other hand, moved down into the fourth seed in the East, a game behind the Chicago Bulls, which would mean they could end up playing the fiffth - seeded Washington Wizards in their first playoff matchup. It was the duo of Avery Bradley and Evan Turner that had the biggest impact in securing the win Tuesday. Turner nearly came out with a triple - double, finishing with 14 points (7 - 14 FG), seven rebounds and nine assists. It was n't all good for the forward though, as he did record seven turnovers as well. He's combined for 29 points and 14 assists over his last two games, and he'll need to continue to play well if the Celtics want any chance at pulling off an upset during the playoffs. Bradley recorded 14 points (5 - 11 FG, 1 - 5 3Pt, 3 - 3 FT) of his own, to go along with three rebounds and two assists, but he ended up suffering a left quad contusion and was forced to leave the game. He'll likely sit Wednesday's finale out in order to get healthy for their first playoff matchup. Brandon Bass and Tyler Zeller were the other two starters in double figures. Bass finished with 13 points (4 - 11 FG, 0 - 1 3Pt, 5 - 5 FT) and nine rebounds, while Zeller added 12 points (5 - 11 FG, 2 - 2 FT) and eight rebounds. For the Raptors, Kyle Lowry went 6 - for - 20 from the field and 2 - for - 4 from the three - point line to match a team - high of 16 points, while also recording six rebounds and four assists. Lowry has really struggled with his shot lately, combining to go just 9 - for - 34 from the field over his last two games, so he really needs to get things turned around if the Raptors want to have some success in the playoffs. Despite struggling with his shot similar to Lowry, Louis Williams still posted 16 points (3 - 13 FG, 0 - 4 3Pt), as he was able to get to the free throw line 11 times, while converting on 10 - of - 11. Williams continues to be a great offensive option off the Raptors' bench, averaging 21 points over his last six games. Jonas Valanciunas nearly came up with a double - double, posting 10 points (4 - 8 FG, 2 - 4 FT), eight rebounds and two blocked shots, while Greivis Vasquez chipped in with 11 points (4 - 7 FG, 3 - 6 3Pt), five rebounds and seven assists. The Celtics will close out the regular season on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, while the Raptors will be at home against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday.
+Avery Bradley hit a game - winning three - pointer at the buzzer as the Boston Celtics (30 - 22) stunned the Cleveland Cavaliers (35 - 16) on their home court on Friday, 104 - 103. The Celtics have won eight of their last nine. The young squad has been one of the hottest team's in the NBA in the new year, and is tied for third in the East. All-Star Isaiah Thomas led the scoring effort against the Cavs, finishing with 22 points. Of course, it was guard Bradley who was the star of the show. Bradley played hard - nosed defense and finished with 14 points including the deep game - winner. After five straight wins, the Cavs have now stumbled a bit, dropping their last two contests. Cleveland shocked the league by firing head coach David Blatt despite sitting atop the Eastern Conference standings. Cleveland is now just a single game ahead of Toronto, and is just 5 - 3 under coach Tyronn Lue. Even in the loss, however, star LeBron James shone. James led the game with 30 points and added seven rebounds to the dominant performance. JR Smith also lit it up from the field, dropping in 20 points on the night. Boston will host Sacramento on Sunday afternoon. The Cavs, meanwhile, face the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday.
+The Washington Wizards (20 - 8) defeated the New York Knicks (5 - 26) 102 - 91 on Thursday. Washington stopped their two - game losing streak with the win. John Wall led the way with a double - double of 24 points and 11 assists. Nene Hilario returned to the starting lineup after being used off the bench for the majority of the season. Six players scored in double figures for the Wizards. Washington will return home to host the Boston Celtics on Saturday. New York is on a six - game losing streak. Carmelo Anthony continues to put up great scoring performances, recording the game - high in points for each of the last three games, including the 34 points he scored Thursday. Amar'e Stoudemire returned to action after sitting out the Knicks' last two games for rest. He put up six points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes. The Knicks will start their three - game road trip against the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.
+The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Memphis Grizzlies, 99 - 88, at FedEx Forum on Friday. The Grizzlies (3 - 3) typically make their opponents grind for every point, and Friday was no different. The Clippers (4 - 1) struggled for the second straight game, with one notable exception. Chris Paul supplied a team - high 27 points, while also dishing out a season - best 11 assists and notching six steals for a second consecutive contest. The scoring total was greatly aided by a game - high 15 trips to the free - throw line, with Paul parlaying all but one into points. With the other four members of the first unit combining for just 36 points and the team posting 38 percent and 30 percent success rates from the field and three - point range, respectively, the All-Star guard's contributions were particularly essential in securing the road victory. Blake Griffin was second behind Paul with a 14 - point, 10 - rebound double - double, and he added two assists and a steal. J.J. Redick posted 12 points, a rebound and two steals. While DeAndre Jordan poured in just six points, he hauled in a season - high 21 boards, 15 of which came on the defensive glass. Although no one bench player stood out, the reserves combined for a solid 36 points, helping to supplement the scoring total overall. Memphis received a season - high 30 points from Mike Conley, which he supplemented with 10 assists, two rebounds, a steal and two blocks. Marc Gasol was the only other member of the first until to hit double digits in the scoring column, posting 21 points, nine rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal. James Ennis supplied nine points and 11 boards, along with two assists, a steal and a block. Zach Randolph nearly managed a double - double while pacing the bench, collecting 15 points, nine rebounds and two assists over 28 minutes. The Clippers head to San Antonio to take on the Spurs on Saturday night, while the Grizzlies remain home to await the Portland Trail Blazers for a Sunday afternoon tilt.
+The Detroit Pistons (40 - 35) defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder (52 - 23) Tuesday night at the Palace of Auburn Hills, 88 - 82. With the Thunder now locked into the Western Conference's third position, Oklahoma City took the opportunity to rest Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka. Their offense clearly suffered in their absence, as the Thunder committed more turnovers (19) than assists (16) and scored a meager nine points in the third quarter, which allowed Detroit to turn a 48 - 46 halftime deficit into a 71 - 57 lead heading into the fourth quarter, more than enough to stave off a final push from the Thunder. Marcus Morris scored 24 points on an efficient shooting night (9 - 13 FG, 1 - 1 3PT, 5 - 5 FT) to lead the Pistons. Tobias Harris scored 17 (6 - 14 FG) and added seven rebounds and three assists. Andre Drummond added his league - leading 62nd double - double with 13 points (6 - 9 FG) and 15 rebounds. Detroit shot just 4 - 19 (21 percent) from three - point land and 38 percent overall, but they pulled down 16 offensive rebounds to produce just enough offense to win. The scoring load for the Thunder fell squarely on Russell Westbrook's shoulders, as he hoisted up 28 shots and tied Morris's game - high 24 points (8 - 28 FG, 2 - 8 3PT, 6 - 9 FT). Enes Kanter added a double - double with 14 points and 14 rebounds (six offensive), but not a single other Thunder player reached double figures. Oklahoma City shot just 38 percent from the floor and missed eight free throws (14 - 22, 64 percent) as they clearly missed Durant's presence. The Pistons next host the Mavericks on Friday. The Thunder return home to host the Clippers on Thursday.
+The Mavericks (23 - 10) beat the Wizards (22 - 9) in blowout fashion Tuesday by a score of 114 - 87. In a game that featured one of the league's best offenses in the Mavericks pitted against one of the league's stingiest defenses in the Wizards, offense prevailed as Dallas led by 20 points for the majority of the second half. The Mavericks shot lights - out, hitting 52 percent from the floor and 53 percent from beyond the arc. Dallas had six players score in double figures, led by Monta Ellis with 20 points. Washington was coming off of a tight game Monday against the Rockets that came down to the final minute. That certainly did n't help their cause as the Wizards were out of contention for much of this game. Washington is an even 1 - 1 on their Western Conference road trip but will get two days off before taking the floor again Friday against the Thunder. Dallas has won three straight. They have the next two days off before starting a road trip that begins against the Boston Celtics on Friday.
+The host Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Phoenix Suns 124 - 121 at Moda Center on Wednesday. Despite the Blazers pulling out a rare wire - to - wire win, this game was close throughout. The Suns trailed by one with just five seconds left, but the Blazers closed things out with some clutch free throws. Portland was lights - out with their jumpers, shooting 56 percent from the field and 45 percent from three - point range. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum carried the load, as they combined for 71 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in the win. Phoenix (2 - 6) has gotten off to a rough start this season, but they continue to hang around in every game. After back - to - back career - high nights, Devin Booker settled for 23 points on 8 - of - 18 shooting in the defeat. Eric Bledsoe was Phoenix's best player, totaling 31 points, four rebounds and four assists, with 15 of those points coming in the fourth quarter. Four bench players scored in double figures, as Dragan Bender, Brandon Knight, P.J. Tucker and Leandro Barbosa combined for 42 points. Tucker was very important off the bench, accumulating 11 points, nine rebounds, four assists and five steals. The Suns play again on Wednesday, when they host the Detroit Pistons for their next game. Portland (5 - 3) were expected to dominate this game, but it was closer than fans would hope. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum did everything they could though, as they each scored 30 - plus in dominating performances. Lillard led the team with 38 points, five rebounds and three assists. McCollum was n't far behind, as he tallied 33 points, six rebounds and seven assists of his own. Maurice Harkless was third on the team, with 20 points and six boards. Al-Farouq Aminu played just four minutes before exiting with a calf injury in the first quarter. Portland will look to build off this win against the surging Los Angles Clippers on Wednesday.
+The Houston Rockets (8 - 4) defeated the Los Angeles Clippers (7 - 7) 113 - 100 in Game 7 of their second - round playoff series on Sunday in Houston and have won the series. The Rockets were in full control of the game from start to finish. The Clippers had their runs, closing the gap to as low as three points at one point in the third quarter, but they could never get over the hump and Houston had little trouble sealing the deal, closing out the series and advancing to the Western Conference Finals. Following the Game 6 victory where he didn’t play a single minute in the fourth quarter, James Harden had a masterful performance, scoring a game - high 31 points (7 - 20 FG, 2 - 7 3Pt, 15 - 18 FT) to go along with seven rebounds, eight assists and three steals in 43 minutes. Trevor Ariza was an absolute sharp shooter from behind the 3 - point line Sunday afternoon, shooting 6 - of - 12 from behind the arc and scoring 22 points along with seven rebounds in 43 minutes. Dwight Howard posted yet another double - double, totaling 16 points (6 - 8 FG, 4 - 8 FT) and 15 rebounds in 32 minutes; this third straight double - double and seventh in his last eight games. Mid-season acquisitions Josh Smith (15) and Corey Brewer (11) round out the five Rocket players who scored in double figures. The Clippers’ loss means the franchise still has yet to make a Western Conference Finals in their history, and the loss occurred at the hands of an epic collapse. Even though Chris Paul is the undisputed leader of the team, he is not to fault for the loss, as he played his heart out in the losing effort. Paul finished with 26 points (9 - 20 FG, 2 - 6 3Pt), five rebounds, 10 assists and four steals in 45 minutes. Blake Griffin led the team in scoring, recording 27 points (13 - 23 FG), 11 rebounds and six assists in 44 minutes. Griffin’s effort caps off an incredible playoff run where he posted averages of 25 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists over 40 minutes. DeAndre Jordan posted a double - double of his own, putting up 16 points and 17 rebounds, while Jamal Crawford (17) and J.J. Redick (10) round out the five Los Angeles players who scored in double figures. The Clippers could have used more out of Matt Barnes, who after playing solidily throughout the entire playoffs, was held scoreless in 22 minutes of play. With the win, Houston completed an incredible comeback after finding themselves down 3 - 1 in the series and have now earned the right to play in the Western Conference Finals. They will go up against the Golden State Warriors, who they played four times during the regular season and lost all four meetings.
+The Miami Heat (35 - 43) defeated the Charlotte Hornets (33 - 44) 105 - 100 on Tuesday at American Airlines Arena in Miami. With just four games left in the season following this one, this was another huge win for the Heat, who have now moved just a half game back from the Boston Celtics for the eighth and final projected playoff seed in the Eastern Conference standings. They had previously lost four in a row and seven of their last ten, so this was a huge sigh of relief for the Heat. Conversely, it was very tough loss for the Hornets, who also remain in reach of that final playoff spot. The loss brings them to two games back from the Celtics, so they're officially in desperation mode for their final five outings. The Heat were the superior shooters in this game, going 49 percent from the field, while the Hornets finished at 43 percent. They were led by point guard Goran Dragic, who scored a team - high of 28 points (10 - 16 FG, 0 - 2 3Pt, 8 - 8 FT), to go along with five assists and two steals. His shot looks to be dialed in at the moment, as he's combined to shoot an impressive 16 - for - 26 from the field to score 43 points over his last two games. Luol Deng also played a big factor in the win. He posted 21 points (9 - 17 FG, 1 - 6 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT) and six rebounds, while playing 41 minutes. After recording just three points on 1 - of - 8 shooting from the field in Sunday's game against the Pacers, he got back on track with this line, and the Heat will need him to continue to stay hot if they want to push themselves into the playoffs. Dwyane Wade had a strong showing as well with 19 points (6 - 17 FG, 0 - 1 3Pt, 7 - 10 FT) and five assists. He did have a season - high of seven turnovers though, so it was n't all good for the guard. It was Gerald Henderson that kept the Hornets close though. Henderson went 11 - for - 18 from the field and 2 - for - 3 from the three - point line to score a game - high of 29 points before fouling out. It was his second highest points total of the season, as he was able to shoot higher than 60 percent from the floor. Kemba Walker had decent showing as well. In 39 minutes, he finished with 17 points (7 - 20 FG, 0 - 4 3Pt, 3 - 5 FT), four assists and three steals. He's now combined for 41 points and six assists over his last two games, but he'll need to do even more if the Hornets want any chance at sneaking into the playoffs. Recording a double - double, Bismack Biyombo chipped in with 12 points (4 - 6 FG, 4 - 6 FT), 12 rebounds and four blocked shots. Getting the start and extended playing time with both Al Jefferson and Cody Zeller sidelined, Biyombo was able to record one of his better statistical outings of the season. Mo Williams added 15 points (5 - 17 FG, 0 - 4 3Pt, 5 - 5 FT) and four assists off the bench. The Heat's next game will be at home against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday, while the Hornets will be at home against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.
+Things looked to finally be turning around for Klay Thompson, who got off to an incredibly rough start to the regular season. However, after four straight games where he shot over 50 percent from the field, he posted another clunker of a game on Wednesday night, shooting just 5 - of - 14 from the field en route to an underwhelming 15 points. Most striking, though, might have been his 3 - of - 11 performance from long range and his performances from behind the arc all season. Through his five - year NBA career, Klay has not made less than 40 percent of his 3 - point attempts. Through 11 games this season, Klay is shooting just 32 percent from behind the arc, and while the Warriors are surviving despite the sharpshooter fighting inconsistencies and failing to live up to standards, they'll want their shooting guard playing his best when it really matters.
+The Toronto Raptors defeated the host New Orleans Pelicans, 94 - 87, at Smoothie King Center on Wednesday. Despite there being just four ties and 11 lead changes in this game, it was close throughout. In fact, neither team led by more than 10 points, as it came down to the final seconds. Three-point shooting was the only real difference, as New Orleans went just 9 - of - 29, while Toronto went 8 - of - 21. The statistics were unbelievably close, as rebounding, assists, steals, blocks and turnovers were all within two of one another. The Raptors (38 - 26) are 5 - 2 since the All-Star break, as they continue to patch things together without Kyle Lowry. Jonas Valanciunas was the star, as he accrued 25 points and 13 rebounds to lead Toronto. DeMar DeRozan finished second on the team, collecting 14 points and six assists. Serge Ibaka totaled 12 points, five rebounds, two steals and four blocks. On deck for Toronto is a road matchup with the Atlanta Hawks on Friday. The Pelicans (25 - 40) are now just 1 - 6 in games with DeMarcus Cousins, as they simply ca n't find any rhythm. Cousins did lead the team in scoring, though, tallying 25 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Anthony Davis totaled just seven points and four rebounds, as he left after 17 minutes with a wrist injury. Jordan Crawford played well off the bench in his second game with New Orleans, as he provided 10 points, three rebounds and three assists. New Orleans will play the Charlotte Hornets for their next game on Saturday.
+The Sacramento Kings (21 - 37) defeated the New York Knicks (12 - 47) 124 - 86 on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Kings dominated this game offensively right from the beginning, out - scoring the Knicks 65 - 39 by half, and reaching the 100 - point mark after just the third quarter. Their superior shooting was a big reason for this, as they went 49 percent from the field and 56 percent from the three - point line, while the Knicks finished at 37 percent from the floor and just 18 percent from deep. Along with that, the Kings also secured a 46 - 38 rebounding advantage, only furthering their impressive performance Tuesday. The Kings saw six players reach double figures in this one, along with three reaching the 20 - point plateau. Rudy Gay led the way, going 9 - for - 15 from the field and 3 - for - 4 from the three - point line to score a team - high of 25 points, to go along with seven rebounds and four assists in just 26 minutes. He's now shot 40 percent or higher in each of his last four games, a span where he's averaging 23 points and 7 rebounds. DeMarcus Cousins also was a big factor in the win, finishing with 22 points (5 - 10 FG, 1 - 1 3Pt, 11 - 11 FT), 10 rebounds and two blocked shots. Like Gay, he's been a beast lately, averaging 24 points and 11 rebounds over his last five games. Both players could have put up some even higher numbers in this matchup, but because of the blowout, they were each held to less than 30 minutes on the court. Ben McLemore was also very efficient with his time, scoring 20 points (6 - 12 FG, 2 - 4 3Pt, 6 - 7 FT) in just 23 minutes. He's picked up his game of late, recording two 20 - point games over his last three, despite averaging just 12 points on the season. Coming off the bench, Derrick Williams and Nik Stauskas reached double figures as well with 17 and 15 points respectively. As shown by their final score, the Knicks struggled to get much going Tuesday, including having all five of their starters combine for just 24 points. With that being said, they did see some solid contributions off their bench. Alexey Shved led the team in scoring, posting 15 points (4 - 11 FG, 0 - 4 3Pt, 7 - 9 FT), to go along with seven rebounds and three assists in 32 minutes. It was a season - high in minutes for the guard, as he took advantage of the extra time with his second 15 - point showing in a row. Shane Larkin was also one of those bench players who provided some points. He went 5 - for - 9 from the field and 1 - for - 3 from the three - point line to finish with 13 points, while adding six assists and two steals as well. It was just the sixth time all season that he finished in double - digit points. The only other Knick to reach double figures was Jason Smith, who posted 13 points (6 - 10 FG, 0 - 1 3Pt, 1 - 2 FT), four rebounds and three blocked shots in 21 minutes. The Kings' next game will be on the road against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, while the Knicks will travel to Indiana to play the Pacers on Wednesday.
+The Dallas Mavericks (5 - 4) defeated the Los Angeles Lakers (1 - 8) 90 - 82 on Friday. Kobe Bryant had missed the last two games with a back injury and had originally been reported to be out of Friday's contest as well. However, Bryant was healthy enough to take the floor after all, and posted his second - best scoring total of the season with 19 points on a season best 47 percent shooting. Bryant's return sent Metta World Peace back to the bench, where he failed to score over 17 minutes of action. The Lakers also received a team - best 21 points from Jordan Clarkson, which served as the young guard's best game since his season - high 30 - point outburst versus the Nuggets on Nov. 3. Rookie D'Angelo Russell tallied only nine points over 24 minutes, marking the third time in four games that he's failed to score in double digits. Interestingly, Los Angeles lost despite outrebounding the Mavericks 57 to 48, led by Roy Hibbert and Julius Randle's nine and 10 boards, respectively. Besides Bryant and Clarkson, backup guard Louis Williams was the only other Laker to hit double - digit points (10). The Lakers fell to 1 - 8 and remain in last place in the Western Conference’s Pacific Division. They head home for a Sunday tilt versus the Pistons. The Mavericks benefited from an impressive double - double from offseason acquisition Zaza Pachulia, who posted 18 points and 16 rebounds. It was another forgettable performance for the Lakers' frontcourt, who came into Friday night's contest ranked last in scoring surrendered to opposing centers at an average of 25 points per game. Deron Williams supplemented Pachulia's contributions with 13 points, seven rebounds, and three steals, while Dwight Powell pitched in with another highly efficient performance off the bench. Powell tallied 10 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, and a steal in just 22 minutes, and was the only other Dallas player with double - digit points. The Mavericks improved their record to 5 - 4 and move into second place in the Western Conference's Southwest Division. They now travel to Houston for a Saturday night showdown with the Rockets.
+The Brooklyn Nets (23 - 31) defeated the Denver Nuggets (20 - 36) 110 - 82 on Monday at the Pepsi Center in Denver. The Nets dominated this game, finishing with the scoring advantage in every single quarter of play. Their shooting percentage was a big reason for that, as they went 47 percent from the field, while the Nuggets finished at just 33 percent. The Nets also out - rebounded the Nuggets 57 - 49, even furthering their advantage and helping them secure an impressive 28 - point victory on the road. It was a total team - effort for the Nets on Monday, as they had seven of their ten players reach double figures in points. At point guard, Deron Williams did the most for the starters, finishing with 16 points (6 - 15 FG, 0 - 2 3Pt, 4 - 4 FT) and 12 assists in 33 minutes. After struggling for a long stretch of the season, it looks as if he may have figured things out during the All-Star break, as he's posted two double - doubles in a row, a stretch where he's combined for 28 points and 27 assists. Rookie Markel Brown was in the starting lineup and had the best game of his career. He set career - highs in both points and rebounds, finishing with 10 and 11 respectively. The Nets also saw a huge effort from their bench, with both Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young doing their part. Lopez posted 19 points (6 - 17 FG, 0 - 1 3Pt, 7 - 8 FT) and nine rebounds, while Young had 15 points (6 - 11 FG, 1 - 2 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT) and five rebounds. Lopez has put in a couple of strong games in a row, combining for 41 points and 33 rebounds over the last two. While most of the Nuggets struggled to get anything going, it was Danilo Gallinari who got hot Monday. He went 7 - for - 12 from the field and 3 - for - 5 from the three - point line to score a game - high of 22 points. It was his first game shooting over 50 percent from the field since the end of January, so we'll see if he can keep it up moving forward. Coming off the bench, Will Barton had himself a game, recording 15 points (5 - 11 FG, 1 - 3 3Pt, 4 - 4 FT) and four rebounds in just 21 minutes. In the two games since coming over from the Trail Blazers, he's now set a new season - high in points during both outings, as he's getting a lot more run on the court with the Nuggets than he was with his previous team. With Wilson Chandler sitting out, Darrell Arthur moved into the starting lineup and posted 10 points (5 - 15 FG) and seven rebounds. It was only his second start of the year, so it was good to see him have some success. Rookie Gary Harris was the only other Nugget in double figures, as he finished with 10 points (4 - 12 FG, 1 - 6 3Pt, 1 - 3 FT) of his own. The Nets' next game will be on the road against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, while the Nuggets will be at home against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday.
+The Pelicans (7 - 18) notched a rare road win Wednesday at the Vivint Smart Home Arena, 104 - 94 over the Utah Jazz (10 - 14). Down three to open the fourth quarter, the Pelicans completely stifled the Jazz down the stretch and allowed only __ fourth quarter points to run away with the game in the final minutes. The Pelicans got hot from three - point land, as they knocked down 10 of their 21 attempts, led by Eric Gordon's 4 - 7 shooting effort from deep. Gordon led Pelicans starters with 19 points, but the game's high scorer was Ryan Anderson off the bench with 24 points, fueled by a perfect 13 - 13 night from the free throw line. Anthony Davis scored 17 on 7 - 15 shooting and ripped down a game high 13 rebounds to complete his third double - double in the past four games. Derrick Favors paced the Jazz with 22 points on an efficient 10 - 15 shooting night. Gordon Hayward added 20 points and shot 3 - 7 from three - point land. Trey Burke led all Jazz bench sscorers with 12 points, and he dished out five assists. The Jazz just could n't get out in transition, as they scored just six fast break points, and they could n't generate second chances either, as they managed only five offensive rebounds. The Pelicans will look to win consecutive games for the first time since November with their next contest Friday night in Phoenix. The Jazz have now lost four straight and will look to reverse things at home Friday night against the Nuggets.
+The New York Knicks snapped a six - game losing streak as they defeated the host Milwaukee Bucks 116 - 111, at BMO Harris Bradley Center on Friday evening. The Knicks (17 - 19) used a monstrous fourth quarter, including an 80 run in final two minutes in order to take a five - point lead and earn their revenge against the Bucks (18 - 17), who had defeated them in the first game of this home - and - home series, in new York earlier this week. Jeff Hornacek decided to go with his gut and roll with rookie point guard Ron Baker in the fourth quarter, while leaving Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings on the bench. Baker finished with four assists and zero turnovers, as he helped fuel a 33 - 15 fourth quarter that saw the Knicks take their first lead since they led 34 - 33 early in the second quarter. Carmelo Anthony went cold near the end of the game, missing 6 - of - 7 shots but totally made up for it as he hit a three to give the Knicks the 112 - 111 lead with 51 seconds left. Joakim Noah and Kristaps Porzingis both fouled out in the final few minutes but Kyle O'Quinn and Lance Thomas came in to pick up right where the big men left off. Melo was the high - point man for New York, with 26 points to go along with 10 assists and six rebounds, while Porzingis followed up with 24 points, six rebounds and three blocks. The Knicks will be right back in action on Saturday, as they head to Indiana to take on the Pacers. Meanwhile, the Bucks saw their three - game win streak come to an end despite, a combined 50 points from Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker. Giannis added five blocks, six rebounds, two assists and two steals, while Parker added five assists and four steals. Greg Monroe was solid in 28 minutes off the bench, as he poured in 19 points, along with seven rebounds and four assists, in his fourth consecutive game scoring in double digits. The Bucks shot 50 percent from the field, including 55 percent from long range but were not able to hang on for the full 48, as the Knicks surged back to get their revenge. The Bucks go on to host the Wizards on Sunday afternoon.
+The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 110 - 93, at Philips Arena on Saturday. Atlanta were expected to win this game easily and they did just that by leading for the final 30 - plus minutes. Turnovers were Philadelphia's downfall, as they committed 21 of them, while forcing just 13 from Atlanta. The Hawks did work in the interior, as they won the rebounding battle, 48 - 38 and outscored the Sixers, 42 - 30, in the paint. Shooting was also a key difference, with Atlanta shooting 50 percent, while the Sixers hit just 42 percent of their shots. The Sixers (15 - 27) have the worst plus - minus in the NBA without Joel Embiid in the lineup and losses like this show how much of a difference he makes. Ersan Ilyasova led Philly in scoring, tallying 21 points, three rebounds and four assists. Robert Covington scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds en route to a double - double. T.J. McConnell stuffed the stat sheet by providing eight points, six rebounds, 11 assists and three steals. On deck for the Sixers is a home matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday. The Hawks (26 - 18) have now won nine of their last 11 games, as they continue to climb up the standings. Paul Millsap was the player of the game, collecting 22 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks on 9 - of - 14 shooting. Dwight Howard also recorded a double - double, totaling 13 points, 15 rebounds and three assists. Dennis Schroeder scored 15 points, while handing out a team - high nine assists. Tim Hardaway Jr. was a nice spark off the bench, providing 12 points, three rebounds, six assists and two steals. Atlanta will also host the Clippers for their next game, which will be on Monday.
+These two teams have really struggled this season and the 48 combined turnovers shows just that. Denver was the more inept team though, as they set an NBA season - high with 29 turnovers of their own. The shooting was n't any better, as they shot 41 percent from the field, 67 percent from the free - throw line and 22 percent from three - point range. Bradley Beal was the best player in this game, tallying 26 points, three rebounds and five assists. John Wall went just 5 - of - 14 from the field, but still finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. Markieff Morris also scored 15 points, as all five starters played at least 33 minutes. Nikola Jokic was the only effective Nugget on offense, finishing with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Wilson Chandler had a game to forget, as he went just 2 - of - 16 from the field, en route to five points.
+The Washington Wizards defeated the New York Knicks 103 - 100 Thursday at Madison Square Garden. Coming off maybe their most impressive win on the season, a road victory against the Celtics, the Knicks (19 - 25) had an opportunity to really step out of a funk and get on the right track at home. However, John Wall and the Wizards (23 - 19) ended up being too much for New York on their own home floor. Wall finished with a team - high 29 points, 13 assists, five rebounds and three steals in 37 minutes. Otto Porter Jr. continued his hot streak as well, posting 23 points and six rebounds while going a scorching - hot 6 - of - 10 from behind the arc. As a team, all things were clicking offensively from the Wizards, with the team as a whole shooting 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from three as they notched their fourth straight victory. As for the Knicks, it was a disappointing result, especially with the return of Kristaps Porzingis from an Achilles injury. The Latvian came off the bench to score 15 points in 29 minutes, but it was Carmelo Anthony that really kept the team in the team. Anthony finished with a game - high 34 points on 13 - of - 27 shooting on top of 10 rebounds, while Derrick Rose had his second straight solid game, as he finished with 20 points. In the end, however, it was New York's inability to hit an outside shot that ultimately led to their demise, as they made just seven of their 24 attempts from long range (29 percent). Up next, the Wizards will look for their fifth straight win against the Pistons on Saturday, while the Knicks will remain home Saturday to take on the Suns.
+The Sacramento Kings (19 - 23) defeated the Atlanta Hawks (26 - 18) 91 - 88 on Thursday night. Both teams came into this game in the midst of three - game winning streaks and both teams came in on the back end of a back - to - back set. It was clear there were some tired legs out there, as the shooting was off with a much lower score than anticipated. Both squads combined to shoot well under 40 percent from the field with the two teams combining to go 15 - for - 57 from three - point range while committing 19 turnovers each. What ultimately got Sacramento their win was an 180 run in the third quarter in which the Hawks went nearly six minutes without scoring. Atlanta was able to fight back and get it to a tied ball game, but still couldn’t prevail late. Another huge key was the rebounding, as the Kings snatched down 56 boards to the Hawks 42. This snapped a 15 - game winning streak for Atlanta over Sacramento, which was one of the longest current streaks in the NBA. Atlanta has been struggling with their frontcourt defense all season and that became another huge issue tonight. It's one thing to allow DeMarcus Cousins to have a monster game, but allowing a rookie like Willie Cauley-Stein to record a double - double as well is unacceptable. No Hawks player had a great game tonight aside from Paul Millsap, who tallied 14 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, five steals and four blocks in another spectacular all - around game. Millsap looks poised to make the All-Star team this year ad it's because of his ability to stuff the stat sheet like he did tonight. Jeff Teague has had a down year by his standards and he struggled yet again here, as he shot 2 - for - 8 while amassing just four points and four assists in the loss. In fact, he was benched for long stretches of this game, including the majority of the fourth quarter. Atlanta gets a much needed day off on Friday and then they get a good matchup against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday in their next game. Sacramento has quietly been one of the best teams in the west over the last two months and wins like this show why. They now have wins over the Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder over their last three weeks and that's indicative of how much they have improved over recent weeks. DeMarcus Cousins has been the best player in the world in that stretch and he continued it here, by recording 24 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and three steals in the win. All five starters scored in double - figures and that's a great sign with Rudy Gay sitting out this game with a heel injury. Rajon Rondo didn’t shoot well, but he did accumulate 11 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists in yet another triple - doubling performance. Sacramento will look to extend their winning streak to five games on Saturday against the Indiana Pacers.
+The Brooklyn Nets (5 - 13) defeated the Phoenix Suns (8 - 10) 94 - 91 on Tuesday. Brook Lopez has been the one dependable source of offense for the Nets in a dismal first quarter of the 2015 - 16 campaign. Brooklyn's big man has tallied double - digit points in every game, and was the top scoring center in the league entering Tuesday's contest (20 points per game). Lopez spearheaded the offensive cause once again versus the Suns, collecting 23 points and adding six rebounds, two assists and a block. Even on a night where frontcourt partner - in - crime Thaddeus Young had a down game by his standards, Lopez demonstrated the ability to once again put the offense on his shoulders and carry the Nets to a second consecutive victory. The visiting Suns enjoyed solid performances from three of their starters, but saw a couple of their more talented scorers trudge through poor performances. Brandon Knight scored a game - high 26 points, and added seven rebounds and four assists. It marked the Phoenix point guard's third game in the last four where he's totaled 21 points or more. Backcourt mate Eric Bledsoe had a quiet first half, but came on in the third and fourth quarters to finish with 17 points, seven assists, a a pair of rebounds and four steals. Meanwhile, Alex Len turned in an outstanding performance while making his second start in place of Tyson Chandler (hamstring), posting a 13 - point, 14 - rebound double - double, and filling out the stat sheet with a pair of assists, a pair of steals and three blocks. However, starting power forward Markieff Morris and high - usage reserve T.J. Warren could only muster six - point performances each, leaving a sizable void in the Suns' offensive effort. Mirza Teletovic did post another strong outing to lead the Suns' bench, collecting 12 points and five rebounds in his third consecutive game with double - digit points. The Suns fell to 8 - 10 and currently reside in third place in the Western Conference's Pacific Division. They head to Detroit to face the Pistons on Wednesday. Jarrett Jack supported Lopez as the only other double - digit scorer in Brooklyn's starting five, stuffing the stat sheet with 11 points, eight assists, four rebounds and three steals. The last swipe was the most timely of the three, as Jack was able to take the ball from Knight as time expired to prevent the Suns' point guard from attempting a game - tying three - point shot. Young pitched in eight points, four rebounds and a pair of assists for only his second single - digit scoring night of the entire season. Impressive rookie Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (eight points) and veteran Joe Johnson (nine points) made modest contributions, although the former did add nine rebounds. Shane Larkin and Wayne Ellington paced the Brooklyn bench with a pair of 11 - point efforts, and made key contributions in the victory by scoring six and seven, respectively, in the final period. The Nets improved to 5 - 13 and currently reside in fourth place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division. They've now won four straight home games and make the short trip to face the Knicks on Friday.
+The Cleveland Cavaliers (3 - 3) took down the New Orleans Pelicans (3 - 3) 118 - 111 on Monday night at the Quicken Loans Arena. All of the sudden, the Cavaliers find themselves back at the .500 mark after a slow start to the season. This win for LeBron James and company came over Anthony Davis and the up - and - coming New Orleans Pelicans. The Cavaliers were led by none other than James, who had an impressive triple - double, with 32 points (9 - 17 FG, 1 - 3 3Pt, 13 - 17 FT), 12 rebounds and 10 assists in 40 minutes. Kyrie Irving had an impressive game as well, putting up 32 points (11 - 21 FG, 4 - 7 3Pt, 6 - 7 FT), with nine assists and five rebounds in 41 minutes. The Cavaliers will get a few days off before heading to Boston to take on the Celtics on Friday night. The Pelicans received a big boost off of the bench from Ryan Anderson on Monday night, as he scored 32 points (11 - 19 FG, 8 - 12 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT), with five rebounds, three assists and one steal in 34 minutes off the bench. We ca n't overlook the strong play of Anthony Davis once again either, as he had 27 points (12 - 21 FG, 0 - 2 3Pt, 3 - 4 FT), with 14 rebounds, four assists, four steals and three blocks in 40 minutes. The Pelicans are heading back home next, and they'll be taking on Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night.
+The Splash Brothers Oracle Arena roaring throughout the blowout over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday, as both players scored 26 points each in the first half. Curry went on to finish with a game high 39 points on 11 - of - 15 shooting from behind the arc. The reigning MVP added eight assists and five rebounds. Thompson scored 29 points and cooled off in the second half, while Kevin Durant was not as effective but still managed 18 points on 17 shots, but added eight assists and eight boards. As for the Hornets, the bright spot came from Frank Kaminsky's bench performance where he scored 24 points on 9 - of - 14 shooting, to along with seven rebounds and two assists. Kemba Walker was silenced to just seven points in 25 minutes and Nicolas Batum was also held to a lowly 13 points, however, he did hit 3 - of - 4 from behind the arc.
+The Memphis Grizzlies (21 - 18) slid past the Boston Celtics (19 - 18) 101 - 98 on Sunday. Avery Bradley returned for Boston after missing the past three - plus games with a hip injury, and was immediately reinserted into the starting lineup. The six - year pro's outstanding defense and improved shooting have certainly been key to many a Celtics victory this season, and Bradley put together a solid effort in his return. The 25 - year - old managed 14 points, two rebounds and two steals over a robust 38 minutes, but notably came up empty with respect to his trademark three - pointers. His third and final missed attempt of the night from beyond the arc was the most crucial, as Bradley failed to drain a 26 - foot three - point jumper at the buzzer that would have sent the contest into overtime. Isaiah Thomas almost single - handedly was too much for the Grizzlies, as he posted a game - high 35 points, three rebounds, eight assists and a steal. He also tallied 10 of his points in the fourth quarter. Like Bradley, Amir Johnson also pitched in 14 points, and added nine rebounds, four assists and a block. Jae Crowder with the other Celtics starter with double - digit scoring, managing 10 points, a pair of rebounds, a pair of assists and four steals. Jared Sullinger led the reserves with 11 points, four rebounds and a steal. Boston fell to 19 - 18 and remain in second place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division, now four games behind the first - place Toronto Raptors. The Celtics next head to New York for Tuesday showdown versus the Knicks. The Grizzlies once again were without the services of their starting backcourt, as Mike Conley and Courtney Lee remained sidelined with Achilles and hip injuries, respectively. As has been the case recently, it was a backup that spearheaded Memphis' offensive charge, as Zach Randolph took advantage of the Celtics' vulnerable frontcourt with a 25 - point, 13 - rebound double - double that also included a pair of assists, a steal and a pair of blocks. It was the 15 - year veteran's third performance of over 20 points in the last four games, and his second double - double over that span, with Randolph having come off the bench in all of those contests. Mario Chalmers was next in line with an outstanding 18 - point, five - rebound, four - assist performance in Conley's stead that included an 11 - for - 13 tally from the free - throw line. Four of those buckets from the charity stripe came in the fourth quarter, when the Grizzlies managed to overcome the 76 - 68 deficit they'd entered the period with. Tony Allen was also highly efficient in his second start in place of Lee, posting a 15 - point, 10 - rebound double - double that also included a pair of steals and a block. Not to be outdone, Marc Gasol poured in 11 points and hauled in 11 boards, with almost half his scoring haul (five points) coming during the Grizzlies' comeback in the final period. Matt Barnes came just one rebound shy of joining the double - double parade himself, registering 12 points, nine boards, a pair of assists and a pair of blocks. Memphis improved to 21 - 18 and currently resides in third place in the Western Conference's Southwest Division. They await the Houston Rockets for an intra - divisional showdown on Tuesday.
+The Cleveland Cavaliers (56 - 22) took care of the Milwaukee Bucks (32 - 46) in a 109 - 80 win on Tuesday. This was a lopsided matchup coming in and it was well out of hand early. In fact, the Cavaliers had a 24 - point lead at half and were able to rest their starters for long periods of this game. Cleveland shot 55 percent from the field, 90 percent from the free - throw line and 50 percent from three - point range. They also held the Bucks to under 40 percent shooting. The benches were a huge difference as well, with Clevelad getting 35 points off the bench compared to Milwaukee's nine. Cleveland came into this game as a double - digit favorite and did n't disappoint. No player had a huge game, but no one played more than 28 minutes either. J.R. Smith led the team with 21 points, with all of those points coming from three - point range. LeBron James tallied 17 points, five rebounds and nine assists on 7 - for - 9 shooting. On deck for the Cavaliers is a matchup with the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. Milwaukee's season is over and games like this are simply going through the motions. Giannis Antetokounmpo did continue his great form though, as he accumulated 22 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. Jabari Parker scored 19 of his own, while also grabbing four rebounds. Milwaukee wo n't play again until Friday against the Boston Celtics.
+The Golden State Warriors (29 - 1) defeated the Sacramento Kings (12 - 19) 122 - 103 on Monday. A wild and event filled night went down at Oracle Arena, as Stephen Curry went lights out for a three minute span that included 17 points in the last three minutes of the first half. DeMarcus Cousins highlighted the second half of play, and was ejected after arguing his fifth foul of the night, leading to a technical foul call followed by an early exit. Curry’s night did not start until the end of the first half, but he continued the hot shooting trend in the 3rd quarter, and finished with his first triple - double of the season, going for 23 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists. Klay Thompson poured in 29 points and Draymond Green added 25 points of his own, as the Warriors big three contributed over 60 percent of the team's points. At this point of the season, we have grown accustomed to the Warriors impressive 3 - point shooting, and tonight was no different, as Golden State shot 48 percent from deep as a unit. While the loss of Cousins dealt a major blow to the Kings’ chances in the second half, they did play competitively in the first half and through Curry’s hot streak. Omri Casspi went for a career high 36 points, including Curry like 3 - pointers from 32 - plus feet, and finished 9 - of - 12 from deep. Casspi’s impressive night was the spark Sacramento needed to compete without their all star center. Rajon Rondo got into foul trouble early, picking up three in the first quarter and played a total of 17 minutes. Rondo finished with four points and two assists, far below his season averages. Rudy Gay contributed 17 points, while Darren Collison did his best to aid the bench, adding 13 points, 11 assists and six rebounds. The Kings will look to bounce back when they host the Philadelphia 76ers (2 - 31) on Wednesday, while the Warriors will also play on Wednesday, and take their five game winning streak to the Dallas Mavericks (18 - 13).
+It's been an up - and - down last few games for Harrison Barnes, with Tuesday's performance against his former team, the Golden State Warriors, being one of the downs. Barnes shot just 2 - of - 10 from the field en route to scoring just five points in 34 minutes in the 25 - point loss. But that was n't even Barnes' worst performance of the season. In fact, his worst performance came just two games prior in a 116 - 74 beatdown from the 76ers, where the swingman shot 2 - of - 7 from the field and scored a season - low four points in 24 minutes. The Mavericks are now 2 - 2 in their last four games, with Barnes combining for nine points on 4 - of - 17 shooting in the losses and combining for 41 points on a wildly impressive 18 - of - 31 (58 percent) shooting from the field in the victories, showing that Dallas, at this point in the season, are going wherever Barnes takes them.
+The Rockets (36 - 18) fell to the Mavericks (37 - 20) 111 - 100 in Dallas on Friday. Houston, which is still without Dwight Howard, managed just 41 percent shooting, while Dallas shot 47 percent from the field and forced 21 turnovers. The Rockets were led by 26 points from James Harden, who shot 6 - of - 14 from the field and 11 - of - 13 from the line. Trevor Ariza added 16 points, and Josh Smith chipped in 15 points off the bench. Corey Brewer added 10 points but shot 0 - of - 5 from beyond the arc. Dallas placed eight players in double - figures, including all five starters. Tyson Chandler had a 10 - point, 10 - rebound double - double, while Chandler Parsons and Rajon Rondo each finished with 13 points. Dirk Nowitzki and Monta Ellis had 12 points apiece, and Charlie Villanueva chipped in 12 points off the bench. Dallas was led by Al-Farouq Aminu and Devin Harris, who both scored 17 points. Aminu, who played 30 minutes, also pulled down 12 rebounds. Up next, the Rockets host the Raptors on Saturday night. Dallas plays host to Charlotte on Sunday.
+James Harden scored 37 points on a ridiculous 18 - of - 18 from the free - throw line in the Rockets' win over the Celtics Monday. Amidst MVP chants from his home crowd, the league's fourth - leading scorer dropped 37 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. That was n't to say Harden was n't bothered by Boston's tough defense, however. Harden had 10 turnovers on the night, exceeding his assist total and putting him ahead of Russell Westbrook for the highest average in the league. Sixth man Eric Gordon, who left the game late with what appeared to be an ankle sprain, scored 19 points and made four three - pointers. As a whole, Houston hit 12 threes, continuing their dominance from beyond the arc. For Boston, a nagging injury appeared to hobble All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas, who shot just 7 - of - 18 from the field. Center Al Horford led the team with 21 points to go along with six rebounds and nine assists. Guard Avery Bradley had 16 points and a team - high 10 rebounds, but had his first game of the season without a three - pointer made.
+The Chicago Bulls (28 - 16) got a much needed win Thursday, beating the San Antonio Spurs (27 - 17) 104 - 81 in at the United Center. Chicago entered Thursday's game after a gutting loss to Cleveland on Monday that had people questioning the direction in which the Bulls season was going. The Bulls started to pull away in the third quarter thanks to a solid combined effort from Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler, and Taj Gibson. The Spurs were held to just 37% shooting from the floor. The Spurs were on a four - game winning streak coming into this game and had won six of its last seven. Kawhi Leonard turned in another solid performance, putting up 16 points and 4 rebounds, but the Spurs were out of this game by the fourth quarter and no starter played more than 27 minutes. The Spurs will wrap up a back - to - back set Friday against the Lakers. Chicago needed to make a statement Thursday against one of the NBA's deepest and well - coached teams. The Bulls came out with aggressiveness on both ends of the floor and were able to out - rebound the Spurs despite missing Joakim Noah. Chicago plays seven of its next eight games on the road, starting Friday in Dallas.
+Julius Randle led the way for the Lakers with 25 points on 10 - of - 13 shooting, along with nine rebounds, four assists and three steals, in 33 minutes. Lou Williams had a tough shooting night, going 1 - of - 6 from long range but still managed 18 points, along with four steals and three assists, in 23 minutes off the bench. Larry Nance Jr. hauled in 11 rebounds, to go along with four points, two blocks, one assist and one steal, in 34 minutes off the bench. Nick Young and D'Angelo Russell finished with 15 points each, while Young shot 5 - of - 9 from the field and Russell shot 4 - of - 12. On the other hand, five players scored in double digits for the Sixers, led by Joel Embiid, who finished with 15 points on 5 - of - 14 shooting, along with four rebounds, two assists and two blocks, in 29 minutes. Jahlil Okafor added 14 points on 4 - of - 7 shooting, along with eight rebounds and one steal, in 24 minutes.
+The New Orleans Pelicans (28 - 27) defeated the Miami Heat (22 - 31), 105 - 91. Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson exited the game due to injury and never returned. Davis aggravated a shoulder issue that held him out prior to the All-Star break and will undergo an MRI on Sunday. Ryan Anderson suffered a right knee sprain. After losing his starting spot to Quincy Pondexter, Dante Cunningham started the second half in Anthony Davis’ absence. Norris Cole made his Pelicans debut against the team who traded him, finishing with 12 points, six rebounds, three assists and one steal in 30 minutes. Eric Gordon and Tyreke Evans each registered six assists, and Gordon added 24 points and six three - pointers in the win. On the day the Heat learned Chris Bosh’s season would end due to blood clots in his lungs, Goran Dragic underwhelmed in his debut. Backup Mario Chalmers outperformed Dragic, leading to a promotion in the second half, replacing Udonis Haslem in the starting lineup. Dragic provided 12 points, three rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one three - pointer in 33 minutes while Chalmers tallied a team - high 20 points in 37 minutes. Hassan Whiteside grabbed 16 rebounds and blocked five shots while Dwyane Wade recorded a team - high four assists and 19 points in 30 minutes. The Heat host the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday and the Pelicans begin a three - game homestand Monday against the Toronto Raptors.
+The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns, 100 - 96, at BMO Harris Bradley Center on Sunday Despite there being just four ties and nine lead changes in this game, it was close throughout. In fact, neither team led by more than nine points, as the longest run was just 11 points. Free-throw shooting was one of the biggest factors in Milwaukee's win, as they went 16 - of - 18 from the charity stripe, while the Suns went 11 - of - 16. Both teams shot well, as the Bucks shot 51 percent from the field and the Suns hit 48 percent of their shots. Bench production was decisive as well, with Milwaukee winning that battle, 49 - 33. The Suns (18 - 41) have struggled on the road all season, as this marks their 23rd road loss of the year. T.J. Warren led the way for Phoenix, as he dropped 23 points on 11 - of - 14 shooting. Eric Bledsoe finished with 11 points, four rebounds, nine assists, two steals and two blocks. Devin Booker finished second among starters, totaling 15 points, four rebounds and three assists. Alan Williams was a huge spark off the bench, as he provided 17 points, 15 rebounds, three assists and three steals. On deck for Phoenix is a road matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday. The Bucks (26 - 31) have now won four of their last five games, as their January swoon seems to be far in the rear view mirror. Giannis Antetokounmpo carried the load for Milwaukee, as he accumulated 28 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two blocks on 11 - of - 13 shooting. Tony Snell was the only other starter in double figures, as he amassed 13 points, three rebounds and two assists. Greg Monroe came off the bench to collect 13 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks. Michael Beasley led the bench in scoring, as he dropped 17 points on 8 - of - 10 from the field. Milwaukee will look to keep rolling on Tuesday, in a road matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
+The Golden State Warriors (30 - 5) defeated the Utah Jazz (13 - 26) 116 - 105 on Wednesday at Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City. The Warriors were the superior shooters in this game, going 51 percent from the field and 52 percent from the three - point line, while the Jazz went 48 percent from the floor and just 33 percent from beyond the arc. While the Jazz out - rebounded the Warriors 44 - 31, the Warriors made up for it by forcing the Jazz into 17 turnovers, while committing only 10 of their own. Stephen Curry was very tough to stop in this game, as he went 10 - for - 16 from the field and 4 - for - 9 from the three - point line to finish with a game - high of 27 points. He also handed out 11 assists, notching his fourth double - double in his last five games. Over those last five outings, Curry is averaging 24 points and 11 assists per game, as he continues to have the hot hand. Draymond Green also had a strong showing in this one, scoring an efficient 15 points (6 - 9 FG, 3 - 4 3Pt). Surprisingly, he only recorded one rebound though, which was a season - low for him. Klay Thompson only shot the ball eight times, converting on five of those eight attempts. It was the least amount of shots he's gotten off all year, but he was still able to add 12 points. The Warriors really spread around the minutes in this game with nine players recording more than 22 minutes. Despite the loss, the Jazz saw three players record double - doubles. Derrick Favors led the charge, going 10 - for - 16 from the field to score 22 points, while adding 11 rebounds as well. He's had 20 or more points in four out of his last five games, as he's averaged 21 points per game over that span. Enes Kanter was another double - double contributor, with 13 points (6 - 13 FG, 1 - 1 3Pt) and 10 rebounds of his own. The Jazz received an impressive bench performance from Rudy Gobert, who recorded 16 points (4 - 9 FG, 8 - 11 FT) and 11 rebounds. It was arguably one of his best games of the season, as the 16 points were a season - high, and he also had a significant defensive presence with two steals and three blocks. Gordon Hayward finished with 17 points (5 - 11 FG, 1 - 4 3Pt, 6 - 6 FT) as well. The Warriors' next game will be at home against the Miami Heat on Wednesday, while the Jazz will be at home against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.
+The Utah Jazz hung on to earn their sixth straight win, as they defeated the visiting Indiana Pacers 109 - 100, at Vivint Smart Home Arena on Saturday evening. The Jazz started out with a strong 34 - 21 first quarter and led 60 - 50 at halftime. Paul George was ejected in the fourth quarter after picking up a technical foul and his sixth personal. The Jazz were then able to stay on track and earn a solid home win. Four players scored in double digits for the Jazz (29 - 16), highlighted by solid performances from George Hill and Gordon Hayward. Hill led the way with a game - high 30 points, to go along with six rebounds and five assists, while Hayward finished with 27 points on solid 8 - of - 13 shooting. Rudy Gobert was huge late in the game, and finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds, as he helped the Jazz seal the deal, with some key offensive boards. Alec Burks had one of his best games of the season, as he finished with 13 points on 5 - of - 8 shooting, and four rebounds, in 19 minutes off the bench. The Jazz will look to extend their streak, as they play host to the Thunder on Monday. Meanwhile, the Pacers (22 - 21) fell short despite five players scoring in double digits. Thaddeus Young, Jeff Teague and Paul George each had a team - high 19 points, while Monta Ellis added 15 off the bench. Myles Turner was the only other player to score in double digits, as he chipped in 13, on 5 - of - 9 shooting. The Pacers shot 51 percent from the field and 50 percent from long range, but lacked the closing power, as their star Paul George was ejected. This marks the second straight loss for the Pacers, who will look to bounce back, as they play host to the Knicks on Monday.
+The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Denver Nuggets 112 - 99 Wednesday at Pepsi Center. The Timberwolves (22 - 35) got a morale - boosting victory Wednesday night in their final game before the All-Star break, as they have now gone 3 - 2 in their last five games. For that, they have Andrew Wiggins to thank, as he once again carried Minnesota offensively for the entire night. He finished with 40 points - - his second 40 - plus performance in a row - - on 15 - of - 26 shooting from the field. Karl-Anthony Towns added 24 points of his own to go along with 19 rebounds as the duo once again accounted for over half of their team's points. Shabazz Muhammed ended up being the only other Timberwolves player to score in double figures, as he scored 15 points in 17 minutes off the bench. For the Nuggets (25 - 31), they suffered a bit of a letdown following their dominating victory over the league - best Warriors on Tuesday. They ended up shooting just over 40 percent from the field and not one player in particular was able to get into any sort of rhythm offensively. Gary Harris led the way scoring for Denver with 22 points, while Jameer Nelson and Nikola Jokic each managed to record double - doubles in the outing. Nelson finished with 16 points and a game - high 11 assists, while Jokic notched 15 points and 14 rebounds. The Nuggets have now won every other game over their last seven contests heading into the All-Star break, but they remain the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference standings.
+The Golden State Warriors defeated the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers, 104 - 89, in Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena on Thursday. The Warriors came away with a defining double figure victory, but it was not on the back of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, instead, the spotlight belonged to the bench, who stepped up in the absence of the superstars. While Curry and Thompson have a tremendous effect on gameplan and matchups while they are on the floor, it was Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston and Leandro Barbosa who lead Golden State on both ends of the floor. The Cavaliers led for all of the first minute of the game, and did not reclaim a lead until late in the third quarter, however, Golden State hounded LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love and made every shot difficult to get off. Draymond Green and Iguodala were a nightmare for LeBron James inside the paint, and gave little leeway to the Cavs three - point shooting effort. Curry and Thompson were unable to get into a shooting rhythm, and the inefficient shooting gave the Cavs many windows of opportunity, but they were unable to take advantage of the cold shooting from the Warriors backcourt. Livingston had one of his best games of the playoffs, and poured in 20 points on a lights out 8 - of - 10 shooting, specifically with floaters and close range jumpers. The Cavaliers were able to grind out a handful of lead changes on the back of Irving and James, but their bench was unable to help out in the scoring department, as they finished with only 10 points combined from the reserves. James finished with 23 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists, while Irving added 26 points on 7 - of - 22 shooting. Tristan Thompson was clawing his way to offensive rebounds in the first half, but the energy died off in the second half. Thompson contributed 10 points and 12 rebounds on 5 - of - 11 shooting. Green returned to his stat stuffing ways and scored 16 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and four steals, while causing nightmares in transition for Cleveland. Curry and Thompson both added two dagger three - pointers down the stretch, but combined for a rare 20 points 8 - of - 27 shooting. Harrison Barnes got working early on in the first quarter and was part of the reason his team was able to get off to a quick lead in the first half, as he finished with 13 points on 6 - of - 10 shooting. The Warriors will host Game 2 on Sunday.
+The Toronto Raptors (19 - 12) beat the Milwaukee Bucks (12 - 19) 111 - 90 on Saturday. Toronto earned a much - needed win in Milwaukee, as they managed to dominate on both sides of the ball. Headed into the matchup, the Raptors had lost three of their previous five matchups. Center Bismack Biyombo helped lead the comeback win, offering up 14 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks on the night. Biyombo has been a force while filling in for injured starter Jonas Valancianus. The double - double comes as a follow - up to a dominant 20 - rebound performance. For the Bucks, defense appeared to be the main issue, as their opponents were able to knock down a highly efficient 52 percent of their shots. Shooting woes, too, contributed to the loss, as the Bucks shot just 42 percent from the field. Starters Michael Carter-Williams and Jabari Parker combined for an abysmal 6 - of - 25 shooting performance. Guard Khris Middleton, however, was able to get it going, hitting five three - pointers and posting 20 points. The Raptors are jocking for position near the top of the Eastern Conference. Their next contest will be on Monday in Chicago. The Bucks, meanwhile, will travel to Dallas for their next contest, also taking place on Monday.
+The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the visiting Denver Nuggets 121 - 106, at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Saturday evening. The Thunder snapped a three - game losing streak, as they led for the entirety of the second half, on their way to their 14th home win of the season. Russell Westbrook led the way for Oklahoma City (22 - 16) with his 17th triple - double of the season, this time consisting of 32 points, 17 rebounds and 11 assists. Cameron Payne made his season debut for the Thunder, after missing the first part of the season while recovering from a fractured foot. Payne contributed well in 13 minutes off the bench, as he chipped in eight points on 3 - of - 4 shooting, including 2 - of - 3 from long range, along with two rebounds and one assist. Domantas Sabonis started off the game blazing, with nine points in the first quarter but did not score for the remainder of the game. Enes Kanter continued his strong play with 14 points and six rebounds, in 21 minutes off the bench. The Thunder now have a day off before they face off against the Bulls in Chicago on Monday. The Nuggets (14 - 23) kept things competitive in the first half, but could not keep up the pace beyond that, as the game progressively slipped away throughout the second half. Wilson Chandler was the high - point man for Denver, with 24 on 10 - of - 18 shooting, and added seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks, in 32 minutes off the bench. Five other players scored in double digits for the Nuggets, including Will Barton, who finished with 21 points. Barton started in place of Gary Harris (groin), who was a late scratch. Nikola Jokic also sat this one out, as he was held up by an illness. The Nuggets have now dropped two straight on the road and five straight overall, but have a few days to figure things out before their next contest on Thursday, when they host the Pacers.
+The Charlotte Hornets (7 - 6) handled the Philadelphia 76ers (0 - 13) 113 - 88 on Friday. These were two teams going in opposite directions coming into Friday's game and that fact ended up playing out on the court yet again. It was a 21 - point game at the half and the Sixers couldn’t really recover after that poor start. The biggest discrepancies in the game were the free - throw shooting and turnovers. Charlotte made 21 - of - 22 free - throws while the Sixers went just 16 - for - 22 and the Hornets won the turnover battle 17 - 11. It was already ugly for the Sixers, but it's getting down right atrocious at this point. What's really hurting this team is their offense, as they rank dead - last in the NBA in scoring and lowered that average here. Philadelphia opted to go with a smaller lineup by bringing Nerlens Noel off the bench, which is a strange move considering he's arguably their best player. He still played 27 minutes and tallied 16 points and nine rebounds in the loss. The best player for the Sixers on this night was Nik Stauskas, who totaled 15 points, three assists and two rebounds in the defeat. Philadelphia will look to grab that first elusive win in Miami on Saturday against the Heat. The Hornets are quietly one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now, as they have won seven of their last 10 games. Much of that success can be credited to Nicolas Batum, but it was the mainstay combo of Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson who got it done on Friday night. Walker tallied 20 points and seven assists while Jefferson collected 26 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in the win. Rookie Frank Kaminsky also had his best game in his short career, contributing nine points, three rebounds and three assists in the victory. This is a dangerous team in the East going forward and they look like a threat to make the playoffs and possibly win a game in the postseason for the first time in 14 years. They'll look to keep up this form against the Sacramento Kings on Monday.
+The Boston Celtics (13 - 23) defeated the New Orleans Pelicans (18 - 19) 108 - 100 on Monday at the TD Garden in Boston. After coming out of the third quarter down 76 - 72, the Celtics did n't look to be in the best of positions. With a huge fourth quarter though, where the Celtics out - scored the Pelicans 36 - 24, they were able to secure the eight point victory at home in front of their home crowd. The Celtics forced the Pelicans into 18 turnovers, while committing only 11 of their own, which may have been the difference in this game. The Celtics received most of their production from their forward position, as Jae Crowder and Jared Sullinger both had strong performances. Sullinger led the team, scoring 27 points (9 - 17 FG, 1 - 4 3Pt, 8 - 9 FT) and grabbing 10 rebounds in 32 minutes. The 27 points were a season - high for him, while it marked his second double - double in as many games. Crowder on the other hand posted 22 points (9 - 14 FG, 2 - 4 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT), three assists, four steals and two blocks. While the 22 points were a season - high for him, so were the blocks and steals, as he was a huge contributor on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball Monday. The Celtics did receive plenty of help from their bench as well. Marcus Thornton had 13 points (2 - 8 FG, 1 - 3 3Pt, 8 - 9 FT) in only 14 minutes, while Brandon Bass had 12 points (4 - 10 FG, 1 - 2 3Pt, 3 - 3 FT) in 23 minutes. Both Avery Bradley and Evan Turner also reached double figures with 10 points apiece. Despite the loss, the Pelicans received another huge performance from Anthony Davis. Davis went 10 - for - 23 from the floor to score 34 points, while also adding nine rebounds and three blocked shots. He was able to get to the line at will in this game, converting on 14 - of - 15 free throws. He's had the hot hand lately, averaging 29 points and 10 rebounds per game over his last three outings. Eric Gordon had arguably his best game of the season, going 7 - for - 12 from the field and 3 - for - 5 from the three - point line to score 21 points. It was a season - high in points for him, as he's dealt with injuries for a large portion of the year. Coming off the bench with Gordon back in the starting lineup, Tyreke Evans still had a strong showing. He chipped in with 19 points (7 - 15 FG, 1 - 3 3Pt, 4 - 6 FT) and eight rebounds, playing just under 35 minutes because Jrue Holiday was forced from the game after only 15 minutes with a right ankle injury. The Celtics' next game will be at home against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, while the Pelicans will be on the road against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.
+The host Memphis Grizzlies took down the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves, 102 - 98, in their season opener Wednesday. Minnesota quickly jumped out to a 20 - 3 lead to begin the game, leaving Memphis in a tight spot almost immediately. The Grizzlies answered with a lightning - fast run of their own, however, and managed to exit the first quarter trailing by only three points. While reigning Rookie of the Year Karl-Anthony Towns scored nine points in the first five minutes of the contest, the Grizzlies were able to keep him relatively quiet during the second and third quarters. Towns still finished with a respectable 21 points. Veteran center Marc Gasol, who Towns has called his toughest matchup, made this no easy feat, however, recording four blocks to go along with 18 points. Two other members of Memphis's longstanding core, Mike Conley and Zach Randolph, also contributed heavily in the points column, scoring 24 and 19 respectively. While Memphis's veterans drove the win, Minnesota saw major contributions from their younger players. Third-year wing Andrew Wiggins led the team in scoring, posting 25 points, while high - flying young guard Zach LaVine dropped in 19. Towns, meanwhile, added five assists and four rebounds to complement his scoring output. The contest was also the NBA debut for rookie Kris Dunn, the fifth overall pick in the 2016 draft. Dunn played behind LaVine and Ricky Rubio, clocking just 15 minutes of game time. He contributed eight points and four rebounds during that time on the floor. The Wolves will visit Sacramento on Saturday, while Memphis will take to the road to face the Knicks.
+The Miami Heat defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, 115 - 113, at Target Center on Monday. Late in the contest, with 17 seconds left, the Heat (22 - 30) held an eight - point lead and were seemingly well on their way to their 11th straight victory. But then, a couple of Miami turnovers and a few big plays from Andrew Wiggins later, the Timberwolves (19 - 33) had one last chance to either tie or take the lead with eight seconds remaining in the game. However, Wiggins' fallaway mid - range jumper would not go down and the time would expire, and the Heat's miraculous win streak remained alive. In the end, it was the Goran Dragic show in Minneapolis, with the point guard hitting nearly everything he threw up and finishing with a team - high 33 points on 13 - of - 17 shooting from the field and 7 - of - 9 shooting from behind the arc on top of nine assists. And that hot shooting was contagious, as the rest of the Miami players launched from three - point land with plenty of confidence and the team shot an astounding 54 percent from long range, solidifying them as one of the hottest teams in basketball. As for Minnesota, they got impressive performances out of their two stars in Karl-Anthony Towns and Wiggins, but they were unable to walk away with the victory in their second game without Zach LaVine, who is out for the season with a torn ACL. Towns finished with a game - high 35 points and eight rebounds, while Wiggins' late - game heroics and a 21 - point second half led to him finishing with 27 points on 11 - of - 23 shooting from the field. Ricky Rubio also had yet another double - double, scoring 14 rebounds and dishing out 13 assists. Overall, it was an efficient game for the Timberwolves, who shot 54 percent from the field, but it ended up just being too little too late. Up next, the Heat will look to make it 12 straight wins Wednesday against the Bucks, while the Timberwolves will look to avoid their fifth straight loss Wednesday against the Raptors.
+The Detroit Pistons (30) defeated the Chicago Bulls (2 - 1) 98 - 94 in overtime Friday. Both teams saw several established starters struggle mightily with their shots, and relied heavily on a narrow core of their starters for the bulk of the scoring as a result. The Bulls’ Derrick Rose was actually held scoreless until the fourth quarter, and finished with only eight points. The Pistons’ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was similarly frustrated on offense, totaling only six points on 2 - for - 12 shooting. The Bulls were the beneficiaries of a third straight strong performance from power forward Nikola Mirotic, who tallied 22 points, including another three buckets from beyond the arc. Jimmy Butler paced the Bulls with a double - double that featured 23 points and 11 boards. Pau Gasol was the other main contributor on the night, posting a double - double of his own with 16 points and 12 rebounds. With three starters scoring 20 points or more and a trademark double - double from Andre Drummond, the Pistons were eventually able to pull away from the Bulls in the extra period. Drummond notched 20 points and complemented it with 11 rebounds, while Marcus Morris poured in a game - high 26 points on outstanding 67 percent shooting (10 - for - 15) from the field. Reggie Jackson posted his best performance of the young season as well, chipping in 22 points, seven assists, and seven boards. The loss dropped the Bulls to 2 - 1 and into second place behind the Pistons in the Eastern Conference’s Central Division. They head home to face the Orlando Magic on Sunday. The win raised the Pistons record to a perfect 30 and keeps them in first place in the Eastern Conference’s Central Division. They now enjoy a three - day break before their next contest, a home tilt against the Pacers next Tuesday.
+It was business as usual for point guard Russell Westbrook as the Thunder earned their sixth win in seven games this season. Westbrook shot just 5 - of - 16 and scored just 14 points, well below his average, but posted a double - double with 11 assists. Westbrook turned it on in particular during the third quarter, in which he scored or assisted on all 20 points during a 200 Thunder run. A more efficient double - double came off the bench, with center Enes Kanter scoring a team - high 24 points on 10 - of - 12 shooting to go with 10 rebounds. Kanter played only 21 minutes but still made a significant impact in the scoring column. For Miami, meanwhile, bench scoring was a necessity, as the starting five combined for just 35 points on the night. Forward James Johnson led the team with 18 points, while guard Tyler Johnson and forward Willie Reed scored in double - digits as well.
+The Phoenix Suns (8 - 9) avoided losing their fifth straight by beating the Toronto Raptors (11 - 7) by a score of 107 - 102, Sunday, in Toronto. The loss also ended Toronto's four game winning streak. Both teams were missing their starting centers as Jonas Valanciunas (hand) and Tyson Chandler (knee) were both out. The Suns led 81 - 72 heading into the fourth but a late surge from Toronto brought them within buzzer - beater range, although this night, the second of a back - to - back, they could not get it done. DeMar DeRozan had a great game for the Raptors, scoring a season high 29 points on 11 - 20 shooting, along with seven assists and three rebounds in 37 minutes. Kyle Lowry continued his strong play as well, with 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists. DeMarre Carroll posted 20 points on 8 - 13 shooting, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. Toronto will ultimately need more help from the bench if they want to have any great success this season, DeRozan, Lowry and Carroll can not do it alone, although Valanciunas has been missed. Phoenix had three bench players score 15 or more points; quite the contrary to Torontos who had no bench players score in double digits. Mirza Teletovic was raining threes, shooting 6 - 7 from deep and finishing with 20 points, two rebounds and one assist, in only 18 minutes off the bench. T.J. Warren posted a double double with 15 points and 11 rebounds on 7 - 13 shooting, in 29 minutes off the bench. Eric Bledsoe led the way for the Suns with a big 20 points, 11 assists, five rebounds and three blocked shots, including one potentially game - saving block in the last few seconds. Phoenix will be playing in Brooklyn Tuesday for the second game of their current six game road trip. Toronto will be in Atlanta Wednesday for a big Eastern Conference match up.
+The New Orleans Pelicans (15 - 27) earned their fourth win in five games on Thursday, defeating the Detroit Pistons (23 - 20) 115 - 99. After sitting at fourteenth in the Western Conference for over a month, the Pelicans have been able to turn things around, and now sit just 4 games out from the eighth seed. With the win, New Orleans also improved to 10 - 9 at home on the season, placing them at above .500 at the Smoothie King Center for the first time in 2015 - 16. Anthony Davis and Andre Drummond squared off in what proved to be a battle between big men on Thursday. Davis recorded a game - high 32 points, while Drummond poured in 19 points, pulled down 22 rebounds, and stole the ball four times. Despite Drummond's high individual rebounding total, the two teams ended up dead even on the glass, with each squad grabbing 44 rebounds. Drummond also went 3 for 5 at the free - throw line just one day after setting the NBA record for missed free - throws after going 13 for 36 in Houston. Shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope led the Pistons in scoring with 23 points in a game - high 41 minutes. The 22 - year - old ranks third in the league in minutes per game, and Thursday's matchup saw no deviation from that trend. For New Orleans, meanwhile, shooting guard Tyreke Evans filled the stat sheet with a 22 - point, 10 - assist double - double. Evans also recorded four rebounds and two steals. Detroit will travel to Denver for a matchup against the Nuggets on Saturday. New Orleans will also play on Saturday, continuing the team's homestead with a visit from the Milwaukee Bucks.
+The Denver Nuggets defeated the Orlando Magic 125 - 112 Tuesday at Pepsi Center. It was a wire - to - wire victory for the Nuggets (17 - 23), who have now won two in a row after a five - game losing streak. They were led by a monster performance from big man Nikola Jokic, who posted a game - high 30 points on 13 - of - 19 shooting, 11 rebounds, five assists and three steals in 36 minutes. The performance was Jokic's first 30 - point game of the regular season and his third double - double in as many games. Emanuel Mudiay added a double - double of his own, recording 18 points and a game - high 13 assists in 37 minutes, while Kenneth Faried played a wildly efficient game offensively as the team's starting power forward, posting 20 points on 10 - of - 12 shooting from the field. Overall as a team, Denver had a field day shooting the ball, as the Nuggets finished Monday's game shooting 58 percent from the field. As for the Magic (17 - 26), they have now lost two games in a row and six of their last seven. They were once again led by point guard Elfrid Payton, who has now put together a great three - game stretch. After posting 20 points, 12 rebounds and four assists in Monday's contest, he is now averaging 22 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds over his last three contests. Overall for Orlando, the problem was n't offense. They shot 50 percent from the field en route to posting their third straight total over 100 points and had seven different players score in double figures. Again, it was their lackluster defensive effort that made things too easy for the Nuggets offensively Monday. Up next, the Nuggets will look for their third straight win against the Lakers on Tuesday, while the Magic will look to turn things around in New Orleans on Wednesday.
+The Boston Celtics (20 - 31) made an unbelievable comeback to defeat the top - seeded Atlanta Hawks (43 - 10) 89 - 88 on Wednesday at the TD Garden. When Atlanta's Mike Scott jammed an alley oop home to put the Hawks up 79 - 65 in the fourth, it looked like this was going to be another easy win for the top team in the East. However, the Celtics made an unbelievable push to storm back. Boston called on Evan Turner on inbounds play with six seconds left and Turner hit a floater to give the Celtics the lead with under a second remaining. Atlanta seemed poised to enter the All-Star break on a two game winning streak, but was unable to close out Boston. Every starter except for Al Horford had poor nights shooting, highlighted by Jeff Teague's 4 - for - 12 performance and Paul Millsap's 3 - for - 11 outing. The Hawks have a tough stretch awaiting on the other side of the break with the Raptors, Bucks, and Mavericks on the slate. Boston was able to overcome a 32 percent shooting performance on the night as the Celtics got several great fourth quarter showings. Jared Sullinger shook off a rough first half to finish the night with 17 points and 15 rebounds. Avery Bradley hit a three - pointer to bring Boston within one point with just under two minutes to go. The Celtics go into the break on a high note and will resume play with a three - game road swing starting in Sacramento on Feb. 20.
+The Oklahoma City Thunder (55 - 26) cruised past the visiting Los Angeles Lakers (16 - 65) on Monday night, 112 - 79, in Kobe Bryant's last road game. Bryant played only 19 minutes, scoring 13 points, as the Thunder's Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook stole the show. Durant tallied his 64th consecutive game with at least 20 points, while Westbrook needed only the first half to notch his 18th triple - double of the season. Durant finished with 34 points, five rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block. Westbrook filled the stat sheet with 13 points, 10 rebounds, 14 assists and one steal. Steven Adams also had a solid game, with 13 points and 15 rebounds, along with two assists, two steals and one block. The win snaps a two - game losing streak for the Thunder, who are now 3 - 4 in their last seven games. The Lakers are 1 - 10 in their last 11 and have lost 13 in a row on the road. The Thunder ran away with the game in the second half, outscoring the Lakers 31 - 13 in the third quarter. The Thunder shot 44 percent from the field, holding the Lakers to an opponent season - low 28 percent from the field. Robert Sacre totaled a season - high 11 points with eight rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench for the Lakers, while Julius Randle logged nine points and 13 rebounds. The Lakers wrap up their season in Utah on Wednesday. The Thunder's final game of the season will fall on the second night of a back - to - back as they head to San Antonio to take on the Spurs on Tuesday.
+The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Detroit Pistons, 102 - 89, at BMO Harris Bradley Center on Monday. Despite this game being close throughout the first quarter, the Bucks took care of business in dominating fashion. The second quarter was the decisive stretch, with Milwaukee winning that quarter, 28 - 15. Shooting was the key, as the Bucks shot 51 percent, while holding the Pistons to just 44 percent. The assist - to - turnover differential was decisive as well, with Milwaukee recording 26 assists to 11 turnovers, while Detroit matched their assists and turnovers at 17 a piece. The Bucks also went a perfect 16 - of - 16 from the free - throw line in their win. The Pistons (26 - 30) were coming off a huge comeback win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, but this blowout loss makes that road win look much less valuable. Andre Drummond was Detroit's best player, as he collected 21 points, 12 rebounds and three steals. Marcus Morris led the team in scoring, as he tallied 26 points, five rebounds and three assists on 10 - of - 17 shooting. Jon Leuer recorded a 15 - point, 10 - rebound double - double, while going 6 - of - 9 from the field. On deck for Detroit is a home matchup against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday. The Bucks (24 - 30) have now won two - straight, as they hope this is the start of a big run. Greg Monroe abused his former team, as he led Milwaukee with 25 points, 13 rebounds and three steals on 12 - of - 15 shooting off the bench. Michael Beasley led the starters, as he accrued 23 points, three rebounds, four assists, and three steals on 10 - of - 13 from the field. Tony Snell finished third on the team with 16 points and two rebounds. Milwaukee will look to keep rolling on Wednesday in a road matchup with the Brooklyn Nets,
+The Toronto Raptors defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, 122 - 100, at Air Canada Centre on Monday. DeMar DeRozan has taken his game up to another level this season, and he's often been joined in many of his exploits by backcourt mate Kyle Lowry. However, Monday, it was another sharpshooting guard that helped supplement a team - high 30 points from DeRozan, as Terrence Ross came off the bench to pour in 25 points for Toronto (17 - 7). The pair went a combined 17 - of - 28 from the field, leading the Raptors to outstanding 51 and 56 percent success rates from the field and three - point range, respectively. The Bucks (11 - 12) got their own stellar 30 - point performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo, who complemented his haul with eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. Jabari Parker was next with 27 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal. However, only one other Bucks player managed to get into double digits in the scoring column, and that effort came from the bench in the person of Greg Monroe (11 points). Tony Snell (eight points), John Henson (seven points) and Matthew Dellavedova (two points) considerably underwhelmed on the first unit. DeRozan added three rebounds and three assists to his team - high point total. Lowry went for 18 points, seven assists, three rebounds and a steal. DeMarre Carroll supplied 13 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a steal. Jonas Valanciunas registered an 11 - point, 13 - rebound double - double that also included an assist. Ross supplemented his aforementioned bench - high scoring haul with five rebounds and two steals. The Bucks head back home and await the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night, while the Raptors head to Philadelphia for a Wednesday evening matchup with the Sixers.
+The Milwaukee Bucks (2 - 3) defeated the Philadelphia 76ers (0 - 4) by a score of 91 - 87 on Wednesday at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee Despite being the expected favorite coming in, the Bucks were n't able to get any sort of lead through the first three quarters, as time and again, the Sixers held strong. The Sixers eventually had an 85 - 82 lead with two and half minutes left in regulation, but the Bucks went on to outscore them 9 - 2 in the final two minutes to pull out the four - point victory in front of their home crowd. The Bucks were outrebounded 51 - 37 in this one, but forced the Sixers into 19 turnovers, which ended up making the difference. Struggling to get momentum this year, Khris Middleton finally turned things around Wednesday. Although he did n't have the best shooting percentage, he still led the team with 21 points (7 - 20 FG, 3 - 7 3Pt, 4 - 4 FT), including a clutch three - pointer to put the Bucks up four points with less than 50 seconds in the game. Middleton was continually called upon for late - game heroics during the 2014 - 15 season, so Milwaukee was very happy to see the swingman return to form again Wednesday. Greg Monroe also was able to have success in this one, showing the young bigs of the Sixers his experience. Monroe finished with 18 points (7 - 14 FG, 4 - 5 FT), eight rebounds, and three steals over 36 minutes. He's now combined for an impressive 41 points and 21 rebounds over his last two outings. Giannis Antetokounmpo chipped in with an efficient 17 points (7 - 11 FG, 1 - 1 3Pt, 2 - 3 FT) and five rebounds of his own. Despite struggling to limit Monroe defensively, rookie Jahlil Okafor and second - year pro Nerlens Noel performed admirably on the offensive side of the ball. Okafor recorded 21 points (9 - 13 FG, 3 - 3 FT), six rebounds, and two blocked shots, while Noel finished with 17 points (8 - 16 FG, 1 - 2 FT), 12 rebounds, and one blocked shot. Noel has now notched three double - doubles over the first four games of the season, pushing his season averages to 12 points and 10 rebounds. Nik Stauskas was the only other Sixer in double figures with 14 points, but went a dreadful 3 - of - 14 from behind the three - point line. The Sixers will next head to Cleveland to play the Cavaliers on Friday, while the Bucks will be on the road against the New York Knicks on Friday.
+The Clippers had to play this game without Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, as this could be a sign of things to come. Minnesota did a great job of closing out though, as they finished the game on a 11 - 4 run. In fact, this marked their first win this season in a game decided by four points or less, as they had lost 10 - straight prior. Shooting killed the Clippers, as they shot 18 percent from three - point range and 54 percent from the free - throw line. Karl-Anthony Towns was a presence, as he tallied 37 points, 12 rebounds and five assists on 17 - of - 24 shooting. Andrew Wiggins was n't far behind, totaling 27 points, four rebounds and four assists. DeAndre Jordan carried the Clippers, as he dropped a career - high 29 points to go along with 16 rebounds. Austin Rivers was second on the team, providing 20 points and two assists.
+The Golden State Warriors defeated the host Houston Rockets 125 - 108, at Toyota Center on Friday evening. The Warriors won the first three quarters, to take a 20 - point lead into the final frame, where they scored 26 points to make sure they stayed on top. The season series is now even at one a piece, as they Warriors were able to get revenge for the loss the Rockets handed them at Oracle Arena, earlier in the season. This marks the sixth straight win for the Warriors (37 - 6), as they remain comfortably at the top of the West. Kevin Durant was the high - point man in the contest, as he finished with 32 points on 12 - of - 19 shooting, in 34 minutes. Golden State's four other starters also scored in double digits, while Stephen Curry was the next highest contributor, with 24 points, to go along with seven assists, in 33 minutes. Draymond Green filled the stat sheet as he added 15 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and one steal, in 33 minutes. The Warriors are 17 - 3 on the road and will look to keep rolling, as they move on to Orlando to face the second game of their current four - game road trip. Meanwhile, the Rockets (33 - 13) struggled from long range, which for them usually means a loss, considering how many of their shots come from there. They only hit 7 - of - 35 from distance, but still managed to shoot 44 percent from the field overall. James Harden was quiet, finishing with only 17 points, while going 0 - of - 5 from long range. Harden added 11 assists and seven rebounds, but struggled to control the ball, as he gave up seven turnovers. Clint Capela was the high - point man for the Rockets, as he finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds, in 21 minutes off the bench. The Rockets remain comfortably in third place in the West, but will have to get back on track, as they head right out to Memphis, where they face the Grizzlies on Saturday.
+The New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Orlando Magic 118 - 98 Wednesday at Smoothie King Center. It was a complete team effort for the Pelicans (17 - 26), as they managed to grab a lead in the first quarter and never let go. It was n't all drama - free however, as Anthony Davis left in the middle of the game with a hand sprain, but he was able to return shortly after. The superstar big man finished with 21 points and 14 in just 29 minutes, which was his seventh double - double in his last eight games. But what really carried New Orleans through the final stretch of the game was their bench, as Langston Galloway and Tyreke Evans each scored 18 points as reserves, with the bench as a whole scoring 54 of the team's 118 points Wednesday. On top of all that, the Pelicans managed to shoot an impressive 42 percent from behind the arc. As for the Magic (17 - 27), they have now lost three in a row and seven of their last eight games following Wednesday's performance. While four of their five starters managed to score in double figures, no one was able to a put together a standout performance on a forgettable night for the team. Their main issue ended up being their inability to take care of the basketball, as they had just 18 assists to their 18 turnovers. They also ended up shooting a poor 44 percent from the field and shot just 11 free throws throughout the 48 minutes. Up next, the Pelicans will remain home Friday when they take on the Nets, while the Magic will look to turn things around Friday against the Bucks.
+The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, 113 - 102, at Quicken Loans Arena on Wednesday. The two teams met for the second straight night after going into overtime yesterday, but LeBron James and Kyrie Irving showed little sign of fatigue. With Kevin Love out once again with a knee injury, the Big Two stepped up in his stead, tallying 29 and 31 points, respectively. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker did a pretty good job going blow for blow with the All-Star duo, but received precious little support from anyone else on the Bucks (13 - 14). Meanwhile, the Cavs (21 - 6) were just a bit better with their shot, as they managed success rates of 49 and 56 percent, respectively, from the field and three - point range. Antetokounmpo led the way for Milwaukee with 28 points, five rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block. Parker was right behind him with 27 points, two assists, a rebound and a block. However, John Henson (four points, eight rebounds, an assist and two blocks), Tony Snell (three points, one rebound, one assist) and Matthew Dellavedova (two points, three assists, two rebounds, two steals) significantly underwhelmed on the offensive end. In fact, the only other double - digit scorer for the vistors came from the bench, as rookie Malcolm Brogdon went for 11 points, seven assists, five rebounds and three steals. Irving added a career - high 13 assists, six rebounds and a steal to his game - high scoring total. James complemented his points with nine rebounds and six assists. Richard Jefferson drew another start in Love's place and supplied 10 points, four assists and a block. Tristan Thompson turned in just five points but hauled in 15 rebounds. Iman Shumpert and Channing Frye paced the second unit with a pair of 10 - point efforts. The Bucks head back home to face off with the Washington Wizards on Friday evening, while the Cavs remain home to tangle with the Brooklyn Nets on Friday evening as well.
+The Denver Nuggets (28 - 38) defeated the Washington Wizards (30 - 35) 116 - 100 on Saturday. The recent forms of these teams would have indicated this result, but it happened in a strange fashion. Denver went on a 19 - 3 run in the fourth quarter to make a big comeback and run away with the win. In fact, the Nuggets outscored the Wizards 41 to 17 in the fourth quarter. What was most impressive is that the Denver reserves played the entirety of the fourth quarter and led the comeback. The Nuggets shot 53 percent from the field, while holding the Wizards to just 42 percent shooting. The Denver bench also outscored the Washington bench 75 to 34. Washington had to play this game in the second half of a back - to - back set and it was clear they couldn’t keep up in the altitude. The Wizards had a seven - minute stretch in the fourth quarter where they failed to make a basket. John Wall shot poorly, but still finished with 19 points and 11 assists in the loss. Otto Porter played well, as he scored 23 points and recorded five steals. On deck for Washington is a matchup against the Detroit Pistons on Monday. This now gives Denver their fourth - straight win, with all four wins coming at home. The bench was spectacular, as four players scored at least 14 points. Darrell Arthur and Jusuf Nurkic both tied the team - lead with 17 points off the bench. D.J. Augustin and Will Barton both double - doubled off the bench as well, as they scored 31 combined points. The Nuggets will look to keep up the winning streak against the Miami Heat on Monday.
+The host Atlanta Hawks defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, 107 - 100, at Philips Arena on Wednesday. Most of the statistics would indicate a Milwaukee win, but Atlanta prevailed thanks to great teamwork. The second quarter was especially decisive, as the Hawks outscored the Bucks 31 - 9 in that 12 - minute stretch. Strangely, Milwaukee took 26 more shots than Atlanta, but made only four more baskets. The Bucks also dominated in the paint, outscoring the Hawks 50 - 28. Atlanta was extremely efficient though, as they shot 49 percent from the field and assisted on 29 of their 35 made baskets. They also took care of business at the charity stripe, going 27 - of - 31 from the free - throw line. Milwaukee (5 - 5) had their opportunities to win this game, but they realized how tough it is to beat an efficient Atlanta team. Giannis Antetokounmpo carried the load, as he tallied 26 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists. Jabari Parker was great as well, totaling 23 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals of his own. The only other starter in double figures was Tony Snell, who amassed 11 points, four rebounds and three assists. Mirza Teletovic was a nice spark off the bench, as he scored 14 points on 5 - of - 10 shooting. Milwaukee will be on back - to - back duties, as they travel to face the Miami Heat on Thursday for their next game. Atlanta (9 - 2) had to play this game without Dwight Howard (quad), but they did n't miss a beat. Paul Millsap stepped up in his absence, as he tallied 21 points, eight rebounds and three assists in the win. Mike Muscala started for Howard and provided 16 points, five rebounds and three assists of his own. Kyle Korver had one of his best games of the season, totaling 11 points, six rebounds and five assists. All five starters for Atlanta scored at least 11 points and provided at least three rebounds and three assists. On deck for the Hawks is a road matchup against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday.
+The Chicago Bulls (42 - 40) defeated the Philadelphia 76ers (10 - 72) in the season finale Wednesday night at United Center, 115 - 105. Philadelphia exploded out of the gate, scoring 32 points in the first quarter and 60 poitns in the first half, enough to take a nine - point lead into the break. But the 76ers offense completely collapsed in the third quarter, as Philadelphia notched just 13 points in the frame and saw their nine - point lead turn into a 13 - point deficit, a big enough swing for the Bulls to coast to the finish line. The three - pointers were flying all day in this one, as the two teams combined to make 32 of their 59 attempts, a ridiculous 54 shooting percentage from downtown for the two squads. Nikola Mirotic knocked down seven three - pointers en route to a 32 - point night to lead all scorers. Jrue Holiday hit five threes of his own and finished with 29 points, and Jimmy Butler notched a triple - double with 10 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. Chicago shot just 42 percent from inside the arc but made 15 of their 24 three - pionters (63 percent), a relentless barrage that inevitably sunk the 76ers. Robert Covington led the 76ers with six three - poinit makes and 27 points. Jerian Grant finished with 20 points (7 - 14 FG, 2 - 4 3PT, 4 - 6 FT) and Hollis Thompson came off the bench to add 21 points (8 - 13 FG, 3 - 6 3PT, 2 - 3 FT). The 76ers shot well from three - point land (17 - 35, 49 percent) but were destroyed on the glass, as they managed just four offensive rebounds and were outrebounded overall 53 - 31. Both clubs have been eliminated from postseason contention.
+The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, 112 - 100, at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Sunday. In the extended absence of Victor Oladipo (wrist), the Thunder (19 - 12) have naturally depended heavily on perennial All-Star Russell Westbrook, and he's validated their faith on countless occasions. However, others in the OKC supporting cast have occasionally stepped up to lessen the load on the dynamic point guard, and such was the case on Christmas Day. It was the Thunder's pair of big men, Steven Adams and Enes Kanter, who turned in 22 and 20 points, respectively, to supplement a game - high 31 points from Westbrook, who also provided 15 assists, seven rebounds, a steal and a block. That trio of efforts helped lead to a 51 percent success rate from the field for the Thunder, which helped offset their 15 turnovers. The Timberwolves (9 - 21) were led by Karl-Anthony Towns, who supplied 26 points and eight rebounds. Andrew Wiggins was right behind him with 23 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Zach LaVine, coming off a 40 - point explosion against the Sacramento Kings on Friday night, was relatively quiet with 16 points, which he supplemented with two assists, a rebound and a steal. Ricky Rubio was only able to muster three points, but he did hand out 10 assists, haul in seven boards and record a pair of steals. Shabazz Muhammad paced the second unit with 15 points. Adams added six rebounds, an assist and two steals to his aforementioned scoring total. Kanter registered four rebounds, four assists and a steal in addition to his 20 points. The starting five outside of Westbrook and Adams provided precious little on the scoreboard, as Andre Roberson, Domantas Sabonis and Anthony Morrow combined for just nine points. Alex Abrines tallied 10 points over 21 minutes in a reserve role. The Timberwolves head back home to face the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night, while the Thunder head down to South Florida to tangle with the Miami Heat on Tuesday evening.
+The Chicago Bulls (17 - 12) came up with a big 104 - 97 home win, over the Toronto Raptors (19 - 13), Monday night. This was the two teams first match of the season. Prior to this win Chicago had lost four of their last five games. This was also the third game in four nights for the Bulls, making it an even more significant victory. The Toronto Raptors came out strong, with a 32 - 23 first quarter. The Bulls then came to life and out - scored the Raptors 81 - 65 the rest of the way, snapping the Raptors short, two - game win streak. Kyle Lowry led the Raptors with a strong 28 - point (9 - 15 FG, 3 - 4 3Pt, 7 - 8 FT), nine assist, six rebound and three steal performance, in 40 minutes. DeMar DeRozan was also solid, coming close to a triple - double, with 19 points (7 - 14 FG, 5 - 8 FT), eight rebounds and eight assists, in 35 minutes. DeMarre Carroll was back in the starting lineup after coming off the bench in his first game back from injury. Carroll finished with 10 points (4 - 11 FG, 2 - 5 3Pt) and four rebounds, in 24 minutes. Jonas Valanciunas was back in the lineup but came off the bench, in his first game back after being out with a broken hand. Valanciunas chipped in nine points, four rebounds and two blocks, in 20 minutes. Chicago had a great 51 - point contribution from their bench. They also had five players score in double digits, including three who scored at least 20. Pau Gasol finished with 22 points (8 - 14 FG, 6 - 8 FT), seven rebounds, three assists, three blocks and one steal, in 30 minutes. Tony Snell also poured in 22 points (8 - 14 FG, 4 - 5 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT), along with seven rebounds, in 27 minutes off the bench. Derrick Rose was solid, finishing with 20 points (7 - 16 FG, 3 - 5 3Pt, 3 - 4 FT), four assists, one rebound and one block, in 28 minutes. Aaron Brooks was a huge spark off the bench, scoring three and - one's in the second quarter alone. He finished with 17 points (6 - 13 FG, 4 - 5 FT). Doug McDermott sat this one out with a sore knee. Next the Bulls will host the Pacers on Wednesday night, in another big Eastern Conference match up. The Raptors will also be in action on Wednesday, when they host the Washington Wizards.
+The Utah Jazz defeated the Phoenix Suns 112 - 105 at Talking Stick Resort Arena on Tuesday. The Jazz (14 - 9) claimed their third straight victory and have won seven of their last eight contests. Gordon Hayward added another 20 - plus point performance, contributing 28 points on 8 - of - 16 shooting. Rudy Gobert flashed another brilliant game on both ends of the floor, which has been a major reason for Utah's winning ways of recent, as he scored 22 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and racked up four blocks in 38 minutes. The bench was led by Sheldon Mack, who scored 12 points and dished out four assists in 30 minutes of action. Devin Booker was the lone bright spot for the Suns in the loss, as he scored 21 points on 9 - of - 13 shooting. The resurgent, but streaky Booker, is still maturing in his young career, but when he is on he caused multiple mismatches for the Jazz. Three bench players found double figures for Phoenix, as Alex Len, Leandro Barbosa and Brandon Knight all amassed 20 - plus minutes and 10 - plus points. Next up, the Suns host the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, while the Jazz host the Golden State Warriors.
+The Los Angeles Clippers (22 - 13) throttled the Philadelphia 76ers (3 - 33) 130 - 99 on Saturday night to extend their season - long winning streak. This looked like a mismatch on paper and that proved to be the case on the court. The Clippers scored at least 27 points in every quarter and took a 29 - point lead into the fourth. They shot an incredible 61 percent from the field in the win and had far too many easy buckets. The starters were also a huge difference, as the Los Angeles starters amassed 72 points while the Sixers starters could only muster up 34 points. Philadelphia came into this game as huge underdogs in the second half of a back - to - back and it was clear they didn’t have it tonight. If that doesn’t make it hard enough, their 3 - 33 record does. They have been playing much more competitive lately, but this game was just one of those road blowouts that has become all too common with this team. Ish Smith led the team with 10 assists and Jahlil Okafor had a nice game off the bench. Okafor tallied 23 points and four rebounds in just 18 minutes of action. The Sixers will take on a fellow lottery contender on Monday when they play the Minnesota Timberwolves in their next game. The Clippers set a season - high tonight with their sixth - straight win and did it in dominating fashion. The starters were actually allowed to sit the final quarter and they could have had monster games if they got a full complement of minutes. Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan were still able to record double - doubles in just three quarters. Paul totaled 15 points and 14 assists, while Jordan provided 22 points and 13 rebounds. Austin Rivers scored a team - high 26 points, with most of that coming in garbage time It's strange to see this team finally clicking after the injury to Blake Griffin, but they ca n't be any worse when he returns in a few weeks. The Clippers will have some time off until they play the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday in their next game.
+The New York Knicks (25 - 35) defeated the Orlando Magic (25 - 32) 108 - 95 on Friday. The Magic made the trek up to the Big Apple after a 130 - 114 blowout defeat on Thursday in Orlando at the hands of the reigning NBA champs. The Knicks jumped on the likely - tired visitors early, building a 62 - 44 halftime lead. Although the Magic came out a bit reenergized out of intermission, New York's workmanlike effort kept them at an advantage, and led to a comfortable double - digit victory. The hosts were just a bit better than their guests in every category Friday, with New York sporting a 46 percent to 42 percent shooting advantage from the floor, a 25 percent to 22 percent edge from beyond the arc, and also prevailing 51 - 47 on the glass. Orlando was paced by a solid effort from Nikola Vucevic, who posted 18 points, eight boards, an assist and a steal. Aaron Gordon continued his stretch of strong play with 17 points, eight rebounds, two assists and a steal. Victor Oladipo tallied 16 points, six rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block. Dewayne Dedmon led the reserves with 12 points, three rebounds and a steal, while rookie Mario Hezonja also was productive while filling out the stat sheet in an efficient 26 minutes. He registered eight points, seven rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals. The Magic remain in last place in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division, and five games back of the eighth - seeded Charlotte Hornets. They're back home on Sunday to face off against the Philadelphia 76ers. Carmelo Anthony led the way for New York with a 19 - point, 11 - rebound double - double that also included six assists and a steal. Kristaps Porzingis was right behind with 18 points, six boards, two assists, two steals and a pair of blocks. Each of the three remaining starters tallied 14 - point efforts. Arron Afflalo surprisingly added 12 boards to his scoring haul, along with a trio of assists and a steal. Robin Lopez supplemented his total with eight boards, a steal and a pair of blocks, while Jose Calderon also contributed three boards and an assist. Even the reserves got in on the act, with Derrick Williams and Lance Thomas pacing the bench with a pair of 11 - point outings. The former complemented his scoring with three rebounds, while the latter added three boards, an assist and a steal. The Knicks remain in third place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division, and are five and a half games back of the eighth - seeded Charlotte Hornets. They're home again on Sunday to face off against the Miami Heat.
+Quietly, Tobias Harris has continued to have one of the more productive seasons of his career, and he's managed to do so despite taking on a role off the bench. In fact, Harris has managed to be much more productive off the bench this season compared to when he's in the starting lineup. Wednesday's performance was yet another example, as Harris shot an efficient 9 - of - 13 from the field en route to scoring 19 points to accompany his eight rebounds and four assists. In 11 games as a reserve, Harris is now averaging 19 points and 6 rebounds per game, compared to averaging 16 points and 6 rebounds per game as a starter. It should also be noted that despite having better production, Harris is playing two minutes less when he is coming off the bench.
+The New York Knicks defeated the Chicago Bulls, 104 - 89, at Madison Square Garden on Thursday. The Knicks (18 - 22) have n't exactly caught many breaks over the last two - plus weeks, having lost nine of their last 10. They were on the right side of Lady Luck for a change Thursday, however, as the Bulls (19 - 21) were without Jimmy Butler and Nikola Mirotic due to illness. The Knicks were a bit on the short - handed side themselves, as Kristaps Porzingis sat out with a sore Achilles. New York was better able to cope with the absence of one of their important pieces, though, as Carmelo Anthony stepped up to deliver a game - high 23 points, and Joakim Noah posted a 12 - point, 15 - rebound double - double against his former teammates. The Knicks also played stellar defense, holding the visitors to respective 40 percent and 17 percent success rates from the field and three - point range. In Butler's absence, it was Dwyane Wade who paced the Bulls, tallying 22 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals. Taj Gibson registered a near double - double with 12 points and nine boards. Robin Lopez totaled 10 points, seven rebounds and a pair of blocks. Paul Zipser drew the start in Butler's stead and contributed seven points, five rebounds and two assists. Jerian Grant totaled 14 points, four assists, three rebounds and a steal to lead the bench, while Cristiano Felicio offered 13 points, five boards and a block over 24 minutes in a reserve role. Anthony added nine rebounds, six assists and a steal to his aforementioned scoring total. Derrick Rose checked in behind him on the starting five with 17 points, four boards and three assists. Mindaugas Kuzminskas mustered 19 points, four rebounds, an assist, two steals and a block to lead the second unit. Kyle O'Quinn supplied a 12 - point, 11 - rebound double - double that also included three assists and four blocks in just 17 minutes off the bench. The Bulls head back home for a Saturday afternoon showdown with the Pelicans, while the Knicks head north of the border to tangle with the Toronto Raptors on Sunday afternoon.
+The Los Angeles Clippers (9 - 8) defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves (8 - 9) 107 - 99 on Sunday. The Clippers led by 11 at the half and it never got much closer than that. Los Angeles did a great job of keeping a six - to - eight point distance from the T'Wolves throughout the second half to hold them off for a much needed win. Both teams shot well in this matchup, as Minnesota shot 45 percent while Los Angeles shot 52 percent. The Clippers starters outscored the Wolves starters 80 - 58 and that proved to be the difference in the game. Minnesota was 6 - 2 on the road coming into this game, but were unable to add to that impressive record. Minnesota had six players score in double - digits, but the problem was that the other five players combined for just eight points, with three of them going scoreless. The T-Wolves were led by Andrew Wiggins once again who dropped 21 points. Zach LaVine also had a nice game filling - in for Ricky Rubio, as he tallied 18 points and seven assists in the defeat. Karl-Anthony Towns was having a very good game through three quarters, but he barely played in the fourth for an unknown reason. Minnesota will take on the Orlando Magic in their next fixture on Tuesday. The Clippers had lost eight of 11 games before their win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, so this added to that to start a modest two - game winning streak. Los Angeles got some much needed momentum here, as they are far too talented to be hovering around .500. They were extremely efficient today as a team, as they shot 52 percent and assisted 24 times on 39 baskets. The team was led by a near triple - double from Blake Griffin, who collected 26 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in the win. They also got 20 points and nine assists from Chris Paul and these two will need to play like this going forward if they want to dig out of this hole. They'll keep digging in a favorable matchup, when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday.
+The recent form of these teams would indicate a Miami blowout, but Orlando had other ideas. In fact, they led for well over 40 minutes of this game, as they never looked in jeopardy to relinquish the lead. Rebounding was the key, with the Magic winning that battle, 52 - 37. Three-point shooting was a huge factor as well, with Orlando hitting 57 percent from long distance to Miami's 27 percent. Evan Fouriner carried the Magic, as he tallied 24 points and four assists. Nikola Vucevic recorded a double - double, toting 13 points, 17 rebounds and three steals. Elfrid Payton was huge off the bench, providing 20 points, five rebounds and four assists. Dion Waiters led the way for Miami, as he amassed 23 points and six assists. Hassan Whiteside accumulated 12 points, 19 rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Goran Dragic scored 22 points in an otherwise empty stat line.
+The Charlotte Hornets (31 - 41) defeated the Atlanta Hawks (55 - 18), 115 - 100, on Saturday at the Time Warner Cable Arena. Charlotte drew a matchup with the East's top team at the right time, with Atlanta resting four starters and Jeff Teague sitting out with a sprained ankle. The Hawks' reserves - turned - starters fared well against the Hornets, but the Hornets' lineup proved to be too much in the end. The Hawks cut the lead to single - digits in the fourth, but the Hornets, led by Mo Williams' shooting, put them away. Williams finished with 18 points off the bench and made four of his five attempts from beyond the arc. The Hornets lead the season series 2 - 1 and they will meet one last time during the regular season on April 10. Atlanta was coming off a 99 - 86 victory over Miami on Friday to clinch the top seed in the Eastern Conference. As a result, coach Mike Budenholzer did n't feel pressed to deploy his starters for the second game of a back - to - back set. Paul Millsap, Al Horford, Kyle Korver, and DeMarre Carroll were all rested for this game and Dennis Schroder started in place of Jeff Teague. The Hawks started Elton Brand, Mike Muscala, John Jenkins, and Kent Bazemore alongside Schroder. They showed good chemistry throughout the game with 32 assists on 37 field goals. Bazemore had a season - high 20 points and Muscala posted a double - double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. The Hawks will return to action Monday against the Bucks. Charlotte was n't necessarily at full strength Saturday, but was able to get an important win as it continues to make a push for a post season spot. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (ankle) and Cody Zeller (shoulder) both missed this game, opening the opportunity for Jeff Taylor and Marvin Williams to move into the starting lineup. Al Jefferson had just two points in 17 minutes on the floor. The Hornets are now just a game out of the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference and will have a chance at another big win on Monday when they host the Celtics.
+The San Antonio Spurs (47 - 26) defeated the Memphis Grizzlies (50 - 24) 103 - 89 Sunday at the AT & T Center in a clash of two of the best teams in the Western Conference San Antonio had the lead for the entirety of Sunday's game, but Memphis hung close until the fourth quarter. Kawhi Leonard scored the Spurs' first 15 points of the fourth to help break the game open. Leonard finished with a game - high 25 points and 10 rebounds in 33 minutes of action. While the Spurs are peaking at the right time of the season, the Grizzlies' recent struggles are starting to become a concern. The Grizzlies have dropped three straight to top - level competition by an average margin of 20 points. Houston has now overtaken Memphis for the second seed in the West. Memphis's fourth quarter implosion led to its third loss in a row. The Grizzlies have only had one other stretch with more consecutive losses, which was a four game skid back in December. Zach Randolph broke out his mini - slump Sunday, however, with 20 points and 13 boards in 33 minutes. The Grizzlies will look to bounce back Monday when they host the Kings. San Antonio is looking more and more like its championship team from a year ago. Sunday was another all - around effort from the Spurs, who had a plus - 14 rebounding margin and shot 50 percent from the floor as a team. Tony Parker had 17 points and six assists and Tiago Splitter was solid again with 15 points and eight rebounds. The Spurs will return to action Tuesday when they take on the Heat in Miami in a rematch of the last two finals.
+The Indiana Pacers (38 - 43) kept their playoff hopes alive Tuesday with a 99 - 95 double - overtime victory over the the Washington Wizards (46 - 35) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Pacers were in a must - win situation Tuesday after recent skids by the Heat and Nets vaulted them temporarily into the eighth seed in the East. Both teams got off to frigid starts on the offensive end, highlighted by an 0 - for - 9 stretch by the Pacers in the second quarter. Neither team reached the 50 - point mark until the 4:20 mark in the third quarter when John Wall found Marcin Gortat for an easy layup. The teams went back - and - forth throughout the fourth quarter, but a missed John Wall floater at the buzzer sent the game into overtime. One overtime was n't enough to decide the outcome, however, as the Pacers and Wizards mustered just four points apiece in the first extra period. Indiana's George Hill clutch three - pointer in the second OT gave the Pacers a five point lead with under 30 seconds remaining to help seal the victory. The Pacers are in position to clinch the East's final playoff spot with a win Wednesday against the Grizzlies or a Nets loss. Washington entered Tuesday with the fifth seed in hand, but decided to play its starters against a playoff caliber team. Nene Hill was sidelined with an ankle injury, which moved veteran Drew Gooden into the starting lineup. Five different Wizards logged over 40 minutes of playing time, led by Marcin Gortat and John Wall with 44 minutes. Wall finished with 16 points on 7 - of - 23 shooting and added 11 assists while Gortat posted 19 points and 10 rebounds. Washington will finish wrap up the regular season Wednesday in Cleveland. Indiana lost seven out of eight in late March to temporarily fall out of a playoff spot, but its current six - game win streak has given it control of its playoff destiny. George Hill finished just shy of a triple - double with 24 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds. C.J Miles followed his 30 - point outing Sunday with a 25 point performance and he also grabbed eight rebounds. Paul George exceeded his minutes restriction, finishing with 10 points in 18 minutes on the floor. Indiana's win eliminated Miami from playoff contention, but a matchup with Memphis on Wednesday will be no easy task for the Pacers just one night after a double - overtime victory.
+The New Orleans Pelicans (15 - 14) defeated the San Antonio Spurs (18 - 13) 97 - 90 on Friday. New Orleans has won four of their last six. While they are currently fighting for one of the last playoff spots in the Western Conference, the Pelicans are still finding out how to win every night. They have the talent to beat the best teams in the West, but the Pelicans lack the experience and chemistry to play as consistently from game to game as the top eight teams in the conference. Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson both put up a game - high 22 points. Davis also posted 12 rebounds and five blocks in 38 minutes, while Anderson also posted seven rebounds and two three - pointers in 33 minutes off the bench. New Orleans will have another tough matchup Saturday when they travel to Chicago to take on the Bulls. San Antonio has been trying to navigate one of the more treacherous parts of their schedule while resting players nightly to try and make sure they're healthy when the real games begin in the playoffs. As a result, they've lost six of their last seven games. Tony Parker returned for the last two games but did not play Friday, and it's unlcear whether he was simply being rested on the second game of a back - to - back set or if he aggravated his hamstring injury. Cory Joseph earned the start in his place. Kawhi Leonard (hand) continues to sit out indefinitely, giving Kyle Anderson another spot start at small forward. After sitting out Thursday's game with an illness, Boris Diaw was available to play Friday. He put up 10 points and six rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench. The Spurs gave up 20 easy points off of 17 turnovers, pointing to their greatest weakness Friday and the likely reason why they lost the game. San Antonio will host the Houston Rockets on Sunday.
+The Los Angeles Clippers (51 - 28) defeated the Utah Jazz (39 - 40) 102 - 99 in overtime on Friday. The Clippers rested all of their starters for this game and escaped with an impressive win. Jamal Crawford was the hero, as he hit a game - winning three at the buzzer in overtime to win the game. The key in this game was the turnover differential, with the Clippers committing just 11 turnovers to the Jazz '18. Los Angeles rested Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, J.J. Redick and DeAndre Jordan in this game and gave the Jazz a devastating loss. Crawford was the hero with his game - winner, but still finished the game with 30 points in yet another great game. Cole Aldrich has the best game of his career, as he tallied 21 points, 18 rebounds and five steals in the win. Jeff Green and Paul Pierce each provided 18 points of their own as well. On deck for the Clippers is a matchup with the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. The Jazz came into this game with much more to play for than the Clippers and blew a huge opportunity. In fact, they were 14 - point favorites in this game and are now only one game up in the eight - seed in the west. Gordon Hayward did all he could though, as he amassed 24 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. Derrick Favors recorded a double - double, as he scored 11 points and brought down 11 rebounds. Alec Burks made his long awaited return and scored 11 points off the bench. Up next for Utah is a matchup with the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.
+Portland were expected to win this game easily and this 14 - point win left no doubt. The Blazers were unconscious on offense, as they shot 57 percent from the field and 64 percent from three - point range. It was a near wire - to - wire win for Portland, as they led for the final 46 minutes and held a double - digit lead for the majority of the fourth quarter. Brook Lopez led the Nets, as he tallied 26 points and five rebounds. Sean Kilpatrick finished second on the team, providing 20 points and five assists off the bench. Jeremy Lin totaled 18 points, three rebounds and two assists. C.J. McCollum was the player of the game, as he accumulated 31 points, five rebounds and five assists. Damian Lillard collected 19 points, five rebounds and 11 assists. Al-Farouq Aminu came off the bench to accrue 23 points and six rebounds. Jusf Nurkic continued his surge on his new team, amassing 17 points, six rebounds and five assists.
+The Houston Rockets (2 - 3) defeated the Orando Magic (1 - 4) by a score of 119 - 114 in overtime Wednesday at the Toyota Center. Evan Fournier hit a pair of free throws with a second remaining in regulation to force overtime, but the Magic only hit two shots in overtime en route to their fourth loss of the season. Corey Brewer missed two huge free throws late in the fourth quarter, but it did n't cost the Rockets, who have won two straight after starting the season 0 - 3. James Harden scored six of his 28 points in free basketball to ice the win for Houston. The Magic are still a very young team, but are beginning to see what they have in Fournier and Aaron Gordon, who scored a season - high 19 points on 7 - of - 11 shooting to go along with eight rebounds. Fournier came a basket shy of posting back - to - back 30 - point outings. He finished with 29 points (11 - 21 FG, 3 - 8 3Pt, 4 - 5 FT), while ripping down six rebounds and dishing out four assists in a team - high 46 minutes. Rookie Mario Hezonja posted his second goose egg of the season and played just 11 minutes off the bench. While Harden led the Rockets in scoring for a second straight game, Dwight Howard was key in the victory, collecting 14 rebounds and adding 23 points in 31 minutes. Houston's bench was unable to contribute much, forcing the starters to play big minutes and pick up more responsibility on offense. Harden reverted back to shooting poorly from the field (6 - for - 22), but was able to get to the line 17 times, converting on 14 tries. Marcus Thornton provided a nice scoring spark again, finishing with 18 points and a pair of three - point field goals. Orlando will head back home for a date with the undefeated Toronto Raptors in their next game, while Houston travels to Sacramento for a date with the 1 - 4 Kings.
+Khris Middleton led the way for the Bucks with 24 points on 9 - of - 14 shooting, in 30 minutes. Giannis Antetokounmpo followed up with 21 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, in 35 minutes. Spencer Hawes came up huge in 17 minutes off the bench, as he poured in 16 points on 6 - of - 7 shooting, including 2 - of - 3 from long range, to go along with eight rebounds and one assist. Malcolm Brogdon was the only other player to score in double digits for the Bucks, as he chipped in 17 points, to go along with five rebounds and three assists. Meanwhile, Serge Ibaka was the high - point man for the Raptors, with 19. Cory Joseph followed up with 14 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Jonas Valanciunas added 13 points on 5 - of - 5 shooting, and seven rebounds, in 21 minutes of action.
+The New York Knicks defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, 118 - 114, at Madison Square Garden on Friday. Carmelo Anthony has begun to cede some of the offensive responsibility to sophomore sensation Kristaps Porzingis in some games due to the latter's emergence, and such was the case when these two teams met just two nights prior. However, the perennial All-Star took back the mantle Friday, leading the way with 29 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. He also drained two key free throws with six seconds left, giving the Knicks (10 - 9) their final two points of the night and effectively sealing the win. His stellar performance led the way on a night when the entire New York starting five managed to hit double digits in the scoring column, and that also saw New York shoot 48 percent from the field overall. The Timberwolves (5 - 14) were paced by a 23 - point output from Zach LaVine, who complemented the scoring with three assists, two rebounds and a steal. Karl Anthony-Towns totaled 20 points, eight boards, an assist and a trio of blocks. Andrew Wiggins contributed 19 points, four assists, three rebounds and a steal. Gorgui Dieng and Ricky Rubio were only able to total a combined five points, however, taking only six shots between them. However, the bench helped make up for some of the offensive void by scoring 47 points overall. The second unit was led by Nemanja Bjelica, who supplied 17 points, seven boards and three assists. Shabazz Muhammad managed 14 points, two rebounds and an assist, while Cole Aldrich contributed a 10 - point, 12 - rebound double - double, along with two assists, three blocks and two steals, over 27 minutes. Derrick Rose was second behind Anthony with 24 points, five rebounds, five assists and a steal. Kyle O'Quinn was outstanding in another start at center for Joakim Noah, posting a 20 - point, 13 - rebound double - double that also featured two assists and two blocks. Justin Holiday got the start at two - guard and compiled 13 points, seven rebounds, three steals and a block, while Porzingis came back down to earth with 11 points, five rebounds, three assists and three blocks. The Timberwolves hit the road again Saturday, traveling to Charlotte to face off with the Hornets. The Knicks remain home to take on the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
+The Golden State Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 115 - 98 at Staples Center on Wednesday. The rivalry match went in favor of the Warriors (19 - 3), even though Stephen Curry struggled on the floor of Staples Center again this season. Regardless which Los Angeles team gets put on the court, Curry is a surprising 4 - of - 28 across three contests this season. Kevin Durant also had one of his worst games in a Warriors jersey, but the team effort led by Klay Thompson's 24 points and the Clippers 40 percent shooting from the field was more than enough to hold a 20 point lead throughout most of the game. After a Draymond Green three - pointer and a Curry and - 1 layup with 2:10 left in the first quarter, Golden State went up by 15 points and did not have to look back. The closest the Clippers (16 - 7) came was seven points following a Chris Paul jumper midway through the third quarter, which cut the lead to seven points, but Green, Durant and Curry ripped off a quick scoring run to put the game out of reach. Thompson finished with 24 points, four rebounds and three assists, Curry scored 19 points but failed to make a three - pointer on eight attempts and Durant went 5 - of - 17 from the field on his way to 16 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Green had the best all around performance after scoring 22 points and grabbing five rebounds, in addition to four assists and two steals on 8 - of - 10 shooting. Jamal Crawford provided 21 points off the bench to lead all Clippers scorers, but Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin combined for just 37 points on 41 shots from the field. The weak showing from the Los Angeles starters sank their hopes of pulling out a win against their rivals, and have now dropped five of their last seven games. Next up, the Warriors play the second game of a back - to - back when they visit the Utah Jazz on Thursday, while the Clippers host the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday.
+The Golden State Warriors defeated the Brooklyn Nets, 112 - 95, at Oracle Arena on Saturday. Golden State was expected to win this game easily with a 22 - point spread and they took care of business. A 100 run to end the second quarter was a huge stretch, as it gave the Warriors an 11 - point lead, which they never relinquished from there. It was a near wire - to - wire win, as Brooklyn's only lead was a one - point advantage for less than a minute in the second quarter. The assist - to - turnover ratio was decisive, as the Warriors recorded five more assists than the Nets, while committing five less turnovers. Golden State also dominated the rim protection, as they recorded 11 blocks to Brooklyn's three. The Nets (8 - 49) had a nearly impossible task here, but they did a nice job of hanging around and giving the Warriors a battle. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was a bright spot, as he accrued 16 points and 10 rebounds in the defeat. Brook Lopez really struggled, as he could only muster up nine points, four rebounds and five assists, while committing four turnovers on 3 - of - 13 shooting. Sean Kilpatrick was a nice spark off the bench, providing 15 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals. Trevor Booker recorded a double - double off the bench as well, amassing 12 points and 10 rebounds. On deck for Brooklyn is a road matchup against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday. The Warriors (49 - 9) have made minced meat of much of the league this season and a home matchup against an eight - win Nets team is simply unfair. Stephen Curry led the team with 27 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals in the absence of Kevin Durant. Klay Thompson accumulated 24 points, four rebounds and four assists. Zaza Pachulia totaled eight points and nine rebounds, while nearly shutting out Brook Lopez. Golden State will face the Philadelphia 76ers on the road for their next game on Monday.
+The Golden State Warriors (13 - 3) defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers (12 - 2) 108 - 100 in overtime of Game 1 of the NBA Finals Thursday in Oakland. The game lived up to all the hype, as the two teams battled back and forth from start to finish, but in the end, the Warriors proved to be too deep and simply outlasted the Cavaliers in overtime, where they outscored them 10 - 2. The Warriors were led by the league MVP Stephen Curry, who, despite getting off to a slow start in the first quarter, still managed to finish with a team - high 26 points (10 - 20 FG, 2 - 6 3Pt), four rebounds and eight assists in 43 minutes of play. Golden State’s most important contributor, however, might have been Andre Iguodala off the bench, who was making big plays on both ends of the floor when his team needed them the most. Iguodala finished with 15 points (6 - 8 FG, 2 - 3 3Pt) in 32 minutes off the bench. Klay Thompson did not shoot the ball particularly well Thursday night, but still managed to finish with 21 points on 5 - of - 14 shooting and six rebounds in 39 minutes. Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes round out the five Warrior players who scored in double figures, scoring 12 and 11 points respectively. LeBron James was absolutely sensational in the losing effort, putting up an NBA finals career - high 44 points (18 - 38 FG, 2 - 8 3Pt, 6 - 10 FT) to go along with eight rebounds and six assists in 46 minutes of play. With a majority of the guys around him struggling offensively, James did all he possibly could to keep his team ahead. Kyrie Irving, who came into the game with questions surrounding his injured knee, did not struggle offensively and put up 23 points (10 - 22 FG, 2 - 8 3Pt), seven rebounds and six assists in 44 minutes of play. The bad news for Cleveland is that in the overtime period with the game seemingly already out of reach, Irving went down with what appeared to be a knee injury and limped to the locker room in a lot of pain. If Kyrie is unable to go, the Cavaliers are in even bigger trouble than they already were, as they will need a superman - like performance from James every game now, especially if he can’t get the support he needs from his teammates. Irving will have two days to recover, as Game 2 of the Finals is set for Sunday at 8 p.m. EST.
+The Spurs managed to eclipse the 50 - percent mark from the field and three - point range, and all five players hit double digits in the scoring column. The returning Kawhi Leonard's 32 points led the way for the Spurs, while Tony Parker followed with 18 points. LaMarcus Aldridge posted a 15 - point, 10 - rebound double - double, and Danny Green poured in 11 points. Dewayne Dedmon supplied a 10 - point, 11 - rebound double - double and Davis Bertans led the bench with nine points. Dario Saric and Jahlil Okafor turned in matching 20 - point efforts to pace the Sixers. Robert Covington stepped up with 18 points, six rebounds, one assist and two steals. Nik Stauskas was back on the bench but contributed 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists over 32 minutes. Ersan Ilyasova chipped in 11 points, three assists, two rebounds and one steal.
+The Minnesota Timberwolves (8 - 8) defeated the Sacramento Kings (6 - 11) 101 - 91 on Friday. In a tightly - contested game, the rebounding and free - throw shooting ended up being the difference. Minnesota outrebounded Sacramento 45 - 35 and made 95 percent of their free - throws, while the Kings made just 60 percent of theirs. These are two talented teams who prefer to play up - tempo, but that was n't the case here. With a projected total of 216, the 192 total was surprisingly low. Minnesota has been a strange team this year, as they continue to win on the road and lose at home. They are now 6 - 2 on the road and 2 - 6 at home. Usually a young team like this only plays well at home, but there's something unique about this roster. The Timberwolves were led by Andrew Wiggins once again, who tallied 22 points and six rebounds in the win. They played this game without Ricky Rubio, but Zach LaVine filled - in admirably. LaVine amassed 19 points, eight rebounds and four assists in the victory. The 8 - 8 start is a fantastic sign for this rebuilding team and the future is extremely bright with all of these talented youngsters. The Wolves will look to keep this going against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. The Kings played this game without superstar DeMarcus Cousins and it clearly hampered them here. Rudy Gay is usually asked to step up in these circumstances, but he had one of the worst games of his career. In fact, Gay shot 1 - for - 13 from the field to accumulate two points and four rebounds. With a game like that and no Cousins in the lineup, it's nearly impossible for Sacramento to win. Sacramento did however get another spectacular game out of Rajon Rondo, who tallied 16 points, 16 assists and four rebounds in the loss. The Kings will need Boogie Cousins back for their next game if they want a chance, as they have to take on the undefeated Golden State Warriors on Saturday.
+The Cleveland Cavaliers (50 - 20) defeated the Denver Nuggets (29 - 42) 124 - 91 on Monday. Even without Kevin Love (illness), the Cavs had no trouble exerting their will on a considerably inferior Nuggets squad, and clinching a division title in the process. LeBron James had been fairly quiet in recent games by his standards, but stepped up his role in the offense without Love in the lineup. LeBron managed his second triple - double of the season, posting 33 points, eleven rebounds and eleven assists. Cleveland outperformed Denver in every major category, and played an outstanding defensive game overall. They also managed a 56 percent success rate from the field, and a 48 percent figure from three - point range. The Nuggets were paced by a spectacular effort off the bench from Will Barton, who managed 27 points, four rebounds, an assist and a pair of steals. Nikola Jokic and Gary Harris led the starters, but it was only with a pair of 11 - point efforts. The former also added four rebounds, three assists and three steals, while the latter managed a pair of rebounds, an assist and a pair of steals. No other member of the first unit tallied double - digit points, but Jusuf Nurkic did pitch in with 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists, a steal and three blocks in 26 minutes off the bench. Denver remains in fourth place in the Western Conference's Northwest Division, and 7 games behind eighth - seeded Dallas Mavericks. They're home against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. J.R. Smith followed James' effort with 15 points, five assists, four rebounds and four steals. Channing Frye filled in admirably for Love, producing 14 points, three rebounds, two assists and a block. Matthew Dellavedova paced the bench with 10 points, seven assists and three rebounds. The Cavaliers remain atop the Eastern Conference, with a slim 2 game lead over the Toronto Raptors. They're home again against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.
+The Washington Wizards (30) inched one game closer to advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinal round with a 106 - 99 victory over the Toronto Raptors (0 - 3). After taking a 35 - 33 lead going into the second quarter, the Raptors were held to 13 points in the second frame. For the second straight postseason, Paul Pierce haunted the Raptors with another clutch shot. This time, Pierce hit a game - clinching three - pointer to give the Wizards a six - point lead with 16 seconds left. He scored 11 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, going 3 - of - 3 from downtown and hitting both free throws. John Wall followed up 17 assists the previous game with 15 assists in 42 minutes. Marcin Gortat was responsible for eight of Wall’s assists, notching a team - high 24 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and four blocks in 42 minutes. He helped the Wizards record 13 blocks. Otto Porter contributed 11 points and eight rebounds off the bench as coach Randy Wittman continues to utilize Pierce as the nominal power forward. Amir Johnson replaced Tyler Hansbrough in the starting lineup and recorded a double - double with 14 points and 12 rebounds in 33 minutes. Even though DeMar DeRozan shot 11 - of - 29 from the floor, he scored a playoff career - high 32 points to go along with six rebounds, six assists, one steal and three three - pointers in 41 minutes. He tallied a Raptors’ franchise record 20 points in the first quarter, only to conclude the final three quarters a woeful 3 - of - 18 shooting. Battling an illness and a shin contusion, All-Star Kyle Lowry converted 5 - of - 22 field goal attempts to score 15 points in 38 minutes. To round out the futility, Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams was held to seven points on 3 - of - 11 from the field in 18 minutes. The series continues on Sunday night. A Wizards’ win advances them to the second round of the postseason while eliminating the Raptors from the playoffs.
+The Toronto Raptors defeated the Boston Celtics, 107 - 97, at Air Canada Centre on Friday evening. The Raptors (34 - 24) found out earlier in the day that star point guard Kyle Lowry would miss the game with a right wrist injury. That thrust Cory Joseph into the starting five, and, as is often the case when Lowry misses, shone a brighter spotlight on his backcourt mate DeMar DeRozan. However, his absence was also partly made up for Friday by the debuting Serge Ibaka, who was playing his first game in a Toronto uniform following his trade from the Orlando Magic. The tightly - contested affair saw the Celtics (37 - 21) enter the fourth period holding a slim 77 - 74 lead, but the home team mounted a comeback, outscoring their visitors by a 33 - 20 margin over the final 12 minutes. Isaiah Thomas once again led Boston, posting 20 points, five assists and three rebounds. However, he struggled with his shot, going 6 - of - 17 overall from the field, including 3 - of - 10 from behind the arc. Jae Crowder and Marcus Smart followed with matching 19 - point efforts, with the former adding four rebounds and one assist, and the latter supplying five rebounds and four assists over 32 minutes off the bench. Jaylen Brown drew another start at shooting guard for Avery Bradley (Achilles) and produced 13 points, two assists, one steal and one block. Al Horford turned in a modest stat line of eight points, five rebounds, one assist and one steal. DeRozan paced the Raptors with a spectacular career - high 43 - point tally that he supplemented with five rebounds and five assists, With Lowry out of the lineup, DeRozan took 28 shot attempts overall, draining 15, and also visited the charity stripe a game - high 12 times. Ibaka was impressive in his debut, supplying 15 points, seven rebounds, one steal and one block. Joseph did a solid job filling in at point guard, amassing 11 points, six assists, one rebound and three steals. Patrick Patterson led the bench with 11 points, two rebounds and one assist, while P.J. Tucker, also making his Raptors debut, generated nine points, 10 boards, one assist and a trio of steals. The Celtics head to the Motor City for a Sunday afternoon showdown with the Detroit Pistons, while the Raptors remain home to tangle with the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday as well.
+The Washington Wizards (31 - 15) defeated the Los Angeles Lakers (12 - 34) 98 - 92 on Tuesday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Coming into halftime, the Lakers had taken a 57 - 46 lead and were playing quite well against a tough opponent. The Wizards exploded in the second half though, out - scoring the Lakers 52 - 35 over that span, giving the Wizards a six - point victory on the road. The Wizards were the better shooters in this game, going 49 percent from the field, while the Lakers shot just 43 percent. The Wizards also secured a huge 51 - 38 rebounding advantage, helping push them to a win. The Wizards' backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal did most of the damage to the Lakers. Wall came one rebound shy of a triple - double, finishing with 21 points (8 - 12 FG, 5 - 12 FT), nine rebounds, 13 assists and three steals. It was his second straight double - double, as he's combined for 39 points and 29 assists over his last two games. Beal on the other hand recorded 19 points (9 - 18 FG, 1 - 6 3Pt), four rebounds and two assists. He had a poor display from the three - point line, but still finished well over his 15 points per game scoring average. With Paul Pierce sitting this game out, Otto Porter moved into the starting lineup and had a very productive game. He went 5 - for - 9 from the field and 1 - for - 1 from the three - point line to score 12 points in 29 minutes. Marcin Gortat reached double figures as well with 11 points (5 - 7 FG, 1 - 1 FT) and seven rebounds of his own. The Lakers were led by Wayne Ellington, who scored a season - high as he continued to replace Kobe Bryant in the starting lineup. Ellington finished with a game - high of 28 points (12 - 20 FG, 3 - 9 3Pt, 1 - 1 FT), while also adding three assists and three steals. The steals were also a season - high for him, as it was easily his best showing of the year. He's now recorded double figures in four straight games, despite averaging only 8 points on the year. Rookie Jordan Clarkson had himself a day as well with the starting lineup. He recorded a season - high of 18 points (8 - 18 FG, 1 - 5 3Pt, 1 - 1 FT), to go along with three rebounds and three assists. The Lakers just did n't get help from any of their other starters, who combined for only 15 points. The only other Laker to reach double - digit points was Ed Davis, who came off the bench for 14 points (6 - 7 FG, 2 - 2 FT). The Wizards' next game will be on the road against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, while the Lakers will be at home against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.
+The Utah Jazz defeated the Memphis Grizzlies, 82 - 73, at FedExForum Arena on Sunday. As was to be expected in a meeting of two of the NBA's stingiest defenses, the game was a low - scoring, grind - it - out affair, one played amidst a cacophony of whistles from the referees. The two teams were called for a total of 48 personal fouls, with the Grizzlies (18 - 11) guilty of 28 of those. After combining for just 69 points in the first half, both offenses picked it up in the third period, and the Jazz (18 - 10) was able to finally separate in the fourth quarter. Gordon Hayward and Rudy Gobert led the way for the visitors with 22 and 21 points, respectively, and Utah was able to limit Memphis to 30 percent shooting from the field and a minuscule 9 percent tally from beyond the arc. Hayward added seven rebounds, six assists, three blocks and two steals to his team - high scoring total. Gobert turned in a double - double, as he hauled in 12 rebounds in addition to his aforementioned 21 points. He also recorded a trio of blocks and a steal. Boris Diaw checked in with 11 points, six rebounds and three assists, while Rodney Hood poured in 10 points and supplemented them with four boards and an assist. Shelvin Mack paced the second unit with 10 points, six rebounds, five assists and a steal. The Grizzlies saw Mike Conley lead the way with 14 points, which he complemented with four dimes and a steal. JaMychal Green was second amongst the starters with a 10 points, 11 rebounds, two steals and a block. Tony Allen contributed a full stat line of nine points, eight boards, an assist and two steals. Marc Gasol had a forgettable night from the field, posting only eight points on 4 - of - 22 shooting. He did add seven rebounds, four assists and a steal. Veteran Zach Randolph continued his strong work off the bench with a 12 - point, 11 - rebound double - double. The Jazz head west to take on the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night, while the Grizzlies are home again on Tuesday evening versus the Boston Celtics.
+The Miami Heat (23 - 30) defeated the New York Knicks (10 - 44) 111 - 87 on Friday. Goran Dragic was acquired from the Suns in a deadline deal on Thursday. He was unavailable Friday night but the move may have sparked a fire under Mario Chalmers. Chalmers shot just 4 - of - 14 from the floor but had seven assists, six rebounds and eight steals. Shabazz Napier also had a nice game. The rookie had 18 points, six assists and seven rebounds, but he did turn the ball over seven times. The Heat got some bad news late Thursday night about the condition of Chris Bosh. Bosh has a blood clot and could potentially miss the remainder of the season. Miami banded together and eight of their nine players scored at least 12 points in the blowout victory. The Knicks lost out on the Goran Dragic sweepstakes to the Heat on Thursday and then lost to Miami on Friday. Langston Galloway continues to be one of the few bright spots for New York this season. He led his team with 19 points on 7 - of - 14 shooting. Tim Hardaway led all reserves with 17 points in 30 minutes. The Knicks have dropped six straight and are currently the NBA's worst team. The Heat will take on the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday in a matchup with the recently departed Norris Cole. The Knicks will host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday.
+For the surging Mavericks, Wednesday was a promising night on the offensive end. The team saw 47 percent shooting and a stellar 23 points from recently - signed forward Harrison Barnes. Veteran Dirk Nowitzki contributed 19 points and shot a solid 8 - of - 12 on the night. Point guard Seth Curry added 20. The team was incredibly careful with the ball, turning it over just seven times. The Knicks, meanwhile, saw recklessness hurt their play. Despite out - rebounding Dallas 55 - 36, the Knicks committed 18 turnovers and shot only 42 percent en route to a loss. Veteran Carmelo Anthony led the team with a stellar 30 points, but could not get the job done for the entire team. The Knicks had only 17 assists as a team and canned only seven three - pointers on the night.
+It was another monster day for Cleveland's big three consisting of LeBron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, as they combined to score 79 of the teams 128 points Thursday night. This has been nothing new for the Cavaliers' stars this season, as they are scoring a combined 70 points per game through the first five game of the season. If the big three can continue to score at this high of a rate, especially Kevin Love, this team will give defenses problem all year. For the Celtics, the story of the game from them was rookie wing Jaylen Brown's explosion in the box score amidst his start in the place of an injured Jae Crowder. After scoring a combined 27 points in his first four games as a pro, Brown made the most of his 35 minutes of playing time, scoring 19 points on 8 - of - 16 shooting from the field, which included three 3 - pointers.
+The Charlotte Hornets (37 - 28) defeated the Houston Rockets (33 - 33) 125 - 109 on Saturday. The Hornets came into the game riding a six - game win streak, and came out of the gate against Houston looking like it. They raced out to a 34 - 19 lead after one period on the strength of solid first quarters from their stalwart trio of Kemba Walker, Nicolas Batum and Marvin Williams. The Rockets woke from their slumber in the middle periods, winning the second and third quarters by a margin of 68 - 56, but Charlotte managed to regain their grip on the game in the fourth and pull away for their 25th home victory of the season. The shooting made all the difference for the Hornets, who tallied 55 and 48 percent success rates from the field and three - point range, respectively. Meanwhile, their defense managed to completely stifle James Harden's lethal long - range game, and limited the Rockets to a 19 percent figure from beyond the arc overall. Corey Brewer was actually the scoring leader for Houston on the night, and he accomplished the feat off the bench. Brewer managed 21 points, three rebounds, a steal and a block over 27 minutes. Dwight Howard was next in line while pacing the starters with 16 points, 13 rebounds and four assists. Michael Beasley followed with a second impressive outing, totaling 15 points, two rebounds and a block in just 15 minutes on the court. Harden was held to just 12 points, and was 0 - for - 5 from three - point range. He did dish out 10 assists and also hauled in three rebounds and a pair of steals. The Rockets remain in third place in the Western Conference's Southwest Division and hold the seventh seed in the conference as well. They head back home to face the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night. Walker paced the Hornets with 26 points, six assists and five rebounds. Williams followed closely behind with 25 points, four rebounds and two steals. Batum tallied 14 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, a steal and a block. Courtney Lee pitched in with 12 points, two boards and an assist, while Jeremy Lin paced the reserves with 16 points, four rebounds, four assists and a steal. Charlotte is in second place in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division, and had a hold of the fifth seed in the conference as well. They're home again on Monday night versus the Mavericks.
+The Houston Rockets defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 115 - 88, at Wells Fargo Center on Monday. James Harden had no problem leading the Rockets (6 - 4) past the 76ers (1 - 9) on the road. The de facto leader of the Rockets commanded the floor and spread the court to his liking against a big man heavy Philadelphia squad. Houston took a 12 - point lead at the end of the first quarter and simply expanded on it, all the way up to as much as 30 points late in the second half. Philadelphia only managed eight points from halfway through the third quarter to the end of that period, which put the game completely out of reach. The bright spot for the 76ers continues to come from Joel Embiid, who played well over his 23 minutes, save for the six turnovers during that span. Embiid went on to score 13 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, blocked two shots and added one steal on 6 - of - 10 shooting. Harden led the way for Houston with 33 points, nine assists and seven rebounds on 12 - of - 20 shooting, including four three - pointers. Eric Gordon and Trevor Ariza combined for 33 points to aid Harden in the blowout. Both teams play on Wednesday, as the Rockets visit the Oklahoma City Thunder, while the 76ers host the Washington Wizards.
+The Miami Heat (20 - 25) fell to the Milwaukee Bucks (23 - 22) 109 - 102 on Tuesday at the AmericanAirlines Arena. In a game between the sixth and seventh seeds in the East, Milwaukee prevailed thanks in part to an excellent shooting performance. The Bucks finished the night shooting 55% from the floor as a team. Miami entered Tuesday's contest without Luol Deng and Chris Andersen, but things got worse when Dwayne Wade exited the game with a hamstring injury. Although Wade did n't injure the same hamstring that sidelined him earlier this month, it was still severe enough to force him from the game. Milwaukee improved to 13 - 12 on the road after Tuesday's victory. Power forward Ersan Ilyasova left the game with a groin injury and did not return, but the Bucks were resilient. Milwaukee had seven players score in double figures, with four of them coming off the bench. The Bucks will look to further solidify their playoff position Thursday against the Magic in Orlando. Miami was coming off an impressive win in Chicago on Sunday, but a rash of injuries left it thin against Milwaukee. Danny Granger got the start in Deng's place and posted 14 points, six rebounds, and two assists over 36 minutes. Hassan Whiteside, who garnered national attention with his 12 block performance against the Bulls on Sunday, had another strong game. Whiteside moved into the starting lineup and finished the game with 16 points and 16 rebounds, but ironically did not record a block against the Bucks. The Heat have two days off to get healthy before taking the floor Friday against the Mavericks.
+After being traded from Los Angeles to Houston, Lou Williams wasted no time making his presence felt with his new team. In his first three games with the Rockets, Williams averaged 24 points in just over 26 minutes off the bench. However, in his last three games, Williams' production has dipped severely, and his performance Monday was the very worst of them. In Houston's loss to the Spurs, Williams scored just five points and shot a dreadful 1 - of - 10 from the field and 0 - of - 3 from behind the arc. In his last three games, Williams has now shot a combined 6 - of - 29 (21 percent) from the field and has scored a grand total of just 19 points over those three contests. Prior to this brutal stretch for Williams, he had failed to score in double digits just three times in 61 games.
+Cleveland's big - three combined for 74 points, 30 rebounds and 25 assists as they withstood a good fight from the Lakers. Kevin Love finished with a team - high 27 points, along with 17 rebounds, four assists and one steal. LeBron James followed up with 26 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks, while Kyrie Irving added 21 points, 12 assists, six rebounds and thee steals. The Cavs shot 52 percent from the field and dished 30 assists. They also dominated the paint, out - scoring the Lakers 50 - 30 inside. Meanwhile, Nick Young poured in a game - high 32 points on 12 - of - 19 shooting, including a career - high eight three - pointers. Jordan Clarkson added 20 points on 7 - of - 12 shooting and five rebounds, in 31 minutes off the bench. The Lakers shot 48 percent from the field and 43 percent from deep, while they dished 30 assists.
+The host Sacramento Kings defeated the visiting New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, 102 - 94. Neither team was able to convincingly pull away, with Sacramento (4 - 5) holding a single - digit lead heading into the final minute of the game. This has been somewhat of a theme for New Orleans (0 - 8), who has played many teams closely this season but has yet to record a win. For Sacramento, the key seemed to be feeding All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins, who led the squad with 28 points despite an off night on the glass. High-scoring wing Rudy Gay also turned in a solid performance, posting 21 points, six assists, and six rebounds. Overall, Sacramento was able to out - shoot their opponents from deep, hitting eight three - pointers on the night. For the Pelicans, Tuesday was yet another disappointing result in what has been a string of losses to start the season. In sticking with the trend, it was also a big night for star forward Anthony Davis, who led the team and the game with 34 points. Davis also made his presence felt on defense with two steals and four blocks. Only two other Pelicans cracked double - digits, however, with three of the starting five combining for just 15 points on the night. The Pelicans will visit Milwaukee on Thursday, while the Kings will host the Lakers.
+The Washington Wizards defeated the Brooklyn Nets, 118 - 95, at Verizon Center on Friday. The Wizards (16 - 16) learned earlier in the day that Bradley Beal would rest his sprained right ankle against the Nets (8 - 24), which pushed Sheldon McClellan into the starting lineup alongside John Wall. Beal's absence was rather easy to overcome, however, as Washington dominated a reeling Brooklyn squad that's only won one road game all season from the opening tip. Wall led the way for the Wizards' first unit with a 19 - point, 14 - assist double - double that also included two rebounds, four steals and a block. The home team also received standout performances from Marcin Gortat and Wall's backup Trey Burke, who paced the team overall with a season - high 27 points. Washington had the collective hot hand on offense, shooting 57 percent from the field and 50 percent from three - point range. The Nets were led by Trevor Booker, who posted 16 points, seven boards and three assists. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson matched Booker's point total in 29 minutes off the bench, and added five rebounds, an assist and a steal. Bojan Bogdanovic went for 12 points, three rebounds, an assist and a steal. Brook Lopez compiled 11 points, six assists, five rebounds and a steal. Sean Kilpatrick (seven points) and Isaiah Whitehead (six points) underwhelmed, however, going a combined 4 - of - 14 from the field. Caris Levert was productive in a reserve role, supplying 12 points in 24 minutes. Burke added two rebounds, two assists and two steals to his game - high scoring total. Gortat produced a 19 - point, 13 - rebound double - double that also included an assist, a steal and a block. Otto Porter, Jr. chipped in with 12 points, four boards, two assists, a steal and a block, while Markieff Morris registered 10 points, six rebounds and a steal. McClellan went for eight points in his spot start, and Jason Smith totaled 10 points, eight rebounds, an assist and two blocks in just 18 minutes on the second unit. The Nets head back home to take on the Utah Jazz on Monday night, while the Wizards head west to take on the Houston Rockets on Monday evening as well.
+The Orlando Magic (16 - 37) beat the Los Angeles Lakers (13 - 37) 103 - 97 in overtime on Friday night. Tobias Harris led the way for the Magic, puting up 34 points on 14 - of - 18 shooting from the field in 45 minutes. Aaron Gordon returned to action after missing Wednesday's contest against the Spurs while dealing with some soreness in his left foot, which he broke in November. The rookie played 23 minutes and scored seven points. Nikola Vucevic continued his hot streak, finishing with 25 points and 13 rebounds for the second straight game. Over his last five, he's averaging 21 points and 12 rebounds. However, the Magic are just 1 - 4 in that stretch. The Lakers have gone to ovetime in three of their last four games, going 1 - 3 in that span. Ryan Kelly's 20 point performance was n't enough to bring the Lakers to victory, as he went 5 - of - 6 from the three - point line in 33 minutes. Los Angeles is now 3 - 15 since the calendar turned to January. The Lakers have not won a road game since Dec. 30 in Denver Up next, the Lakers will head to Cleveland to face the Cavaliers on Sunday afternoon, while the Magic will host the Bulls, also on Sunday.
+The Toronto Raptors (38 - 22) defeated the Philadelphia 76ers (13 - 47) 114 - 103 on Monday at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. Both teams shot surprisingly well in this one, with the Raptors finishing at 51 percent from the field and 41 percent from the three - point line, while the Sixers went 53 percent from the floor and 40 percent from deep. Despite an evenly played game, the Raptors forced the Sixers into 16 turnovers, while committing just 11 of their own, which may have made just enough of a difference to push the Raptors to a victory on the road in Philadelphia on Monday. Leading the Raptors was DeMar DeRozan, who was nearly unstoppable in this one. He went 12 - for - 24 from the field and 1 - for - 3 from the three - point line to score a game - high of 35 points, while also adding nine rebounds and five assists. DeRozan also forced his way to the free throw line, and converted on a perfect 10 - of - 10 attempts. After shooting less than 30 percent over his last two games, he finally got things turned around and exploded for a new season - high in points. With Kyle Lowry sitting out on a day of rest, Greivis Vasquez started at the point, finishing with 12 points (5 - 8 FG, 2 - 4 3Pt) and five assists. It was his eighteenth start of the season, as he's now pushed his season averages to 10 points and 4 assists on the year. The Raptors also got a huge boost from their bench though. Louis Williams went off for 21 points (6 - 15 FG, 2 - 9 3Pt, 7 - 7 FT) and five assists in 30 minutes, while Patrick Patterson added 15 points (6 - 10 FG, 2 - 4 3Pt, 1 - 1 FT) and four rebounds in 29 minutes. For the Sixers, Nerlens Noel continued with his strong play, posting 17 points on a perfect 7 - for - 7 from the field and 3 - for - 4 from the free throw line. He also added seven rebounds and two steals. Over his last three games, he's now averaging 14 points and 11 rebounds, as he continues to improve as the season wears on. Coming off the bench, Ish Smith finished with 19 points (8 - 13 FG, 1 - 2 3Pt, 2 - 3 FT), five rebounds and nine assists. It was far - and - away his best game since joining the Sixers at the trade deadline. Over his first five games since joining Philadelphia, he's averaging 10 points and six assists. Also coming off the bench, Thomas Robinson posted an efficient 13 points (6 - 8 FG, 1 - 2 FT) and five rebounds in just 14 minutes. It marked just his third time in double figures this season. Starting at point guard, Isaiah Canaan added 14 points (5 - 12 FG, 4 - 8 3Pt) and three assists in 25 minutes as well. The Raptors' next game will be at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, while the Sixers will travel to Oklahoma City to play the Thunder on Wednesday.
+The New York Knicks (24 - 33) defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves (17 - 39) 103 - 95 on Saturday. The Knicks got off to a hot start here and stepped on the Wolves throats early. It was the first and third quarters that really propelled them, as the Knicks outscored the Timberwolves by 24 points in that 24 - minute span. The rebounding was key, as New York snatched down 51 rebounds to Minnesota's 31. The Knicks also shot 51 percent from the field, while holding the Timberwolves to 43 percent shooting. New York has really been struggling recently, so this was a much needed win. Carmelo Anthony led the team with 30 points, while also providing 11 rebounds and four assists. Robin Lopez was a huge spark, as he totaled 26 points and 16 rebounds in one of his best performances of the season. No player totaled more than four assists, so it was a lot of ISO ball that got it done for the Knicks. Up next for New York is a matchup against the Toronto Raptors on Monday. Minnesota did a great job of fighting late, but dug themselves too deep of a hole to come back. They outscored the Knicks by 12 in the final quarter, while amassing 34 points. Karl Anthony-Towns was the best player, as he accumulated 24 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks in the defeat. Ricky Rubio did a great job of distributing, dishing out 16 assists in the loss. On deck for Minnesota is the Boston Celtics on Tuesday.
+The Washington Wizards (18 - 19) defeated the Milwaukee Bucks (16 - 25) 106 - 101 on Wednesday. On the same day that the Wizards welcomed back one key starter that they'd notably missed over the last month, they received bad news on another key component of their squad. Wednesday night saw the return of Bradley Beal after he was sidelined 16 games with a lower leg injury. However, the team also learned earlier in the day that Marcin Gortat had developed an infection in his ailing knee, and would be sidelined for a second consecutive game. His defensive presence was particularly missed, as the Wizards managed to escape with a hard - fought victory despite the Bucks getting the better of them down low, and also outscoring them in the third quarter, 31 - 15. Both Greg Monroe and Giannis Antetokoumpo managed double - doubles, and Milwaukee outrebounded Washington on the defensive glass by the considerable margin of 37 - 9. They also outscored the Wizards in the paint, 62 - 38, two figures that likely would have been drastically different had Gortat's stout defense been in between the Bucks and the basket. Milwaukee was led by another outstanding performance from Khris Middleton, who has truly come into his own and hit his stride offensively. The 24 - year - old tallied a game - high 25 points and added five rebounds, five assists and two steals, the fourth time in the last five games he's scored 20 or more points. Monroe took advantage of a clearer path down low in Gortat's absence, managing 21 points, 12 rebounds, an assist and a pair of steals. Antetokounmpo was right behind him with his own 19 - point, 11 - rebound effort that also included six assists, two steals and a block. Even second - year pro Jabari Parker got in on the fun, posting a season - high 22 points and supplementing it with six rebounds, an assist and a steal. The Bucks fell to 16 - 25 and remain in last place in the Eastern Conference's Central Division. They now head back home and await the Atlanta Hawks for a Friday showdown. The Wizards enjoyed double - digit scoring nights from each of their five starters, who were unsurprisingly led by John Wall. The All-Star point guard collected 19 points, eight assists, five rebounds, a steal and a block. Jared Dudley was next in line with a 13 - point, six - rebound outing, and took away the ball three times on the night as well. Nene Hilario did a solid job in Gortat's stead for the second straight contest, pitching in with 12 points, three assists, two rebounds and two blocks. He also had a trio of thefts, in what would become somewhat of a running theme throughout the game. Garrett Temple, likely starting his last game in place of Beal, was solid with 11 points, five assists, four rebounds and a block, while amassing five steals as well. Otto Porter rounded things out for the first unit with 10 points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal. Ramon Sessions paced the reserves with 15 points, five assists and a rebound over a highly efficient 22 minutes, and Beal looked good while pouring in 11 points, hauling three rebounds, dishing out three assists and also collecting a steal. In total, Washington was able to induce a whopping 27 turnovers from Milwaukee, which they converted into 36 points. Washington improved to 18 - 19 and moved into fourth place in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division. They now head to Indiana to face the Pacers on Friday.
+The Milwaukee Bucks (7 - 5) defeated the Brooklyn Nets (4 - 7) 122 - 118 in a triple - overtime thriller in Brooklyn at the Barclays Center. For the Bucks, the young core of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker helped lead the team to victory. Jabari Parker had a career - high 23 points (8 - 13 FG, 7 - 10 FT) as he was able to consistently score against the aging Nets defense. Meanwhile, Antetokounmpo continues his solid play with 18 points (7 - 11 FG, 4 - 8 FT) and 12 rebounds. Off the bench, Ersan Ilyasova thrived against the Nets as he had a solid 14 point performance (7 - 12 FG). Despite the Nets hard - fought defeat, Brook Lopez was an absolute monster against the Bucks interior defense, as he had an efficient 26 point (11 - 19 FG, 4 - 4 FT) and seven rebound performance, that included some key offensive boards in the later stages of the game. The back - court duo of Deron Williams (7 - 14 FG, 3 - 7 3Pt) and Bojan Bogdanovic (7 - 16 FG, 4 - 11 3Pt) combined to score 37 points, as they helped keep the team close for the entire game. The Bucks continue their road swing by going to Toronto for a Friday night game, while Brooklyn will head to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder on Friday.
+Indiana have been dominant at home all season and this 21 - point win only adds to their resume '. The third quarter was when this game really changed, as the Pacers outscored the Hornets, 33 - 16. Indiana ended up shooting 53 percent from the field, while holding Charlotte to 40 percent from the field and just 13 percent from three - point range. Rebounding was huge as well, with the Pacers winning that battle, 42 - 30. Frank Kaminsky led the team in scoring off the bench, as he totaled 20 points and four rebounds. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was the only starter in double figures, as he provided just 10 points, one rebound and one assist. Paul George was the star, as he collected 39 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals on 15 - of - 21 from the field. Jeff Teague accumulated eight points, eight rebounds and 11 assists. Monta Ellis led the bench with 16 points, two assists and two blocks.
+The Dallas Mavericks (1 - 3) defeated the Houston Rockets (3 - 1) 121 - 109 on Sunday in Dallas in game four of their first round matchup for the Western Conference playoffs. The Rockets came out and had a really quick start, out - scoring the Mavericks 34 - 25 right away in the first quarter. It was the Mavericks who came out hot in the second though, as they out - scored the Rockets by 17 in that quarter to take an eight - point lead into the break. After the Mavericks extended their lead with a strong third quarter, the Rockets made one last run in the fourth. They got to within nine points, but the Mavericks were able to seal the deal and keep their playoff hopes alive by avoiding elimination with a win. The Mavericks shot 54 percent from the field and 36 percent from the three - point line, while the Rockets went 47 percent from the floor and just 23 percent from deep. The Mavericks were led by some big lines from their backcourt duo of JJ Barea and Monta Ellis. Ellis went 13 - for - 21 from the field and 2 - for - 6 from the three - point line to score a team - high of 31 points, while also adding six rebounds and three assists. Ellis has been very effective over the last two games of this series, combining for 65 points and 12 assists, while shooting over 60 percent from the field. He'll have to continue with that scoring momentum if the Mavericks want any chance at staying alive in this series. Barea was the biggest surprise in this game as he was very effective as a starter. Barea scored 17 points (7 - 15 FG, 2 - 6 3Pt, 1 - 2 FT), to go along with 13 assists, which was just the second time all season he reached double - digit assists. Barea was a big part in giving this team a spark in the second quarter, which is where he scored 10 of his 17 points. That run helped give the Mavericks momentum, so he was a huge reason for the Mavericks' success. Like Barea, Al-Farouq Aminu has also been a nice surprise for the Mavericks and he had a solid performance again with 16 points (6 - 10 FG, 3 - 5 3Pt, 1 - 3 FT) and 12 rebounds. He was coming off a 15 - point performance in game three, so he did n't disappoint with another impressive outing. Dirk Nowitzki added 16 points (7 - 14 FG, 0 - 1 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT) and eight rebounds as well. As expected, the Rockets saw James Harden do a large portion of the scoring. He went 7 - for - 15 from the field, but just 1 - for - 7 from the three - point line to score 24 points, while also adding five rebounds and five assists. Harden forced his way to the line, making all nine of his free throw attempts as well. While the production from Harden was expected, most did n't think the Rockets' bench was going to play as well as they did. Both Josh Smith and Corey Brewer were just as important in keeping the Rockets in this game as Harden was. Smith really had his shot dialed in. He went 8 - for - 10 from the floor and 4 - for - 5 from deep to score 23 points, to go along with six rebounds and three assists. He did receive a technical foul though after shoving Devin Harris while he was intentionally fouling him. Brewer, on the other hand, chipped in with 22 points (9 - 15 FG, 1 - 3 3Pt, 3 - 4 FT) and five rebounds while playing 32 minutes. The Rockets' bench out - scored the Mavericks' bench 49 - 31, but it was n't enough to give them the win. The Rockets really struggled on the boards, as they were out - rebounded 52 - 38. That included 16 offensive rebounds for the Mavericks, which gave them multiple second chance opportunities. Dwight Howard and Tyson Chandler also were given technical fouls after they got into a tussle of their own. These two teams will head back to Houston and face off again in game five on Tuesday.
+The Memphis Grizzlies (32 - 22) defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves (17 - 38) 109 - 104 on Friday. The entertaining back - and - forth affair featured new - look lineups for both clubs, although the bigger facelift was on the side of the hometown Grizzlies. While Minnesota's Andrew Wiggins slid over to small forward to make room for two - time Slam Dunk Contest champ Zach LaVine at shooting guard, Memphis began life in earnest without the sidelined Marc Gasol (foot) and the jettisoned Jeff Green and Courtney Lee. JaMychal Green helped to fortify the front court in Gasol's stead, while part - time starters Matt Barnes and Tony Allen took the place of the latter two. All of the aforementioned players managed solid - to - stellar performances in their new roles, leading to a highly competitive matchup that the Grizzlies were able to triumph in due in to their superior shooting and ball security. Memphis was able to outperform Minnesota 49 percent to 41 percent from the field, while eliciting 20 turnovers from the visitors and only committing 14 of their own. Minnesota was led by LaVine's 22 points, which he complemented with a pair of rebounds and a steal. Wiggins was n't far behind, tallying 20 points, five assists, a pair of rebounds and a steal. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves' frontcourt was the scene of a pair of dominating double - doubles, led by Gorgui Dieng's 14 - point, 12 - rebound performance that also included an assist, three steals and a block. Karl-Anthony Towns pitched in with 11 points and 15 boards of his own, along with three assists, a steal and two blocks. Shabazz Muhammad and Kelvin Martin contributed a pair of 12 - point efforts to lead the bench. The former also supplied three rebounds and an assist, while the latter contributed a pair of boards and an assist. The Timberwolves remain in last place in the Western Conference's Northwest Division. They head home to face off against the New York Knicks on Saturday night. As expected, Mike Conley took charge of the offense in the absence of the aforementioned trio of players, totaling 25 points, seven assists, four rebounds and two steals. Zach Randolph was next in line with a 17 - point, eight - rebound effort that also included an assist. Barnes pitched in with 11 points, five boards, two assists, two steals and a block. Green came within a point of a double - double, hauling in 11 boards, handing out two assists, and recording three steals and three blocks. Allen supplied nine points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal. Veteran Vince Carter turned back the clock in pacing the reserves, recording a season - high 15 points, and adding four rebounds and a pair of steals. The Grizzlies remain in second place in the Western Conference's Southwest Division. They now head to Toronto to take on the Raptors in a Sunday showdown.
+Death, taxes, and Russell Westbrook triple - doubles. The All-Star point guard recorded his 24th triple - double of the season against New Orleans, posting a line of 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. Numbers like those have become commonplace for the superstar, who is on pace to become the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple - double in a season. Westbrook also looks poised to eclipse Wilt Chamberlain's record 41 triple - doubles in a season, a feat that many once considered unachievable. For the Thunder, big men Steven Adams and Enes Kanter made big impacts as well. Adams had 20 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks, while Kanter had 17 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. The Thunder blocked 11 shots in total. New Orleans, meanwhile, saw just eight points and five rebounds in 16 minutes for Anthony Davis, who left the game with a quad contusion. The team was led by guard E'Twaun Moore, who delivered a stellar 18 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
+The Milwaukee Bucks (20 - 27) defeated the Orlando Magic (20 - 24) 107 - 100 on Tuesday night. The Bucks shot nearly 50 percent from the field and 84 percent from the free - throw line while holding the Magic to just 41 percent shooting. Orlando was actually lights out from three - point range, going 13 for 24, but it was n't enough to avoid losing for the 11th time in its last 12 games. Victor Oladipo finished with 18 points and five assists, while Nikola Vucevic had 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Magic. The Bucks have relied heavily on their starters all season, no more so than Tuesday. Milwaukee's starters outscored the Magic's 91 - 64, as the Bucks' five starters combined to play 177 minutes and score nearly 90 percent of the team's points. Khris Middleton had another great game, as he tallied 25 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Giannis Antentokounmpo matched the team - high with 25 points, while snatching nine boards. Greg Monroe double - doubled once again, as he finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds. The Bucks will look to build on this win Thursday against the Memphis Grizzlies, while Orlando will look to get out of its rut Friday against the Boston Celtics.
+Once again, the box score rightfully belonged to Russell Westbrook, as the Thunder point guard notched his 22nd triple - double of the season, to go along with his game winning jumper with :1 remaining in the fourth quarter. Westbrook totaled 38 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists on 11 - of - 29 shooting. Enes Kanter was effective off the bench and scored 14 points on nine shots, to go with five rebounds in 29 minutes. Victor Oladipo was the only other Thunder scorer in double figures, as he scored 18 points to aid Westbrook in the victory. The Jazz were led by Gordon Hayward's 17 points, three of which were used to tie the game with :10 remaining in the final period. Utah struggled to find a scoring rhythm, as four players scored in double figures, but the team shot 43 percent from the field as a unit.
+The Houston Rockets (1 - 3) parlayed a record - breaking 45 - point first quarter into a 128 - 115 win over the Golden State Warriors (3 - 1). Stephen Curry suffered a head contusion in the first half, passed concussion protocol, and returned in the middle of the third quarter with his team down 10. The Rockets pulled ahead 45 - 22 after the first quarter and built a 25 - point lead in the second quarter before allowing the Warriors to pull within six points in the fourth quarter. The win marks their fourth this postseason when facing elimination and first over the Warriors all season. James Harden, the MVP runner - up, scored a playoff career - high 45 points, as many as his team scored in the first quarter. He added nine rebounds, five assists, two steals, two blocks and seven three - pointers in 40 minutes. Dwight Howard was assessed a Flagrant Foul 1 for elbowing Andrew Bogut in the head, a maneuver that led to an ejection for Al Horford in the Eastern Conference Finals. Should the league upgrade the blow to a Flagrant Foul 2, Howard will be suspended for Game 5 due to an accrued four flagrant foul points during the postseason. Josh Smith added 20 points on 7 - of - 8 from the field and 3 - of - 12 free - throw shooting in 28 minutes. Stephen Curry appeared tentative upon reentering the game. He missed his first three shots in the second half and finished with 23 points on 7 - of - 18 shooting. He compiled four assists and one rebound in 31 minutes of action. All eyes will be fixed on Curry over the next 48 hours, monitoring his health as the team flies back home. Shaun Livingston, who started the second half, would likely move into the starting lineup if anything lingers on Curry's behalf. Klay Thompson finally performed to his All-Star stature, scoring 16 of his team - high 24 points in the second quarter. After going 4 - of - 22 from downtown in the first two games, he responded by converting 6 - of - 13 three - pointers in Game 4. Prior to fouling out, Draymond Green contributed 21 points, a game - high 15 rebounds, five blocks, four assists and two three - pointers in 40 minutes. Andrew Bogut was held scoreless in 21 minutes, a casualty of foul trouble and a shift in philosophy on the offensive end. Game 5 will take place Wednesday at Oracle Arena. The Warriors have only lost three games all year at home.
+The San Antonio Spurs (50 - 26) continued their dominant play Friday with a 123 - 93 thrashing of the Denver Nuggets (28 - 48) at the AT & T Center. With the middle of the West's playoff picture wide open, San Antonio is making a push for a top - four seed. The Spurs took over from the early going, taking a 45 - 25 lead into the second quarter. Their ball movement was too much for the Nuggets to handle as the Spurs dished out 33 assists on 47 made baskets. The Nuggets were also hampered by 18 turnovers against 17 assists. With Friday's win, the Spurs completed the season sweep over the Nuggets. Denver appeared to be turning things around under interim coach Melvin Hunt with a four game winning streak in mid - March, but has struggled since then. The Nuggets are just 2 - 7 since that winning streak, including a current three game skid. Danilo Gallinari bounced back from a couple of shaky outings to post a team - high 20 points on 8 - of - 12 shooting. J.J Hickson (knee) returned from a one game absence, finishing with four points and six rebounds over 24 minutes off the bench. The Nuggets will play their next two games in Los Angeles, starting with a matchup with the Clippers on Saturday. San Antonio has regained its status as a team to be reckoned with in the West, going 9 - 1 over its last 10 games. No one player lit up the scoreboard Friday, but the Spurs had five players (including three reserves) score in double figures. The Spurs shot 55 percent from the floor and 41 percent from beyond the arc as they were able to put the game out of reach. San Antonio will get a chance to prove itself against the West's top team, Golden State, on Sunday.
+The Milwaukee Bucks (22 - 21) defeated the Detroit Pistons (17 - 27), 101 - 86. Brandon Jennings suffered a non - contact leg injury and required assistance leaving the court. The severity is unknown, and he'll be re - evaluated Sunday. O.J. Mayo scored a team - high 20 points on 8 - of - 14 shooting, and Jared Dudley and John Henson added 12 points each. Former Pistons Khris Middleton and Brandon Knight combined to score 30 points, grab 13 rebounds and dish out nine assists. Giannis Antetokounmpo turned the ball over seven times in a team - high 36 minutes. The Bucks shot 11 - of - 17 from behind the three - point line. The Pistons converted 6 - of - 25 three - pointers. The injured Brandon Jennings finished with a team - high 16 points on 6 - of - 14 shooting in 26 minutes. Kyle Singler wore a protective mask after suffering a broken nose earlier this week. Jennings and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope each picked up a technical foul. The Bucks travel to San Antonio for a game Sunday. The Bucks conclude a two - game road trip Sunday against the Toronto Raptors.
+The Houston Rockets (60) defeated the San Antonio Spurs (2 - 2) 98 - 81 on Thursday. As he's done several times every season over the past few years, coach Gregg Popovich opted to rest several of his players Thursday. It was a planned day of rest for Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, and they were joined on the bench by Marco Belinelli, who injured his groin in Wednesday's game, and Tiago Splitter, who tried to return to action Wednesday but had to leave do to a flair up of his calf issue. The Spurs were resigned to starting Tony Parker, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Matt Bonner, and Aron Baynes against Dwight Howard and James Harden. Howard had his best game of the season, posting 32 points and 16 rebounds in 33 minutes. Harden put up 20 points to go with six rebounds, six assists, and three blocks in 33 minutes, doing himself well in what appears to be a season he'll be making a bid for both the scoring championship and the MVP Award. Patrick Beverley was held out to rest his hamstring injury, and Isaiah Canaan filled in as the starting point guard, a distinction Canaan has performed well in for three of the Rockets' last four games, where Beverley has been absent due to injury. The Spurs' next game is at home Saturday against the New Orleans Pelicans. The Rockets will host the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.
+After falling flat against the Cavaliers earlier in the week, veteran star Carmelo Anthony scored a team - high 33 points against the Kings on Friday. Melo shot 9 - of - 22 from the field but went a solid 12 - of - 14 from the free - throw line. Sophomore star Kristaps Porzingis, meanwhile, had 17 points and 10 rebounds despite shooting just 6 - of - 19 from the floor. Kyle O'Quinn came off the bench and grabbed double - digit rebounds as well, pulling down 11 boards. O'Quinn also had eight points and five assists in just 20 minutes. The Kings were a one - man show on Friday, with DeMarcus Cousins once again posting team highs in points, rebounds, and assists. Cousins scored 28 and had 12 rebounds and six assists in Friday's narrow loss. As a whole, Sacramento struggled offensively, shooting just 40 percent and 25 percent from beyond three - point range.
+The Milwaukee Bucks (29 - 23) beat the Brooklyn Nets (21 - 30), 103 - 97, on Monday. Giannis Antetokounmpo continued his streak of season highs. This time, it was in the assists category. He scored 12 points, grabbed nine rebounds, stole the ball three times, and added one block to go along with a season - high eight assists. Seven of the assists came in the first half, as he helped his team recover from a 17 - point deficit. For someone who did n't play in the fourth quarter, the statistical line was all the more impressive. Over his past five games, he's averaging 18 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steals per game. In the frontcourt, Zaza Pachulia returned to the Bucks' lineup after missing six games with a calf injury. He finished with five points, five rebounds and three steals in 16 minutes off the bench. Jarrett Jack had a nice game for the Nets. He put up 26 points on 10 - of - 15 from the field, and had four rebounds and eight assists to boot. Deron Williams had been suffering from an illness and did n't look like himself, going 0 - for - 5 from the floor for zero points in 23 minutes off the bench. Joe Johnson played a game - high 42 minutes, scoring 19 points and recording six assists. Brooklyn is currently the first team on the outside looking in at the Eastern Conference playoff picture. The Nets will take on the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Bucks will have a chance to double their win total from last season before the All-Star break when they host the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.
+The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Toronto Raptors, 105 - 99, at Philips Arena on Friday. This was one of the closest games of the season, as neither team was able to grab a lead larger than eight points. In addition, there were 17 ties and 15 lead changes, as this game came down to the wire. Atlanta's offense was extremely efficient, as they shot 52 percent from the field and 36 percent from three - point range. The Raptors were n't quite as fortunate, as they hit just 40 percent from the field and 16 percent from long distance. Defensive rebounding was a huge key as well, with Atlanta winning that battle, 37 - 30. The Raptors (38 - 27) battled all game long, but they did n't have enough in the arsenal to pull out a tough road win. DeMar DeRozan did all he could for Toronto, as he led the team with 28 points, eight rebounds and six assists, but shot just 12 - of - 30 from the field. Serge Ibaka finished with 18 points, three rebounds and two assists before fouling out. Cory Joseph started for Kyle Lowry and provided 15 points, eight assists and four steals. Jonas Valanciunas and DeMarre Carroll combined for 22 points, 19 rebounds, six steals and four blocks in a defensive showcase. On deck for Toronto is a road matchup with the Miami Heat on Saturday. The Hawks (36 - 29) have struggled recently, but a tight win like this is just what they need to get some momentum going. Dennis Schroeder led the team with 26 points, six rebounds and five assists. Paul Millsap contributed 21 points, six rebounds and four assists. Dwight Howard totaled 16 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks on 6 - of - 9 shooting. Tim Hardaway Jr. got the start and collected 20 points, two rebounds, six assists and two steals. Atlanta's next matchup is tough, as they play the Memphis Grizzlies on the road on Saturday.
+The Pelicans stunned the Cavs on Monday despite the absence of Anthony Davis. New Orleans was led by point guard Jrue Holiday and big man Terrence Jones, who scored 33 and 36 respectively. The duo combined to shoot 25 - of - 37. Holiday added 10 assists, three steals, and two blocks, while Jones recorded 11 rebounds, two steals, and three blocks. Off the bench, three players scored at least nine points. The Pelicans finished shooting almost 50 percent and hit 16 three - pointers on the night. The Cavaliers, meanwhile, saw impressive play from all three members of their big three. Kyrie Irving delivered 49 points, the third - highest total of his career. LeBron James scored 26 points and added 12 assists and 10 rebounds. Kevin Love put up 22 points and 15 rebounds. However, the Cleveland bench combined for only 13 points in the performance.
+The Charlotte Hornets (14 - 8) defeated the Memphis Grizzlies (13 - 11) 123 - 99 on Friday. Charlotte has been impressive on offense throughout their first 21 contests, coming into Friday as a top 10 - ranked unit with an average of 102 points scored per game. An integral component of their success has been the play of stalwart point guard Kemba Walker and offseason acquisition Nicolas Batum, with the latter making a considerable impact in a Hornets uniform now that he's fully recovered from the wrist problems that plagued him throughout his final campaign in Portland. The Dynamic Duo were at it again Friday, with Walker managing 33 points, his third outing with 30 or more on the season. The 25 - year - old added six assists and five rebounds in a dynamic performance. Meanwhile, Batum bounced back from two modest efforts to post 20 points, four rebounds and a pair of assists. They spearheaded a Hornets attack that led to Charlotte's third - highest scoring total of the season. In addition to the pair of standout efforts, the visitors received the bulk of their remaining points from the bench. Three Hornets reserves tallied double - digit scoring, led by Jeremy Lin's 16 points. Frank Kaminsky III posted the second - highest point total of his career with 15 points, and Jeremy Lamb, who's been outstanding in a reserve role all season, contributed 10 points, his ninth double - digit scoring performance over the last 10 games. Charlotte improved to 14 - 8 and remains in first place in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division. They head home for a Saturday night showdown versus the Boston Celtics. The Grizzlies were led by a near double - double from Marc Gasol, who poured in 17 points and added nine rebounds, five assists, a pair of steals and a block. Mike Conley was right behind his teammate with 16 points, four assists, three rebounds and a pair of blocks. Zach Randolph (13 points) and Tony Allen (10 points) joined Gasol and Conley in double - digit scoring, and Courtney Lee paced the Memphis bench with 12 points, two rebounds and an assist. Matt Barnes, he of the game - winning half - court shot against the Pistons, could n't conjure up similar heroics in Friday's blowout, but pitched in with 11 points in a reserve role. Memphis fell to 13 - 11 and currently resides in third place in the Western Conference's Southwest Division. They head to Miami to face the Heat on Sunday.
+The visiting Phoenix Suns defeated the injury - riddled Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, 119 - 115. Phoenix (7 - 16) saw strong play from starting point guard Eric Bledsoe, who led the team with 30 points. Bledsoe added nine assists and three steals in what was an impressive all - around performance. The Suns' bench bolstered Bledsoe's strong play with a number of impressive outings. Guard Leandro Barbosa scored 21 points and knocked down five three - pointers on the night. Big man Alex Len, meanwhile, had a 14 - point, 13 - rebound double - double to go along with five blocks. In addition to strong bench play, Phoenix saw excellent protection of the ball, as the team committed only seven turnovers in the game. Los Angeles (10 - 15) has now lost five in a row and continues to struggle with injury. Guards D'Angelo Russell and Nick Young were both sidelined by injuries during Friday's contest. With minutes opening up in the backcourt, sixth man Lou Williams has seen an increase in production. On Friday, this meant 35 points with six three - pointers for the former Sixth Man of the Year. As a team, the Lakers pulled down an impressive 49 rebounds and were able to shoot 46 percent, but struggled with turnovers, committing 15. The Lakers will host New York on Sunday, while the Suns will host New Orleans.
+The Portland Trail Blazers (32 - 28) defeated the Indiana Pacers (31 - 28) 111 - 102 on Sunday. Not many teams have been as hot as the Blazers and they showed just why on Sunday. The key was a hot start for Portland, as they scored 39 points in the first quarter to take a 12 - point lead. The Trail Blazers were unconscious from long distance, as they went 14 - for - 24 from three - point range. The Trail Blazers continue to move up the standings in the Western Conference and they continue to ride Damian Lillard to the promise land. Lillard put together another 30 - point game, as he tallied 33 points and five rebounds in the win. The bench played well too, with Gerald Henderson and Meyers Leonard combining for 36 points. On deck for Portland is the New York Knicks on Tuesday, Indiana came into this game as a six - point favorite and could n't make enough stops to pull out a much needed win. Everyone struggled shooting, with Paul George, Myles Turner, Monta Ellis and George Hill combining to shoot 18 - for - 54 from the field. No one scored more than 18 points either, with Ellis leading the team. Up next for the Blazers is a tough matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday.
+The Portland Trail Blazers (51 - 27) defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves (16 - 62) 116 - 91 on Wednesday at the Moda Center in Portland. In securing the victory, the Trail Blazers moved to just two games back from the Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets, who are tied for the second overall spot in the Western Conference standings. With just four games left in the regular season, they still have a shot at making their case for that second or third projected playoff seed. The Blazers were the much better shooting team in this one, going 49 percent from the field and 36 percent from the three - point line, while the Timberwolves finished at 38 percent from the floor and just 27 percent from deep. LaMarcus Aldridge had his way with the young frontcourt of the Timberwolves. He went 10 - for - 16 from the field to score a team - high of 24 points, while also adding 13 rebounds over 29 minutes. It marked his second straight double - double, a stretch where he's combined for 45 points and 25 rebounds. Fellow superstar Damian Lillard also played a factor in the victory. He did n't shoot the best, but he still finished with 17 points (4 - 13 FG, 3 - 8 3Pt, 6 - 6 FT) and six assists. He was coming off a 36 - point showing on Monday, so it was somewhat of a let down performance. Like Aldridge, Robin Lopez also had success against the Timberwolves frontcourt. He went 7 - for - 8 from the field and 4 - for - 4 from the free throw line to score 18 points, while adding six rebounds as well. Coming off the bench, CJ McCollum chipped in with 13 points (6 - 12 FG, 1 - 5 3Pt) over 25 minutes. With a ton of injuries causing a depleted roster for the Timberwolves, it turned into the Andrew Wiggins show, as he finished with a game - high of 29 points (9 - 22 FG, 0 - 1 3Pt, 11 - 15 FT), to go along with five rebounds and four assists. It marked his fourth straight game surpassing the 20 - point mark, a stretch where he's averaging 25 points per game.He continues to show why he was selected with the first overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. Fellow rookie Zach LaVine also continues to show his worth. LaVine posted 18 points (6 - 12 FG, 0 - 1 3Pt, 6 - 7 FT), six assists and two steals, while playing 38 minutes. He had posted his second career double - double on Tuesday, so this marked another nice contribution for the young guard. Kevin Martin also added 17 points (5 - 15 FG, 1 - 3 3Pt, 6 - 6 FT) and three rebounds. Coming off the bench, Chase Budinger was the final Timberwolves player to reach double figures, as he finished with 12 points and five steals. The Trail Blazers' next game will be on the road against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, while the Timberwolves will travel to Los Angeles to play the Lakers on Friday.
+The Houston Rockets (24 - 11) defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers (19 - 17) 105 - 93 on Wednesday at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. After ending the third quarter down 74 - 73, the Rockets came out and had a strong fourth quarter, out - scoring the Cavaliers by an impresive 32 - 19 mark, allowing them to steal the victory on the road in Cleveland. The Rockets were able to out - rebound the Cavaliers 50 - 37, only furthering their advantage in this one. Like he's done so many times already this season, James Harden led the Rockets to this victory. He came close to a triple - double, finishing with 21 points (6 - 18 FG, 2 - 7 3Pt, 7 - 7 FT), seven rebounds and nine assists. He did turn the ball over seven times though, so he'll need to cut those down in the near future. As expected, Dwight Howard was able to use his size advantage over Tristan Thompson and the Cavaliers' bigs. He went off for 17 points (6 - 13 FG, 5 - 11 FT) and 19 rebounds, marking his third double - double in a row. He's averaged 17 points and 15 rebounds over that stretch of three games. Trevor Ariza was able to do it on both sides of the ball, recording 13 points (5 - 13 FG, 3 - 10 3Pt), six rebounds and five steals. He's had a tremendous amount of steals over his last three games, combining for 14 over that period. The Rockets did have solid contributions off their bench as well with Josh Smith scoring 16 points (7 - 10 FG, 1 - 2 3Pt, 1 - 4 FT) and Corey Brewer adding 12 points (4 - 8 FG, 2 - 3 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT). The Cavaliers got most of their production out of their two superstars, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. Irving had the biggest contribution, going 15 - for - 26 from the field and 4 - for - 8 from the three - point line to score a game - high of 38 points. The points were a season - high for him as well, as he's continued to get off the bulk of the shots with LeBron James still sitting out. Love on the other hand notched another double - double, finishing with 17 points (7 - 19 FG, 0 - 3 3Pt, 3 - 6 FT) and 16 rebounds. It marked his third double - double in a row, where he's averaged 25 points and 15 rebounds between those games. The only other Cavalier to reach double - digit points was Tristan Thompson, who added 11 points (2 - 7 FG, 7 - 7 FT) and six rebounds of his own. The Cavaliers' bench combined for only 13 points. The Rockets' next game will be on the road against the New York Knicks on Thursday, while the Cavaliers will travel to Oakland to play the Golden State Warriors on Friday.
+Hasan Whiteside truly rounded out the stat sheet in an impressively difficult matchup with the lengthy Milwaukee Bucks. It was only the third time this season that the Miami Heat were able to capture a win, and currently own a weak 3 - 8 record. The Bucks threw some curveballs at Whiteside, but no matchup proved to be too much after posting a final line of 12 points, 17 rebounds, seven blocks and two steals on 5 - of - 12 shooting. Goran Dragic (ankle) contributed a fine game in his return to the starting lineup and added 16 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Jason Richardson and Dion Waiters joined them in double figures. The bench was led by Tyler Johnson, who added eight points and eight rebounds, to go along with five assists on 3 - of - 8 shooting, including one three - pointer.
+This was one of the tightest games of the season, as there were 17 ties and 15 lead changes in total, with neither team leading by more than eight points. Shooting was key, as Atlanta went 52 percent from the field, while Toronto hit just 40 percent from the field and 16 percent from three - point range. Defensive rebounding was a huge factor as well, with Atlanta winning that battle, 37 - 30. DeMar DeRozan went just 12 - of - 30 from the field, but he led the team with 28 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Serge Ibaka totaled 18 points and three rebounds. Cory Joseph started yet again and contributed 15 points, eight assists and four steals. Dennis Schroeder led the way for Atlanta, as he collected 26 points, six rebounds and five assists. Tim Hardaway Jr. started and tallied 20 points, six assists and two steals. Paul Millsap provided 21 points, six rebounds and four assists.
+The Atlanta Hawks (55 - 17) clinched the number one seed in the Eastern Conference with their win over the Miami Heat (33 - 39), 99 - 86. The Hawks pulled ahead 55 - 37 by halftime and cruised to their 31st home victory Jeff Teague was unable to play after tweaking his ankle in Wednesday’s win over the Orlando Magic. The Hawks recorded 31 assists, led by Dennis Schroder’s 11, topping the 30 - assist plateau for the 14th time this season. DeMarre Carroll led the team with 24 points on 8 - of - 12 shooting in 33 minutes, falling two shy of his career high. Kyle Korver hit two three - pointers to tie Mookie Blaylock for third most in Hawks’ single - season history. Paul Millsap grabbed a team - high nine rebounds to go along with 21 points, four assists, two blocks, and one steal in 33 minutes. After missing morning shootaround and entering the game questionable to play, Dwyane Wade suited up after missing Wednesday’s game against the Boston Celtics. Hassan Whiteside and Chris Andersen were unable to play due to varying maladies. Luol Deng led the team with 17 points and 10 rebounds, but missed all four three - point tries in an effort to record his 500th make from downtown. Goran Dragic, who admitted back spasms have slowed him down recently, registered six points on 3 - of - 11 shooting in 27 minutes. The Heat held the Hawks to 10 fourth - quarter point and still lost by 13 as both coaches emptied their bench in the waning moments. The Hawks play their second game in as many days then they travel to take on the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. The Heat attempt to solidify their position as the seven seed when they host the Detroit Pistons on Sunday.
+The Utah Jazz defeated the Sacramento Kings, 104 - 84, at Vivint Smart Home Arena on Saturday. Utah came into this matchup as a sizable favorite and they continued their great form with the defensive recipe that's carried them all season long. The fourth quarter is when they really turned it on, as they outscored Sacramento, 26 - 8. Utah also dominated down low, as they won the rebounding battle, 54 - 34, and recorded 10 team blocks in the win. The Jazz shot 48 percent from the field and 94 percent from the free - throw line. On the other hand, the Kings shot just 39 percent from the field and 54 percent from the charity stripe. Sacramento (8 - 15) had to play this game after a tough loss on Saturday and it clearly showed late. DeMarcus Cousins did finish the game with 16 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, but went just 7 - of - 22 from the field, as he was clearly frustrated by the Jazz defense. Rudy Gay led the team in scoring, dropping 20 points and five rebounds on 7 - of - 15 shooting. Darren Collison provided 17 points and two assists as the starting point guard or the Kings. Omri Casspi led the bench in scoring, accruing 12 points, five rebounds and two steals in the defeat. On deck for the Kings is a favorable home matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday. Utah (15 - 10) continues to play shorthanded and they just keep adding wins to their tally. Fortunately, Gordon Hayward was able to return here from a finger issue, as he led the team with 26 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Rudy Gobert continued his stellar form, as he contributed 17 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks on 5 - of - 6 shooting. Joe Ingles got another start and provided 11 points, six rebounds and four assists. Trey Lyles was the only bench player in double figures, totaling 14 points and five rebounds. Utah will have some time off to get healthy before their next game, as they host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday.
+The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the host Golden State Warriors, 93 - 89, in Game 7 on Sunday at Oracle Arena to win their first NBA championship in franchise history and bring Cleveland it's first pro sports title since 1952. Cleveland became the first team in NBA history to win the NBA Finals after going down 3 - 1 in the series, and the impressive victory came on the back of LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. James was named Finals MVP after stuffing the stat sheet to the tune of yet another triple - double. The first half was the Draymond Green show, as the Warriors swiss army knife of a big man was strong in and out of the paint, and was perfect from behind the arc on his way to 32 points. Green slipped around multiple screens that caused mayhem for the Cavs defense, and did not miss a three - pointer until the second half. The Warriors rallied behind Green, as Curry and Thompson were unable to find their stroke, but still entered the half with a seven point lead. The second half became an intense back - and - forth, evidenced by the 20 lead changes throughout the game, which included 11 times that the game was tied. J.R. Smith got hot in the third quarter and brought back the Cavs from a near double - figure deficit, all the while Curry was finding success in transition. Kevin Love was effective under the rim, especially on the rebounding end where he racked up 14 boards. With the game tied at 89 points a piece in the fourth quarter, both the Cavs and Warriors traded failed shot attempts and sloppy transition play with under five minutes remaining. Irving broke the tie with a clutch three - pointer with just under one minute to play, and the Warriors were unable to get back on the scoreboard. James went to the line after trying to throw down a hammer dunk on Green, and sunk one of the free throws to ice the game. James finished with 27 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, while Irving added 26 points on 10 - of - 23 shooting. The Warriors were led by Green, who scored 32 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and dished out nine assists. Curry and Thompson combined to go for 31 points on 12 - of - 36 shooting.
+The Phoenix Suns (15 - 14) defeated the Washington Wizards (19 - 7) 104 - 92 on Sunday. Phoenix has won three straight games. Alex Len continues to start at center. He put up eight points, eight rebounds and four blocks in 24 minutes Sunday. Eric Bledsoe led the way with 17 points and nine rebounds in 29 minutes, while the Suns had six players finish in double - figures for scoring. Phoenix will host the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday. Washington saw their six - game win streak come to an end with Sunday’s loss. Rasual Butler scored 17 points off the bench, filling his role well, but the Wizards struggled putting the ball in the basket as a team. They shot 41 percent from the field and 21 percent from beyond the arc. Though Washington only committed 11 turnovers, they allowed 20 easy points off the giveaways, putting the game out of reach given their lack of efficiency on offense. The Wizards will host the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday.
+The Utah Jazz (10 - 20) defeated the Philadelphia 76ers (4 - 25) 88 - 71 on Saturday. Utah has won four of their last five games. They shot a horrible 36 percent from the field and 17 percent from beyond the arc but were able to overcome the Sixers by holding them to an even more deplorable 32 percent shooting from the field and 19 percent from beyond the arc. Derrick Favors led the way for the Jazz with 17 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks, doing his best Anthony Davis impression to help secure the win. Trevor Booker returned to the lineup after sitting out their last game. He put up 14 points and five rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench. Utah will go on the road to play the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday. Philadelphia has lost two straight, but they continue to play well defensively. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute sat out the game with a calf strain, giving Henry Sims an opportunity to crawl back into the starting lineup. Sims put up 10 points and eight rebounds in 32 minutes. JaKarr Sampson started the game at shooting guard in place of Hollis Thompson (illness), but Sampson was replaced in the starting lineup by Tony Wroten to begin the second half. Wroten finished with 20 points and six rebounds in 32 minutes. The Sixers will continue their road trip against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday.
+Houston had a tough game on Saturday in Philly and it was clear they did n't have the legs for the second half of a back - to - back here. Indiana took a 13 - point lead after the first quarter and held a double - digit lead for the majority of this game. Defense was key for the Pacers, as they held the Rockets to 41 percent from the field and 28 percent from three - point range. They also dominated the assist - to - turnover ratio, recording seven more assists and five less turnovers than the Rockets. James Harden did accumulate 15 points, five rebounds and eight assists, but committed eight turnovers and shot 3 - of - 17 from the field in a nightmare performance. Ryan Anderson led Houston in scoring, as he totaled 27 points and seven rebounds. Paul George was the player of the game, as he collected 33 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Myles Turner amassed 18 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and four blocks, while Jeff Teague provided 17 points and 13 assists.
+There are n't many teams who have dealt with as many injuries as the Grizzlies, but they continue to win games in impressive fashion. In fact, they ended this game on a 24 - 9 run to win by two. That now makes the Grizzlies a perfect 90 in games decided by five points or less. The offenses were far from efficient in this game though, with Portland shooting 30 percent and Memphis hitting just 37 percent. C.J. McCollum did all he could to keep the Blazers hanging around, as he led the team with 24 points on 7 - of - 13 shooting. Evan Turner got the start for Ed Davis, but both players recorded double - doubles for Portland. Marc Gasol continued his torrid stretch, as he scored a game - high 36 points, while adding nine boards. JaMychal Green grabbed a career - high 18 rebounds in the win, but scored just six points on 2 - of - 8 shooting.
+The Detroit Pistons (26 - 44) defeated the Boston Celtics (30 - 39) 105 - 97 in overtime on Sunday in Boston. A short shot by Reggie Jackson tied the game at 88 with just under a minute remaining and neither team was able to score after that. The Pistons then opened up the period on a 70 run and the Celtics were unable to recover after that, as Detroit went onto win 17 - 9 in overtime. The Pistons were led by another huge double - double from Andre Drummond, who posted 18 points on 8 - of - 17 shooting, 22 rebounds and four blocks in 40 minutes. It was the 21 - year - old's first double - double in three games, but his sixth in the month of March. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope also had a huge game, scoring 27 points on 10 - of - 20 shooting and grabbing eight rebounds in 44 minutes. Also in the backcourt, Jackson recorded his fourth straight double - double and nearly his second triple - double in three games, posting 17 points on 5 - of - 13 shooting, 11 assists and nine rebounds in 37 minutes. Greg Monroe sat out for the fourth straight game with a knee injury, and Anthony Tolliver took his place in the starting lineup, scoring zero points in 25 minutes. The wins gives the Pistons their second in a row, but the team still remains far on the outside looking into the Eastern Conference playoff race, sitting 5 games behind the Celtics for the eighth and final playoff spot. All five Celtics starters scored in double figures, but that just was not enough. They were lead by Evan Turner, who posted 23 points on 10 - of - 21 shooting, eight assists, six rebounds and three steals. Jae Crowder was next up, scoring 19 points on 7 - of - 16 shooting and seven rebounds in 45 minutes. Marcus Smart served his one - game suspension and Avery Bradley took over the starting point guard duties as a result, but he had just 10 points on 3 - of - 10 shooting, four assists and four rebounds in 38 minutes. Brandon Bass (13) and Tyler Zeller (10) round out the starters in double figures while Jonas Jerebko scored 10 points in 21 minutes off the bench. The loss was a costly one for the Celtics, as the loss brings them into a tie for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference with the Pacers and Hornets. While they do hold the tiebreaker, Boston is now playing down the final stretch of the season where every game is crucial. Up next, the Pistons will head home Tuesday to take on the Raptors, while Boston will travel to Brooklyn and play the Nets on Monday.
+The San Antonio Spurs (38 - 23) defeated the Denver Nuggets (22 - 39) 120 - 111 on Friday. The Spurs were led by the play of Kawhi Leonard, who played his best game since returning from his hand injury. The 23 - year - old had 25 points on 10 - of - 17 shooting, eight rebounds, four assists, and three blocks in 36 minutes. It was Leonard's third straight game scoring 20 - plus points and third straight game shooting over 50 percent from the field. Tony Parker also put in one of his best efforts on the year, scoring 24 points on 10 - of - 15 shooting to go along with seven assists in 36 minutes. This was the first time in eight games that Parker had at least 20 points and seven assists. All five San Antonio starters scored in double figures, with Tim Duncan (15), Danny Green (11), and Tiago Splitter (10) rounding out the five. As a team, the Spurs had 24 assists to just nine turnovers on the night. San Antonio is currently in seventh place in the West, but just 4 games behind the third - place Portland Trailblazers. They next will take on the Chicago Bulls at home on Sunday. This was the the Nuggets' third game after firing head coach Brian Shaw and were lead by Ty Lawson, who recorded 23 points on 7 - of - 13 shooting and nine assists in 33 minutes. Kenneth Faried also put together a solid performance, putting up 20 points on 9 - of - 15 shooting in 34 minutes. Six Denver players scored in double figures in the losing effort, with Wilson Chandler scoring 16, Danilo Gallinari and J.J. Hickson each scoring 14, and Jameer Nelson scoring 13 points on 6 - of - 10 shooting in just 17 minutes off the bench. After losing 12 of 13, the Nuggets have won two of three since firing Shaw. Up next, they will head home Saturday to take on the Houston Rockets.
+The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Atlanta Hawks, 92 - 84, at Phillips Arena on Wednesday. The Timberwolves (9 - 19) reaped the benefits of a dominant rebounding performance from Karl-Anthony Towns and a highly productive night from their starting five overall on their way to only their fifth road win of the season. Towns posted a game - high 18 rebounds to go along with 17 points, five assists and a block, while the other four members of the first unit all posted double - digit scoring. The T-Wolves also outperformed the Hawks (14 - 15) on the boards by a 52 - 35 margin, and outscored them by a 25 - 15 spread in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. Andrew Wiggins paced the visitors with 19 points, seven boards, two assists and a block. Zach LaVine registered 18 points, four rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block. Gorgui Dieng had a near double - double with 12 points, nine boards, an assist, three blocks and a steal. Ricky Rubio went for 10 points, eight assists, five rebounds and a pair of steals. Dennis Schroder led an Atlanta squad that endured a sluggish night on the offensive end, compiling 21 points, seven assists and a rebound. Paul Millsap put together an 18 - point, 10 - rebound double - double that also included seven assists and two steals. Kyle Korver went for 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and four blocks. Mike Muscala led the bench with 16 points, four boards and a steal. The Timberwolves head back home to face the Sacramento Kings on Friday night, while the Hawks head to Denver to tangle with the Nuggets on Friday evening as well.
+The San Antonio Spurs used stifling defense to defeat the host Utah Jazz, 96 - 78, on Thursday for their fourth consecutive road victory. The Spurs (49 - 9) held the Jazz (28 - 29) to a season low in points as Utah shot 3 of 17 from three - point range. Kawhi Leonard led the Spurs with 29 points on 10 - of - 15 shooting, including 3 of 5 on three - pointers. He added five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Tony Parker finished with 16 points and LaMarcus Aldridge had 15. Tim Duncan totaled 14 points and 11 rebounds. Derrick Favors scored 25 points for the Jazz, who led by seven in the first quarter before the Spurs clamped down defensively. The Jazz had scored at least 110 points in their previous three games but stalled in the second quarter when they totaled a mere 12 points. Trey Burke did not play in the first half, finishing with five points in 11 minutes. Utah remains a half - game behind the Houston Rockets for the final Western Conference playoff spot.
+The Kings forced the Cavs into 18 turnovers and made clutch shots in the fourth quarter and overtime for a surprising road victory. DeMarcus Cousins posted a near triple - double with a game - high 28 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists, three steals and a block. His driving layup with three seconds remaining in regulation sent the game to overtime, and another layup was part of a Kings' comeback from a 111 - 106 deficit in the extra period. Darren Collison's 23 points followed, while Arron Afflalo posted 14 points. Garrett Temple and Malachi Richardson supplied matching 12 - point efforts. Willie Cauley-Stein offered eight points and 10 boards off the bench. LeBron James' 24 - point, 13 - rebound, 11 - assist triple - double paced Cleveland. Kevin Love managed a 21 - point, 16 - rebound double - double. Kyrie Irving furnished 20 points, and Iman Shumpert collected 16. Kyle Korver's 12 points led the bench.
+The Cleveland Cavaliers (46 - 18) defeated the Los Angeles Lakers (14 - 52) 120 - 108 at Staples Center on Thursday. Any other year, this meeting between the Eastern Conference’s best team and the Western Conference’s worst team would not make for a premier event, but given that it was the final time Kobe Bryant would face off against LeBron James, the night had some magic to it. Bryant and James have been the sole two players who have been highlighted in the past nine NBA Finals, but they never faced off the league’s biggest stage at the same time. The Black Mamba was not afraid of the competition, and turned back the clock with his most efficient shooting performance on the season, as he scored 26 points on 11 - of - 16 shooting in 32 minutes. The passing of the torch is not far away, and D’Angelo Russell has shown improvement over the course of the torrid season for Los Angeles, as he continued to select good shots throughout the matchup. Russell scored 24 points, to go along with four rebounds and five assists, which made up for Jordan Clarkson’s first off night in some time after scoring a lowly five points on 2 - of - 12 shooting. Julius Randle looked good with his right hand, especially driving in the lane, and pitched in 15 points and nine boards. The Cavaliers did not pull away until the second half, but once their engine got moving, the Lakers were left in the dust of a double figure lead for a while. The box score reflects six Cavs scoring in double figures, led by Kyrie Irving’s 26 points. The Duke product added two rebounds and nine assists on 11 - of - 20 shooting, while King James added 24 points, five boards and seven assists. J.R. Smith is finding a rhythm over his last week and buried four three - pointers in the contest, to go along with an off the backboard assist to James that had even the Lakers fans out of their seats. Channing Frye contributed a shooting clinic, and seemed unable to miss throughout the entirety of the game, which was reflected by his 21 points on 80 percent shooting. Tristan Thompson took care of business on the rebounding end, keeping most of the Lakers bigs boxed out. The Lakers will welcome Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks (27 - 39) on Sunday, while the Cavaliers will play the same day, in the same arena, against the Los Angeles Clippers (41 - 22).
+The Utah Jazz completely dismantled the visiting Detroit Pistons on Friday, 110 - 77. Utah (25 - 16) was firing on all cylinders on Friday, excelling on both ends of the floor. After a stagnant 14 - point first quarter, Utah quickly ran away with the rest of the game. The team drained 16 three - pointers while shooting over 53 percent from the field and 51 percent from beyond the arc. On defense, the Jazz came away with 10 steals and blocked six shots while holding their opponent to under 40 percent shooting from the field. They also crushed the Pistons on the glass, out - rebounding Detroit 48 - 35. On offense, the team's success was due largely to a combination of guards George Hill and Rodney Hood, who scored 22 and 27, respectively. The duo was responsible for 12 of the three - pointers that made up Utah's barrage of shots from deep. Defensively, elite rim protector Rudy Gobert anchored one of Utah's most impressive outings of the season. Gobert led the team with 11 rebounds and blocked three shots. It was a miserable game for the Pistons (18 - 24), who had suffered a 20 - point loss at the hands of Golden State the night before. Detroit was simply suffocated on offense, shooting just over 39 percent from the field and hitting only six three - pointers. The Pistons' top scorer was Tobias Harris, who scored only 13 on 4 - of - 12 shooting. Only three Pistons scored in double digits. While it was an impressive individual rebounding night for Andre Drummond, who walked away with 19 boards, the team was massively out - rebounded. Utah will host the Magic on Saturday, while the Pistons will visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.
+The Orlando Magic defeated the host Oklahoma City Thunder 119 - 117 at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Sunday. In a game full of revenge narratives, Serge Ibaka had the last laugh. The former Oklahoma City product dropped a career - high 31 points and hit the game - winning basket with 0 seconds left. Orlando actually had a 21 - point lead in the first half, before Oklahoma City went on a 17 - 2 run in the third quarter to make it a game. Both teams shot well, as they each eclipsed 50 percent from the field. Three-point shooting was the big disparity, as the Magic went 11 - of - 24, while the Thunder went 7 - of - 25. The Thunder really hurt themselves at the free - throw line as well, going 16 - of - 26 in the defeat. Orlando (4 - 6) had the worst offense in the league coming into this game, so a 119 - point performance is just what the doctor ordered. Ibaka was the hero though, as he punished his former team with a career - high 31 points, nine rebounds and four blocks on 13 - of - 19 shooting. Elfrid Payton had his best game of the season as well, accumulating 23 points, seven rebounds and nine assists. Evan Fournier provided 21 points of his own on 7 - of - 10 shooting. Aaron Gordon and D.J. Augustin scored 12 a piece off the bench. The Magic's next game will be on Monday against the Indiana Pacers. Oklahoma City (6 - 4) has lived off Russell Westbrook's absurd production and he gave them yet another stellar performance here. Westbrook tallied 41 points, 12 rebounds and 16 assists en route to another triple - double. Steven Adams recorded a double - double of his own, totaling 13 points and 10 rebounds. Victor Oladipo also played a revenge game against his former team, but scored just 12 points on an efficient 6 - of - 9 from the field. Enes Kanter scored 16 points and grabbed eight boards off the bench. Oklahoma City will be in action again on Monday, as they travel to face the Detroit Pistons.
+The Utah Jazz (25 - 36) defeated the Philadelphia 76ers (13 - 49) 89 - 83 on Friday. The 76ers held a six - point lead early in the second half, but the Jazz slowly worked their way back and ultimately took the lead for good with Gordon Hayward leading the way. Hayward scored a game - high 25 points on 7 - of - 16 shooting and also recorded nine rebounds and four assists in 37 minutes. The Jazz's starting frontcourt was also strong in the winning effort. Derrick Favors recorded 15 points and 10 rebounds, his first double - double in four games, while Rudy Gobert fell one point shy of a double - double, putting up nine points and a game - high 15 rebounds. Trey Burke was the only other member of Utah to score in double figures, putting up 10 points on 3 - of - 12 shooting in 30 minutes off the bench. The Jazz have now won eight of their last 11 games and will travel to Brooklyn Sunday to take on the Nets. Isaiah Canaan led the 76ers in scoring for the second game in a row, recording 16 points on 6 - of - 15 shooting to go along with four assists in 28 minutes. Nerlens Noel had a double - double, putting up 10 points on 5 - of - 12 shooting and 11 rebounds in 37 minutes. He also had six steals. Thomas Robinson also recorded a double - double, recording 11 points and a team - high 12 rebounds in just 15 minutes of play. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (14) and Ish Smith (14) round out the 76ers players in double figures. Robert Covington (elbow) returned from a two - game absence, but struggled coming off the bench, recording just 5 points on 1 - of - 8 shooting and six rebounds in 18 minutes. Jason Richardson also struggled, following up 29 - point performance Wednesday with zero points on 0 - of - 10 shooting Friday. The 76ers have lost nine of their last 10 games and hold the NBA's second - worst record at 13 - 49. They will take on the East-leading Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.
+The Toronto Raptors (24 - 7) defeated the Denver Nuggets (13 - 18) 116 - 102 on Sunday. Toronto has won two straight and eight of their last nine games. Louis Williams paced the team with a game - high 31 points in 34 minutes off the bench. The Nuggets' small lineups allowed the Raptors to go small as well, which resulted in starting center Jonas Valanciunas playing just 17 minutes. To back up Williams' big night, Kyle Lowry put up a double - double of 30 points and 11 assists in 38 minutes. The Raptors will continue their road trip against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. Denver has lost three of their last four games and have dropped to 12th place in the Western Conference standings, three games behind the Phoenix Suns for the final playoff spot. Ty Lawson led the way with a team - high 28 points and seven assists, while Wilson Chandler and Kenneth Faried posted impressive double - doubles. Chandler had 20 points and 10 rebounds, and Faried posted 17 points and 19 rebounds. Returning from a five - game absence, Darrell Arthur posted two points and two rebounds in 11 minutes off the bench. The Nuggets will try to right the course when they host the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.
+The Los Angeles Clippers (29 - 14) defeated the Brooklyn Nets (18 - 25) in dominating fashion Thursday 123 - 84. This game was essentially over before the buzzer sounded to end the first half as the Clippers were nearly doubling up the Nets 70 - 37. Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan combined for 34 points and 16 rebounds in the first half and Chris Paul had 12 assists in the first two quarters as well. The Clippers have scored over 115 points in three of their last four games and shot a season - high 59% from the floor. The Nets came out flat after a 103 - 100 victory in Sacramento on Wednesday and were further flattened by a Clippers team that absolutely steamrolled them. Mason Plumlee was the only starter to score in double figures as they were held to just 37% from the floor, including 4 - for - 21 from beyond the arc. The Nets will look to shake this one off Saturday in Utah. The Clippers easily cruised to its third consecutive victory Thursday as they handled the Nets. Doc Rivers pulled most of his starters mid - way through the third quarter, giving valuable minutes to his role players. His son, Austin Rivers, saw the most playing time he has had in a Clipper uniform, logging 23 minutes and putting up nine points, four rebounds, and six assists. The Clippers have just one home game between now and Feb. 11 and will next take floor Sunday in Phoenix.
+The Miami Heat (44 - 31) defeated the Sacramento Kings (30 - 46) 112 - 106 on Friday night. Miami had a huge lead early in this game and the Kings made it much closer than they rightfully should have. Sacramento outscored Miami 30 - 20 in the fourth quarter, but the Heat made some big plays late to escape with the win. The offense was the key for the Heat, as they shot 51 percent from the field, 95 percent from the free - throw line and 55 percent from three - point range. Miami played this game without Dwyane Wade and ended up with a huge road win. In fact, the victory put them in a three - way tie for the division lead, with less than 10 games left. Gerald Green led all scorers with 30 points, starting for Wade. Joe Johnson played extremley well too, as he tallied 14 points, five rebounds and eight assists. Goran Dragic and Luol Deng both scored 17 points a piece as well. Up next for Miami is a matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday. The Kings also had to play this game without their superstar, as DeMarcus Cousins was suspended for this matchup. Rudy Gay stepped up in his absence though, as he amassed 20 points and 14 rebounds. Seth Curry scored a career - high 21 points, which led the starters as well. Darren Collison led the team with 26 points, as he came off the bench in spectacular fashion. On deck for Sacramento is a matchup with the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.
+The Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 116 - 108, at TD Garden on Wednesday evening. In keeping with the considerable improvement they've demonstrated this season, the Sixers (21 - 35) gave the Celtics (37 - 19) all they could handle on their home court. They matched their hosts point for point in the first half, forging a 61 - 61 tie at intermission. Boston was finally able to gain a measure of separation in the third quarter, which was key to the victory. The Celtics enjoyed a very productive shooting night, tallying a 48 percent success rate from the field and 46 percent from three - point range. That helped them overcome a very poor performance in the turnover department, as they gave the ball away a whopping 22 times, a total that was matched by the Sixers. Dario Saric continued to provide excellent returns off the bench for Philadelphia, scoring a team - high 20 points in 33 minutes. He added 11 rebounds, one steal and one block. Robert Covington nearly accomplished a double - double of his own with 18 points, nine rebounds, two assists, three steals and one block. Nerlens Noel totaled 16 points, seven boards, three assists and three steals. T.J. McConnell provided 12 points, eight assists, three rebounds and five steals. Gerald Henderson supplied 11 points and a pair of steals. Nik Stauskas was productive as a reserve as well with 11 points, five rebounds and one assist. Isaiah Thomas unsurprisingly led the way again for Boston with a game - high 33 points that he supplemented with four rebounds and three assists. Marcus Smart enjoyed a superb offensive night while drawing the start at shooting guard, totaling 21 points, five rebounds, five assists, a jaw - dropping eight steals and one block. Jae Crowder stepped up with 18 points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal. Al Horford registered 12 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Kelly Olynyk led the second unit with 16 points, seven boards, three assists and one steal. James Young managed 10 points, three rebounds, one steal and one block in 22 minutes off the bench. The Sixers kick off the second half of the season at home against the Washington Wizards on Friday, February 24th, while the Celtics head to Chicago to take on the Bulls on Thursday evening to close out the first half of their season.
+The Memphis Grizzlies (23 - 19) stifled the New York Knicks (20 - 22) en route to a 103 - 95 win Saturday. This game was tight throughout, but Memphis buckled down over the final 12 minutes for an impressive win. In fact, the game was tied going into the fourth quarter and the Grizzlies outscored the Knicks 30 - 22 to pull out the win. The rebounding has been a big issue for Memphis all season, but they won that battle 44 to 36 here. They also shot an efficient 5 - for - 10 from long distance, with some big three's late to secure the victory. The Knicks came into this game hot, but they simply couldn’t muster up enough offense late to prevail with a big road win. The offensive struggles have to be taken into context though, as the Knicks were without All-Star Carmelo Anthony for this game. Kristaps Porzingis stepped up in Anthony's absence, by tallying 17 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals in the loss. Langston Galloway got his first start of the season and played very well, as he scored 11 points to go along with 11 rebounds and five assists. New York has a good chance to win in their next game though, as they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday. Memphis has been playing much better lately and they appear to be back to their grit - n - grind style of play. They held the Knicks to just nine points in the first nine minutes of the fourth quarter and really buckled down late to seal the win. Marc Gasol was the star of the night though, as he scored a season - high 37 points to go along with eight boards. Jeff Green has been struggling recently, but he scored 18 points off the bench here in an impressive performance. The Grizzlies shot 48 percent from the field and 50 percent from three - point range, which is one of their best offensive games all year. Up next is a big game in Memphis, as they have their annual Martin Luther King Day game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday.
+The San Antonio Spurs (30 - 17) defeated the Charlotte Hornets (19 - 27) 95 - 86 on Wednesday at the AT & T Center in San Antonio. The Spurs got a really quick start in this game, out - scoring the Hornets 55 - 38 in the first half alone. While they struggled to get anything going in the third quarter, the Spurs did enough damage in the first two, that they were still able to coast to the victory. The Spurs were also able to out - rebound the Hornets 49 - 43, giving them an even greater advantage over the Hornets. The Spurs back court of Tony Parker and Danny Green did most of the damage for the Spurs in this one. Parker went 7 - for - 13 from the field and 3 - for - 3 from the free throw line to score a team - high of 17 points, while also adding five assists in 27 minutes. He had a very poor shooting performance (3 - 13 FG, 0 - 2 3Pt) in Sunday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks, so it was good to see him get back over 50 percent for his shooting percentage Wednesday. Green on the other hand finished with 16 points (6 - 11 FG, 4 - 8 3Pt, 0 - 1 FT), five rebounds, two steals and three blocked shots in 26 minutes. It was his first time reaching double - digit points in his last five games, as he's been struggling with his shot. Tim Duncan notched a double - double with 12 points, 14 rebounds and three blocked shots. It was his second straight double - double, as he's combined for 32 points and 25 rebounds in those two matchups. Al Jefferson and Gerald Henderson did everything they could to keep the Hornets close in this game. Jefferson went 8 - for - 12 from the field to score 17 points, while also adding 16 rebounds. He's now averaging 17 points and 8 rebounds on the season. Henderson on the other hand recorded 18 points (6 - 17 FG, 1 - 3 3Pt, 5 - 6 FT), three assists and two blocked shots. Despite averaging 11 points so far this season, it was the second game in a row with 14 or more points. In only 25 minutes, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist went 7 - for - 13 from the field to score 14 points. He's now averaging 13 points over his last three games. The only other Hornet to reach double figures was Gary Neal, who came off the bench to score 12 points (4 - 10 FG, 2 - 4 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT) in 18 minutes. The Spurs' next game will be at home against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, while the Hornets will travel to Denver to play the Nuggets on Saturday.
+The Toronto Raptors (44 - 30) took down the Houston Rockets (50 - 24) 99 - 96 on Monday. DeMar DeRozan lit it up with 42 points in 41 minutes on 14 - for - 27 shooting to go along with 11 rebounds. He did a great job of getting himself to the free throw line, as he went 12 - of - 17 from the charity stripe. Jonas Valunciunas did n't mind not facing Dwight Howard. He finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and a whopping five blocked shots in 28 minutes in this matchup of playoff teams. Toronto ended March on a two - game win streak after they went 5 - 8 to begin the month. With Dwight Howard sitting out to rest on the second night of a back - to - back, Joey Dorsey was deployed into the starting lineup. He had seven points and four rebounds in 20 minutes of action. James Harden continued to roll in what has been his best season as an NBA player. He's averaging 27 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds and 2 steals a game in an MVP-caliber season. The Rockets will host the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, as the Raptors will head to Minnesota to take on the Timberwolves.
+The Oklahoma City Thunder (34 - 27) beat the Philadelphia 76ers (13 - 48) 123 - 118 in overtime on Wednesday. Russell Westbrook put on another miraculous performance on Wednesday. He was forced to sit out Monday's win over the Los Angeles Lakers while he recovered from a facial injury that he suffered in the final moments of Friday's loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. Over his last three games he's averaging 43 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists and has recorded four straight double - doubles overall. He finished with 49 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals and one block in their win over the Sixers. Westbrook has led the Thunder to a 4 - 2 record without Kevin Durant, whose been out with a foot injury and has not played since Feb. 19. The 76ers nearly pulled off the upset and even forced overtime against a solid Oklahoma City team, that has a record over .500 in the tough Western Conference. Isaiah Canaan and Jason Richardson combined for 60 points, but it was n't enough hold off the Thunder and Westbrooks spectacular game. Defensive stalwart Nerlends Noel put on a defensive display. He had 11 defensive rebounds, four steals and five blocks. Philadelphia has lost three games in a row and only have one victory since the All-Star break. The Sixers will welcome the Utah Jazz to town on Friday, as the Thunder will head to Chicago to take on the Bulls on Thursday.
+The Wizards were expected to win this game easily against a Sixers team without Joel Embiid and they did just that. The middle quarters were especially decisive, as Washington outscored Philadelphia, 65 - 41, in that 24 - minute stretch. Shooting was the key difference, with the Wizards shooting 48 percent to Philadelphia's 41 percent. Jahlil Okafor had not played four four - straight games, but he got the start here in the absence of Embiid to lead the team with 26 points and nine rebounds. Ersan Ilyasova was second on the team with 18 points and seven rebounds. All five starters scored in double figures for the Wizards, as they destroyed the Philadelphia starting unit, 81 - 57. John Wall was the player of the game, as he accumulated 25 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Bradley Beal provided 20 points of his own, while Marcin Gortat recorded a double - double.
+The Miami Heat saw strong bench play in Wednesday's win, with three members of the second unit combining to score 50 points. Guard Wayne Ellington led the way with 22 points and five three - pointers, while youngster Tyler Johnson had an additional 18 points to go with seven assists. While the bench was impressive, the star of the show was center Hassan Whiteside. Whiteside posted 25 points, 16 rebounds, and four blocks. As a whole, Miami recorded a whopping 14 team steals, contributing heavily to Denver's 19 turnovers on the night. Denver, meanwhile, had another big night on the boards, recording 55 team rebounds. Big man Nikola Jokic scored 17 points and had 14 rebounds off the bench. The team saw effective ball movement as well, combining for 28 assists on the night. The team did struggle from the floor, however, shooting just 41 percent.
+Washington have struggled on the road all season, but a win over the champs can solve issues like that. It was a dominating win too, with the Wizards holding the lead for the final 44 minutes. Washington were unstoppable on offense, as they shot 60 percent from the field. They also took advantage of poor defense, winning the fastbreak differential, 27 - 4. John Wall was the player of the game, as he tallied 37 points, four rebounds, 11 assists and two steals on 14 - of - 21 from the field. Bradley Beal finished with 27 points, four rebounds and six assists. Kelly Oubre Jr. was a huge spark off the bench, providing 16 points and seven rebounds. LeBron James did all he could for Cleveland, leading them with 24 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. Kyrie Irving totaled 23 points, two rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Kevin Love was the only other Cavalier with more than 10 points, as he accrued 17 points and seven boards.
+The Portland Trail Blazers (15 - 4) defeated the Indiana Pacers (7 - 12) 88 - 82 on Thursday. Portland is on a three - game win streak and have taken 12 of their last 13 games, giving up their only loss in that stretch to the Memphis Grizzlies. Neither team could find the bottom of the net Thursday, with both squads shooting under 40 percent from the field and below 30 percent from three - point range. Damian Lillard scored a game - high 23 points, while LaMarcus Aldridge posted a double - double of 18 points and 13 rebounds. The Blazers will embark on a five - game road trip that begins Sunday against the New York Knicks. Indiana moved fill - in starter Donald Sloan to a bench role and installed Rodney Stuckey as the starter at point guard so that they could move Chris Copeland's shooting into the starting lineup on the wing. Copeland did n't fulfill his promise Thurdsday, shooting just 2 - of - 9 from the field in 20 minutes. Stuckey put up 16 points and five assists in 29 minutes, and Sloan fell completely out of the rotation, failing to see a single minute off the bench. George Hill remains sidelined with a knee bruise and hamstring injury but hopes to return sometime in mid - December. The Pacers will wrap up their current four - game road trip in Sacramento on Friday against Kings.
+The Los Angeles Clippers (20 - 13) defeated the Charlotte Hornets (17 - 14) Wednesday 122 - 117 at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte. Despite being without their star in the frontcourt, Blake Griffin, the Clippers continue to roll as this victory was their fourth straight. It was a steady battle throughout the night, but LA was able to open up a large enough lead in the first quarter to hold on. They were lead by J.J. Redick, who scored an incredibly efficient 26 points in 27 minutes while shooting 5 - of - 6 from three. Chris Paul notched a double - double of 19 points and 11 assists on top of five rebounds in 30 minutes, while DeAndre Jordan added one of his own, finishing with 13 points and 13 boards in 33 minutes. The surprise performance of the night came from Austin Rivers, who scored 22 points in just 20 minutes off the bench. The team’s offensively efficiency is what carried them to victory, as they shot 50 percent from three and 52 percent overall. For the Hornets, Kemba Walker had a huge night, scoring 29 points and dishing out seven assists in 37 minutes. Additionally, Frank Kaminsky continues to improve in his rookie campaign, as he finished with 20 points in 28 minutes off the bench, while Jeremy Lamb added 19 of his own as a reserve. Up next, the Clippers will head to New Orleans Thursday to take on the Pelicans, while the Hornets will head to Toronto Friday to play the Raptors.
+The Washington Wizards defeated the Detroit Pistons, 122 - 108, at Verizon Center on Friday. As has often been the case this season, the Wizards' dynamic backcourt duo of John Wall and Bradley Beal spearheaded the offensive attack. The two guards combined for 54 points on 18 - of - 30 shooting, while Marcin Gortat provided his usual solid double - double performance. Washington had the hot hand collectively, as they posted stellar success rates of 58 percent and 48 percent from the field and three - point range, respectively, on their way to a season - high point total. The Pistons (14 - 14) were led by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who posted 24 points, six rebounds, three assists and a steal. Reggie Jackson and Tobias Harris turned in a pair of 14 - point efforts, with the former adding two assists and a rebound, and the latter supplying six rebounds, two assists and a steal. Andre Drummond posted a 13 - point, 12 - rebound double - double that also included an assist. As usual, Jon Leuer led the bench with 19 points, seven rebounds, five assists and a steal. Wall's 29 points paced the Wizards (11 - 14), a total that he complemented with 11 assists, two rebounds and three steals. Beal was right behind with 25 points, four dimes and a pair of boards. Gortat's 12 - point, 14 - rebound double - double also included four assists. Even Otto Porter, who's been struggling on the offensive end in recent games, registered 15 points to go along with eight boards and three assists. Markieff Morris, frequently facing off against brother Marcus, filled out the stat sheet with 11 points, four assists, three rebounds, a steal and a block. The Pistons head back home to face off with the Indiana Pacers on Saturday, while the Wizards also remain home and await the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.
+The Brooklyn Nets (26 - 38) helped their playoff chances with a 94 - 87 win over the Philadelphia 76ers (15 - 51), snapping a five - game losing streak. The Sixers shot 8 - of - 37 on three - pointers in the loss. Thaddeus Young scored his most points as a Net, recording 21 on 15 shots and hit a three - pointer for the 11th straight game, a career - high. The oft - injured Brook Lopez played his 38th straight contest, more than double his total from last season. With the win, the Nets pulled to within three games of the eight seed. They converted just 2 - of - 17 three - pointers. Joe Johnson made a field goal for the 866th consecutive game, the longest active streak in the NBA. Brett Brown shuffled up the starting lineup, replacing Robert Covington with Jason Richardson, who rested Friday’s game. Jerami Grant started his first game of the season because Luc Mbah a Moute was rested. Nerlens Noel continued to pad his Rookie of the Year résumé, notching 17 points, seven rebounds, two assists, one steal and two blocks in 30 minutes before fouling out. Glenn Robinson III played seven minutes in his 76ers’ debut, forced into action after the Sixers were whistled for nine fouls in the first seven minutes. Thomas Robinson grabbed 12 rebounds in 17 minutes and is averaging 9 rebounds per game in 18 minutes per game in nine games with the Sixers. The Brooklyn Nets take on the Minnesota Timberwolves, the worst Western Conference team, on Monday for the first time since trading away Kevin Garnett for Thaddeus Young. The Sixers get one day off before playing the Boston Celtics on the road.
+The Atlanta Hawks (19 - 7) defeated the Houston Rockets (19 - 7) 104 - 97 on Saturday. Atlanta extended their win streak to three games. Kyle Korver led the way on offense with a game - high 22 points in 38 minutes. Dennis Schroder got a second straight spot start at point guard with Jeff Teague (hamstring) out again. Schroder put up eight points, six rebounds and six assists in 30 minutes. The Hawks shot 51 percent from the field while holding the Rockets to 40 percent shooting from the field. Atlanta will finish up their road trip on Monday against the Dallas Mavericks. Houston has dropped two straight as they work to find a balance following Dwight Howard's return to action. Howard has been playing great, but after the Rockets found great success during his absence, there can be an adjustment period when working a high - usage player like Howard back into the groove. Harden scored 18 points to go with a career - high 14 assists in 39 minutes. The Rockets will host the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday.
+The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Detroit Pistons 114 - 82 at Staples Center on Monday. The Clippers (6 - 1) continued what has been a dominant start to the regular season, earning what was not only their sixth win of the season, but their sixth win by double - digit points. Along with that, Chris Paul continues to be very effective as the team's floor leader, notching 24 points, eight assists and six rebounds despite not playing a single minute in the fourth quarter, as the Clippers dominated the Pistons from start to finish. Paul is now averaging 19 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds despite only playing 30 minutes per game to start the year. Additionally, after getting off to a rough start of the season, J.J. Redick notched his first 20 - point game of the season, as he hit 3 - of - 4 shots from behind the arc and 6 - of - 9 from the field overall. As a team, the Clippers shot a scorching 52 percent from long range. For the Pistons (4 - 3), there was n't much to be excited about, as Andre Drummond was their leading scorer on the night with just 15 points on top of 12 rebounds. In fact, given how poorly the team played, Detroit's reserves ended up outscoring their starts 42 - 40 with Jon Leuer leading the way for the bench mob by recording 14 points and six rebounds in 29 minutes. The Pistons, after winning three of their first four regular season games, have now dropped two of their last three while their offensive continues to be hot and cold. Up next, Detroit will travel to Phoenix on Wednesday to take on the Suns, while the Clippers will stay at home to play the Trail Blazers on Wednesday.
+The Lakers tallied success rates of 52 and 50 percent from the floor and three - point range, respectively, and their bench managed 58 points. Nick Young's 26 points led Los Angeles, and Lou Williams followed with a bench - leading 21 points. Julius Randle was next with 15 points, while D'Angelo Russell provided 14. Ivica Zubac managed 15 points, six rebounds, two assists and a block in 21 minutes. Nance and Jordan Clarkson turned in matching 11 - point efforts off the bench. Giannis Antetokounmpo registered 41 points, eight rebounds, six assists, three blocks and two steals to lead the Bucks. Malcolm Brogdon paced the bench with 18 points. Michael Beasley turned in 15, and Thon Maker turned in seven points in his first start for Jabari Parker (knee). Tony Snell, John Henson and Matthew Dellavedova combined for just 13 points.
+The Boston Celtics (29 - 36) snapped the Indiana Pacers’ (30 - 35) seven - game winning streak, extending their own streak to four wins in the 93 - 89 victory. Wearing their St. Patrick’s Day sleeved jerseys, the Celtics held the Pacers to 40 percent shooting and pulled to within a half game of the eight seed in the East Even though Evan Turner was unable to replicate his 30 - point outing from Friday, Tyler Zeller used his speed against Roy Hibbert to compile 18 points and seven rebounds. Coach Bradley Stevens earned his first win in the arena he called home as the coach of the Butler Bulldogs. Avery Bradley, Brandon Bass, and Jae Crowder all added 16 points. The Celtics out - assisted the Pacers, 28 - 16, and held them to 37 first - half points. Isaiah Thomas missed his third straight game due to back and elbow soreness. The Pacers allowed a team to shoot better than 40 percent for the first time in eight games. Also, it’s the first time all season they lost when George Hill led in scoring, registering 30 points, eight assists, five rebounds, one steal and two three - pointers in 35 minutes. Their bench, which had been instrumental in their recent success, was limited to 30 points. The loss gives them a one - game advantage over the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics, both teams just outside the playoff picture. The Celtics will attempt to win their fifth straight game Monday when they face the Philadelphia 76ers at home. The Pacers conclude a four - game homestand Monday against the Toronto Raptors.
+The Warriors are showing no sign of slowing down, as their historic offense saw yet another big night on Friday. Golden State shot 50 percent from the field, buried 11 three - pointers, and recorded 31 assists. Former MVP Kevin Durant scored 19 points and had a triple - double, grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing 10 assists. All-Star guard Klay Thompson was the team's top scorer with 29 points. Reigning MVP Steph Curry, meanwhile, had only 14 points and five assists, shooting only 5 - of - 12 on the night. Dallas, meanwhile, had a much less impressive night on offense. The team shot just 41 percent and hit only 25 percent of its three - pointers. Veteran Dirk Nowitzki shot just 3 - of - 12 and scored only 11 points while playing just 23 minutes. Harrison Barnes, meanwhile, provided a bright spot, scoring 25 points and coming away with two steals.
+The Bucks forged a 60 - 43 halftime lead, with six players tallying double digits in the scoring column and respective success rates of 49 percent from the field and 42 percent from three - point range. The Sixers hurt their own cause with an 8 - for - 30 effort from downtown and a subpar 63 percent tally from the free - throw line. Antetokounmpo led the way with 24 points, and Snell followed with 21. Malcolm Brogdon and Khris Middleton offered matching 13 - point efforts. Greg Monroe paced the bench with 12 points, while Matthew Delladedova turned in 10. Justin Anderson's 19 points off the bench led Philadelphia. Robert Covington totaled 15 points and Dario Saric provided a full line of 14 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals. Richaun Holmes managed eight points and nine rebounds in a start for Jahlil Okafor (knee).
+The Minnesota Timberwolves (17 - 37) defeated the visiting Toronto Raptors (35 - 17) 117 - 112, Wednesday night at Target Center. The Raptors came in winners of 14 of their last 15 games and started this one off looking like they would improve on that stat, as they were up 68 - 55 going into the half. The Timberwolves however, came out of the locker room on a mission and out - scored Toronto 62 - 44 the rest of the way. This was the third win in four games for the Timberwolves, as they were able to halt Toronto's three - game win streak. This was an important bounce - back win for the young'Wolves after they fell to the Pelicans last Monday. Rookie Karl-Anthony Towns was a monster in this game as he tied DeMar DeRozan to lead all scorers with 35 points (12 - 19 FG, 11 - 13 FT), along with 11 rebounds and three blocked shots, in 35 minutes. Andrew Wiggins was huge as well, finishing with 26 points (8 - 18 FG, 0 - 2 3Pt, 10 - 13 FT), three rebounds, two steals and one block, in 37 minutes. Ricky Rubio was flirting with a triple - double as he finished 19 points (5 - 9 FG, 3 - 6 3Pt, 6 - 6 FT), eight rebounds and eight assists, in 37 minutes. Gorgui Dieng had a big impact with 14 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and two steals, in 41 minutes. The Timberwolves shot 47 percent from the field and hit 43 - of - 53 free throws. DeMar DeRozan tallied 35 points (11 - 19 FG, 3 - 3 3Pt, 10 - 13 FT) to match Towns for the game - high, along with four assists, three rebounds, one steal and one block, in 37 minutes. The next highest scorer for the Raptors was Kyle Lowry, who finished with 14 points, seven assists and four rebounds, in 38 minutes. Lowry struggled from the field as he hit only four of his 15 shots. Jonas Valanciunas was perfect shooting as he chipped in 12 points (4 - 4 FG, 4 - 4 FT), seven rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block, in 24 minutes. Toronto only assisted on 19 of its 39 field goals and racked up 34 personal fouls, as the Raptors were unable to hold any type of momentum. The Raptors will head into the All-Star break with a loss but still winners of 14 of their last 16 games. The Raptors will be back in action February 19th when they face the Bulls, in Chicago. The Timberwolves will enter the All-Star break on a positive note, as winners of three - of - four, and will be back in action February 19th, in Memphis.
+The host Dallas Mavericks defeated the New Orleans Pelicans, 91 - 81, at American Airlines Center on Sunday. To say these teams struggled on the offensive end in this matchup would be an understatement. Dallas had one of their best defensive games of the season though, holding New Orleans to just 39 percent from the field and 25 percent from three - point range. The Mavericks shot 42 percent from the field on their end and 37 percent from three - point range. The Mavericks really turned it on late, outscoring New Orleans, 31 - 21, in the fourth quarter. All the statistics were even, as assists, turnovers, steals, blocks, points in the paint and fouls were all within two of one another. New Orleans (6 - 12) has been riding the back of Anthony Davis in their current hot streak, but he could n't quite do enough to carry them here. Davis still finished with a game - high 36 points and 13 rebounds in the defeat. No other starter scored more than nine points, with the other four starters combining for 19 points in all. Jrue Holiday had another nice game off the bench, totaling 17 points, four rebounds and six assists. No other player on the roster had more than nine points, five rebounds or three assists. The Pelicans will host the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday for their next game. Dallas (3 - 13) came into this game with the lowest - scoring offense in the NBA, but they did just enough to crack their eight - game losing streak. Harrison Barnes led the Mavericks in scoring, tallying 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Wesley Matthews was the only other starter in double figures, totaling 21 points, three rebounds and three assists. Justin Anderson provided 14 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Andrew Bogut scored just five points on three shots, but grabbed 14 rebounds as the starting center. It will be tough for Dallas to add to this win, as they play the San Antonio Spurs on the road for their next game.
+The Washington Wizards defeated the New York Knicks, 117 - 101, at Verizon Center on Tuesday. The Knicks (21 - 29) checked in to Tuesday's game without two of their most important pieces, as Derrick Rose (ankle) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness) were unable to take the court. While Brandon Jennings and Willy Hernangomez both did admirable jobs filling in for the talented pair, New York was simply unable to overcome a highly balanced effort from the Wizards (28 - 20). All five members of the first unit managed double - digit scoring, and Washington posted a stellar 56 percent success rate from the floor. They were solid on the defensive end as well, limiting the visitors to 37 and 21 percent tallies from the field and three - point range, respectively. New York was paced by Carmelo Anthony, who managed 26 points and five rebounds in the absence of his aforementioned teammates. Jennings supplied 21 points, five rebounds, two assists and four steals. Hernangomez posted a 15 - point, 14 - rebound double - double that also included four assists. Courtney Lee mustered a modest five points on 2 - of - 10 shooting, along with five rebounds and one assist. Joakim Noah went scoreless over 15 minutes, contributing just four rebounds, an assist and a steal overall. Kyle O'Quinn made up for Noah's shortfall with a 13 - point, 10 - rebound double - double that led the second unit. Bradley Beal set the high - water mark on offense for the Wizards, registering 28 points on 12 - of - 18 shooting. He added four assists, two rebounds and a steal. Markieff Morris took advantage of Porzingis' absence to generate a 24 - point, 10 - rebound double - double that also included two assists. Marcin Gortat accomplished the feat as well, posting 15 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block. John Wall made it a double - double hat trick by going for 15 points, 13 assists and four rebounds. Otto Porter, Jr. filled out the stat sheet with 10 points, six rebounds, three assists and a steal. Kelly Oubre, Jr. paced the bench with 14 points and a pair of boards. The Knicks head back to the Big Apple to do battle with the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night, while the Wizards remain home and go for their 16th straight home victory against the Lakers on Thursday evening.
+The Bulls (23 - 10) held off the Denver Nuggets (13 - 20) on Thursday by a score of 106 - 101. The Nuggets saw a seemingly comfortable 12 - point lead in the third quarter evaporate as the Bulls stormed back to take the lead just before the fourth quarter began. Denver's Aaron Afflalo cut Chicago's lead to five with just over two minutes remaining, but the Bulls responded with baskets from Derrick Rose and Taj Gibson to give them a solid lead. Chicago's Jimmy Butler shined again as he had a game - high 26 points in the Bulls' victory over the Nuggets. Denver had two of their big men banged up on Tuesday night as Kenneth Fareid and Wilson Chandler both were hampered by leg issues, but both managed to play Thursday. Fareid, who had "dead legs" Tuesday night did n't show any ill effects against the Bulls as he scored 18 points and pulled down 19 rebounds. Chandler led the Nuggets in scoring with 22 points in 34 minutes on the floor. Denver has now dropped three straight and five of its last six but will look to buck that trend it hosts Memphis on Saturday night. Kirk Hinrich returned to action for Chicago after missing five games with a hamstring injury. He was a perfect 4 - for - 4 from the floor, including 2 - for - 2 from beyond the arc as he scored 10 points in 27 minutes. Chicago has now won eight of its last nine games and will continue its five - game homestand on Saturday when the Bulls take on the Celtics.
+The Minnesota Timberwolves saw strong play from their young "Big Three" in Monday's win. Reigning Rookie of the Year Karl-Anthony Towns led the team with 28 points and 15 rebounds, also recording two blocks. Guards Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine scored 26 and 23 respectively, and LaVine hit four three - pointers on the night. Starting point guard Ricky Rubio dished out 12 assists and also came away with two steals. The team as a whole shot over 48 percent on the night. The Suns, meanwhile, saw strong play from star point guard Eric Bledsoe. Bledsoe scored a team - high 27 points and had two steals. Meanwhile, Phoenix remained competitive thanks to strong bench play. Guard Brandon Knight had 21 points and four assists while shooting 8 - of - 13. Two other Suns bench players scored in double figures.
+There were numerous major swings in this game, with both clubs getting double - digit leads at different times. The second and third quarters were especially decisive, as Minnesota outscored Charlotte by 13 in the second quarter, while the Hornets outscored the T'Wolves by 19 in the third. Interior defense killed the Timberwolves, as they allowed 50 paint points and only scored 28 on their end. Kemba Walker added to his career - best numbers, as he accumulated 30 points, five rebounds, six assists and five steals in the win. Frank Kaminsky was a huge spark off the bench, as he fell just shy of a career - high in points with 20, while also adding four rebounds and five assists. Fresh off of a career - high 47 points, Andrew Wiggins settled for an impressive 29 points here. Karl-Anthony Towns did finish with 21 points and eight rebounds, but continues to struggle shooting, as he went 9 - of - 23 from the field. That marks the fourth - straight game in which Towns has failed to crack 50 percent shooting, as he's just 16 - of - 45 across his last two games.
+The Dallas Mavericks (14 - 11) defeated the Phoenix Suns (11 - 15) by a score of 104 - 94, Monday night in Dallas. After a back and forth start, Dallas took the lead with about two minutes to go in the first quarter and did not look back. Phoenix put up a fight with a strong 36 point fourth quarter, but Dallas withstood the attack, scoring 27 points of their own, to stay on top. The Suns were playing on the second night of a back - to - back and their shooting percentage indicates that they may have been a bit fatigued, as they shot only 41 percent from the field as a team. Eric Bledsoe led the way for the Suns, doing it all with 23 points, seven assists, five rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Unfortunately, he did not have too much help other than from Jon Leuer, who finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds, as well as three assists and one steal, in 32 minutes. Brandon Knight added 12 points on 5 - 11 shooting, four rebounds and three assists. Markieff Morris remained out for Phoenix. Dallas really took control when they outscored Phoenix 31 - 15 in the third quarter, stretching their lead to 19, heading into the fourth. Deron Williams was back after missing last game due to illness and was looking great. Williams led the Mavs in scoring with 18 points on 8 - 16 shooting, in 34 minutes. Five other players scored in double digits for the Mavericks, including Raymond Felton and Chandler Parsons, who both finished with 17 points. Dirk Nowitzki showed well, with 14 points on 5 - 10 shooing, seven rebounds and four assists, in 29 minutes. Wesley Matthews chipped in 13 points and five rebounds, while Devin Harris added 12 points and a huge six steals. Next up for the Mavericks is a date in Indiana with the Pacers, on Wednesday. The Suns will head to Golden State to play on Wednesday as well.
+The Brooklyn Nets defeated the Los Angeles Clippers, 127 - 122, in double - overtime at Barclays Center on Tuesday. The Clippers came into this game as a monster favorite, but things did n't go as planned. Los Angeles led for the first 45 minutes, but allowed Brooklyn to take their first lead with three minutes left. In fact, the Clippers had an 18 - point lead late in the third quarter, as their backups allowed the Nets to crawl back in and send the game to two overtimes, thanks to a 34 - 21 fourth quarter. Brooklyn missed four free - throws in the final 30 seconds of the first overtime to allow the Clippers to send it to a second OT with a game - tying three. From there, the Nets took over in the second OT and escaped with a needed win. The biggest advantage for Brooklyn was in the paint, as they won that battle 52 - 42. Los Angeles (14 - 5) had to play this game without Blake Griffin and that was simply too much to overcome. DeAndre Jordan stepped up in Griffin's absence though, totaling 21 points and 23 rebounds in the loss. Chris Paul recorded a triple - double, tallying 26 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists. J.J. Redick scored 18 points on an inefficient 7 - of - 18 shooting. Austin Rivers led the bench in scoring, dropping 15 points on 5 - of - 9 shooting. The Clippers have a tough task for their next game as well, as they travel to play the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday. Brooklyn (5 - 12) came into this game in the midst of a seven - game losing streak, but snapped that with a huge upset here. Ironically, that losing streak started at the hands of the Clippers. Sean Kilpatrick went just 14 - of - 34 from the field, but finished with career - high 38 points and 14 rebounds in the win. Brook Lopez had one of his best games of the season as well, as he accumulated 27 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Trevor Booker accrued 15 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and four steals as the starting power forward. Bojan Bogdanovic finished with 14 points and six rebounds of his own. On deck for Brooklyn is a home matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday.
+The Bucks (10 - 10) handled the Heat (9 - 9) 109 - 85 on Friday night in Milwaukee. It was the second victory over Miami for the Bucks this season after emerging victorious in Miami 91 - 84 on Nov. 16. Milwaukee fell behind early but clawed back into the game in the second quarter and held a four - point advantage at half. The lead grew to eight at the end of the third quarter, and the Bucks blew the game open in the final period, outscoring Miami by 15 in the fourth. The Bucks were led by an unlikely face in Kendall Marshall, who scored a season - high 20 points (7 - 8 FG, 4 - 5 3Pt) in 24 minutes. Brandon Knight had 13 points, five rebounds and three assists, while Jerryd Bayless added 12 points off the bench. Jabari Parker, Giannis Antetokounmpo (8 - 11 FT), and Khris Middleton each finished with 14 points. Milwaukee shot nearly 57 percent from the field and knocked down 9 - of - 16 three - point attempts. Miami got solid performances from its two stars, as Chris Bosh (21 points) and Dwyane Wade (28) combined for 49 points, nine assists and nine boards. They didn’t receive much help, though, as no other Heat player scored in double - figures. Mario Chalmers had nine points, six assists and six steals, while Danny Granger finished with seven points and five fouls. James Ennis led the bench with seven points in 24 minutes. Next up, the Bucks play host to the Mavericks on Saturday in the second meeting in four days between the two teams. Miami travels to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies on Sunday.
+The Warriors (29 - 5) handed the Cavaliers (19 - 18) their fourth straight loss Friday night, winning 112 - 94 at Oracle Arena. Golden State pulled away late, outscoring Cleveland by 10 in the fourth quarter capped by an 11 - 2 run to end the game. All five Warriors starters scored in double - figures, led by a combined 47 points from Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Curry added 10 assists while Thompson drilled four three - pointers. Marreese Speights added 12 points and eight rebounds, and Draymond Green nearly missed a triple - double, putting up 10 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, though he was 0 - of - 8 from beyond the arc. Andrew Bogut continued to come off the bench, playing 20 minutes and scoring four points to go with five rebounds and three assists. Cleveland, still without LeBron James (knee), got 23 points from Kyrie Irving and 17 from Kevin Love, but it wasn’t enough, as the Cavs shot only 41 percent from the floor as a team. New acquisition J.R. Smith got the start at shooting guard, as coach David Blatt shifted Matthew Dellavedova back to the bench. Smith played a team - high 42 minutes and finished with a game - high 27 points (11 - 23 FG). Up next, the Cavaliers head to Sacramento to face the Kings on Sunday night. Golden State has a few days off before hitting the road to play the Jazz in Salt Lake City on Tuesday.
+The Atlanta Hawks (45 - 12) beat the Dallas Mavericks (39 - 21) 104 - 87 on Wednesday. Dennis Schroder had a nice game off the bench, leading the Hawks with 17 points. All five starters also scored in double figures for the Hawks. Jeff Teague has been battling an illness, but he was able to start against Dallas and finished with 11 points in 26 minutes. There was a brief delay during the first quarter, as the roof at Phillips Arena was leaking water onto the court. The issue was resolved and the game continued, as Atlanta battled back from an 11 - point deficit after the delay. The Mavericks were without point guard Rajon Rondo after he was given a one - game suspension for a verbal altercation with coach Rick Carlisle during Tuesday's contest. The spat apparently continued in the locker room, and Rondo was forced to sit out Wednesday for conduct detrimental to the team. J.J. Barea was given the nod to start the game in place of Rondo, finishing with 13 points, seven assists and five rebounds in 30 minutes. Monta Ellis led Dallas in scoring with 19 points, but Dirk Nowitzk had his worst scoring outing of the season, recording just four points in 25 minutes of action. Dallas will host the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday, and the Hawks will host the Orlando Magic on Friday.
+The Celtics' 54 percent shooting helped spearhead the home win, as did the 30 percent success rate from behind the arc they limited the T-Wolves to. Boston created some distance by outscoring Minnesota by a 27 - 17 margin in the third quarter before sealing the deal with an impressive 32 - point fourth period. Isaiah Thomas' 27 points paced the Celtics. Horford followed with a full line of 20 points, nine boards, eight assists and two blocks. Avery Bradley poured in 18 points, while Kelly Olynyk and Marcus Smart paced the bench with matching 10 - point efforts. Ricky Rubio led the T-Wolves with 23 points on 8 - of - 14 shooting. Andrew Wiggins followed with 21 points, and Shabazz Muhammad matched Wiggins' point total while leading the bench. Karl-Anthony Towns posted a 17 - point, 14 - rebound double - double, while Gorgui Dieng registered eight points and nine rebounds.
+The Atlanta Hawks defeated the visiting Houston Rockets 112 - 97, Saturday night at Philips Arena. The Hawks (4 - 2) put together their highest scoring first half of the young season, with 65 points in the first 24 minutes. Through 48 minutes they shot 53 percent from the field and 40 percent from deep, while holding the Rockets to 43 percent from the field. Atlanta dominated inside, with 62 points in the paint, in large part thanks to Dwight Howard and Paul Millsap, who combined for 43 points. Howard was huge against his former team, finishing with 20 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal, in 29 minutes. Millsap added 23 points, 11 rebounds, five steals, and four assists, in 34 minutes. Kent Bazemore had his best game so far this season, with 20 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals, in 32 minutes. The Hawks are now 3 - 1 at home but will have their work cut - out for them as they enter Cleveland to face the defending champs on Tuesday. The Rockets (3 - 3) started out well but began to unravel in the second half, where they were out - scored 47 - 38. They were held to 13 free throw attempts, which is almost as many as James Harden is capable of earning on his own on any average night. Harden continued his strong point - guard play, with 30 points, 12 assists, nine rebounds and three steals, in 37 minutes. Harden did not have a ton of offensive support as the next highest scorer for Houston was K.J. McDaniels, who added 13 points off the bench. Ryan Anderson added 12 points, while Clint Capela another 12 points along with 10 rebounds. The Rockets bench only chipped in 24 points in total, while the team's 25 turnovers stand - out as a major issue. The Rockets will move on to Washington for their next contest, Monday.
+The Pacers posted a sub - par 40 percent success rate from the floor and committed 15 turnovers, while the Heat had three players eclipse the 20 - point mark and shot 49 percent overall. Hassan Whiteside and Dion Waiters co - led Miami with matching 22 - point efforts, with Whiteside also bringing in 17 rebounds. Goran Dragic followed closely behind with 21 points. Luke Babbitt registered nine points, while James Johnson led the bench with 15 points, eight assists, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Myles Turner's 18 points paced Indiana. Jeff Teague supplied 16 points, and Slam Dunk Contest champ Glenn Robinson III paced the second unit with 13 points. Rodney Stuckey was productive in a reserve role as well, managing 12 points. Paul George struggled for the second straight game, producing just 10 points on 3 - of - 8 shooting.
+The Chicago Bulls defeated the host Los Angeles Lakers, 118 - 110, at Staples Center on Sunday. Chicago continues their circus road trip and they continue to show what a true threat they are. A 9 - 2 run to start the fourth really put distance between these teams, as it was the Bulls first double - digit lead of the game. Rebounding was the key for Chicago, as they won that battle, 56 - 37. The Bulls were lights - out from the field as well, shooting 52 percent from the field and 36 percent from three - point range. They made their presence felt in the paint through scoring as well, outscoring the Lakers 60 - 44 in the paint. Chicago (9 - 5) have been one of the surprises of the league and road wins like this just add to their impressive run. Jimmy Butler continued his MVP campaign, as he tallied 40 points, seven rebounds and six assists on 14 - of - 23 shooting. Nikola Mirotic got a rare start with Dwyane Wade resting, as he recorded a double - double, in a 15 - point, 15 - rebound performance. Robin Lopez totaled 12 points and 11 rebounds of his own. Isaiah Canaan led the bench in scoring, dropping 17 points on 6 - of - 10 shooting, Rajon Rondo went just 2 - of - 9 from the field, but grabbed nine rebounds and dished out 12 assists in the win. On deck for the Bulls is a road matchup against the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday. Los Angeles (7 - 7) will have it's inevitable growing pains with this young core and a veteran team like the Bulls was too much to handle. The bench was spectacular yet again, as Lou Williams and Larry Nance Jr. led the team in scoring. Williams finished with 25 points on 8 - of - 14 shooting, while Nance Jr. totaled 18 points and six rebounds on 8 - of - 11 shooting. Jordan Clarkson did have a stinker off the bench though, scoring five points on 1 - of - 12 from the field. Nick Young led the starters with 15 points, while Julius Randle scored 14 of his own. The Lakers play again on Tuesday, as they host the Oklahoma City Thunder for their next game.
+The Chicago Bulls (20 - 9) defeated the Los Angeles Lakers (9 - 20) 113 - 93 on Thursday. Chicago was able to win their fifth consecutive game on Thursday with a nearly - healthy lineup against the Lakers. Kirk Hinrich sat out a second straight game with a hamstring issue. Chicago had control of this game since the beginning and never let Los Angeles take the lead in the game, despite giving up a 13 - 4 run to begin the third quarter. Five Bulls players scored in double figures, while three players scored over 20 points. Pau Gasol had a big game against his former team, finishing with 23 points and 13 rebounds for a double - double in 33 minutes. Chicago takes the court again on Saturday against New Orleans. Los Angeles found out earlier in the day that they would be without All-Star guard Kobe Bryant, who cited “old age” as the reason for his absence. Without Bryant, Los Angeles was able to beat conference leader Golden State on Tuesday, but they were unable to get a win in Chicago. Wesley Johnson was the Lakers’ scoring leader on Thursday with 19, while Ed Davis finished with 13 points and 14 rebounds for a his first career double - double as a member of the Lakers. Los Angeles continues the second half of their road back - to - back trip against Dallas on Friday.
+While these teams have just seven wins a piece, they both left it all on the floor in this close - fought battle. There were nine ties and 21 lead changes in total, as neither team led by more than nine points. Almost all of the stats were even aside from rebounding, as the Sixers doubled up the Nets in offensive rebounding and won the total rebounding differential, 48 - 43. Brook Lopez did all he could to keep the Nets hanging around, as he tallied 22 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in the defeat. Joel Embiid continued his spectacular rookie season, as he dropped a career - high 33 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks in the win. Jahlil Okafor had a game to forget, as he went 0 - of - 10 from the field en route to three points and 11 rebounds.
+Strong scoring performances down the stretch separated the Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns, especially in the fourth quarter, where Jamal Crawford shined. The reigning Sixth Man of the Year saw 27 minutes of action and scored 14 points on 5 - of - 10 shooting. Both Chris Paul and Blake Griffin finished with 20 - plus points, while DeAndre Jordan and JJ Reddick also finished in double figures. Jordan, who was initially considered questionable with a thumb injury, played 31 minutes and was dominant around the rim to the tune of 80 percent shooting. Minutes were spread around the Clippers' rotation, with second unit running the floor late in the fourth quarter. Raymond Felton pitched in 18 minutes, while Austin Rivers saw 24 minutes. The Suns were simply unable to match the efficiency that Clippers showed throughout the second half, but did see T.J. Warren, Eric Bledsoe, Alex Len and Brandon Knight finish in double figures.
+The Golden State Warriors (54 - 5) defeated the Atlanta Hawks (33 - 28) 109 - 105 in OT at Oracle Arena on Tuesday. Shaun Livingston started in place of the injured Stephen Curry (ankle), but the absence of Curry was felt tremendously on the court. Add Andre Iguodala (hamstring) being ruled out, and the Warriors found themselves in a thin situation on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court. The game itself was a thriller and Golden State needed an extra five minutes to pull out an impressive and gutsy performance to stay undefeated on their home court. With 1:0 left to play in the fourth quarter, Paul Millsap made his way to the free throw line, where he sank two baskets to take a two point lead, but Klay Thompson drove the lane on the ensuing possession and matched Millsap's free throws to tie the game at 97 points each. Both Millsap and Andrew Bogut missed on their chance to win the game in regulation. Overtime went in favor of the Warriors, where Draymond Green stepped up to the challenge and salvaged a broken play with a quick fire three pointer as the shot clock expired, which all but put the nail in the coffin for the Hawks. Green finished with 15 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists on 6 - of - 15 shooting, while Klay Thompson led Golden State in scoring with 26 points, although it came on the back of 27 shots. Bogut’s last second attempt to win in regulation prevented an almost perfect night of shooting, as he totaled 19 points on 8 - of - 9 shooting. Leandro Barbosa was the bench hero the Warriors needed during multiple plays, rolling off screens and creating off the dribble on multiple occasions. Barbosa’s 11 points were not of the volume type, but they all came at crucial moments in the game. The Hawks may have been considered lucky that they did not have to face the reigning MVP, but they also dealt with a deep Golden State team that boasts the best record in the league. The defensive sets seemed to trump Steve Kerr’s squad, especially after taking the lead in the fourth quarter. Six Hawks players finished in double figures, but 17 team turnovers would eventually become their downfall. Paul Millsap led all Atlanta scorers with 19 points, to go along with seven rebounds and four assists, while Al Horford contributed 17 points, nine rebounds and three assists in the effort. Dennis Schroder outplayed Jeff Teague off the bench, scoring 17 points and dishing out nine assists in 28 minutes. The Warriors listed Curry as questionable for the anticipated matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder (42 - 18) on Thursday, while the Hawks will look to bounce back when they visit the Los Angeles Lakers (12 - 49) on Friday.
+A trio of 20 - point - plus efforts and a 17 - rebound night helped hand the Cavs a surprising home loss, their first defeat of the season overall. Dennis Schroder's season - high 28 points led the way, while Kent Bazemore put together a stellar 25 - point tally while often going up against LeBron James' typically stingy defense. Dwight Howard dominated down low with 17 boards, 15 of them on the defensive glass. Atlanta managed a strong 51 percent success rate from the field, helping to key the victory. Kyrie Irving posted 29 points, which came on a season - high 27 shot attempts. Kevin Love's 24 - point, 12 - rebound double - double was next, while LeBron James posted 23 points. Poor shooting was Cleveland's undoing, as they posted a 37 percent success rate from the field, and 26 percent on 42 shot attempts from beyond the arc.
+Superstar point guard Chris Paul returned to action on Friday after missing time with a hamstring injury. Paul wasted no time before beginning to rack up assists, as he led the team with 12 dimes. The veteran star added three steals and 14 points on 3 - of - 5 from the field and 7 - of - 8 from the free - throw line. Center DeAndre Jordan, meanwhile, scored an extremely efficient 20 points on 9 - of - 10 shooting from the field to go with nine rebounds. The Clippers had a solid night from long - range, shooting 13 - of 31 from beyond the arc. For Sacramento, star center DeMarcus Cousins once again put on a one - man show. Cousins led the team with 25 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and two blocks. Point guard Ty Lawson also played well, scoring 17 points and dishing out six assists.
+The Indiana Pacers (9 - 5) defeated the Washington Wizards (6 - 5) 123 - 106 on Tuesday. Hey Warriors, there’s a new offensive juggernaut on the block, albeit an unlikely one. After tallying a season - high 123 points in a resounding trouncing of the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday, the Indiana Pacers turned right around and matched that total in an impressive road win over the Wizards. The outstanding offensive effort was spearheaded by the record - breaking performances of Paul George (40 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals) and C.J. Miles (32 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal), who were a combined 15 - for - 17 from three - point range. Both players also set individual season - bests in made shots from the beyond the arc, with Miles draining eight long - range buckets, and George posting seven treys of his own. In total, the game featured an astounding 32 three - pointers, with the Pacers tallying 19 of those. Indiana didn’t need a whole lot more than George’s and Miles’ contributions, considering they accounted for well over half of the team’s scoring. However, they did receive double - digit scoring efforts from Monta Ellis (10 points, five assists, five rebounds) and the returning George Hill (14 points, five assists, four rebounds). Center Ian Mahinmi came within a rebound of his second double - double of the season, collecting seven points and hauling in nine boards. The Pacers improved to 9 - 5 and currently reside in third place in the Eastern Conference’s Central Division. They head home for a Friday showdown with the Bulls. The Wizards benefited from Bradley Beal’s first game with at least 20 points since a Nov. 6 contest versus the Celtics. The shooting guard amassed 20 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. John Wall, as he has been prone to do occasionally this season, struggled with turnovers, committing a season - high eight over 31 minutes. He did manage a season - best three buckets from beyond the arc on his way to an 18 - point, four - rebound, five - assist outing. Like his Pacers’ counterpart Mahinmi, Marcin Gortat also came a rebound short of a double - double performance (10 points, nine boards), while Kris Humphries (scoreless over nine minutes) and Otto Porter (seven points, three rebounds, three assists) did very little to help Washington’s cause. Gary Neal enjoyed a momentous night off the bench, leading the team with 23 points and sinking five three - pointers. The Wizards fell to 6 - 5 and currently reside in third place in the Eastern Conference’s Southeast Division. They head to Charlotte for a Wednesday showdown versus the Hornets.
+Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley combined for 45 points on 43 shot attempts for the Celtics, a tally that included a 5 - of - 9 effort for Thomas from beyond the arc. Six Boston players managed double - digit scoring overall, while the defense held the Nets to sub - 40 percent success rates from both the field and three - point range. Al Horford posted a full line of 17 points, eight assists, five boards two blocks and a steal, while Jae Crowder managed 15 points. The bench was led by a pair of 10 - point efforts from Kelly Olynyk and Jonas Jerebko. Sean Kilpatrick's 23 points over 32 minutes off the bench led the Nets. Trevor Booker's 18 - point, 12 - rebound double - double paced the first unit. Bojan Bogdanovic and Brook Lopez combined for 27 points, Joe Harris also had 12 points in a reserve role.
+Charlotte's Nicolas Batum has spent his career stuffing the stat sheet, a talent he showed off on Monday. The guard led the team in both rebounding and assists, with 15 and seven respectively. Things were not perfect, however, for Batum, who went 0 - for - 6 from beyond the arc. Charlotte struggled from three - point range as a team, knocking down just three threes on the night. Guard Marco Belinelli accounted for two of those threes, as he scored 16 off the bench. For Dallas, meanwhile, forward Harrison Barnes led the way with 29 points and seven rebounds. Barnes shot a respectable 10 - of - 21 from the field and hit 2 - of - 4 from beyond the arc. Point guard Deron Williams, meanwhile, had an impressive double - double for Dallas, scoring 15 and dishing out 13 assists. However, Williams shot just 6 - of - 18 in the game.
+The Oklahoma City Thunder (30 - 12) defeated the Miami Heat (23 - 18) 99 - 74, Sunday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Heat were hurting coming into this game. Goran Dragic (calf) and Beno Udrih (neck) both sat out, leaving Dwyane Wade to start despite sore shoulders. Gerald Green also left the game with a sore knee. In addition to the injuries, this was the final game of a six - game road trip for Miami, during which they went 2 - 4. On the contrary, the Thunder are at full strength and have been hot, especially at home. They have now won 10 of their last 12, improved their home record to 20 - 5 and picked up their 30th win of the season. Kevin Durant was certainly not reaching when he said that he sees them as a legitimate title contender. After a close half, Oklahoma blew the game open with a 31 - 16 third quarter. Russell Westbrook logged his second straight triple - double, with 13 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds, in 33 minutes. This was Westbrook's fifth triple - double of the season and 24th of his career. Kevin Durant led the Thunder in scoring with 24 points, along with 10 rebounds for his own double - double. Serge Ibaka shot 9 - 15 on his way 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds, in 32 minutes. Miami struggled holding onto the ball, giving up 21 turnovers on the game. They also got out - rebounded and struggled shooting from deep. A tough spot in the schedule and injuries may have slowed them down, especially in the second half. Dwyane Wade finished with 22 points (9 - 15 FG), three assists and two rebounds, in 28 minutes. Tyler Johnson started at point guard and produced a nice 16 points (7 - 12 FG), six rebounds and four assists, in 38 minutes. Hassan Whiteside showed some offensive versatility, as he shot 7 - 9 on his way to 14 points. Whiteside also grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked four shots, in 33 minutes. The Heat will return home to host the Bucks, on Tuesday. They will then be embarking on another extended road trip. Miami will have to get back on track quickly in order to protect its position in the East. The Thunder will visit Denver to face off against the Nuggets on Tuesday. The Nuggets recently defeated the Warriors and therefore can not be taken lightly by opponent.
+The Toronto Raptors (46 - 21) defeated the Boston Celtics (39 - 30) 105 - 91 on Friday. Toronto's outstanding defense has been one of the keys to their highly successful season, and their current position as the second seed in the Eastern Conference. However, it was their offense that made an early splash Friday, as Toronto jumped out to a 30 - 14 lead on the Celtics after one period. Because of their stinginess on the other side of the ball, falling behind by double digits to the Raptors is usually a death knell for most teams, and such was the case again Friday. Boston was forced into catch - up mode all night long, and could n't quite overtake Toronto despite playing much better in the second and third quarters. On the injury front, the Raptors played another game without starting center Jonas Valanciunas, who missed a second consecutive contest with his bruised hand. Boston was led by Isaiah Thomas, who posted 20 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal. Evan Turner pitched in with 12 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. No other Celtics player managed double - digit scoring, but two of their young players did have an opportunity to receive valuable minutes. R.J. Hunter managed eight points and an assist to pace the bench, while Terry Rozier was right behind him with seven points, five assists and three rebounds over 10 efficient minutes. Despite their fourth consecutive loss, the Celtics remain in second place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division, but do drop to the sixth seed in the conference. They head to Philadelphia to take on the Sixers on Sunday. Toronto's attack was spearheaded by Kyle Lowry, who tallied 32 points, five assists, four rebounds, two steals and a block. Luis Scola became the latest power forward to have a productive game against the Celtics' vulernable frontcourt, posting 17 points, three rebounds and a steal. DeMar DeRozan found points a bit hard to come by against Avery Bradley's typically stingy defense, but did manage 15 points, seven rebounds, six assists and a steal. Norman Powell, getting the start at small forward for James Johnson (foot), supplied 10 points and two rebounds. Terrence Ross led the reserves with nine points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals. The Raptors remain atop the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division, and have a hold of the second seed in the conference as well, two games behind the Cleveland Cavaliers. They're home again versus the Orlando Magic on Sunday afternoon.
+Milwaukee came into this matchup as a short favorite, but the Bucks showed who the better team was. While it remained close throughout the first half, the Bucks pulled away in the second half to the tune of a 59 - 42 second half scoreline. Giannis Antetokounmpo played just three quarters, but made his presence known. In fact, Antetokounmpo finished with 23 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and four steals in the victory. Jabari Parker was n't far behind, as he scored 22 points on 9 - of - 14 shooting. John Henson had one of his best games as the starting center for Milwaukee, totaling 12 points, eight rebounds and five blocks. Sean Kilpatrick was Brooklyn's best player, as he tallied 14 points, six rebounds and four assists. Brook Lopez shot just 4 - of - 12 from the field, but finished with 15 points and four boards. These two teams face each other for their next game, as they square off in Milwaukee on Saturday.
+The Dallas Mavericks (37 - 38) held off the New York Knicks (30 - 46) for a 91 - 89 win on Wednesday. This game meant much more to the Mavericks than Knicks and they were lucky to escape with a victory. They really won it in the fourth, as they held the Knicks to 15 points and scored 24 of their own. The key for Dallas was the defense, as they forced New York to commit 20 turnovers in their much needed win. New York had to play this game without Kristaps Porzingis and nearly walked away with a big road win. Carmelo Anthony was spectacular once again, as he accumulated 31 points, seven rebounds and three steals in the defeat. Derrick Williams was the only other Knick in double figures, as he scored 15 points and grabbed eight boards. Up next for New York is a matchup with the Brooklyn Nets on Friday. This win keeps the Mavericks playoff hopes alive, but it's indicative of their recent form. J.J. Barea gave one of his best performances of his career, as he tallied 26 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Wesley Matthews led all starters with 16 points and also provided four assists and three steals in the win. The Mavericks will look to keep their playoff hopes alive on Friday against the Detroit Pistons.
+Games overseas always have interesting results and it was clear the Pacers were none too pleased to be playing in London. The Nuggets shot 57 percent from the field and recorded 37 assists on their way to a season - high 140 points. Denver also hit 15 three - pointers and scored 70 points in the paint. Jeff Teague was the lone Indiana starter to play well, as he tallied 14 points and nine assists. C.J. Miles led the team in scoring, dropping 20 points on 6 - of - 7 from long distance. Nikola Jokic was the player of the game, accumulating 22 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Wilson Chandler provided 21 points, eight rebounds and four assists of his own. Gary Harris accrued 16 points, five rebounds and six assists. Kenneth Faried led the bench, totaling 14 points and nine rebounds.
+The Memphis Grizzlies (15 - 14) defeated the Indiana Pacers (16 - 10) 96 - 84 on Saturday. The Pacers entered Saturday’s contest with the two - seed in the Eastern Conference, but fell to the Grizzlies on account of poor shooting from both the field and 3 - point territory. The 17 turnovers committed by Indiana summed up a sloppy night on the road overall as well. Paul George led all scorers with 29 points, in addition to six rebounds and two assists on 8 - of - 22 shooting. George’s 26 points per game (prior to Saturday’s performance) ranked fifth in the league and he has also seen success from the 3 - point line, save for tonight, as he finished 4 - of - 12 from deep. Monta Ellis added 13 points, two rebounds and an assist, while Jordan Hill provided 10 points and 13 rebounds off the bench. Both players shot 50 percent from the field, although the team shot 39 percent and a rough 18 percent with from 3 - point territory. C.J. Miles failed to get any sort of rhythm going and finished with zero points on 0 - of - 9 shooting. Ian Mahinmi contributed seven points and six rebounds, but played fewer minutes than backup centers Hill and Lavoy Allen. The Grizzlies defense prowess controlled the game and wrecked havoc on the Pacers shooters, and the strong team performance ended a rough 1 - 4 stretch of five games. Mike Conley led all Grizzlies scorers with 20 points, to go along with four rebounds, eight assists and four steals on 6 - of - 16 shooting. Matt Barnes provided a spark in the second half and rounded out the box score with 15 points, 10 rebounds and two assists. Marc Gasol’s 19 points and 12 rebounds completed his seventh double - double of the season, in addition to six assists on an efficient 9 - of - 18 shooting. Tony Allen (knee) missed his fifth consecutive game, but will look to return to the lineup this week. The Pacers will visit the Western Conference’s second best squad, San Antonio (23 - 5), on Monday, while the Grizzlies will visit the Philadelphia 76ers (1 - 27) on Tuesday.
+The Washington Wizards defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 116 - 108, at Verizon Center on Thursday. The Wizards (29 - 20) have been a dominant team at home all season, having secured 20 of the 28 victories they'd come in to Thursday with at Verizon Center. However, they may have gotten more than they initially bargained for against a feisty Lakers (17 - 35) squad that battled back from a 58 - 44 halftime deficit. John Wall ultimately proved too much for the visitors, though, posting a 33 - point, 11 - assist double - double that also included three rebounds, three steals and one block. Los Angeles was also done in by its inability to take care of the ball, as they committed a whopping 20 turnovers. The Lakers were led by a 20 - point effort off the bench by Jordan Clarkson, which he complemented with two rebounds and an assist. D'Angelo Russell and Luol Deng posted matching 17 - point tallies, with the former adding 11 assists, seven rebounds, two steals and a block, and the latter hauling in six boards and posting a block. Tarik Black managed a 13 - point, 11 - rebound double - double that also included one assist. Lou Williams was productive in a reserve role as well, supplying 15 points, four assists, two rebounds and a block. Bradley Beal complemented Wall's effort with 23 points, four assists, a rebound, two steals and one block. Marcin Gortat submitted a 21 - point, 14 - rebound double - double that also included three assists and a steal. Markieff Morris also accomplished the feat, registering 12 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocks. Otto Porter chipped in 11 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals. The Lakers next head to Beantown to tangle with the Boston Celtics on Friday night, while the Wizards remain home to face the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday evening.
+The Utah Jazz (31 - 35) picked up a road win over the Sacramento Kings (25 - 40) Sunday night at Sleep Train Arena, 108 - 99. With the win, the Jazz move with two games of the Dallas Mavericks for the Western Conference's eighth and final playoff spot. This one was n't as close as the final score suggests, as the Jazz never trailed and held leads of 20 points or more in each of the second, third and fourth quarters. Derrick Favors dominated the middle for the Jazz as he finished with a team - high 28 points and a game - high 14 rebounds. Gordon Hayward chipped in 27 points (9 - 19 FG, 4 - 9 3PT, 5 - 5 FT), four rebounds, three assists and a steal. The Jazz won with hot outside shooting (12 - 28, 43 percent from three) and 11 offensive rebounds, five coming from Favors. DeMarcus Cousins scored a game - high 31 (10 - 23 FG, 3 - 6 3PT, 8 - 11 FT) and grabbed 10 rebounds in the losing effort. Omri Casspi hit all four of his three - point attempts to pitch in 20 off the bench, and Darren Collison scored 14 with five assists and a pair of steals. The Kings has solid shooting of their own (9 - 21 3PT) but their offense kicked in too late to keep with Utah's onslaught. Tha Jazz finish a back - to - back Monday at home against the Cavaliers. The Kings hit the road for a Tuesday matchup against the Lakers.
+The Oklahoma City Thunder (54 - 24) demolished the Denver Nuggets (32 - 47) on their home court on Tuesday, 124 - 102. The Thunder's Russell Westbrook grabbed headlines in the third quarter by earning his NBA-leading 17th triple - double of the year. Westbrook finished with 13 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists. The All-Star point guard's mark is the most in over 25 seasons, and is far and away the most of Westbrook's already - storied career. Also making a splash, as always, was forward Kevin Durant. KD chipped in 26 points, good for a team high, and also snagged eight rebounds. The Thunder remain comfortably third in the Western Conference. The Nuggets, meanwhile, have been eliminated from playoff contention. Denver was absolutely manhandled on the glass on Tuesday, losing out in rebounds 55 - 38. Defense also played a big role in the defeat, as the Thunder got absolutely everything they wanted, converting on 53 percent of shots from the field. Denver, meanwhile, shot just a paltry 42 percent. The Thunder look poised for a first - place finish in the Northwest division, while the Nuggets remain steady at fourth. The Thunder will face off against Portland on Wednesday, while Denver will visit San Antonio on Friday.
+The Golden State Warriors beat the host Utah Jazz, 106 - 99, on Thursday. The Warriors (20 - 3) remain the league's top team following their win in Utah. It was an unusually slow night for the league's highest - rated offense, as the team scored just 41 points in the second half. Reigning MVP Steph Curry led the team with 26 points, hitting three three - pointers and going a perfect 9 - of - 9 on the night. Despite general struggles with rebounding, the Warriors were able to hold a 47 - 46 advantage on the boards in Utah. Golden State shot an impressive 48 percent from the field on the night while holding Utah to just 41 percent. The Jazz (14 - 10) were missing four of their five starters due to injury on Thursday. Guards George Hill and Rodney Hood and forwards Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors have seen much of the early season marred by injury, and on Thursday all four were forced to rest. Despite this, the Jazz were able to give the league - leading Warriors a run for their money. Star center Rudy Gobert led the team with a whopping 17 rebounds, and also scored 20 points on 8 - of - 8 shooting. Meanwhile, bench forward Joe Ingles scored a team - high 21 in 35 minutes. Golden State will visit Memphis on Saturday, while the Jazz will host the Kings.
+The Charlotte Hornets (41 - 30) defeated the Brooklyn Nets (19 - 51) 105 - 100 on Tuesday. The Nets put up a valiant fight after falling behind 25 - 14 after one period, clawing their way back over the middle two quarters. Brooklyn outscored Charlotte over the second and third periods by a margin of 50 - 42. They mostly did it on the strength of solid shooting, as they posted 46 and 44 percent success rates for the game from the field and three - point range, respectively. However, mistakes ultimately did them in, as they committed 16 total turnovers on the night, double that of the visitors. The Hornets were able to regain their footing in the final 12 minutes, and pull away for their fourth win in the last five contests. Charlotte was led by Nicolas Batum, who posted 23 points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal. Jeremy Lin was next with a second consecutive productive outing, tallying 21 points, four assists, two rebounds and a steal. It was his second straight performance with over 20 points, and his total paced the reserves. Frank Kaminsky III, getting the start in place of Marvin Williams (ankle), collected 14 points, seven rebounds, an assist and a pair of blocks. Kemba Walker matched Kaminsky's point total and added four assists, three rebounds and two steals. The Hornets remain in second place in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division, and have a hold of the sixth seed in the conference as well. They head to Detroit to take on the Pistons on Friday. Brooklyn was led by Brook Lopez, who amassed 29 points, nine rebounds and six assists in his return from an illness that caused him to miss Saturday night's game. Sean Kilpatrick continued an outstanding second half of the season, leading the Nets bench with 25 points, two rebounds, an assist and a block. Bojan Bogdanovic was next with 20 points and three rebounds. Thaddeus Young had a relatively quiet night by his standards, but did pitch in with 10 points, eight rebounds and an assist. The Nets remain in fourth place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division. They're home again on Thursday versus the Cleveland Cavaliers.
+The Spurs (32 - 18) took care of the Heat (21 - 29) 98 - 85 in San Antonio on Friday night. San Antonio jumped out to an 11 - point first quarter advantage and led by double - digits for most of the night. Kawhi Leonard set the pace, scoring 24 points to go with four assists, four rebounds and three steals in 33 minutes. Tony Parker chipped in 21 points, and Tim Duncan had a 10 - point, 12 - rebound double - double. The Spurs shot 48 percent as a team and knocked down 11 three - pointers, five of which came courtesy of Leonard. Meanwhile, the banged - up Heat tumbled to their third straight loss and fifth in six games. Playing without Dwyane Wade and Hassan Whiteside, Miami got 17 points and six rebounds from Luol Deng, while Chris Bosh added 14 points on 7 - of - 18 shooting. Mario Chalmers and Shabazz Napier combined for only 11 points (4 - 15 FG), but rookie Tyler Johnson had a team - high 18 in 25 minutes off the bench. Miami has out - rebounded 43 - 37 and surrendered 42 points in the paint. Up next, the Heat host the Knicks on Monday night. San Antonio travels to Toronto to take on the Raptors on Sunday.
+The Los Angeles Clippers (8 - 5) defeated the Charlotte Hornets (4 - 11) 113 - 92 on Monday at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte. Despite an even first half, the Clippers were able to out - score the Hornets 57 - 39 in the second half, allowing the them to seal the victory on the road in Charlotte. As a team, Los Angeles was able to shoot 51 percent from the field and 47 percent from the three - point line, compared to Charlotte, who only shot 41 percent from the floor and a meager 10 percent from beyond the arc. The superior shooting, along with out - rebounding the Hornets 43 - 33, gave the Clippers the advantage and put them on track for the victory. The Clippers had six players reach double figures in scoring Monday. Blake Griffin came one assist shy of a triple - double, as he had a monster line of 22 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists. He really seemed to struggle against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, so this was a nice bounce back game for Griffin. Along with Griffin, Chris Paul was able to contribute 22 points (10 - 16 FG, 2 - 5 3Pt), while also handing out 15 assists. The 15 assists were a season - high for Paul, and it marked his seventh double - double of the season. Jamal Crawford also continued to make his presence known off the bench, as he shot 8 - for - 13 from the field and 5 - for - 8 from the three - point line to score 21 points in 26 minutes. In the last two games, he's now combined for 40 points. The Hornets just did n't have the offensive fire power to keep up with the Clippers. Al Jefferson was one of the leaders for the team, as he finished with 16 points and nine rebounds. It was the first time in three games that he failed to reach the 20 - point mark. Kemba Walker had an inefficient 15 points, as he shot only 4 - for - 11 from the field and 0 - for - 4 from the three - point line.He scored the bulk of his points at the free throw line where he went 7 - for - 8 on the night. Coming off the bench, Cody Zeller had a surprise offensive performance. He scored a season - high 17 points, but only grabbed one rebound in 29 minutes. The Clippers' next game will be on the road against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, while the Hornets will be at home against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.
+The Phoenix Suns (13 - 29) saw their woes continue on Sunday after being blown out 117 - 87 by the Minnesota Timberwolves (13 - 29). While the Suns' slide continued, the Timberwolves were able to turn their recent bad luck around. Coming into Sunday's matchup, the Wolves had dropped 13 of their last 14 games. One would not have guessed that based on Sunday's game, however, as the Timberwolves shot 57 percent from the field while out - rebounding the Suns 41 - 30. The Wolves also had a huge advantage at the free - throw line, knocking down 31 of a whopping 40 free - throw attempts as opposed to the Suns' paltry 14 for 25. Minnesota's pair of first - overall picks shone brightly in just 50 combined minutes, with Andrew Wiggins delivering 18 points to go with four assists and four rebounds and Karl-Anthony Towns going for 14 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks. The Suns now stand in a similar position to Minnesota, having lost 13 of their last 14. Phoenix's downward spiral has been due in large part to star point guard Eric Bledsoe's season - ending meniscus injury. The guard was averaging 20 points per game and also sat in the top 10 in the NBA in steals per game prior to his injury. On Sunday, the team simply failed to click on all levels, shooting just 43 percent including a disastrous 20 percent from beyond the arc. Phoenix had major issues with ball movement, racking up just 16 assists on the night. The Suns' next matchup will be against the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday. Minnesota, meanwhile, will travel to New Orleans on Tuesday to take on the Pelicans.
+The Atlanta Hawks (2 - 19) defeated the Philadelphia 76ers (15 - 6) 95 - 79 on Wednesday. Atlanta has won eight straight games and sit at second place in the Eastern Conference standings. They've been healthy most of the season, giving them a great deal of consistency in their rotation from night to night. Both teams shot just 42 percent from the field Wednesday, but the Hawks earned several extra possessions by collecting 16 offensive rebounds and beating the Sixers in total rebounds 52 - 39. The Hawks will host the Orlando Magic on Friday. Philadelphia has won two of their last four games, showing greater cohesion on the court since Tony Wroten went down with a knee injury six games ago, opening the door to allow Michael Carter-Williams to operate as the lone primary ball - handler. Alexey Shved returned to the lineup after missing three games with a hip injury. He played 16 minutes off the bench and finished with 13 points. Wroten is targeting a return to the court Friday when the Sixers take on the Nets in Brooklyn. During the game, it was reported by members of the media that the Sixers and Brooklyn Nets agreed to a trade that would include sending Brandon Davies to the Nets in exchange for Andrei Kirilenko and other minor pieces. The deal is not expected to be finalized until sometime Thursday.
+The Milwaukee Bucks (12 - 12) defeated the Los Angeles Clippers (16 - 7) 111 - 106 on Saturday. Milwaukee capped their two - game losing streak with the win. The Bucks shot 57 percent from the field and 64 percent from beyond the arc, dissecting the Clippers' defense quite masterfully. Brandon Knight scored a team - high 22 points, and the Bucks had six players finish in double figures. The Bucks have been wading through a tough stretch of their schedule that will continue as they embark on a four - game Western Conference road trip Monday against the Phoenix Suns. Los Angeles has dropped two straight games. Prior to their most recent losses, the Clippers went on a nine - game win streak in what will probably prove to be the easiest stretch of their schedule this season. Confronted with more top - level teams, the Clippers have buckled, and with Spencer Hawes (knee) sitting out Saturday, they lacked depth in the frontcourt, putting an even greater onus on their starting lineup. Chris Douglas-Roberts returned from a 17 - game absence with an Achilles injury to play six minutes off the bench. Matt Barnes scored a game - high 26 points, and Chris Paul turned the ball over six times in what was an all - around obtuse game for the Clippers. They'll look to end the protraction of their losing streak when they host the Detroit Pistons on Monday.
+The Chicago Bulls defeated the Phoenix Suns in overtime, 128 - 121, on Friday evening at United Center. The Bulls (29 - 29) found themselves down 102 - 91 with 4:31 remaining following a Devin Booker three - pointer, but mounted an impressive comeback that eventually saw them forge a 106 - 106 tie with 48 seconds left after a Jimmy Butler trey. Butler then added a 13 - foot two - pointer at the nine - second mark that gave Chicago a momentary 108 - 106 lead. However, Booker had a chance to seal the win with one second on the scoreboard after he was fouled by Dwyane Wade in three - point range, yet he missed the last of three subsequent free throws to send the contest into overtime knotted at 108. Wade made up for his late gaffe in the extra period, tallying half of the Bulls' 20 points to seal the victory. The Suns (18 - 40) were led by Booker, who posted 27 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Eric Bledsoe, T.J. Warren and Marquese Chriss followed with a trio of 17 - point efforts. Bledsoe added 10 assists, seven rebounds, one steal and one block; Warren, now in primary possession of the small forward job with P.J. Tucker traded to Toronto, complemented his scoring total with eight boards, two assists and two steals; Chriss also registered seven boards, one assist, two steals and two blocks. Alex Len produced a modest four points and seven rebounds as the starting center, but Alan Williams led the bench with 16 points, three boards and one assist. Wade's 23 points paced Chicago, and he added four rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks. Butler compiled 22 points, nine assists, three rebounds and four steals. Robin Lopez totaled 19 points, six boards and one block. Nikola Mirotic led the second unit with 20 points, eight rebounds and two assists over 37 minutes. With Taj Gibson now in Oklahoma City, Mirotic, who drained four of his five baskets from long range, could be in for similar playing time going forward. Denzel Valentine was productive in a reserve role as well, posting 15 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals over 34 minutes. The Suns remain in the Midwest and next head to Milwaukee to tangle with the Bucks on Sunday afternoon, while the Bulls head to Cleveland for a Saturday night, national TV showdown against the Cavaliers.
+It was a memorable night for Phoenix guard Eric Bledsoe, who scored a game - high 40 points and recorded a double - double on Sunday. Bledsoe, who shot 11 - of - 17 and went 14 - of - 14 from the free - throw line, dished out 13 assists and came down with six rebounds. Sophomore guard Devin Booker added more backcourt production, scoring 20 and coming away with two steals. The pair made all nine of Phoenix's three - pointers. On the whole, though, it was a very good shooting night for the Suns, as the team hit over 50 percent of its shots and almost 93 percent from the line. For Toronto, it was an off night for the All-Star backcourt of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. The two shot just 11 - of - 34 from the field, including 1 - of - 9 from three - point range from Lowry. As a team, the Raptors shot under 40 percent and were out - rebounded 45 - 35.
+The Minnesota Timberwolves (11 - 16) defeated the Brooklyn Nets (7 - 20) by a score of 100 - 85, Sunday afternoon in Brooklyn. Minnesota looked like the stronger team the whole way and headed into the fourth quarter up by 10. The Nets gave up a troublesome 14 turnovers as a team and also struggled to shoot the ball, going 41 percent from the field. Brook Lopez had a strong game and continued to be the man for his team, as he finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds, along with five assists and two blocked shots in 39 minutes. Bojan Bogdanovic chipped in 13 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in 37 minutes. Thaddeus Young put up a solid 12 points and eight rebounds, in 33 minutes. The Timberwolves were looking confident and shot a strong 47 percent from the field as a team, but struggled from behind the arc, going 3 - 12. Two players finished with double - doubles for the Wolves, including rookie Karl-Anthony Towns who finished with an impressive 24 points and 10 rebounds, in 28 minutes. Gorgui Dieng chipped in 20 points and 10 rebounds, in 36 long minutes off the bench. Ricky Rubio dished an impressive 15 assists, grabbed four steals and also dropped eight points of his own, in 27 minutes. Next up the Wolves will head to Boston for the second game of a back - to - back, on Monday night. Brooklyn will also face the second night of a back - to - back on Monday, as they will be visiting Chicago
+The Oklahoma City Thunder (27 - 12) defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves (12 - 27) 101 - 96 on Tuesday night. This was a major mismatch on paper, but this game was closer than expected. Minnesota actually made a huge run in the fourth quarter to nearly cap off a double - digit comeback. What killed Minnesota once again were it's starters, as they amassed just 41 points between the five of them. That's actually less points than Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combined who scored 52 of their own. The Thunder have been one of the best teams in the NBA since December and that continued here. They got out to an early double - digit lead and never looked back after that. Westbrook and Durant once again carried the load, as they combined for 52 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists in the win. Enes Kanter continued his fantastic bench production, as he scored 18 points in less than 20 minutes of action. It's quite bizarre actually, considering Kanter is ranked as one of the 10 best big men in the NBA on a per - minute rate. They simply need to get him some more minutes if the Thunder want to get to their full potential. Oklahoma City's next game will be on Wednesday against the Dallas Mavericks. The Timberwolves are easily one of the worst home teams in the NBA, but they played well here. They are now just 5 - 17 at Target Center and it's a wonder why such a young team is so bad in their home arena. In any case, most of their youngsters played great here, as Shabazz Muhammad, Zach LaVine and Andrew Wiggins all scored at least 20 points. LaVine put in the most impressive line, as he accumulated 21 points, nine rebounds and four assists in one of his best games of the season. Minnesota will look to get out of this slump in their next game when they take on the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.
+The Charlotte Hornets (14 - 24) beat the Toronto Raptors (24 - 11) in Toronto on Thursday, 103 - 95. Toronto dropped just its fourth home game of the season and have now dropped four straight overall. The Hornets started the second half with a 14 - 1 run to gain an 11 - point lead mid way through the third quarter. Charlotte had big contributions from Gerald Henderson and Kemba Walker, who combined for 60 points in the contest. Charlotte entered the game without Cody Zeller, who was sidelined with a shoulder injury. Marvin Williams filled in for Zeller and had a productive night, scoring 13 points (5 - 10 FG, 3 - 6 3Pt) to go along with nine rebounds. The Hornets combined to shoot 48% from the floor and outscored the Raptors in the paint despite missing Zeller. Kemba Walker just missed out on his fourth consecutive 30 - point game, scoring 29 against the Raptors. Charlotte has now won four in a row and will take on the New York at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. Toronto has hit a rough patch and has now fallen to third place in the Eastern Conference behind the surging Hawks and Bulls. Kyle Lowry led the team in scoring with 24 points, but did so on just 7 - of - 22 shooting from the field. The Raptors will look to snap their losing streak on Saturday when they host the Celtics.
+Cleveland's Big Three of Kyrie Irving, LeBron James and Kevin Love stepped up their collective game in the wake of the Cavs' three - game losing streak, combining for 86 of the team's 116 points. James led the way with 34 points, Love posted a 28 - point, 14 - rebound double - double and Irving supplied a 24 - point tally. The Cavs shot 48 and 44 percent from the field and three - point range, respectively. The dynamic duo of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan stepped up in their own right, with the latter's 31 points pacing the Raptors offense. Lowry managed a near double - double with 24 points and nine assists, while Jonas Valanciunas contributed 10 rebounds. DeMarre Carroll and Pascal Siakam totaled a modest 14 points, but Terrence Ross' and Patrick Patterson's combined 26 points off the bench helped make up for the scoring void.
+The Boston Celtics (20 - 19) held on through a tight fourth quarter to earn a home win over the Indiana Pacers (22 - 17) Wednesday night at TD Garden, 103 - 94. The final period featured three ties and three lead changes as the two teams remained within four points of each other until Boston took a 99 - 94 lead on an Isaiah Thomas layup with 31 seconds remaining. The Celtics scored the game's final 12 points to foil a Pacers comeback attempt. Thomas scored a game - high 28 points behind a sharp 4 - 6 three - point shooting night, and he added four rebounds and three assists. Jae Crowder poured in 25 on a ruthlessly efficient 11 - 15 shooting night as he added three three - pointers of his own. The Celtics were spreading the ball around, as they recorded assists on 24 of their 40 made baskets and had four players with at least three dimes. Paul George led the Pacers with 23 points, but he shot a poor 7 - 20 from the floor and turned the ball over five times. Ian Mahinmi mustered a double - double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Pacers just could n't overcome their poor shooting, though, as they shot a brutal 5 - 30 from the three - point line (17 percent), including an 0 - 9 night from C.J. Miles. The Pacers have lost two of three and will look to turn it around Friday at home against Washington. Boston snapped a four - game losing streak and will continue a homestand against the Suns.
+The Houston Rockets defeated the Sacramento Kings, 132 - 98, Wednesday at Toyota Center. The Rockets (19 - 7) made sure this one was over fast as they cruised to their eighth straight victory and continue to be the hottest team in the NBA. Wednesday ended up being a breeze for Houston against a Kings team without DeMarcus Cousins (rest) and Rudy Gay (hip), as MVP-candidate James Harden posted a triple - double of 15 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds in 30 minutes. Ryan Anderson scored 22 points of his own, while Sam Dekker shined off the bench, scoring a career - high 19 points in just 22 minutes. Each other Rocket starter scored in double figures as the team shot a scorching 59 percent from the field and dished out 40 total assists. For the Kings (9 - 16), things did n't go nearly as smooth without their two best players, as the team they put out on the floor could not keep up with the fast - paced Rockets. Garrett Temple got a spot start and scored a team - high 20 points in 30 minutes, while the next highest scoring total for Sacramento was Anthony Tolliver's 12 points on top of his 10 assists. The Kings struggled shooting from the field, managing to shoot just 42 percent overall, and they only managed to shoot 11 total free throws on the night. To make matters worse, the Kings have now lost six of their last eight games and the organization has little reason to be optimistic going forward. Up next, the Rockets will look to stay hot when they play the Pelicans in Houston on Friday, while the Kings will travel to Memphis on Friday to take on a surging Grizzlies team.
+Portland in the first quarter, outscoring them 40 - 18 in the first quarter. The Blazers managed success rates of 51 percent from the field, 44 percent from three - point range and 90 percent from the free - throw line. Their solid defensive play helped them overcome 20 turnovers. Damian Lillard's game - high 27 points led the Blazers. C.J. McCollum was next with 22 points andAllen Crabbe followed with a bench - leading 16. Jusuf Nurkic went for12 points, nine boards, six assists, five blocks and two steals. Maurice Harkless matched Nurkic's scoring, while Noah Vonleh managed a 10 - point, 11 - rebound double - double. Ersan Ilyasova drew a start for Paul Millsap (knee) and provided a team - high 23 points for the Hawks. Tim Hardaway, Jr. followed with a bench - leading 22 points. Dwight Howard posted a 14 - point, 10 - rebound double - double and Kent Bazemore poured in 12 points.
+The Detroit Pistons (32 - 31) defeated the Portland Trail Blazers (33 - 31) 123 - 103 on Sunday. Detroit was angry after losing to the New York Kicks on Saturday and they really put it to the Blazers. They got out to a scorching start, as they led 30 - 16 after the first quarter. The Pistons shot 52 percent from the field and 52 percent from three - point range in the win. They also dominated the rebounding, as they snatched down 45 rebounds to the Blazers 31. This marks the third - straight loss for the Trail Blazers and skeptics wonder if this is regression finally hitting this surprise team. Damian Lillard had another great game, as he tallied 26 points, five rebounds and five assists in the defeat. C.J. McCollum had the only other notable stat line, as he amassed 22 points and five assists. Portland will look to bounce back on Tuesday against the Washington Wizards in their next scheduled game. All five Detroit starters scored in double figures and it was a great team win for a team battling to get into the playoffs. Reggie Jackson was especially good, as he finished with 30 points and nine assists in the win. Andre Drummond was a beast once again, as he amassed 14 points and 18 rebounds. Tobias Harris accumulated 16 points, five rebounds and five assists as well. The Pistons will look to say above .500 against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday in their next game.
+On Friday, newly acquired veteran Pau Gasol delivered his biggest performance in a Spurs uniform. Gasol scored 21 points and had nine rebounds to go along with six assists, two blocks, and a steal. The veteran forward shot 10 - of - 16, helping to make up for the off night experienced by star wing Kawhi Leonard. Leonard shot just 5 - of - 18 on the night, but did record four three - pointers and four steals. Big man LaMarcus Aldridge had a double - double, scoring 14 points and hauling in 12 rebounds. The Pistons, meanwhile, were carried by All-Star center Andre Drummond. Drummond led the team with 20 points and pulled down a whopping 17 rebounds. The performance did not stop there, however, as the center also impressed with his shooting splits. Drummond went 8 - of - 10 from the field including a rare three - pointer, and also saw an unusual perfect night from the free - throw line.
+The visiting Miami Heat defeated the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, 106 - 98. It was a back and forth game, with Miami (6 - 12) earning the win on strong fourth - quarter play. The Heat outscored Denver 31 - 18 in the fourth, ending the game comfortably in the lead. The Heat's Hassan Whiteside led the team in both scoring and rebounding, posting 25 and 16 respectively. Whiteside also blocked four shots. The big man's effort kept Miami competitive with the Nuggets on the glass, despite Denver's status as the top rebounding team in the league. Miami saw a huge advantage in turnovers, coughing up the ball only six times while forcing 19 turnovers for Denver. Strong defensive play contributed to the differential, as Miami stole the ball 14 times in total. Denver (7 - 11) was held to just 41 percent shooting on the night, crumbling under the pressure of the tough Miami defense. Starter Emmanuel Mudiay shot just 3 - of - 11 from the field, while forward Danilo Gallinari went just 6 - of - 16. Gallinari was one of four Nuggets to tie for the team lead in scoring with 17 points. Another one of those four, sophomore Nikola Jokic, had 17 points and 14 rebounds off the bench. Jokic helped counter the poor shooting of his teammates by going 7 - of - 11 from the floor. The Heat will visit Utah on Thursday while the Nuggets will host the Rockets on Friday.
+The Clippers (16 - 5) knocked off the Pacers (7 - 15) 103 - 96 on Monday behind 17 points and 15 assists from Chris Paul. The Clippers jumped out to an eight - point first - quarter lead and led by as much as 20 in the third quarter before the Pacers crept back into the game in the fourth. A C.J. Miles three - pointer cut the lead to five with under four minutes remaining, and a Lavoy Allen jumper two minutes later brought Indiana within two. The Clippers responded, however, scoring the final five points of the game and holding the Pacers scoreless for the last two minutes. Blake Griffin had a 17 - point, 10 - rebound double - double, leading all five Clippers starters in double - figures. J.J. Redick had 16 points, while DeAndre Jordan chipped in 12 points and 19 boards. Jamal Crawford chipped in a team - high 18 points off the bench. The Pacers were led by a season - high 30 points from Miles, who connected on 7 - of - 14 three - point attempts. Allen had 14 points and 13 rebounds, while Luis Scola added 12 points and 14 rebounds. The Pacers’ starting five struggled to score, combining for just 30 points on 11 - of - 38 shooting. Up next, the Clippers travel to the nation’s capital to take on the Wizards on Friday. Indiana also hits the road, heading north to Toronto for a matchup with the East-leading Raptors, also on Friday.
+The Washington Wizards (30 - 15) defeated the Denver Nuggets (18 - 26) 117 - 115 on Sunday at the Pepsi Center in Denver. With Just over a second left in the game, Kenneth Faried had an opportunity to put the Nuggets ahead of the Wizards, but went 0 - for - 2 at the free throw line, causing this game to go to overtime. Paul Pierce had a shot at the end of regulation as well, but Faried got a little revenge and was able to block it. In overtime the Wizards were able to out - score the Nuggets 12 - 10, securing the tight victory on the road. Ty Lawson had a chance to tie it up with just over a second left, but missed and gave the Nuggets their sixth loss in a row. The Wizards received a surprise performance from Kris Humphries off the bench, who finished the game with 21 points (9 - 13 FG, 3 - 4 FT) and 14 rebounds. It marked his first double - double of the year and a new season - high in points. John Wall notched an impressive double - doube with 19 points (8 - 16 FG, 1 - 6 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT) and 16 assists. He's had a strong stretch of games, combining for 44 points and 25 rebounds over his last two. He continues to average a double - double at 17 points and 10 assists per game. While not doing much else other than scoring, Paul Pierce made his presence known and added 19 points (4 - 9 FG, 1 - 2 3Pt, 10 - 14 FT). It was a season - high in free throw attempts for him, as he was able to take advantage and score 19 for the second night in a row. Both Nene and Bradley Beal reached double figures as well with 14 points apiece. Ty Lawson and Wilson Chandler did most of the damage for the Nuggets. Lawson led all scorers with 31 points (10 - 20 FG, 3 - 5 3Pt, 8 - 8 FT), while also adding 12 assists and three steals. Lawson had to sit out of Friday's game for personal reasons, so it was good to see him come out right where he left off and have another big game. Chandler on the other hand finished with 20 points (8 - 19 FG, 4 - 9 3Pt) and nine rebounds, including a big three pointer to pull to within two points near the end of overtime. He's now averaging 14 points and 6 rebounds on the year. Jusuf Nurkic got the start despite dealing with a back injury, but ended up playing only 18 minutes and finished with six points (2 - 6 FG, 2 - 2 FT) and nine rebounds. With Nurkic playing a very limited amount of minutes, Darrell Arthur got a huge increase in minutes. In 29 minutes off the bench, he finished with 12 points (6 - 15 FG, 0 - 2 3Pt) and two rebounds. The Wizards' next game will be on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, while the Nuggets will travel to Los Angeles to play the Clippers on Monday.
+Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo combined for 45 points but only two other players scored in double digits for the Bucks, as Michael Beasley added 12 and Malcolm Brogdon added 11. Parker finished with 20 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals, in 38 minutes, while Antetokounmpo led the way with 25 points, seven rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block, in 32 minutes. The Bucks scored more than 30 points in every quarter except the second, where they were outscored 27 - 21. Both teams shot over 50 percent from the field, but the Timberwolves bested the Bucks, by hitting 56 percent of their shots. Andrew Wiggins was the high - point man in the contest with 31 on 10 - of - 18 shooting, to go along with six assists, five rebounds and one steal, in 39 minutes. Karl-Anthony Towns added 18 points and 16 rebounds, while Zach LaVine as on fire from long range, where he hit 6 - of - 9.
+The Toronto Raptors rallied back to defeat the visiting Utah Jazz 101 - 93, at Air Canada Center on Thursday evening. The Jazz started out strong, with a 27 - 18 first quarter, but were outscored in each of the remaining quarters, resulting in their second straight loss. Kyle Lowry scored 16 points in the fourth quarter alone, to fuel the final run that the Raptors needed to pull off an impressive home win. This was the first game back home after a six - game road trip for the Raptors (24 - 11). Despite shooting only 40 percent from the field, the Raptors scratched and clawed, with 10 steals, 27 points off turnovers and 12 fast break points, to pull off what seemed like an unlikely win. Kyle Lowry was the high - point man, with 33, along with six rebounds, five assists and three steals, in 41 minutes. DeMar DeRozan followed up with 23 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block, in 37 minutes. Jonas Valanciunas had his best game in a while, as he tallied 18 points and 13 rebounds, in 31 minutes. The Raptors improve to 12 - 5 at home, but will have to turn right around and head back out on the road, as they play Saturday evening in Chicago. This marks the second straight loss for the Jazz (22 - 15), as they are now 1 - 2 on their current five - game road trip. They played a solid game and even led 75 - 71 at the beginning of the fourth. However, they were not able to keep up with Toronto's hustle in the final quarter, where they were outscored by 10. Only three players scored in double digits for the Jazz, led by Shelvin Mack, with 17. Rudy Gobert totaled 15 points and 16 rebounds, while Gordon Hayward added 16 points. The Jazz shot 46 percent from the field and 35 percent from long range, but were outscored at the free throw line and in the paint. The Jazz are now 10 - 8 on the road and have dropped two straight, while they move on to face the Timberwolves in Minnesota on Saturday.
+The Charlotte Hornets (46 - 33) defeated the Brooklyn Nets (21 - 58) 113 - 99 on Friday. Charlotte came into the night with their playoff berth long sewn up, but with eyes on a division title and improvement in their overall playoff seeding. They took care of business by handling the revamped Nets, who provided Chris McCullough with his first career start. The Hornets benefited from the return to the starting lineup of Nicolas Batum, who had missed the last two games with a left knee strain, and also saw their second unit contribute 54 points on the night, with three players hitting double - digit scoring. The Nets were paced by Wayne Ellington, who managed 21 points, a rebound and an assist. Thomas Robinson turned in another outstanding effort at power forward, tallying 16 points, 17 rebounds and a steal. McCullough totaled 12 points, three rebounds, an assist and three steals. Sean Kilpatrick paced the bench with 16 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals. The Nets are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division. They head to Indiana to take on the Pacers on Sunday. The Hornets were spearheaded by Kemba Walker's 22 points, which he supplemented with four rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal. Batum managed 14 points, six rebounds, six assists and a block. Marvin Williams supplied 12 points, three boards, an assist, three steals and a block. Troy Daniels paced the bench with 17 points, three rebounds and a steal. Frank Kaminsky III was next with 12 points, four rebounds, an assist and a steal. Jeremy Lin was the third player in double figures on the second unit, registering 11 points, five rebounds, three assists and a block. The Hornets are in third place in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division, and currently slotted in the sixth seed as well. They head to Washington for a Sunday matchup against the Wizards.
+The Clippers came into this game as a 12 - point favorite and they looked a worthy favorite for the first 45 minutes. Los Angeles actually had an 18 - point lead late in the third quarter, but allowed the Nets to come back and grab their first lead with three minutes left. From there, it went into two overtimes, with the Nets finally prevailing, 127 - 122. Sean Kilpatrick was the star, as he finished with a career - high 38 points and 14 rebounds. Brook Lopez was just as good, as he tallied 27 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Without Blake Griffin in the lineup, DeAndre Jordan totaled 21 points and 23 rebounds. Chris Paul recorded a huge triple - double, accumulating 26 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists in the defeat. Despite the Clippers leading for the first 45 minutes, there were eight ties and seven lead changes in the final three minutes of regulation and the two overtimes.
+It was a low - scoring game as the Lakers met the Jazz in Utah on Thursday. Low scores have become the tendency for opponents of the Jazz, as center Rudy Gobert has been an absolute force on the defensive end. The French big man followed up comments to the media about his All-Star snubbing by blocking five shots and coming down with 13 rebounds against LA. Newly-minted All-Star Gordon Hayward, meanwhile, led the team's offense with 24 points. Hayward shot 7 - of - 14 from the field and 9 - of - 10 from the free - throw line. It was not a good offensive night for either team, though, as both clubs shot under 43 percent on the night. The Lakers' struggles were primarily a product of poor play from their starters. The starting five combined for only 32 points and four assists. Off the bench, sixth man Lou Williams scored 20 to lead the team. Rookie Ivica Zubac had his second career double - double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
+Milwaukee has now won four of their last five games, while scoring at least 110 points in all of those wins. Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to develop as a point guard, as he is averaging about 22 points, nine rebounds and eight assists a game after this blowout win. Sacramento's “others” continue to struggle, as this is now the seventh - straight game in which no other starter aside from Cousins or Gay has scored more than 11 points. Milwaukee dominated in nearly every facet, as they outshot Sacramento from the field, three - point range and the free - throw line. In addition to that, they also won the rebounding and assisting margins, while also dominating the steals and blocks categories. The benches were used heavily in this lopsided game, as they combined for 120 points between the two teams.
+The Dallas Mavericks (16 - 6) defeated the Milwaukee Bucks (11 - 11) 125 - 102 on Sunday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. The Mavericks used their superior shooting in this matchup, as they went 58 percent from the field and 39 percent from the three - point line. The Bucks in comparison shot 50 percent from the floor and only 27 percent from beyond the arc. The Mavericks also forced the Bucks into 19 turnovers, which only added to Dallas' advantage in the 23 - point victory. The trio of Chandler Parsons, Dirk Nowitzki and Monta Ellis really killed the Bucks. Parsons could n't miss and went 11 - for - 14 from the field and 4 - for - 6 from the three - point line to score a game - high of 28 points. He's averaged just under 15 points up to this point, so it was a nice surprise for the Mavericks to get the type of production they've been looking for all season from him. Nowitzki shot nearly as well as Parsons and finished with 21 points (8 - 12 FG, 1 - 4 3Pt, 4 - 4 FT) and four rebounds. He struggled to only 10 points (2 - 10 FG) on Friday against the Suns, so it was a nice bounce back game for him. Ellis had 19 points (7 - 13 FG, 1 - 5 3Pt, 4 - 6 FT) and four assists as the third member of the starting lineup to reach double figures. In only five minutes off the bench, Richard Jefferson was able to go a perfect 4 - 4 from the field and 2 - for - 2 from beyond the arc to score 10 points. It was good enough to lead the bench in scoring. The Bucks had all five starters reach double figures in points, but just did n't play enough defense to keep them close. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the team with 18 points (8 - 11 FG, 2 - 3 FT) and four rebounds. It was the most points he's had in the last seven games, so the Bucks will hope it can boost his confidence even more. Brandon Knight had 16 points of his own, but did most of his damage from the free throw line where he went a perfect 7 - for - 7. He's done most of the scoring for the Bucks in the last two weeks, and it looks like it may continue. Rookie Jabari Parker shot 7 - for - 12 from the field to score 15 points, while also chipping in five rebounds. He's now averaging 12 points and 6 rebounds on the year. Zaza Puchulia gave a good push off the bench and fnished with 13 points and eight rebounds. The Mavericks' next game will be on the road against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday, while the Bucks will travel to Oklahoma City to play the Thunder on Tuesday.
+Washington posted outstanding 58 - and - 62 percent success rates from the field and three - point range, respectively, while seeing six players tally double - digit scoring. They limited Russell Westbrook to a modest 17 points on 5 - of - 19 shooting and the Thunder to 35 percent shooting overall, including one stretch of 24 consecutive missed shots. Markieff Morris paced Washington with 23 points, while Bradley Beal followed with 22. Otto Porter, Jr. managed an 18 - point, 12 - rebound double - double and John Wall turned in a spectacular 15 - point, 14 - assist double - double. Marcin Gortat totaled 12 points and Trey Burke led the bench with 11. Joffrey Lauvergne matched Westbrook's scoring total while leading the bench. Cameron Payne provided 12 points. Steven Adams posted nine points and hauled in 11 rebounds. Domantas Sabonis tallied six points, while Jerian Grant and Alex Abrines posted matching eight - point efforts off the bench.
+The Chicago Bulls defeated the Orlando Magic 112 - 80 at United Center on Monday. The Bulls' (4 - 3) second - half defense propelled them toward a blowout win at home over the Magic (3 - 4). The contest was close in the first half, with Orlando keeping themselves within striking distance of the Chicago lead. Evan Fournier and Aaron Gordon led the Magic in the second quarter after falling behind early, and they entered the half with a nine - point deficit. The second half was a different story, however, as the Magic posted just 11 points in the third quarter and 17 points in the final period. Chicago was able to pull away with relative ease after Orlando went scoreless from the 10:12 mark to the 5:13 mark in the third quarter. While shooting inside the arc went swimmingly for the Bulls, who hit 47 percent of their attempts from the field as a unit, three - point shooting did not go nearly as well. Chicago shot just 16 percent from behind the arc on 3 - of - 19 shooting. The three point shooting was going surprisingly well up until Monday, given the trio of Rajon Rondo, Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade's career marks not being among the elite in the NBA. Butler led the way for Chicago and finished with 20 points, seven assists and five rebounds, while Wade added 16 points, four assists and three boards. Gordon finished with 15 points for the Magic, to go along with four assists and four rebounds. The bench was of little help to the starters, as Mario Hezonja's nine points led the reserves. Orlando shot just 39 percent from the field as a team, and the long scoring drought in the third quarter proved to be all the Bulls needed to come away with a win. Both teams play on Wednesday, as the Bulls travel to Atlanta to take on the Hawks, while the Magic return home to host the Minnesota Timberwolves.
+The Minnesota Timberwolves (9 - 40) defeated the Miami Heat (21 - 28) 102 - 101 on Wednesday. Ricky Rubio played 23 minutes in his second game back from an ankle injury. He had been out since Nov. 7, but he finished with eight points, nine assists and four turnovers. Mo Williams had a double - double off the bench with 10 points and 10 assists. He too was in his second game back, after missing two games with a hip injury. Zach LaVine played eight minutes off the bench. He has an ankle injury and sat out Minnesota's previous two games. 2014 first - overall pick Andrew Wiggins had a rough game, posting just six points on 2 - of - 8 from the field to go along with five rebounds and four fouls in 37 minutes. Kevin Martin has come on strong since returning from a wrist injury that had kept him out since Nov. 19. He's put up averages of 21 points, 4 rebounds and 1 steal in 35 minutes in five games since coming back. Martin scored 30 points on 11 - of - 23 from the field in 40 minutes against the Heat. Hassan Whiteside continued his 2015 breakout campaign Wednesday. He put up 24 points and 20 rebounds to go along with two blocks and three steals in 36 minutes. He led his team in points, rebounds, blocks, steals, minutes and turnovers. Norris Cole led the Heat's bench with 15 points in 26 minutes. He missed what would have been the game - winning three - point bucket with two seconds remaining in the game. Miami has lost four of their last five games. Their longest winning streak of the season is just two games, which they have done just twice this season. The Heat will head to San Antonio to face the Spurs on Friday. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves will play host to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.
+The Bucks (31 - 23) held off the Nuggets (20 - 34) 89 - 81 at the Bradley Center on Friday night. In its first game since dealing Brandon Knight to Phoenix, Milwaukee started Jerryd Bayless at point guard, as newly acquired Michael Carter-Williams (toe) was unavailable. Bayless finished with 11 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in 38 minutes. Khris Middleton added 15 points and four rebounds, while John Henson had 14 points and and four rebounds of his own. Giannis Antetokounmpo struggled, scoring only 10 points on 3 - of - 13 shooting. He did lead the Bucks with nine rebounds, however. Another new acquisition, rookie Tyler Ennis, played 18 minutes and four points on 1 - of - 4 shooting. Denver, which dealt Arron Afflalo to Portland at the deadline, managed just 36 percent shooting and had only two players make more than half of their field goal attempts. Playing without Ty Lawson, who was benched after being late to shootaround, Denver was led by Wilson Chandler, who had 19 points in 38 minutes. Jusuf Nurkic had 11 points and 15 rebounds, and Kenneth Faried finished with eight points and five boards. Denver has now dropped seven of eight dating back to late - January. They’ll play at Oklahoma City on Sunday night, while Milwaukee will host the Hawks on Sunday afternoon.
+The Toronto Raptors (44 - 20) took down the Miami Heat (38 - 28) in overtime Saturday, winning 112 - 104 in a matchup that should have major implications for the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Guard DeMar DeRozan had arguably his strongest performance of the season, scoring 38 points while also pulling down 10 rebounds and dishing out seven assists. The All-Star got to the free - throw line 15 times in the contest, converting on 12 of those attempts. Center Jonas Valanciunas also posted a double - double, scoring 20 and pulling down 10 boards. The Raptors held the Heat to just 38 percent shooting from the field in a strong team defensive performance. Toronto now sits two games back from Cleveland for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Recent acquisition Joe Johnson led the Heat with 28 points, his highest - scoring performance in a Miami uniform. With stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh both sidelined, the Heat made due with what they had, finding buckets in unusual places. Forward Luol Deng also chipped in 20 points, while standout center Hassan Whiteside posted 13 from the bench. The Heat are now a full game behind the Boston Celtics for third in the East. The Heat will play the Nuggets on Monday, while the Raptors will take on the Bulls.
+The Boston Celtics (40 - 30) defeated the Philadelphia 76ers (9 - 61) 120 - 105 on Sunday. The Sixers are likely one of the best elixirs for a losing streak, and the Celtics were certainly in need of a victory coming into Sunday. They'd lost four consecutive contests, and had seen their playoff seeding slip from third to sixth during that stretch. Ultimately, Boston was able to assert its superiority over their hapless hosts, but as has often been the case lately, it did n't happen without a fight from a feisty Sixers squad. Even after the Celtics jumped out to a 28 - 16 lead after one period, Philadelphia kept coming, and prevailed over the second and third quarters by a combined margin of 63 - 60. Boston was able to pull away in the final 12 minutes however, and earned the rather hard - fought victory on the strength of solid shooting from all areas of the court. The Celtics managed a 49 percent success rate from the field, and 42 percent from three - point range.They were also strong down low, outrebounding the Sixers by a margin of 53 - 40. Boston was unsurprisingly led by Isaiah Thomas, who compiled 26 points, eight assists, six rebounds and a steal. Avery Bradley was strong in support, tallying 20 points, four assists, three rebounds, four steals and a block. Amir Johnson was a pleasant surprise on offense, registering 18 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. Jared Sullinger and Evan Turner rounded out a successful night for the starting five with a pair of 17 - point efforts. The former also contributed 13 rebounds, an assist and a steal, while the latter registered nine rebounds and six assists. Marcus Smart paced the bench with 15 points, five rebounds, five assists and a pair of steals. The Celtics remain in second place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division, and have moved up to the fifth seed in the conference as well. They head back home to face the Orlando Magic on Monday night. The Sixers were spearheaded by an outstanding effort off the bench by Carl Landry, who amassed 26 points and eight rebounds over 25 highly efficient minutes. Hollis Thompson was next, checking in with 18 points, two assists, a rebound and a block. Ish Smith followed with 14 points, eight assists and three rebounds. Jerami Grant scored 11 points, and also hauled in eight rebounds, dished out two assists and recorded a pair of blocks. Nik Stauskas was the second Sixer to tally double - digit scoring off the bench, totaling 12 points, six rebounds and three assists. Philadelphia remains in last place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division. They head to Indiana to take on the Pacers on Monday night.
+C.J. McCollum stepped up to shoulder the offensive load over Damian Lillard for an afternoon, tallying a slew of season bests in the process. The third - year guard finished with season highs in minutes (39), points (37), shot attempts (23) and three - point tries (12). Lillard largely struggled, making only 3 - of - 11 shots from the field, but did make good on all 11 visits to the free - throw line. The two guards and Maurice Harkless combined for a whopping 74 of the team's 100 points, keying the road victory. The Grizzlies struggled to get much offense byeond the trio of Marc Gasol, Mike Conley and Zach Randolph. The veterans combined for 52 points, with Gasol leading the team with 21 points. Memphis only managed to shoot 38 percent from the field and 23 percent from three - point range during the contest.
+The Milwaukee Bucks (14 - 13) defeated the Sacramento Kings (11 - 15) 108 - 107 on Thursday. Milwaukee played a wild card, starting rookie Johnny O'Bryant at power forward in just the second game of his career. O'Bryant earned the start with Larry Sanders sitting out with a one - game suspension, and with Jabari Parker (knee) recently ruled out for the season following a the suffering of a torn ACL in Monday's win over the Phoenix Suns. O'Bryant scored six points in 17 minutes. Giannis Antetokounmpo was questionable to play after he suffered a sprained ankle in Wednesday's loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, but his ankle appears to be no issue as he played 37 minutes, which far exceeds the 27 minutes per game he's averaged this season. Jared Dudley moved back to a bench role but still put up 19 points in 33 minutes. Sacramento got DeMarcus Cousins back from a ten - game absence due to a bout with viral meningitis. While it was expected that Cousins' minutes may be limited, the Kings let him play his usual compliment of 30 - plus minutes, in which time Cousins put up a game - high 27 points to go with 11 rebounds and five assists. Though the team installed Ty Corbin as their new head coach this week, they have not made any significant changes to their rotation through Corbin's first two games. Milwaukee will wrap up their four - game road trip Saturday in Los Angeles against the Clippers. Sacramento has dropped five straight games, but they'll have a good chance at breaking that streak when they host the Lakers on Sunday.
+The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Denver Nuggets, 117 - 106, at Philips Arena on Wednesday. Wire-to-wire wins are rare in the NBA, but Atlanta was able to capture one here, despite the game being decided late in the fourth quarter. In fact, the Hawks ended the game on an 8 - 1 run to cap off the wire - to - wire victory. Atlanta's offense was extremely efficient, as they shot 51 percent from the field and recorded 31 assists. Denver shot just 40 percent from the field and went 13 - of - 21 from the free - throw line. The Nuggets (23 - 29) are as beat - up as anyone right now and they simply did n't have enough ammunition to win this road game. Wilson Chandler carried the load, as he tallied 24 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Nikola Jokic was second on the team in scoring, as he totaled 18 points and 14 rebounds. Will Barton was a huge spark off the bench, as he provided 17 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, three steals and two blocks. Kenneth Faried left after nine minutes, as he suffered an ankle sprain. The Hawks (31 - 22) have been a different team over recent weeks and wire - to - wire wins show just how well they're playing right now. Dennis Schroder was the player of the game, as he accumulated 24 points, five rebounds, 10 assists and three steals. Paul Millsap was n't far behind, collecting 23 points, six rebounds and five assists. Dwight Howard recorded an 11 - point, 13 - rebound double - double. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Kent Bazemore each scored 14 points apiece.
+The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Phoenix Suns, 130 - 112, at FedEx Forum on Tuesday. Despite the lopsided scoreline, this was an intense battle for the first 30 - plus minutes. In fact, there were five ties and 10 lead changes in the first three quarters, with neither team leading by more than 10 points. Memphis turned it on in the second half though, outscoring Phoenix, 75 - 56. The Grizzlies had their best offensive game of the season, as they shot 56 percent from the field and 48 percent from three - point range. They also dominated the rebounding, winning that battle, 39 - 32. The Suns (18 - 42) continue to struggle, as they've now lost 13 of their last 16 games. Eric Bledsoe led the way for Phoenix, as he tallied 20 points, five rebounds, eight assists and two steals. T.J. Warren finished second on the team with 17 points and six rebounds on 8 - of - 13 shooting. Devin Booker really struggled, as he could only muster up nine points, three rebounds and one assist on 3 - of - 11 shooting in 35 minutes. Phoenix will host the Charlotte Hornets for their next game on Thursday. The Grizzlies (36 - 25) had lost their last two games at home, so this bounce - back blowout is just what the doctor ordered. Mike Conley led Memphis with 29 points, three rebounds and eight assists. Marc Gasol was n't far behind, as he collected 28 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Zach Randolph was huge off the bench, providing 23 points and eight rebounds on 10 - of - 15 shooting. The Grizzlies will play the Dallas Mavericks for their next game on Friday.
+The Rockets trailed 25 - 18 after one quarter, but outscored their hosts by an 81 - 71 margin the rest of the way. James Harden paced the visitors with 28 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds. Capela contributed a 15 - point, 12 - rebound double - double, while Trevor Ariza and Ryan Anderson combined for 24 points, 12 rebounds and four assists. Sam Dekker led the reserves with 12 points, and the Rockets managed to shoot 45 percent from the field. Caldwell-Pope led the way for the Pistons with 26 points. Andre Drummond and Marcus Morris followed with a pair of 13 - point efforts, with the former also hauling in 16 boards, an assist and four steals, and the latter totaling two rebounds and a block. Despite the loss, the Pistons shot better than 40 percent from both the field and three - point range.
+The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the host Dallas Mavericks, 131 - 102, to take a 2 - 1 lead in the Western Conference first - round playoffs Thursday at American Airlines Center. The Thunder led wire - to - wire as their offense was hitting on all cylinders. Oklahoma City shot 58 percent from the field and tied their season high in three - pointers made with 15. Oklahoma City owned a 58 - 48 lead at the half and used a 39 - point third quarter to put it away. The Thunder led by at least 18 points throughout the final quarter as they were able to coast to the finish line. After Dallas's defense shut down the Thunder's superstar duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook last times out, Oklahoma City's leaders bit back in a big way in Game 3. Durant scored a game - high 34 points (11 - 25 FG, 3 - 9 3PT, 9 - 11 FG) and grabbed seven rebounds. Westbrook, meanwhile, was ultra - efficient at the point, dishing 15 assists to go with 26 points (9 - 15 FG, 2 - 3 3PT, 6 - 9 FT). Enes Kanter added 21 points (6 - 7 FG, 8 - 10 FG) and Dion Waiters scored 19 (7 - 11 FG, 4 - 8 3PT) to lead a big night for Oklahoma City's bench, which outscored Dallas's reserves 46 - 26. Wesley Matthews scored 22 points (6 - 13 FG, 3 - 7 3PT, 7 - 10 FT) to lead the Mavericks. Dirk Nowitzki added 16 points (7 - 12 FG) and Raymond Felton followed up his big Game 2 with 18 points (8 - 15 FG), four assists and four steals. But the Mavericks just could n't get their shots going. They finished 6 - 23 (26 percent) from deep and missed 11 free throws (24 - 35 FT), sloppiness they could n't afford against Oklahoma City's ruthless attack. Game 4 of this series is scheduled for Saturday at 8:0 PM Eastern Time at American Airlines Center.
+Despite Milwaukee leading for just 21 seconds of this game, they made Boston work for their win. In fact, it was a single - digit margin for the final 25 minutes in this overtime thriller. The Bucks dug too deep of a hole, as they trailed by 15 points after the first quarter. The starters were the difference in the game, with Boston's starters outscoring Milwaukee's starters, 77 - 55. Isaiah Thomas was the player of the game, as he dropped a game - high 37 points to go along with three rebounds and eight assists. Jae Crowder was second on Boston, with 20 points, six rebounds and four assists. Kelly Olynyk was huge off their bench, amassing 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee in scoring, as he accumulated 21 points, six rebounds and six assists. Greg Monroe was huge off the bench, totaling 14 points, 13 rebounds, three blocks ad three steals. Michael Beasley led Milwaukee's bench in scoring, amassing 17 points and eight rebounds.
+With much fanfare being made about the absurd statistical starts of many superstars, Damian Lillard continued to separate himself from the pack on Friday night. Through six games, Lillard is averaging just over 34 points on over 52 percent shooting. Friday's 42 - point outing marked his highest scoring night of the season, though that was a high bar for Lillard to hop; in six games, he has scored no lower than 27 and has eclipsed 35 points three times. For Dallas, meanwhile, offseason addition Harrison Barnes has seen his role shift with the Mavericks. After playing in a loaded Golden State offense, Barnes has been able to see the ball in his hands plenty in Dallas. With 17 points on Friday, Barnes remains Dallas's top scorer, having reached double digits in all five games thus far.
+The San Antonio Spurs (28 - 6) remain undefeated at home, now 190, after they dismantled the hurting Phoenix Suns (12 - 22), 112 - 79, on Wednesday. This was the Suns sixth loss in a row, while San Antonio picked up their third win in a row. Given the Spurs undefeated home record and the poor play, injuries and drama surrounding the Suns, this game was pretty much over before it started. However, the disciplined Spurs made sure to take nothing for granted, as they got up to a 32 - 12 lead by the end of the first quarter. The Suns never had another chance. The Suns were again without their top scorer, Eric Bledsoe, who is out with a torn meniscus. In his absence no one was able to step up offensively. The Suns had three players score 11 points and no one else break 10. Tyson Chandler scored 11 points (5 - 6 FG) and pulled down 10 rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench. Brandon Knight also had 11 points, along with four assists, in 26 minutes. T.J. Warren chipped in 11 points (5 - 10 FG) as well. The Suns shot 39 percent from the field as a team. Tim Duncan sat this one out with a sore right knee but there was no shortage of teammates to step up in his absence, as 12 of the 13 players that hit the floor for the Spurs scored points. LaMarcus Aldridge played 29 minutes and led the way in scoring and rebounds for his team, with a double - double consisting of 21 points (8 - 12 FG, 5 - 10 FT) and 12 rebounds. Kawhi Leonard finished with a cool 19 points (6 - 10 FG, 3 - 4 4Pt, 4 - 4 FT), along with two assists and two steals, also in 29 minutes. Tony Parker had a complete game, with 12 points (5 - 8 FG), seven assists, four steals, three rebounds and only one turnover, in 22 minutes. The Spurs shot a blistering 56 percent from the field, including 6 - 14 from beyond the arc. The Spurs will now get a couple of days rest before hosting state - rival Houston Rockets on Saturday. The Suns will enter the second game of a four - game road trip, as well as the second of a back - to - back, when they play in Oklahoma City, on Thursday night.
+The Houston Rockets (10) defeated the Los Angeles Lakers (0 - 1) 108 - 90 at the Staples Center on Tuesday in Los Angeles. Although committing less turnovers and matching the Rockets in rebounding, the Lakers didn’t have enough scorers to keep up with their opponent. Rookie power forward Julius Randle suffered a broken tibia in his right leg and had to be taken off the court on a stretcher in the fourth quarter. It's unknown how much time Randle will miss with the injury. James Harden was able to draw fouls at will and made 15 - of - 16 free - throw attempts on his way to finishing with 32 points (7 - 17 FG, 3 - 6 3Pt) in 30 minutes of action. In his Rockets’ regular season debut, Trevor Ariza got hot from behind the arc, shooting 5 - for - 8 on three - pointers and ending with 16 points to go along with three rebounds and two assists. Terrence Jones doubled - doubled with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Dwight Howard was limited by foul trouble. He finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds in 21 minutes. Kobe Bryant scored 19 points to go with three rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Carlos Boozer had 17 points and seven rebounds. The Lakers shot a combined 35 percent from the field and 30 percent from three - point, which are numbers that make it tough on any team to have a chance at victory. In taking over for Steve Nash, Jeremy Lin had seven points (1 - 5 FG), two rebounds, six assists, and four turnovers. Rookie Jordan Clarkson played 20 minutes, scoring eight points. The Rockets’ next game is on the road Wednesday against the Utah Jazz, while the Lakers will play the Phoenix Suns in Phoenix on Wednesday.
+The Indiana Pacers defeated the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center 111 - 102 on Sunday. The Pacers (10 - 10) spread the ball effectively and saw all five starters finish in double figures on their way to picking up wins in three of their last four contests. The Clippers (16 - 6) dropped their third game of the year at home, and have been sliding after a strong start to the season that once had them at the top of the Western Conference. The Pacers' four - point halftime lead started to expand on behalf of Indiana throughout the third quarter. C.J. Miles trip to the free throw line with 1:46 left in the the third quarter extended the lead to 10 points, Thaddeus Young continued the trend for the Pacers after his two point bucket built the lead to 18 points midway through the fourth quarter, and Indiana did not need to look back after that. Young led the Pacers with 17 points, to go along with seven rebounds and two assists, while Paul George suited up and played 34 minutes. George finished with 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists on 6 - of - 13 shooting. Myles Turner, Jeff Teague and Monta Ellis all finished in double figures scoring, while Rodney Stuckey led the bench with 16 points. Blake Giffin turned in a big performance, but it was not enough to cut in the building Pacers lead in the second half. The forward totaled 24 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, one steal and two blocks on 10 - of - 21 shooting. J.J. Redick added five threes in the loss, and finished with 15 points. Next up, the Clippers host the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, while the Pacers play the second game of a back - to - back at the Warriors on Monday.
+The Orlando Magic (10 - 16) defeated the Atlanta Hawks (16 - 7) 100 - 99 on Saturday. The Magic and Hawks were playing a home - and - home set Friday and Saturday. Atlanta took Friday's game 87 - 81, but Orlando was reinforced by the return of starting center Nikola Vucevic on Saturday to give them a more stout lineup. Vucevic missed six games with a lower back injury, but in his return, he posted 18 points and 11 rebounds in 35 minutes to show that he's back to full health. Orlando snapped a two - game losing streak with the win and have won three of their last five. The Magic will embark on a two - game road trip that begins on Monday against the Toronto Raptors. Atlanta had their nine - game win streak snapped with Saturday's loss. They had trouble getting their shots to fall, finishing shooting just 42 percent from the field and 30 percent from beyond the arc. Jeff Teague scored a game - high 24 points and dished out eight assists, but his success did n't spread amongst the rest of the Hawks. They'll try to get back in the win column when they host the Chicago Bulls on Monday.
+The Detroit Pistons (18 - 15) rolled over the Minnesota Timberwolves (12 - 21) 115 - 90 on Thursday night. The Timberwolves started off the game up by seven points after the first quarter, but it was all downhill after that. In fact, the Pistons outscored the Wolves 100 - 68 over the final 36 minutes. The game got to an 11 - point deficit in the fourth, but the Pistons starters came in and went on a 140 run to put the game way out of hand. The rebounding was the big difference, as Detroit snatched down 52 to Minnesota's 36 boards. Minnesota has been struggling recently and this game showed why. They were dominated in the second and fourth quarters, which are the decisive quarters in any NBA game. They were actually outscored by 32 points combined in those two quarters. Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Shabazz Muhammad all played well, but no one else did anything. In fact, those three combined for 58 points with no other player scoring in double - figures. Towns was their best player, as he tallied 23 points and nine rebounds in the loss. The Timberwolves will look to bounce - back in their next game on Saturday against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Pistons have been one of the best rebounding teams in the league this season and that carried them to a win here. Most notably, Andre Drummond brought down another 18 rebounds to compliment his 23 points. Reggie Jackson also played well in just 27 minutes of action, providing 19 points and nine assists. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope also continued his breakout season, as he amassed 22 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals as well. This is a dangerous team at home, as they are now 11 - 5 at the Palace. Detroit’s next game will be on Saturday against the Indiana Pacers.
+The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the New York Knicks, 105 - 104, at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday. The Knicks (16 - 19) checked in to Wednesday's contest looking to snap a five - game losing streak and heading into the fourth quarter, they looked like they were well on their way to that goal. New York led the Bucks (18 - 16) by a comfortable 87 - 73 margin, but a surging Milwaukee squad was n't done by any stretch. They ultimately outscored their hosts by a 32 - 17 spread in the final 12 minutes, capping off a momentous comeback with a 15 - foot bucket from Giannis Antetokounmpo as time expired to seal the somewhat improbable road win. Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 27 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, a steal and three blocks, his second consecutive double - double. Greg Monroe actually checked in as the second - leading scorer and did so in his customary bench role, posting 18 points, along with nine boards, four assists, three steals and a block. Jabari Parker contributed 15 points, four rebounds, three assists and a steal. Malcolm Brogdon went for 12 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Mirza Teletovic was productive in a reserve role as well, generating 13 points and a rebound. Carmelo Anthony totaled a game - high 30 points to lead the Knicks, a total he supplemented with 11 rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Derrick Rose was a distant second with 15 points, four assists, three rebounds and a steal. Courtney Lee checked in with 11 points, three assists, two rebounds, a steal and a block. Joakim Noah mustered a modest eight points but did haul in 16 boards, while Mindaugas Kuzminskas paced the second unit with 15 points, four rebounds, an assist, two steals and a block. The Bucks and Knicks face off once again in the second game of the home - and - home series, with the meeting taking place Friday night in Milwaukee.
+The Charlotte Hornets (24 - 25) dealt the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers (35 - 13) their second loss under coach Tyronn Lue on Wednesday, winning 106 - 97 in Charlotte. Despite a severe slide to start the new year, Charlotte remains in the mix for the Eastern Conference playoffs. The team has now won five or their last seven games, including a 101 - 82 blowout of the Los Angeles Lakers. The Hornets hold one of the largest disparities between home and road record in the league, as they are now 17 - 8 at Time Warner Cable Arena but just 7 - 17 away from their home court. On Wednesday, guard Jeremy Lin earned props from owner and NBA legend Michael Jordan for his strong performance. Lin delivered 24 points, five rebounds and eight assists, leading the team in both scoring and dimes dished. Recently returned defensive anchor Michael Kidd-Gilchrist delivered an 11 - point, 13 - rebound double double, while rookie lottery pick Frank Kaminsky provided a spark off the bench with 15 points. Cleveland, meanwhile, struggled to move the ball, recording just 16 team assists. Power forward Kevin Love was held to a paltry 4 - for - 12 from the field, while shooting guard JR Smith also went cold, going just 5 - for - 14 on the night. The non - Love members of the big three still put up a strong fight, however, with Kyrie Irving scoring a team - high 26 points and LeBron James going for 23 points, six rebounds, and six assists. The Cavaliers will host the Celtics on Friday. Charlotte will also see action on Friday, as they play host to the Miami Heat.
+The Toronto Raptors defeated the New Orleans Pelicans, 108 - 106, in overtime at Air Canada Center on Tuesday. In a game that was tight throughout, there were 11 ties and 19 lead changes in this overtime thriller. The difference for Toronto was the defensive rebounding, as they won that battle, 40 - 34. They also took advantage of scoring in the paint, with the Raptors recording 52 paint points to the Pelicans 44. The Raptors finished the game shooting 46 percent from the field, while New Orleans could n't quite crack 43 percent shooting. The Pelicans (19 - 30) have just six road wins on the season and a tough loss like this will be hard to swallow. Anthony Davis did finish with 18 points and 17 rebounds, but shot just 4 - of - 18 from the field. Jrue Holiday was the Pelican's best player, as he dropped a team - high 30 points, to go along with three assists, two steals and two blocks. Buddy Hield finished with 15 points and six rebounds. E'Twaun Moore led the bench in scoring, providing 17 points and six rebounds. The Raptors (30 - 19) had to play this game without DeMar DeRozan, but they got a much needed win, after losing seven of their last eight. Kyle Lowry carried the load, as he tallied 33 points, four rebounds and 10 assists. Jonas Valanciunas was second on the team, as he totaled 20 points and 12 rebounds. Norman Powell started for DeRozan and accumulated 18 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks.
+The Miami Heat (31 - 36) defeated the Portland Trail Blazers (44 - 22) 108 - 104 on Wednesday in Miami. The win was a big one for Miami, as it moves them a game ahead of the Pacers for seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings and three games back from the sixth - place Bucks. Dwyane Wade was once again spectacular for the Heat in the victory, scoring 32 points on 13 - of - 26 shooting, 15 points of which came in the fourth quarter, to go along with six assists and four rebounds in 39 minutes. Wade has been on a roll of late, as the team looks to make a push in this final stretch of the season. The All-Star has scored 32 points in back to back games and is averaging 30 points in his last six outings. Wade was not alone, as Luol Deng scored 24 points on 9 - of - 13 shooting in 42 minutes, while Goran Dragic recorded a double - double, putting up 20 points on 9 - of - 16 shooting and 11 assists in 39 minutes. Hassan Whiteside recorded a double - double of his own, recording 12 points on 6 - of - 11 shooting and 10 rebounds in 33 minutes. LaMarcus Aldridge had a monster game in the Trail Blazers' losing effort, posting 34 points on 15 - of - 24 shooting and 12 rebounds in 37 minutes. This was Aldridge's third double - double in a row and his fourth in the last five games. His effort was not enough though, as just two other Portland players scored in double figures. Damian Lillard scored 17 points on 7 - of - 13 shooting in 35 minutes and Arron Afflalo scored 15 points on 5 - of - 13 shooting in 33 minutes. The loss moves the Trail Blazers to fourth place in the Western Conference, as they are now a half game behind the Rockets for third place and two games behind the Grizzlies for second. Up next, the Heat will take on the Nuggets at home on Friday, while Portland will travel to Orlando and go up against the Magic on Friday.
+The superstars on both the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors failed to show up in the box score and fell below their season averages, for the most part, although the Warriors still pulled out an easy victory on efficient team shooting. Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin combined for just 37 points on 41 shots from the field, while the Clippers shot 40 percent from the field as a unit. The Clippers bench provided help, like that of Jamal Crawford's 21 points, but in the end it was far from enough to cut into the lead. On the other side, the Warriors saw Stephen Curry uncharacteristically fail to make a three - point shot, as he finished 0 - of - 8 from behind the arc and just 7 - of - 16 from the field. Draymond Green and Klay Thompson led Golden State, where Thompson led all scorers with 24 points and Green finished with 22 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals on 8 - of - 10 shooting.
+The Cleveland Cavaliers (40 - 25) improved to 21 - 5 over the past 26 games with their win over the Phoenix Suns (33 - 31), 89 - 79. Alex Len was held out after spraining his right ankle the previous night. Earl Barron earned a start in Len’s absence. The Suns outscored the Cavaliers 27 - 9 in the final period to make the game seem closer than the final score. Tristan Thompson was the unsung hero for the Cavaliers, producing 15 points, a team - high 12 rebounds, one assist, and one steal in 29 minutes off the bench. Kyrie Irving and J.R. Smith combined to shoot 6 - of - 23 from the field. Irving picked up two fouls early in the first quarter and didn’t return until the third quarter. P.J.Tucker joined the starting lineup after a one - game demotion for missing the team bus to shootaround, shifting Marcus Morris back to a reserve role. T.J. Warren was the only Suns player to convert more than half his shots. The starting lineup shot a combined 16 - of - 52, and Markieff Morris scored a team - high 16 points. Brandan Wright played a season - high 30 minutes and provided seven points, seven rebounds, one assist, two steals and three blocks. The Cavaliers have two days off before beginning a four - game road trip against the Dallas Mavericks. The Suns start their own five - game homestand Monday against the Golden State Warriors.
+The Memphis Grizzlies (14 - 2) defeated the Portland Trail Blazers (12 - 4) 112 - 99 on Friday. Memphis has won four straight games and eight of their last nine. Marc Gasol paced the Grizzlies with 26 points and also dished out nine assists in 36 minutes. Six players scored in double digits, including Mike Conley who narrowly missed a triple - double by posting 21 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists in 38 minutes. The Grizzlies are in the midst of a four - game road trip. They'll travel to Sacramento to play the Kings on Sunday. Portland had their nine - game win streak snapped with this loss. Wesley Matthews led the team in scoring for a second straight game, putting up 26 points in 36 minutes. Chris Kaman collected a double - double off the bench with 16 points and 11 rebounds in 25 minutes. The Trail Blazers will stay home to host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.
+The visiting Portland Trail Blazers took down the Miami Heat on Sunday, 115 - 114. Portland (32 - 37) is now 8 - 3 in its last 11 games as it fights for the eighth seed in a still - open Western Conference. Leading the Blazers to take down the Heat was star point guard Damian Lillard, who dominated throughout with a season - high 49 points. Lillard went an astounding 14 - of - 21 from the field, including 9 - of - 12 from three - point range, and 12 - of - 12 from the free - throw line. Trade deadline acquisition Jusuf Nurkic also impressed, scoring 21 points to go along with 12 rebounds, six of which came on the offensive end. Nurkic also blocked three shots. All in all, the Blazers appeared to have found their stride as the race for the playoff race has heated up. Miami (34 - 36) has been one of the hottest teams in the league, but fell down to ninth place with the loss to Portland. Defense was a major problem for the Heat, as they allowed the Blazers to shoot over 50 percent and hit 13 - of - 26 from three - point range. While center Hassan Whiteside blocked three shots and had two steals, he had major issues on the defensive end, as he picked up five personal fouls. Off the bench, the Heat saw the majority of their offensive output. Sixth man James Johnson poured in a team - high 24 points to go along with seven rebounds and five assists. On Tuesday, Miami will host the Suns, while Portland will host the Bucks.
+Dwyane Wade scored 17 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter to propel the Bulls to a much - needed win. Wade went 9 - of - 24 from the field and added five rebounds, five assists and two steals. Meanwhile, Jimmy Butler was the high - point man for Chicago, as he poured in 28 points on 9 - of - 16 shooting, to go along with eight rebounds, six assists, four steals and two blocks, in 39 minutes. Taj Gibson came up big for the Bulls as well, finishing with 15 points, 16 rebounds, two blocks and one assist, in 32 minutes of action. On the other side, it was Anthony Davis who led the way for the Pelicans, with a game - high 36 points on 14 - of - 23 shooting, to go along with 14 rebounds, three blocks, two assists and one steal, in 39 minutes. Three other players scored in double digits for the Pelicans, including Solomon Hill with 10, E'Twaun Moore with 16 and Tyreke Evans with 14.
+Kyrie Irving keyed a victory in a game that saw the Cavs miss their first 14 shots. His 39 points led Cleveland, while LeBron James compiled 26 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds for his second triple - double of the season, both of which have come in the last three games. Love posted a 25 - point, 11 - rebound double - double, while Tristan Thompson culled together a 12 - point, 12 - rebound double - double of his own. J.R. Smith's epic shooting struggles continued, as he went scoreless (along with five rebounds and an assist) over 39 minutes on an 0 - for - 11 shooting tally, making him 1 - of - 22 from the field in the last two games. Joel Embiid's 22 points led the Sixers, while Ersan Ilyasova and Gerald Henderson combined for 26 points. Sergio Rodriguez contributed 12 points, and the second unit contributed 40 points overall.
+The San Antonio Spurs (2 - 1) rolled to a 100 - 73 win over the Los Angeles Clippers (1 - 2). Kawhi Leonard began the night accepting his Defensive Player of the Year award, and then added offensive maestro to his repertoire before the end of the third quarter. He scored a career - high 32 points in 29 minutes and hounded the Clippers’ Blake Griffin on the defensive end. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili all combined for 12 points in the lopsided victory. On the eve of his 39th birthday, Duncan was the only Spur to play more than 30 minutes, noteworthy because he played 44 minutes in Game 2. After being ruled out prior to the game with an ankle injury, Aron Baynes surprisingly played the final seven minutes. The Clippers set franchise playoff record - lows with 73 points, 34 percent field goal accuracy, and a playoff - worse 27 - point loss. The league’s best regular season offense on a possession basis was limited to 11 third - quarter points, concluding the first three periods with 49 points. Blake Griffin finished the game with team - highs of 14 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and 15 shot attempts, nearly recording his second straight triple - double. Chris Paul, the league’s steadiest ballhandler, registered six turnovers in 33 minutes and shot 3 - of - 11 from the floor. J.J. Redick scored all seven of his points in the first quarter, and Jamal Crawford was held to 1 - of - 11 shooting. Austin Rivers finished second on the team in scoring with 11 points, most of which were recorded in garbage time. Both teams resume the series Sunday afternoon in the AT & T Center.
+The Miami Heat (24 - 31) defeated the Philadelphia 76ers (12 - 44) 119 - 108 on Monday. The Heat are still reeling from the recent news that Chris Bosh will miss the remainder of the season with blood clots in his lung. Udonis Haslem started Monday at power forward in place of Bosh, playing 23 minutes with four points and seven rebounds. Luol Deng lit up the 76ers for 29 points on 11 - of - 14 shooting, which was his best scoring performance since dropping 30 on the Dallas Mavericks back on Nov. 9. Newly acquired point guard Goran Dragic had his first double - double in a Heat jersey, with 23 points and 10 assists. He's averaging 18 points and 6 assists in 33 minutes in two games since coming over in a deadline deal with the Phoenix Suns. Mario Chalmers, who was sent to the bench in favor of Dragic, posted nine points and six assists in 21 minutes. Hollis Thompson led all reserves with 22 points on the backs of 6 - for - 9 from beyond the arc. It was Thompson's second - highest scoring output of the season. Nerlens Noel also had his second - biggest outing of the season in terms of points, scoring 18 to go along with seven boards and four blocked shots. JaVale McGee, who came over in a trade from the Nuggets last week, is averaging just 3 points and 2 rebounds in 12 minutes in three contests since he was acquired. Philadelphia has dropped four straight games, and the only team looking up at them in the Eastern Conference standings are the lowly New York Knicks. The 76ers will travel to Milwaukee to take on the Bucks on Wednesday, in a what could be Michael Carter-Williams' (toe) Bucks debut against his former team. Meanwhile, the Heat will take on their division foe, the Magic, in Orlando on Wednesday.
+Carmelo Anthony stepped up in the absence of Kristaps Porzingis to deliver a game - high 23 points. Mindaugas Kuzminskas mustered 19 points to lead the second unit, while Derrick Rose checked in behind him with 17 points. Joakim Noah posted a 12 - point, 15 - rebound double - double against his former teammates, and Kyle O'Quinn supplied a 12 - point, 11 - rebound double - double in just 17 minutes off the bench. The Knicks also played stellar defense, holding the visitors to respective 40 percent and 17 percent success rates from the field and three - point range. Dwyane Wade's 22 points paced the Bulls, who played without Jimmy Butler (illness). Taj Gibson registered 12 points, Robin Lopez generated 10, and Paul Zipser contributed seven points, five rebounds and two assists in Butler's stead. Jerian Grant (14 points) and Cristiano Felicio (13 points) led the second unit.
+The Charlotte Hornets earned a win on the road in their season opener, defeating the Milwaukee Bucks, 107 - 96. The Hornets (10) started out hot, jumping to a 15 - point lead by halftime. Point guard Kemba Walker, the runner - up for the Most Improved Player award in 2015 - 16, led the charge for the Hornets with his distribution, posting eight assists and only two turnovers. Walker struggled with his shot, however, hitting just 5 of 15 field goal attempts. Sophomore Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, on the other hand, stepped up his offensive game after missing the bulk of the 2015 - 16 season. The former second overall pick scored a team - high 23 points and crashed the glass for 14 rebounds. Another change in the Hornets lineup was the presence of newly - acquired big man Roy Hibbert. The former Pacers All-Star recorded 15 points and five blocks in his debut with Charlotte. Giannis Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, took over for the Bucks (0 - 1), dropping in a game - high 31 points to go along with nine rebounds and five assists. Support from his teammates was lacking, however, as no other Buck scored more than 14 points. Lackluster three - point shooting hampered the Bucks' comeback efforts, as the team hit only three shots from beyond the arc. New faces Matthew Dellavadova and Mirza Teletovic made their debuts with Milwaukee in relatively quiet fashion, combining for just 17 points and six rebounds while approaching 30 minutes each. The Hornets will visit the Heat on Friday, while Milwaukee will play host to the Nets on Saturday.
+The Boston Celtics defeated the host Milwaukee Bucks, 112 - 108, in overtime at BMO Harris Bradley Center on Saturday. Despite Boston leading for 52 of the 53 minutes of this game, it was tight throughout. In fact, there were five ties, as it was a single - digit margin for the final 25 minutes. The first quarter was the difference in the game, as the Celtics won that quarter, 42 - 27. The assist - to - turnover ratio was decisive as well, with Boston recording three more assists and two less turnovers than Milwaukee. The Celtics starters put it to the Bucks starters, outscoring them, 77 - 55. The Celtics (29 - 18) were hanging on to a small lead all game, but they were able to prevail with a huge road win. Isaiah Thomas was once again the star, as he tallied 37 points, three rebounds and eight assists. Jae Crowder was second on the team, as he accrued 20 points, six rebounds and four assists. Kelly Olynyk was huge off the bench, as he dropped 17 points to go along with seven rebounds and three assists. Jaylen Brown and Amir Johnson did a nice job of filling - in for Al Horford, as they combined for 20 points and 15 rebounds. Boston will host the Detroit Pistons on Monday for their next game. The Bucks (21 - 26) have now lost eight of their last nine games, as the growing pains for this young team hurt as much as ever. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the team in scoring, as he accumulated 21 points, six rebounds and six assists. Matthew Dellavedova was second among starters, as he amassed 14 points, three rebounds and six assists. Greg Monroe recorded a double - double off the bench, totaling 14 points, 13 rebounds, three steals and three blocks. Michael Beasley led the bench in scoring, providing 17 points and eight rebounds. The Bucks will be off until Tuesday, when they play the Utah Jazz on the road for their next game.
+The Golden State Warriors (16 - 2) defeated the New Orleans Pelicans (8 - 9) 112 - 85 on Thursday. Golden State is on an 11 - game win streak that they've collected during a particularly easy part of their schedule. Stephen Curry continues to make his bid for the MVP Award, putting up his fifth double - double of the season. He scored 19 points and dished 11 assists in 31 minutes. Klay Thompson scored a team - high 23 points, and Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes finished with double - doubles of their own. They'll face a more seasoned opponent in the Chicago Bulls on the road Saturday, giving them a real pliability test as they try to add to their already impressive win streak. New Orleans has lost four of their last five games to fall below .500 for the first time since Nov. 4. Anthony Davis continues to do his best to keep the Pelicans poised for the playoff chase. He put up 30 points and 15 rebounds in 38 minutes, but the team shot just 42 percent from the field and 20 percent from beyond the three - point line. Despite an impressive top - six players on their roster, the Pelicans are woefully thin on the bench, and the absence of Eric Gordon (shoulder) has impacted their ability to win games more than it should, but coach Monty Williams has been unable to find a viable fill - in on his bench. Gordon is n't returning any time soon, and New Orleans is n't going to have it much easier Saturday when they continue their road trip in Los Angeles against the Clippers.
+While these two teams have been struggling recently, they both had one of their best offensive games of the season. Denver shot 56 percent from the field, while Orlando shot 49 percent on their end. There were six ties and 12 lead changes, as no team led by more than 11 points. Rebounding was key for the Nuggets, as they won that battle, 44 - 31. It was an all - around team effort for Denver, as they had six players score at least 14 points. Danilo Gallinari led the team with 21 points, six rebounds and three assists. All six of those players who scored at least 14 points shot at least 55 percent from the field as well. Kenneth Faried had one of his best games of the season, totaling 19 points and 10 rebounds on 9 - of - 10 from the field. Evan Fournier did all he could against his former team, tallying 24 points, four rebounds and six assists in the defeat.
+The Sacramento Kings defeated the Brooklyn Nets 122 - 105 at Golden 1 Center on Sunday. The Kings (7 - 10) ran away with their seventh win of the season in the third quarter against the Nets (4 - 12). After Brooklyn took a four point lead into the second quarter, the Kings bounced back and went into the half down just one point. DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay went to work in the third quarter on both ends of the floor, where the Kings outscored the Nets 34 - 18 and did not have to look back the rest of the contest. The Nets only managed three points in the last four minutes of that third quarter, while the Kings picked up the pace in transition and capped off a double digit scoring run. Cousins led the way with 37 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, four steals and one block, while Rudy Gay poured in 22 points of his own, to go along with eight boards and eight assists. Cousins was dominant from every inch of the floor, and that included an impressive 4 - of - 5 from behind the arc and 7 - of - 9 from the free throw line. The Nets had no response once Cousins got going, and the floor being spaced favored Rudy Gay to work off the dribble. Four Nets starters finished in double figures including Sean Kilpatrick, who led the Nets in that department with 22 points, to go along with five rebounds and three assists. Kilpatrick and Isaiah Whitehead, the Seton Hall product, were the only two players on the Nets to finish with a positive plus - minus. The Kings play the second game of a back - to - back when they visit the Washington Wizards on Monday, while the Nets host the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday.
+The Indiana Pacers (33 - 43) throttled the Charlotte Hornets (32 - 43) 93 - 74 on Friday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. This game was a must - win for both teams as Charlotte and Indiana are battling for one of the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. While Indiana was n't exactly overwhelming on the offensive end, Charlotte was dreadful. The Hornets shot 30 percent from the floor for much of the game, but were able to bump that number up to 35 percent when the game was already well out of hand. With the win, the Pacers locked up the head - to - head tiebreaker over the Hornets, which could be the deciding factor for the eighth spot in the East. Charlotte was already missing Cody Zeller and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist coming into this contest, and Al Jefferson missed the second half with continued knee soreness. The dearth of depth was ultimately too much to overcome for the Hornets, and their usual scorers did not come close to their usual offensive production. Kemba Walker was held to six points on 1 - of - 9 shooting and Mo Williams had nine points on 4 - of - 11 shooting. The Hornets will look to bounce back Saturday against the 76ers before a crucial matchup with the Heat on Tuesday. Indiana was able to pull away in the second and third quarters by playing a suffocating brand of defense. The Pacers allowed just 22 points over those two quarters, while pouring in 48 points themselves. Rodney Stuckey and C.J Watson provided solid scoring numbers off the bench, combining for 28 points. The Pacers leap - frogged the Hornets in the standings, but remain 2 games behind the Celtics and Heat and two games behind the Nets. Indiana only plays one of those teams, Miami, down the stretch. That matchup is on the docket for Sunday in Indiana.
+The Atlanta Hawks (11 - 6) went on the road and took down the Miami Heat (9 - 9) 112 - 102 on Wednesday at AmericanAirlines Arena. The Hawks got some impressive production from a few of their top players, as well as one key bench player who stepped up in limited minutes. The man getting the bulk of the attention after the win, though, is point guard Jeff Teague. Teague scored 27 points (8 - 11 FG, 3 - 5 3Pt, 8 - 8 FT) to go with six assists, five rebounds and three steals in 34 minutes. He was on fire and got some help from sharpshooter Kyle Korver (18 points on 6 - 12 FG, 3 - 7 3Pt, 3 - 3 FT), as well as Paul Millsap (14 points on 6 - 12 FG, 1 - 1 3Pt, 1 - 3 FT). Both Korver and Millsap also chipped in six rebounds, while Millsap dished out five assists. The Hawks also got a nice boost off the bench from Dennis Schroder, who played 22 minutes and scored 16 points (6 - 9 FG, 2 - 3 3Pt, 2 - 2 Ft) with three assists. For the Heat, it was the Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and Mario Chalmers show. No other player scored in double figures in this one. Bosh had 27 points on 9 - of - 12 shooting from the field 11 rebounds, while Wade had 28 points (11 - 20 FG, 0 - 2 3Pt, 6 - 9 FT). Chalmers posted an impressive double - double and shot the ball well, as he scored 19 points (6 - 8 FG, 0 - 2 3Pt, 7 - 9 FT) to go with 11 assists, five rebounds, one steal and one block. The Heat could only muster up a grand total of 28 points from the other eight players who saw action in this game.
+The Miami Heat (11 - 6) edged the Oklahoma City Thunder (11 - 8) 97 - 95 Thursday. The Heat utilized outstanding ball movement and another vintage performance from Dwyane Wade to stay a step ahead of the high - octane Thunder from the second quarter onward. Miami amassed a total of 25 assists while Wade posted his second outstanding performance over the last four days. After a season - high 30 point effort versus the Celtics Monday, the perennial All-Star provided a game - high 28 - point encore, and added four rebounds, four assists and a steal. He also scored the final eight crucial points of the game for the Heat, including two game - winning free throws with 2 seconds left that he earned by driving hard to the basket on the final possession. The Thunder received typically extraordinary performances from Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. The offensive linchpins posted a pair of 25 - point efforts, with Westbrook adding seven assists, five rebounds and a steal, and Durant complementing his scoring with nine boards and five dimes. However, the only other double - digit scoring on the night for OKC came from the bench, in the form of a 13 - point effort from Dion Waiters and a 10 - point outing from Enes Kanter. Serge Ibaka and Steven Adams contributed a pair of nine - point efforts and added seven and eight boards, respectively. Andre Roberson could n't help on the scoreboard with only two points, but did haul in nine rebounds. Overall, the Thunder controlled the glass, outrebounding the Heat 44 to 35 in the contest. Oklahoma City fell to 11 - 8 but retains possession of first place in the Western Conference's Northwest Division. They head home to face the Kings on Sunday. Miami enjoyed double - digit performances from three other starters besides Wade. Chris Bosh had a strong game versus Ibaka, tallying 16 points, eight rebounds, a pair of assists and a pair of steals. Goran Dragic turned in his highest - scoring effort in over two weeks with 14 points, and added seven assists, three rebounds and two steals on a busy night against Westbrook. Hassan Whiteside contributed 11 points and hauled in eight boards, with his customary pair of blocks thrown in for good measure. Josh McRoberts paced the Miami bench with a season - high 12 points, and added four assists and three rebounds. The Heat improved to 11 - 6 and currently reside in first place in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division. They remain home to take on former teammate LeBron James and the Cavaliers in a Saturday night showdown.
+The Toronto Raptors (38 - 23) fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers (39 - 24) 120 - 112 on Wednesday at the Air Canada Centre. The Cavaliers opened the fourth quarter with a 13 - point lead, but the Raptors' Louis Williams sparked the comeback to close the gap, scoring Toronto's first nine points of the final period. Williams torched Cleveland for 21 points in the fourth, but the Raptors could n't quite finish the comeback. LeBron James came up big with 29 points and 14 assists to lift Cleveland over Toronto to continue its surge towards the top of the Eastern Conference. Cleveland was coming off an easy win Tuesday against Boston, but got everything Toronto could throw its way Wednesday. Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, and LeBron James all had over 20 points. The Cavaliers have now won six of their eight games since the All-Star break. Cleveland has a big matchup on the slate Friday as it will travel to Atlanta to square off with the Hawks. Toronoto's skid continued Wednesday after it briefly stopped Monday against Philadelphia. Kyle Lowry was rested yet again, but Greivis Vasquez filled in admirably. Vasquez finished with 13 assists and six points over 40 minutes. Lou Williams was the big story for Toronto with his huge fourth quarter effort. Toronto will look to get back on track Friday in Charlotte as it starts a three - game road swing.
+The Milwaukee Bucks (11 - 18) defeated the Phoenix Suns (12 - 17) 101 - 95 on Sunday. The Bucks have been playing some bad basketball of late aside from their historic Golden State Warriors victory, but looked good today. Milwaukee really struggled at the free - throw line, but made up for it by shooting over 50 percent from the field. The second half is when the tides really turned, as the Bucks outscored the Suns by 14 over the final 24 minutes. The Bucks had to play this game without Giannis Antetokounmpo and it really didn’t effect them as much as expected. Khris Middleton and Michael Carter-Williams stepped up in his absence and put in some great lines. Middleton scored a team - high 26 points and dished out seven assists, while Carter-Williams tallied 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists. This is a frustrating team at times, but when they play the second half defense like they did today, they're a tough team to beat. The Bucks have a good chance to add to this win when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday for their next game. The Suns really struggled to get their potent offense going in this game and it's evident through the stats. No player scored more than 18 points and the starters combined for just 52 points. T.J. Warren and Eric Bledsoe both scored a team - high 18 points and went a combined 9 - for - 9 from the free - throw line. The strange thing is that the starters took just 35 shots in the game and committed 12 turnovers. That's a recipe for disaster and it was a miracle they kept it so close with those stats. Phoenix will look to bounce - back on Monday when they play the Utah Jazz.
+The Warriors really took control of this game after the first quarter, as they won the second quarter, 36 - 15. From there, Golden State never allowed Milwaukee to get within 18 points. Shooting was decisive, with the Warriors hitting 60 percent if their shots to the Bucks 40 percent. Golden State also dominated the defensive rebounding, winning that battle, 38 - 23. Michael Brogdon was a lone bright spot for Milwaukee, as he led the team with 18 points, four rebounds and three assists. Greg Monroe led the bench, as he totaled 12 points and seven rebounds. Stephen Curry was the player of the game, as he accumulated 28 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals. Klay Thompson finished second on the team in scoring, dropping 21 points. Draymond Green flirted with a triple - double, as he collected eight points, eight rebounds and 10 assists.
+Coming into this game the Los Angeles Clippers (5 - 4) had won eight straight versus the Phoenix Suns (4 - 4) but fell short Thursday night by a score of 118 - 104. The Clippers have now lost four of their last five games The game started out close but Phoenix jumped out to a 20 point lead with a strong third quarter which the Clippers could not recover from. The Clippers were missing their starting back court as Chris Paul sat out with a sore right groin while J.J. Redick sat out with back spasms. The news only got worse for the Clippers as Blake Griffin was ejected after recieving his second technical foul near the end of the first half. Griffin played only 16 minutes and came up with 11 points, along with three rebounds and four assists. DeAndre Jordan was relatively quiet with only 11 points and nine rebounds. Jamal Crawford did his best to fill the offensive void by chipping in a team high 18 points on 7 - 14 shooting, while also nabbing three steals. Wesley Johnson played 24 minutes off the bench and continued his good start to the season with 14 points, including 3 - 6 shooting from deep. The Phoenix back court duo of Brandon Knight and Eric Bledsoe is steadily becomming one of the most dangerous in the league. Knight had a stellar game for the Suns, scoring 37 points on 14 - 22 shooting, including going 6 - 10 from deep. He also dished four assists. Meanwhile, Bledsoe once again came very close to a triple double with 26 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists and has been looking great so far this season. The only other players to score double digits for the Suns were Jon Leuer who had 10 points and 11 rebounds, and T.J. Warren who scored 18 points on 7 - 10 shooting. The Suns as a team shot a strong 53 percent and did a good job on the defensive glass, not allowing the Clippers any second chances in this game. Next up the Nuggets will be in town Saturday to visit the Suns. This will be a must win type of game for Phoenix if they hope to see the play - offs this season. The Clippers, on the other hand, will look to turn things around at home against Detroit on Saturday, in what will be no easy task as Detroit has been looking very good so far. The match up of Andre Drummond versus DeAndre Jordan will be one to watch.
+The Charlotte Hornets (23 - 25) defeated the Los Angeles Lakers (9 - 41) 101 - 82 at Staples Center on Sunday. As the halfway point of the season has passed, and the upcoming all - star break is around the corner, the Lakers will likely look to start thinking about 2016 - 2017 and the NBA Draft because it was the same story with Los Angeles, who picked up their 10th straight loss and dropped to 4 - 24 at home. Kobe Bryant played to the delight of the hometown crowd, and provided one of his better performances of the season, as he finished with 23 points, eight rebounds and three assists on 8 - of - 18 shooting in 23 minutes. The rout was on early for Charlotte, who stretched a double figure lead and danced around a 30 point blowout for most of the second half. The Lakers turned the ball over 15 times and Charlotte exploited the youthful Los Angeles roster, specifically D’Angelo Russell, who converted five of the team's turnovers. Russell contributed 10 points, six rebounds and one assist off the bench. Julius Randle strung together another double - double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, while his frontcourt partner, Roy Hibbert, finished with zero points and two boards in a weak showing from the veteran. Kemba Walker’s torrid shooting did not have a large impact on the Hornets all around effort, as the frontcourt combination of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who made his season debut on Friday against the Blazers, and Marvin Williams contributed 38 points and 24 rebounds. Even more impressively, they combined to go 6 - of - 10 from behind the arc, which constantly kept the game far out of reach from the Lakers. Nobody else on the Hornets was nearly as polarizing as the two forwards, but a bright spot came from rookie Frank Kaminsky, who finished with 11 points in 23 minutes off the bench. The Lakers will host the Minnesota Timberwolves (14 - 35) on Tuesday, while the Hornets will entertain LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers (34 - 12) on Wednesday.
+The Boston Celtics (44 - 32) shocked the Golden State Warriors (68 - 8) in a 109 - 106 win on Friday. The loss snapped the Warriors' NBA-record 54 consecutive home winnning streak. The key for Boston was its defense, as it held the Warriors to 46 percent shooting and forced 22 turnovers. The Celtics shot 47 percent from the field, despite hitting only 63 percent of their free - throws. Boston has quietly been one of the best teams in the league this season, but they're not so hidden anymore. Evan Turner filled in for Jae Crowder and tallied 21 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals in a great performance. Isaiah Thomas led the team with 22 points, while also dishing out six assists, Jared Sullinger was huge down low, as he amassed 21 points and 12 rebounds. Up next for the Celtics is a matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. Golden State is now a 5 - 1 stretch away from breaking the record for wins in a season, so this was obviously a huge blow for that pursuit. Steph Curry scored 22 points in the third quarter, but really struggled aside from that. In fact, Curry had just seven points in the other three quarters and committed nine turnovers in the defeat. Draymond Green had another great all - around game though, as he accumulated 16 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and six steals. On deck for the Warriors is a matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.
+The Atlanta Hawks went on the road and defeated the Indiana Pacers 96 - 85 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Wednesday. The Hawks (10 - 5) were at risk of losing their fourth straight game heading into Wednesday, but Dwight Howard was not going to let that happen. The big man put on a Superman-like performance, notching 23 points and 20 rebounds in 33 minutes. It was his 11th double - double of the season and his first 20 - point, 20 - rebound game. His partner in the frontcourt, Paul Millsap, had a double - double of his own Wednesday night, posting 18 points and 11 rebounds - - his fifth double - double of the season. In the end, the game was won on the boards for Atlanta, as they out - rebounded the Pacers (7 - 9) by 19, 56 - 37. For Indiana, both Paul George and Myles Turner returned to the lineup after missing time with ankle injuries, but even that was n't enough to get past the Hawks. George put together a solid performance, recording 18 points and six rebounds, but shot a poor 6 - of - 22 from the field and 2 - of - 11 from behind the arc. Turner could n't get anything going on the offensive end, posting just seven points on top of nine rebounds in his return. It was Thaddeus Young who ended up leading the way for the Pacers, posting a game - high 24 points on 10 - of - 13 shooting and seven rebounds in 41 minutes. Up next, the Hawks will head to Utah on Friday to take on the Jazz, while the Pacers will stay home Friday to play the Nets.
+The Sacramento Kings won their first game at the Golden One Center, defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves, 106 - 103, on Saturday. In a game where there was a 29 - point swing, the Kings were able to pull out a big comeback. After trailing by 19 at times in the first half, Sacramento prevailed thanks to a 31 - 12 third quarter. They dominated the Timberwolves in the paint, winning that battle 48 - 32. Despite shooting 51 percent from the field, Minnesota had 13 less shots than the Kings and struggled getting the 50/50 balls they needed. Andrew Wiggins scored a season - high 29 points in the defeat, going 10 - for - 19 from the field. He did struggle to do much else though, as he recorded just one rebound and one block aside from his 29 points. Zach LaVine was second on the team, dropping 21 points and grabbing five boards. Gorgui Dieng double - doubled in the loss, totaling 14 points and 13 rebounds, dealing with foul trouble in the second half. The bench combined for just 19 points, with five players playing at least 11 minutes a piece. DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay continue to carry the Kings, as they combined for 57 of the teams 106 points in Saturday's win. Cousins led the team, tallying 29 points, seven rebounds and four assists before fouling out in the final minutes. Gay finished with 28 points, adding five rebounds, and two blocks. The only other players in double figures were Matt Barnes and Ben McLemore, who scored 25 combined points off the bench. Barnes was a huge spark, adding nine assists and five rebounds to his 12 points. Sacramento's next game is in Atlanta against the Hawks on Monday, while the Timberwolves host the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday for their next fixture.
+The Denver Nuggets (10 - 14) defeated the Houston Rockets (12 - 13) 114 - 108 for the third - straight time on Monday night. Denver appears to have the Rockets number this year, as they have scored over 107 points in all three wins. There were some eye - popping stats here, as the Nuggets outrebounded the Rockets 52 - 26 in the victory. Denver also shot 51 percent from the field to Houston's 47 percent. The three - point shooting would indicate that the Rockets won this game, as Houston went 18 - for - 40 from long range, while Denver just went 8 - for - 25. Houston actually ended the game on a big run and nearly made a huge comeback, but fell just short. The Rockets use the three - ball as their life source, but that wasn’t the difference tonight. They shot fantastic from long distance, but couldn’t rebound and couldn’t defend. The defense has been terrible all year and they really ca n't stop this Nuggets team for some reason. James Harden led the team with 24 points, three rebounds, six assists and three steals. Donte Montijunas, who has missed the majority of the season, scored a season - high 19 points in a promising performance. The worrisome part of this game as that there were times that Houston was just standing around and effort simply should never be an issue for an NBA team. They'll have to travel to Sacramento on Tuesday to take on the Kings in the second half of a back - to - back set, in what should be an extremely high - scoring game. The Nuggets played a fantastic third and fourth quarter to run away with a big win. They set a season - high with 62 points in the paint and doubled the rebounding total of the Rockets. All five starters for Denver scored in double - figures, but their best player tonight was sixth - man Will Barton. He led the team with 23 points scored and also provided nine rebounds, three assists and three steals in the win. Danilo Gallinari also had a nice all - around game, as he contributed 15 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Gary Harris also scored a career - high 21 points and continues to grow while playing elite defense night in and night out. Denver will look to keep this momentum going against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday.
+The Atlanta Hawks (17 - 7) defeated the Chicago Bulls (15 - 9) 93 - 86 on Monday. Atlanta got back in the win column as quickly as possible after dropping their last game to the Orlando Magic 100 - 99 on Saturday, the only game they've lost in their last 11 contests. Al Horford continues to break through the rust coming off of missing most of last season following suregery to repair a torn pectoral, and he showed off his passing skills Monday, putting up 21 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Atlanta shot just 44 percent from the field, but to overcome that, they limited the Bulls to an even worse 38 percent shooting from the field. Chicago was on a three - game winning streak before the loss. Joakim Noah sat out a fourth straight game while he lets his sprained ankle heal completely. His fill - in Taj Gibson recorded a double - double, scoring 15 points and pulling down 17 rebounds. Jimmy Butler scored a game - high 22 points, but the Bulls simply could n't get the ball in the peach basket consistently Monday. Atlanta will embark on a tough three - game road trip Wednesday, during which they'll face the Cavaliers, Rockets and Mavericks. Chicago will host the down - and - out New York Knicks on Thursday.
+The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Chicago Bulls, 119 - 100, at AT & T Center on Sunday. San Antonio has been dominant at home over recent seasons and they were great once again in this Christmas Day showdown. They got out to a near perfect start, as they led 30 - 10 across the first eight minutes, while going 12 - of - 13 from the field. Chicago actually crawled back into the game to take their first and only lead in the third quarter, but San Antonio responded with a 120 run to recapture a double - digit lead. The Spurs offense was on point all day, as they hit 57 percent of their two's and 50 percent from three - point range. In addition, San Antonio dished out 30 assists on 48 made baskets, while committing just 13 turnovers. Chicago (14 - 16) has been in a terrible slide over recent weeks, but they did a good job to fight back in a game that looked to be a blowout early on. Dwyane Wade continued his Christmas Day success, as he led the team with 24 points, three rebounds and six assists. Jimmy Butler really struggled, as he went 8 - of - 19 from the field to collect 19 points, five rebounds and three assists. Chicago will have to play again on Monday, as they host the Indiana Pacers. San Antonio (24 - 6) is playing some great ball right now and a near wire - to - wire win on Christmas Day is all fans could ask for. LaMarcus Aldridge added to his fantastic stretch, as he scored a game - high 33 points on 15 - of - 20 shooting, while also snatching down nine rebounds. Kawhi Leonard was equally as good, accumulating 25 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals of his own. Tony Parker also had one of his best games of the season, accruing 13 points, eight assists and four steals. The Spurs will be off until Wednesday, when they host the Phoenix Suns for their next game.
+With George Hill missing his first game in a Jazz uniform with a sprained thumb, a pair of reliable veterans and his replacements at point guard keyed a double - digit road victory. Gordon Hayward's 20 - point haul led the way, while Derrick Favors posted season highs with 16 points and 14 boards. The point guard duo of Shelvin Mack and Dante Exum combined for 19 points, five assists, two rebounds and a pair of steals. Utah also managed respective 51 and 58 percent success rates from the field and behind the arc, respectively. The Sixers' big - man tandem of Jahil Okafor and Joel Embiid contributed respective tallies of 15 and 14 points. However, Robert Covington and Ersan Ilyasova were the only others to manage double - digit scoring on a night when Philadelphia shot 40 percent overall and committed 18 turnovers.
+The Brooklyn Nets (19 - 28) took down the Los Angeles Clippers (33 - 16) 102 - 100 on Monday. Deron Williams made his return to the Nets' rotation. He missed the last 11 games with a rib injury. The Nets went 2 - 9 in that stretch, but still remain a threat to grab a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Williams scored 15 points in 29 minutes to help give his squad the win over a very good Clippers team that went 11 - 4 in the month of January. Joe Johnson also returned to the Nets after missing Sunday's practice for personal reasons. Johnson scored 22 points to go along with five rebounds and six assists. DeAndre Jordan recorded 22 points (10 - 13 FG, 2 - 12 FT) and 20 rebounds, his fourth game of the season with 20 rebounds or more. J.J. Reddick left the game with back spasms after playing just four minutes and did n't return. The Los Angeles had a 90 - 79 lead with 5:16 remaining, but could n't hold on as the Nets ended the game on a 23 - 10 run. Chris Paul hit a big layup with eight seconds remaining to tie the game at 100. Brooklyn's Jarrett Jack answered with a 17 - foot jumper with one second left on the clock. The Clippers failed to get a shot off, and the Nets were victorious at home. The Nets will play the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, and the Clippers will take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday.
+The Golden State Warriors (38 - 8) defeated the Sacramento Kings (17 - 30) 121 - 96 on Tuesday at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento. The Warriors got off to a very quick start in this game, out - scoring the Kings 63 - 42 in the first half alone. With such a big lead, they were able to coast through the second half and secure the 25 - point victory. The Warriors were impressive as a team shooting the ball, going 51 percent from the field, while the Kings went just 44 percent. The Warriors also out - rebounded them 49 - 34, even furthering their advantage. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were the only starters to reach double figures in points for the Warriors. Curry finished with 23 points (6 - 15 FG, 2 - 6 3Pt, 9 - 10 FT), nine assists and three steals, while Thompson had 14 points (6 - 12 FG, 2 - 5 3Pt) and one assist. With such a large lead, none of the Warriors' starters played over 30 minutes. With added playing time for the reserves, they showed a lot of production as well. Andre Iguodala was very successful, going 6 - for - 8 from the field and 2 - for - 3 from the three - point line to score 17 points in 24 minutes. While he's averaging only 7 points per game on the season, this was his second straight game in double figures, combining for 29 points over that span. Marreese Speights added 17 points (8 - 13 FG, 1 - 2 FT) of his own, to go along with eight rebounds and three assists. He struggled to only five points in Friday's game against the Jazz, so it was a nice bounce back game for him. Despite the loss, DeMarcus Cousins was again one of the most dominant players in the game. In 41 minutes, he finished with a game - high of 26 points (10 - 21 FG, 6 - 7 FT), while also posting 11 rebounds, four assists, three steals and four blocked shots. He stuffed the stat sheet in this game, but it still was not enough to push the Kings to a victory. It also marked his third double - double in as many games. Rudy Gay also had a strong showing, scoring 20 points (7 - 15 FG, 2 - 5 3Pt, 4 - 5 FT) and grabbing three rebounds in 37 minutes. He's turned it up over his last two games, combining for 51 points and eight rebounds over that span. Both Darren Collison and Ben McLemore reached double - digits in points as well. Collison had 18 points (8 - 15 FG, 1 - 4 3Pt, 1 - 1 FT) and seven assists, while McLemore posted 18 points (6 - 9 FG, 4 - 5 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT) and three steals. The Kings bench contributed only 12 points compared to 61 from the Warriors. The Warriors' next game will be at home against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, while the Kings will be at home against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.
+The Washington Wizards (46 - 34) defeated the Atlanta Hawks (60 - 20) 108 - 99 on Sunday in Washington. It was a game where neither team had much to play for, as the Hawks are locked in as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, while the Wizards are locked in as the No. 5 seed. The only difference Sunday night was that Atlanta rested their starters, while Washington played at full strength. After sitting out to rest the previous two games, All-Star John Wall returned for the Wizards to put up 24 points (9 - 20 FG, 2 - 4 3Pt, 4 - 4 FT), nine assists and four rebounds in 35 minutes. He did, however, have a game - high 10 turnovers. Nene Hilario shook off a rough stretch of play he has had as of late to record a double - double of 14 points and 10 rebounds in 27 minutes, while Marcin Gortat felt one rebound shy of putting up a double - double of his own, posting 15 points and nine rebounds in 32 minutes. Bradley Beal scored 17 points and Paul Pierce added 14, putting every Washington starter in double figures. The game was won on the boards, as Washington dominated down low, outrebounding Atlanta 51 - 38. Despite resting their regular starters, the Hawks still put together a solid performance. Mike Scott led the way for them off the bench, scoring 19 points (6 - 15 FG, 3 - 7 3Pt) in 30 minutes. John Jenkins was close behind, scoring 17 points (6 - 12 FG, 2 - 6 3Pt) in 35 minutes. Dennis Schroder got the start and put up 14 points (6 - 16 FG), six rebounds and three assists in 29 minutes. Shelvin Mack came off the bench to run the show and put up 14 points (5 - 12 FG), six assists and four rebounds in 26 minutes. Up next, the Wizards will travel to Indiana Tuesday to take on the Pacers, while Atlanta heads back home Monday to play the Knicks.
+The Los Angeles Clippers (41 - 23) defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves (14 - 48) 89 - 76 on Monday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. After losing two games in a row, the Clippers ran into the struggling Timberwolves at the right time, as they were able to take home the 13 - point victory in front of their home crowd. Helping to do that was their shooting, as they went 44 percent from the field and 36 percent from the three - point line, while the Timberwolves finished at just 37 percent from the floor and a meager 25 percent from deep. With such a large advantage in that category for the Clippers, the Timberwolves really never stood a chance. J.J. Redick and DeAndre Jordan formed an unstoppable duo in this matchup. Jordan went 10 - for - 11 from the field to score 20 points, while also adding 17 rebounds and two blocked shots. This marked his thirteenth straight game with at least 10 rebounds. He had been struggling with his offense lately though, combining for just 12 points in his two previous games, so it was good to see the center put up some numbers this time around. Redick, on the other hand, went 10 - for - 19 from the floor and 3 - for - 7 from the three - point line for a team - high of 26 points. He's now shot over 40 percent in four straight games, a stretch where he's averaging 22 points per game. Coming off the bench, Austin Rivers added 13 points (5 - 8 FG, 2 - 4 3Pt, 1 - 1 FT) and six assists in just 22 minutes. He's seen extended time with Jamal Crawford out with an injury and has posted two strong performances in a row, after going off for 22 points in Sunday's game against the Warriors. Chris Paul struggled offensively with just two points (1 - 6 FG, 0 - 1 3Pt), but made up for it by notching 15 assists, as his teammates were knocking down everything they could get their hands on. Adreian Payne did everything he could to keep the Timberwolves in this game. He went 7 - for - 12 from the field and 2 - for - 3 from the free throw line to finish with a team - high of 16 points, while adding 15 rebounds and a blocked shot over 37 minutes. It was his second double - double of the season in just his third career start, while he set season - highs in both points and rebounds in the loss as well. Posting a double - double of his own, Nikola Pekovic recorded 12 points (5 - 12 FG, 2 - 4 FT) and 10 rebounds in 23 minutes. It marked his first double - double over his last three games, after posting five straight previous to that. He's now averaging 13 points and 8 rebounds on the season. Andrew Wiggins and Kevin Martin were the other two Timberwolves to finish in double figures. Wiggins finished with 11 points (5 - 16 FG, 0 - 2 3Pt, 1 - 2 FT) and five rebounds, while Martin added 10 points (2 - 6 FG, 1 - 1 3Pt, 5 - 6 FT) and two assists. The Clippers' next game will be on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, while the Timberwolves will travel to Phoenix to play the Suns on Wednesday.
+The Los Angeles Clippers took down the host Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, 133 - 109. The Clippers (43 - 29) came off a convincing win on Monday by blowing out their hometown rival Lakers on Tuesday. The starting backcourt of Chris Paul and J.J. Redick was dominant, with Paul pouring in 27 points and Redick adding 24. Perimeter play was the driving force of the dominant win, as the Clips shot over 53 percent from the field while sinking 15 three - pointers. Another area in which the Clippers thrived was free - throw shooting; the team reached the line 32 times and hit a whopping 28 free - throws on the night. The Lakers (20 - 51) are on a six - game losing streak and appear to be right where they want to be, as the team shut down many of its veterans for the remainder of the season in part due to desire to keep their own draft pick. Tuesday's loss at Staples Center was a particularly brutal one, however, as the team fell to its divisional rival on its home court. The team shot just 63 percent from the free - throw line and went an abysmal 5 - of - 19 from beyond the arc. One bright spot for the Lakers, however, was rookie Brandon Ingram, who led the team with 21 points on 8 - of - 14 shooting. The Clippers will visit Dallas on Thursday, while the Lakers will host the Timberwolves on Friday.
+The Golden State Warriors (47 - 4) defeated the Houston Rockets (27 - 27) 123 - 110 on Tuesday night. The Warriors got off to a hot start, as they scored 42 points in the first quarter to take a 15 - point lead. They never really looked back after that despite allowing the Rockets to crawl back in the third quarter. Golden State shot 47 percent from the field and recorded 28 assists on their 44 made baskets. The game was tied heading into the fourth quarter, but the Warriors outscored the Rockets 30 to 17 over the final 12 minutes. Houston had a tough task here as a double - digit underdog, but did a good job of hanging around all night. James Harden once again carried the load, as he tallied 37 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals in the loss. Dwight Howard also played well, as he double - doubled in a 16 - point, 15 - rebound performance. The Rockets have a quick turnaround, as they play the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday in the second half of a back - to - back set. The Warriors didn’t play their cleanest game, but they extended their undefeated home winning streak to 23 games on the season. Steph Cwas the catalyst once again, as he accumulated 35 points, nine assists and five rebounds in the win. Andrew Bogut was the darkhorse hero though, as he double - doubled while also recording six blocks and three steals in a defensive showcase. Golden State's last game before the All-Star break will be on Wednesday when they play the Phoenix Suns.
+The Toronto Raptors (45 - 30) defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves (16 - 59) 113 - 99 on Wednesday. The Raptors got a good team effort in an easy win for them in Minnesota. No Toronto player garnered more than 30 minutes or scored 20 points, but seven players scored in double - figures. They were led by Louis Williams, who put in a team - high 18 points in 26 minutes off the bench. Toronto has the same record as the Chicago Bulls as they'll battle for playoff position the rest of the regular season. The banged up Wolves played just eight players against the Raptors. Probably rookie of the year Andrew Wiggins was the man against his hometown team. He put in 25 points to go along with five boards, five assists, two blocks and one steal. His teammate rookie point guard Zach LaVine had a solid game with 22 points and seven rebounds but recorded seven turnovers and just three assists. Minnesota has lost five straight, they'll play a home game on Friday before heading on a four - game west coast road trip. The Timberwolves will host the Orlando Magic on Friday, as The Raptors will head to Brooklyn to take on the Nets.
+The Miami Heat (19 - 13) defeated the Dallas Mavericks (19 - 14) 106 - 82 on Friday. Perennial All-Star Dwyane Wade was not expected to play after experiencing flu - like symptoms Friday afternoon. However, the veteran decided to tough things out and remain active in a reserve role, in an effort to help the Heat put a halt to a recent cold spell that had seen them lose three of their last five contests. The move paid off, as the 33 - year - old collected 10 points, seven assists, two rebounds and a steal over just 19 minutes off the bench. Miami was able to dominate the contest with outstanding shooting and highly productive performances from their starters as well, as they tallied an impressive 56 shooting percentage from the field, and a solid 44 percent from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, their suffocating defense stymied Dallas to the tune of 36 and 23 percent tallies, respectively, in those categories. As evidenced by the final score and the aforementioned team shooting figures, the Mavericks obviously had significant trouble making a dent on the scoreboard, and their top scorer netted only 14 points. That player was surprisingly Zaza Pachulia, who did also add 13 rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block. Wesley Matthews (12 points, four rebounds and an assist) and Dirk Nowitzki (11 points, three rebounds, an assist and a steal) were the only other starters in double figures points - wise, while Charlie Villanueva and Deron Williams led the reserves with a pair of nine - point efforts. J.J. Barea, drawing the start for Williams, could only contribute six points and five assists. Dallas dropped to 19 - 14 and currently resides in second place in the Western Conference's Southwest Division. They head home to face the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday. The Heat's starting five was spearheaded by a monster double - double from Hassan Whiteside that was reminscent of many of his dominant performances from his breakout 2014 - 15 campaign. The four - year pro managed 25 points and a season - high 19 rebounds, along with a block. Chris Bosh poured in 16 points and added seven rebounds and four assists, while Goran Dragic continued his recent stretch of solid offensive play with 15 points, seven assists, four rebounds and three steals. In addition to Wade's strong performance off the bench, Gerald Green made a splash with a 19 - point, three - rebound, two - assist effort over 33 minutes that paced the Miami reserves. While Tyler Johnson (eight points, three rebounds) drew the start in Wade's stead, Green got hot from the field and received some extra run as a result. The Heat improved to 19 - 13 and have vaulted into second place in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division by virtue of their victory and the Magic's loss to the Wizards earlier in the evening. They now hit the road to face off against the Wizards on Sunday.
+The Memphis Grizzlies (33 - 23) won a shootout Wednesday night over the Los Angeles Lakers (11 - 48) at FedExForum, 128 - 119. The Lakers hit 17 three - pointers, a season high, but the Grizzlies set a season high in threes of their own with 13 and shot a brilliant 57 percent as they managed withstand Los Angeles's surprising offensive attack. Memphis's 128 points also marked a season high, the previous being 122 against Oklahoma City way back in November. Matt Barnes hit five three - pointers as he scored a team - high 25 points (9 - 14 FG) for the Grizzlies. Mike Conley scored 24 (10 - 14 FG, 2 - 4 3PT) and added eight assists, and P.J. Hairston got into the three - point action, nailing four of his seven attempts as he scored 17 points. All five Grizzlies starters finished in double figures, as did Brandan Wright, who scored 15 on 7 - 10 shooting off the bench. Jordan Clarkson led all scorers with 28 as he shot 10 - 18 from the floor and a brilliant 6 - 11 from three - point range. D'Angelo Russell scored 22 (8 - 19 FG, 3 - 9 3PT) and added eight assists and four rebounds and Lou Williams added 22 points in 22 minutes off the bench. But the Lakers starting frontcourt of Kobe Bryant, Julius Randle and Roy Hibbert combined to score just 25 points against 51 for Memphis's starting front court of Barnes, Jeff Green and Zach Randolph. The Grizzlies and Lakers will finish out this home - and - home series with a rematch Friday night at Staples Center.
+Goran Dragic's 22 points led the Heat, while Hassan Whiteside's 18 - point, 18 - rebound double - double played a pivotal role in Miami's 48 - 38 rebounding advantage. Dion Waiters and Josh Richardson combined for 31 points on the wings, while Derrick Williams compiled 12 points over just 17 minutes in a start at power forward. James Johnson was nearly as efficient off the bench, supplying 17 points over 27 minutes. Overall, the Heat impressively posted 51 and 48 percent success rates from the field and three - point range, respectively. Wall and Beal paced the Wizards with a pair of 34 - point efforts, and the former notably drained five of his six shot attempts from beyond the arc. Marcin Gortat was the only other player to manage double digits in the scoring column, totaling 10 points, 16 rebounds, four assists and five blocks.
+The Indiana Pacers (23 - 19) defeated the Phoenix Suns (13 - 30) 97 - 94 on Tuesday night. In a game between two of the fastest - paced teams in the NBA, the offenses were downright ugly tonight. Indiana came into this game ticked off with their defensive form and it's clear they were letting out their frustrations on this beaten up Suns team. The Pacers held the Suns to just 35 percent shooting and drew 22 turnovers in a dominant defensive performance. The NBA has become a three - point shooting league, but these teams set the league back a few years by combining to go 15 - for - 55 from long range in this game. The aggressive nature of Indiana can be emphasized by the fact that they recorded 16 steals in the victory. Indiana had lost four of their last five coming into this and a date with Phoenix is just what the doctor ordered. The Pacers didn’t play pretty basketball, but they got back to their roots and dominated with their stifling defense. The defensive total actually would have looked better if the Pacers didn’t allow 16 points in the final three minutes in a comeback effort. No player played spectacularly, but Paul George did put in a nice all - around game, as he tallied 19 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals in the win. Mighty Joe Young also gave the team a nice spark off the bench, as he finished with 11 points, three rebounds, five assists and two steals in just 19 minutes of action. Indiana will have to keep up this defensive form in their next game against the Golden State Warriors on Friday. This Suns team has fallen apart over the last two months and it's quite clear that the offense is the main reason why. The amazing part about this game is that Phoenix shot 27 - for - 29 from the free - throw line and still barely cracked 90 points. That's simply hard to do and it shows how inefficient they are playing right now. The one bright spot here was rookie Devin Booker, who scored a career - high 32 points in a shooting exhibition. Markieff Morris finally seemed to be turning things around over the last few games, but he left here in the first quarter with a shoulder injury. That's the last thing this team needs, as the injuries are killing them right now. Brandon Knight really hurt his team tonight as well, as he went 2 - for - 9 from three - point range and committed a ghastly eight turnovers in the defeat. It doesn’t get much easier in their next game, as the Suns host the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday in what will likely be another lopsided result.
+The Sacramento Kings (29 - 53) defeated the Los Angeles Lakers (21 - 61) 122 - 99 on Wednesday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Because both teams have already been eliminated from the playoffs, this gave each coaching staff another shot at evaluating talent for next season. It also cemented the Lakers into having the fourth worst record in the league, which means they'll have the fourth best odds at getting the first overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. The Kings dominated this game, as they went 55 percent from the field and 47 percent from the three - point line, while the Lakers finished at 38 percent from the floor and 29 percent from deep. It was the duo of Ben McLemore and Derrick Williams that helped lead the Kings to such a large victory. McLemore posted 24 points (9 - 18 FG, 2 - 7 3Pt, 4 - 6 FT), five rebounds and seven assists, while Williams recorded 22 points (9 - 16 FG, 2 - 4 3Pt, 2 - 4 FT) and six rebounds off the bench. McLemore has been very inconsistent all season long, so it was good to see him at least end with a strong performance. Williams also finished on a high note, as he combined for 42 points and seven rebounds over his final two outings. Ray McCallum chipped in with 19 points (7 - 14 FG, 0 - 1 3Pt, 5 - 9 FT) and six assists, while Nik Stauskas was in the starting lineup and posted 14 points (5 - 9 FG, 3 - 4 3Pt, 1 - 2 FT) and five assists. The Lakers were led by a huge performance from Jabari Brown. Brown went 9 - for - 19 from the field and 4 - for - 6 from the three - point line to score a game - high of 32 points, while also adding three rebounds. He's been one of the few bright spots here at the end of the season for the Lakers, as he's averaged 22 points over his final four games. He'll likely find himself a role somewhere next season after showing what he can do on the court this year. Vander Blue also had a solid showing, finishing with 15 points (6 - 23 FG, 1 - 8 3Pt, 2 - 3 FT), seven rebounds and eight assists. With so many injuries in the backcourt, the second - year guard played the whole game Wednesday and took advantage, posting career - highs in points, rebounds and assists in just his second game for the Lakers this season. Jordan Hill added 12 points (5 - 14 FG, 0 - 3 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT) and six rebounds as well. With both teams missing the playoffs, this marks the end of their respective seasons.
+The New York Knicks (17 - 64) defeated the Atlanta Hawks (60 - 21) 112 - 108 on Monday at Philips Arena in Atlanta. While the Knicks have already been eliminated from the playoffs, this game did carry some weight in regards to their 2015 NBA Draft lottery odds. The Timberwolves now have taken over as the worst record in the league, so they'll likely end up with the highest odds come draft day in June for that number one overall pick. The Hawks, on the other hand, were n't affected much by the loss, as they've already locked up the number one overall seed for the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. It still has n't been determined who they'll play yet, but it should be either the Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets or Miami Heat. The Knicks were the superior shooters in this game, going 56 percent from the field and 52 percent from the three - point line, while the Hawks finished at 44 percent from the floor and just 34 percent from deep. The Knicks turned the ball over 18 times compared to just eight from the Hawks, but they were able to overcome the disparity with their strong shooting. Langston Galloway had an extremely impressive performance. He went 10 - for - 12 from the field and a perfect 6 - for - 6 from the three - point line to score a game - high of 26 points, while adding five rebounds and six assists as well. It was a complete turn around from Saturday's game against the Magic where he shot just 25 percent (4 - 16 FG) from the field, so the Knicks were happy to see the guard play so well with the season coming to an end. Tim Hardaway Jr. also had a very strong showing, finishing with 23 points (9 - 17 FG, 3 - 9 3Pt, 2 - 3 FT) and five assists over 36 minutes. It was just the seventh time this season that he's reached the 20 - point mark, as he's averaging just 11 points on the season. Jason Smith had a big game with 20 points (7 - 13 FG, 1 - 2 3Pt, 5 - 5 FT), nine rebounds and five assists over 36 minutes as well. The Hawks' backcourt duo of Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver did their best to pull out this win for the Hawks. Teague finished with 19 points (7 - 17 FG, 1 - 2 3Pt, 4 - 4 FT), nine assists and two steals, while Korver posted 19 points (4 - 10 FG, 4 - 9 3Pt, 7 - 7 FT) and five rebounds. Korver has been hitting three - pointers at a very high rate as the season has been winding down. He's made at least three three - pointers in six of his last seven games, which bodes well for the Hawks as the playoffs begin Saturday. With Paul Millsap getting the night off in hopes of having his shoulder return closer to 100 percent, both Al Horford and DeMarre Carroll put up some points in the frontcourt. Carroll finished with 16 points (5 - 11 FG, 2 - 6 3Pt, 4 - 6 FT) and four rebounds over 33 minutes, while Horford added 18 points (9 - 17 FG) and six rebounds over 33 minutes. While the Hawks' starters all played well, they just happened to run into the Knicks at the wrong time, as the Knicks played one of their best offensive games of the season. The Knicks' final game of the season will be at home against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, while the Hawks will travel to Chicago to play the Bulls on Wednesday.
+The Pelicans (3 - 2) sent the Spurs (2 - 3) to their second consecutive loss Saturday night, edging out a 100 - 99 victory. New Orleans, which led by eight entering the final period, allowed San Antonio to get back into the game late, as a 12 - 4 run spurred by Kawhi Leonard cut the deficit to just two with under a minute remaining. Three Danny Green free throws would put the Spurs up one with 12 seconds to play, but Anthony Davis responded with a lay - in to put the Pelicans ahead one with six seconds remaining. San Antonio inbounded to Leonard on the ensuing possession but his three - point attempt was blocked by Tyreke Evans. Davis, the early MVP favorite, finished with 27 points (14 in the first half), 11 rebounds, six blocks and four steals to pace Milwaukee. Evans added 18 points, while Jrue Holiday chipped din 15 to go with 11 assists. Eric Gordon contributed 14 points in 38 minutes. The Spurs struggled to take care of the ball, committing 11 turnovers in the first half and 18 for the game. Tony Parker, who scored 22 points in the first half, led the way with 28 points and four assists. Leonard had a 14 - point, 14 - rebound double - double, and Tim Duncan had 11 points and 10 rebounds. Veteran Manu Ginobili added 17 points in 27 minutes off the bench. Next up, the Spurs head to Los Angeles to take on the Clippers on Monday in the first of a four - game road swing. New Orleans travels to Cleveland to take on LeBron James and the Cavaliers, also on Monday.
+The Cavaliers were unable to overcome the absence of LeBron James, falling to the Thunder 103 - 94 on Thursday night. James, who sat out with soreness in his knee, is 14 - 4 against Kevin Durant in his career, but could do nothing but watch from the sidelines as Durant and Russell Westbrook stifled a late run by the Cavaliers, whose eight - game winning streak was snapped. The Thunder opened up a 20 - point lead early in the fourth quarter, courtesy of an 80 spree spurred by three - pointers by Reggie Jackson and Anthony Morrow. However, the Cavaliers responded, as a Matthew Dellavedova-led run brought Cleveland back to within four with just under two minutes to play. Following a timeout, the Thunder were able to regroup, as Kevin Durant scored Oklahoma City’s final eight points to put the game away. Durant finished with 19 points, six rebounds and five assists, converting 6 - of - 14 field goals. He continues to be on a strict 30 - minute limit, though it’s likely to be lifted in the near future. Westbrook led the way with 26 points (12 - 24 FG), eight assists and seven rebounds, while Reggie Jackson added 13 points off the bench. Serge Ibaka had just seven points and no rebounds before fouling out in 26 minutes. Cleveland, which struggled to find quality shots without James, shot a paltry 37 percent from the floor but registered 30 free throw attempts, compared to Oklahoma City’s 22. Irving had a team - high 20 points (7 - 21 FG) to go with six assists, and Kevin Love added 18 points and 16 rebounds. Dellavedova, who drew the start in place of James, finished with 14 points, including four three - pointers. Both teams are on the first night of a back - to - back set. Cleveland heads to New Orleans to take on Anthony Davis and the Pelicans, while the Thunder play at Minnesota.
+The Miami Heat (48 - 33) defeated the Detroit Pistons (43 - 38) 99 - 93 on Tuesday night. The Heat came in to the contest with a chance to improve their chances for better playoff positioning, as a win would put them one step closer to potentially moving all the way up to the third seed by season's end. They did their part against Detroit, which was missing starting point guard Reggie Jackson due to an abdominal strain. However, Miami was also short - handed, with rookie Justise Winslow out with an ankle injury. All five members of the Heat first unit made key contributions to the victory, with veteran Joe Johnson spearheading the charge with 25 points, five assists, two rebounds and two steals. Miami had a solid night from the field overall, tallying a 49 percent success rate. Luol Deng followed Johnson's team - leading effort with a 17 - point, 10 - rebound double - double that also included two assists. Goran Dragic managed 16 points, five rebounds, four assists and a steal. Hassan Whiteside supplied 14 points, nine boards, three blocks and two steals, while Dwyane Wade matched the big man's point total and also pitched in four rebounds and three assists. The Heat are now atop the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division, and are currently slotted in the third seed as well. However, they face off with the fifth - seeded Boston Celtics in TD Garden on Wednesday night, a game that will determine final playoff positioning for both clubs. Detroit was paced by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who compiled 17 points, three rebounds and three steals. Tobias Harris and Marcus Morris followed with a pair of 16 - point efforts. The former added nine rebounds and an assist, while the latter supplied four rebounds, two assists, a steal and two blocks. Steve Blake, who garnered the start in Jackson's absence, pitched in with 10 points, seven assists, a rebound and a steal. Andre Drummond was only able to tally a modest nine points, but did haul in 18 rebounds and recorded a pair of steals and a block. The Pistons are in third place in the Eastern Conference's Central Division. They've clinched the eighth seed in the conference and will close out the season at Cleveland on Wednesday night.
+The Cleveland Cavaliers (32 - 12) extended their lead on the Eastern Conference with a 115 - 93 home win over the plummeting Phoenix Suns (14 - 33). In their third game since firing coach David Blatt, the Cavs ran circles around the struggling Suns on both ends of the floor. Cleveland shot a whopping 56 percent from the field while sinking 11 three - pointers and simultaneously forcing 22 Phoenix turnovers. The team recorded an impressive 34 total assists, including nine from star LeBron James. In addition to his role as distributor, LeBron scored a highly efficient 21 points on 7 for 8 shooting from the field and 7 of 7 at the line. Power forward Kevin Love, who has been the subject of many trade rumors of late, also posted 21 points along with 11 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks. Phoenix has been struggling mightily lately, winning just two of its last 19 games. With star point guard Eric Bledsoe out for the season due to a torn meniscus, the Suns have given the reigns to their young core of players. Rookie Devin Booker has shone in a starting role, and Wednesday was no exception. Booker posted 16 points, three rebounds, and five assists, and turned the ball over just twice in 34 minutes. The Suns will have a day off before traveling to Madison Square Garden to take on the Knicks on Friday night. The Cavs, meanwhile, visit Central-Division foe Detroit on Friday.
+The Cavaliers (19 - 7) held off the Knicks (14 - 16) for a 91 - 84 victory at Quicken Loans Arena on Wednesday. The Knicks fought tough, but were unable to handle the Cavaliers stifling defense, particularly in the fourth quarter in which New York managed just 12 points. Iman Shumpert did an excellent job defending locking down Aaron Afflalo, while LeBron James and Kevin Love each poured in 23 points. Cleveland padded its lead in the Eastern Conference standings with a sixth straight win - - the Cavaliers longest winning streak of the season was eight games earlier in the season. It was a solid effort from the Knicks without All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony, who was sidelined due to an ankle injury, thought he was expected to play earlier in the day after shootaround. In Anthony's stead, New York turned to rookie Kristaps Porzingus, who poured in a team - high 23 points on 8 - of - 18 shooting to go along with 13 rebounds. It was a nice bounce - back game for Porzingus, as the young big man had n't scored more than 20 points since Dec. 7 against the Mavericks. He also set a new career high with four 3 - pointers made. The Cavaliers received a big boost with Kyrie Irving returning to the lineup Sunday against the 76ers, but the superstar point guard has n't been very effective. He played just 19 minutes Wednesday and was limited to five points on 1 - of - 7 shooting from the field. It's still only been two games since Irving's return, so chances are he'll need a few more contests to get back into the swing of things, which the Cavaliers can certainly afford considering how well they've played lately. Tristan Thompson posted his fifth double - double of the season with 10 points and 14 rebounds.
+The Memphis Grizzlies (48 - 21) defeated the Dallas Mavericks (44 - 26) 112 - 101 on Friday in Dallas. Marc Gasol, who has really picked up his game as of late, lead the way for the Grizzlies, recording a triple - double of 15 points on 6 - of - 10 shooting, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. In his last four games, Gasol has been productive in multiple facets, averaging 15 points, 9 points and 5 assists. Zach Randolph lead the team in scoring Friday, putting up 21 points on 8 - of - 13 shooting to go along with five assists and four rebounds. Mike Conley had 14 points on 4 - of - 9 shooting and three assists in 32 minutes, while Tony Allen recorded 13 points on 5 - of - 8 shooting and seven rebounds in 32 minutes as a starter. Jeff Green came off the bench for Memphis and scored 15 points on 5 - of - 11 shooting in 27 minutes. Beno Udrih (12) and Vince Carter (11) round out the seven Grizzlies who scored in double figures. The victory gives the Grizzlies a 2 - game lead over Houston for second place in the Western Conference, although they still trail the first - place Warriors by seven games. Devin Harris lead the way for the Mavericks, scoring 16 points on 5 - of - 6 shooting in 21 minutes off the bench. Dirk Nowitzki was close behind and was only able to record 16 points on a poor 4 - of - 14 shooting. Tyson Chandler fell just two points shy of a double - double, putting up nine points on 4 - of - 4 shooting and 13 rebounds in 36 minutes. Chandler Parsons (12), Monta Ellis (12), Charlie Villanueva (12) and Rajon Rondo (10) round out the six Mavericks who scored in double figures. As a team, Dallas recorded just 14 assists to 17 turnovers, and the loss moves them into seventh place in the West, but they still are just 2 games behind the fourth - place Trail Blazers. Up next, the Grizzlies will head home Saturday and take on the Trail Blazers, while the Mavericks will head to Phoenix on Sunday and play the Suns.
+The San Antonio Spurs (19 - 13) defeated the Houston Rockets (21 - 8) 110 - 106 on Sunday at the AT & T Center in San Antonio. Both teams put up nearly identical shooting numbers in this matchup. The Spurs went 47 percent from the field and 37 percent from the three - point line, while the Rockets shot 49 percent from the floor and 36 percent from beyond the arc. The difference in this game came down to turnovers, as the Spurs defense was able to force the Rockets into a season - high of 25. It gave them enough of an advantage to seal the victory. The Spurs were led by Danny Green, who had a team - high of 24 points (6 - 13 FG, 3 - 9 3Pt), while also recording five steals. He got to the free throw line 10 times, and converted on nine of those attempts. The five steals were a season - high, and the points were well above his season average of 13 points per game. With Tony Parker sitting out, Cory Joseph took his spot in the starting lineup as the point guard. He shot well, going 6 - for - 9 from the field and 1 - for - 1 from the three - point line to score 14 points in 34 minutes. He also had six rebounds and four assists. But without Parker, the Spurs also leaned on their other veterans with both Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili getting plenty of touches. Duncan finished with 16 points (6 - 12 FG, 4 - 5 FT) and eight rebounds, while Ginobili came off the bench to score 15 points (5 - 7 FG, 2 - 4 3Pt, 3 - 4 FT) and four assists. It was a nice win for the Spurs over a quality opponent. Despite taking the loss, the Rockets had a few players that played well. James Harden led the Rockets, going 10 - for - 18 from the floor and 3 - for - 6 from the three - point line to score a game - high of 28 points. He also added five assists, but uncharacteristically turned the ball over nine times, which was the most he's had all season. He was a big reason for the team turnover difference that really hurt the Rockets. Coming off the bench, Corey Brewer came out firing. He went 8 - for - 11 from the field and 6 - for - 8 from beyond the arc to score 25 points. It was a season - high for Brewer, as he seemingly could n't miss for the majority of the game. The other big contribution came from Dwight Howard who had a monster line of 24 points (11 - 13 FG, 2 - 7 FT) and 17 rebounds. After scoring only six points on Friday against the Grizzlies, it was nice bounce back game for Howard. The Spurs' next game will be on the road against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday, while the Rockets will be at home against the Washington Wizards on Monday.
+The Washington Wizards (38 - 28) needed a torrid second half shooting performance to defeat the Sacramento Kings (22 - 43) 113 - 97 on Saturday at the Verizon Center. Sacramento led by as many as 21 early in the third quarter before Washington woke up and went on a 21 - 6 run to narrow the gap. Ramon Sessions, who came over to Washington from Sacramento at the trade deadline, canned the go ahead three early in the fourth and the Wizards never looked back. DeMarcus Cousins fouled out with 5:33 remaining and the Kings could never recover, managing just nine points for the rest of the game. Sacramento's brutal eight - game road trip finally came to an end in Washington on Saturday. The Kings went just 2 - 6 on the trip to fall further towards the bottom of the Western Conference. Rudy Gay did not suit up for this game after suffering a strained patellar tendon Friday. His replacement, Omri Casspi, managed only two points and a rebound over 15 minutes on the floor. The Kings will return home on Monday to host the Hawks. The Wizards were facing their second straight opponent that was at less than full strength after playing a Memphis team that rested three starters on Thursday. It looked ugly early on, but the Wizards managed to shift into high gear to escape with a win. John Wall put on a show with 31 points and 12 assists. Nene Hilario missed his second straight game due to personal reasons and is questionable for Washington's next outing. The Wizards will host the Trail Blazers on Monday before embarking on a four - game Western Conference road trip.
+The Dallas Mavericks (10) defeated the Phoenix Suns (0 - 1) 111 - 95 on Wednesday at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix. The Mavericks got off to a quick start during their 2015 - 16 season opener, grabbing a nine - point lead by halftime. After out - scoring the Suns 34 - 21 in the third quarter as well, the Mavericks put the game out of reach and pushed on to their first victory of the season. As a team, the Mavericks went 47 percent from the field and an impressive 48 percent from the three - point line, while the Knicks finished at 39 percent from the field and just 25 percent from deep. With Chandler Parsons (knee) still out, the Mavericks moved Wesley Matthews over to small forward, which gave Raymond Felton the opportunity to enter the starting lineup at shooting guard. Felton made the most of his opportunity and torched the Suns for a game - high of 18 points (7 - 14 FG, 2 - 3 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT), while also pitching in with six assists and four rebounds. Felton averaged just 4 points and 1 assists over 29 games with the Mavericks last season, so this was a fantastic performance for the guard. Deron Williams added 12 points (5 - 8 FG, 2 - 2 3Pt), six rebounds and an assist in his Mavericks' debut. He had to leave the game in the third quarter with a left knee contusion, though, so we'll have to wait and see if it forces him to miss any additional time. Dirk Nowitzki chipped in with 11 points (5 - 10 FG, 1 - 1 3Pt) and nine rebounds as well. The Suns' starting frontcourt trio of P.J. Tucker, Markieff Morris and Tyson Chandler really struggled in this one. They went a combined 3 - of - 11 from the field for just nine points, which clearly was the difference in this one. The backcourt combination of Brandon Knight and Eric Bledsoe was about all the Suns had going for them. Knight finished with 15 points (6 - 13 FG, 1 - 4 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT), six rebounds and three assists, while Bledsoe added 13 points (4 - 12 FG, 0 - 2 3Pt, 5 - 7 FT), four rebounds and four assists. Knight did turn the ball over six times, which was a big factor in pushing the Suns to a whopping 18 turnovers as a team.The Suns' 13th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Devin Booker, shined in his professional debut, as he went 6 - for - 7 from the field and 1 - for - 2 from the three - point line for 14 points over 21 minutes. The Mavericks next game will be on the road against the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday, while the Suns will remain at home in a matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday.
+The San Antonio Spurs (58 - 10) defeated the Portland Trail Blazers (35 - 34) 118 - 110 on Thursday. This victory gave the Spurs 43 - straight win in their home building and they used an unlikely recipe. Usually the defense wins them their games, but the offense was on point on Thursday. In fact, the Spurs shot 52 percent from the field, 91 percent from the free - throw line and 50 percent from three - point range. The ball movement was superb as well, with San Antonio recording 35 assists on 45 made baskets. Portland has been struggling recently and this is the last place you want to play in those instances. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum continued their great seasons though, as they scored nearly half the points in this loss. McCollum led the team with 26 points, with Lillard scoring 23 of his own. Mason Plumlee had a nice all - around game, as he totaled 12 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the defeat. On deck for the Blazers is a matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday. San Antonio just continues to take care of business, as this game never seemed like Portland had a chance. LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard tied the team - lead with 22 points in the win. Tony Parker may have had his best game of the season, as he scored 18 points, while dishing out a season - high 16 assists. That home record has a huge test approaching, as the Golden State Warriors come to town on Saturday for their next scheduled game.
+The Portland Trail Blazers (37 - 35) defeated the Dallas Mavericks (36 - 35) 109 - 103 on Wednesday. After a 132 - 120 overtime defeat on Sunday in Dallas, the Trail Blazers came in to Wednesday looking to turn the tables. Priority one was likely putting the clamps on ageless veteran Dirk Nowitzki, who had scorched them for a season - high 40 points just three nights prior. Portland did a much more effective job Wednesday, holding the Mavs power forward to 21 points, nine rebounds, three assists and a block. Wesley Matthews did have one of his more effective nights of the season against his former teammates while posting 22 points, but Damian Lillard and the rest of the Trail Blazers starting five proved too much for the visitors. Matthews' scoring total did pace Dallas, and he added five rebounds, an assist, two steals and a block. Salah Mejri put together another impressive outing in a second straight start, tallying a 14 - point, 12 - rebound double - double that also included an assist, a steal and a block. Deron Williams followed with his own double - double, managing 12 points, 11 assists, four rebounds and a steal. J.J. Barea paced the reserves with 14 points, five assists, two rebounds and a steal. Devin Harris was also effective off the bench, totaling 11 points, four rebounds and a pair of steals. The Mavericks remain in third place in the Western Conference's Southwest Division, and are currently slotted in the seventh seed as well. They head to Oakland to take on the Golden State Warriors on Friday night. Lillard's game - high 27 points spearheaded the Portland attack, and he complemented it with six rebounds, six assists, two blocks and a steal. He did commit seven turnovers, the only blemish on his otherwise stellar performance. Ed Davis was next with a bench - leading 16 points, which he supplemented with nine rebounds, two assists and three steals. C.J. McCollum and Maurice Harkless followed with a pair of 14 - point efforts. McCollum also dished out four assists and hauled in a rebound, while Harkless posted four rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block. Miles Plumlee pitched in with 10 points, eight boards, an assist, three steals and a pair of blocks. Al-Farouq Aminu rounded out a successful night for the starting five with 10 points, 10 rebounds, an assist, two steals and two blocks. The Trail Blazers remain in second place in the Western Conference's Northwest Division, and are currently slotted in the sixth seed as well. They head to Los Angeles to take on the Clippers on Thursday night.
+The Warriors turned a slim seven - point lead at halftime into a robust 29 - point edge by the end of the third quarter, as they outscored the Celtics by a 31 - 9 margin during the period. They shot 49 percent from the field overall while holding Boston to a 37 percent figure. Klay Thompson's 28 points led the way, while Kevin Durant was close behind with a 23 - point, 10 - rebound double - double. Curry mustered a modest 16 points on a 7 - of - 20 effort from the field, which included a sub - par 2 - of - 10 performance from three - point range. Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley combined for 35 points, while Marcus Smart was forced from the game with a left ankle contusion after 24 minutes and a 10 - point scoring total. Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier stepped up to lead the reserves with a pair of 11 - point efforts.
+The New York Knicks defeated the Orlando Magic, 113 - 105, at Amway Center on Monday evening. The Knicks (26 - 38) had announced earlier in the day that Carmelo Anthony would sit out the second game of the back - to - back set with knee soreness, which created a domino effect that saw rookie Ron Baker enter the starting five. His absence naturally put more of a scoring load on the likes of Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick Rose and Courtney Lee, and each responded with solid contributions to help New York to a road win. The Knicks made a comeback after the Magic (23 - 41) had built a 28 - 20 lead after one quarter, and did it once more in the fourth in overcoming a 92 - 85 deficit to pull away for the eight - point victory. The win snapped an 11 - game losing streak for the Knicks in games in which Anthony had not taken the court. Lee led the way with 20 points, three rebounds, two assists and one steal. Lance Thomas continued his strong play with 17 points, four boards, two steals and one assist. Porzingis supplied 14 points, seven rebounds, one assist and one block. Willy Hernangomez matched his scoring total and added eight rebounds and three assists in just 18 minutes off the bench. Rose compiled 12 points, six assists and five rebounds, and Kyle O'Quinn registered 11 points, eight boards and one assist. Justin Holiday was solid as a reserve with 10 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Evan Fournier paced Orlando with a game - high 25 points, which he supplemented with three assists and two rebounds. Aaron Gordon tallied 17 points, five rebounds, four assists and one block. Elfrid Payton posted a 16 - point, 11 - rebound, 10 - assist triple - double that also included one steal. Bismack Biyombo, logging a second straight start in place of Nikola Vucevic (Achilles), provided a second consecutive double - double with 10 points, 14 rebounds and one block. Jeff Green paced the bench with 15 points, one rebound and one block. The Knicks remain on the road and face off with the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night, while the Magic are home again Wednesday evening as they take on the Chicago Bulls.
+The San Antonio Spurs remained undefeated in their 106 - 99 win over the host Miami Heat on Sunday at American Airlines Center. In a game that was tight throughout, the more veteran squad prevailed. San Antonio (40) dominated the shooting, as it hit 56 percent of its three - pointers and 86 percent of its free - throws. Despite tying in defensive rebounds, San Antonio was able to win the offensive rebounding margin 14 - 6. Miami (1 - 2) did dominate down low, though, outscoring the Spurs 46 - 32 in the paint. Another key for the Spurs was their ability to score off turnovers, as they won that battle 21 points to 10. Kawhi Leonard was the star for the Spurs once again, tallying 27 points and six assists. The reigning two - time Defensive Player of the Year scored the final 10 points for the Spurs and accumulated 16 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter. Pau Gasol was the only other starter in double figures, totaling 20 points and 11 rebounds in his first double - double of the year. In fact, their three other starters combined for just 16 points in the win. Patty Mills did provide 18 points off the bench but failed to record any other fantasy - relevant stats in 25 minutes of action. Four Heat players scored in double figures in their loss, but no one else did much of anything. In fact, the other five players combined for just 17 points. Hassan Whiteside carried the load for the Heat, contributing 27 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks in the loss. Goran Dragic was second - highest scorer, adding 25 points of his own, while adding five assists and three boards. Justise Winslow had a nice game, as well, totaling 18 points and five rebounds. Tyler Johnson was the only bench player to score more than two points, as he chipped in 12 in 30 minutes of play. Both teams return to action on Tuesday, as the Spurs host the Utah Jazz and the Heat host the Sacramento Kings.
+The Wizards erased a 54 - 49 halftime deficit with a third - quarter rally that saw them outscore their visitors by a 38 - 23 margin. Both teams exceeded the 51 - percent mark from the field, with Nicolas Batum (20 points) and John Wall (25 points, 10 assists) leading the way, respectively. The two clubs had trouble taking care of the ball, as evidenced by a combined 32 turnovers. For the Hornets, Kemba Walker had a near - double - double with 17 points and nine assists. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist contributed 11 points, and Marco Belinelli paced the bench with 16 points. Wall also contributed seven steals, but offset them with eight turnovers. Bradley Beal (20 points), Marcin Gortat (16 - point, 12 - rebound double - double) and spot starter Kelly Oubre, Jr. (15 points) were very productive. Jason Smith came off the bench to produce 12 points in 18 minutes.
+The New York Knicks (9 - 10) defeated the Philadelphia 76ers (1 - 19) 99 - 85 on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden in New York. After securing their first win of the season on Tuesday, the Sixers were hoping to get their momentum moving in the right direction. Unfortunately, that was n't the case Wednesday, as the Knicks came in and snapped a four - game losing streak of their own with the 14 - point victory over the Sixers.The Sixers forced the Knicks into 17 turnovers as a team, but could n't get anything going offensively, shooting just 37 percent from the field and 32 percent from the three - point line. Conversely, the Knicks shot 44 percent from the floor and 20 percent from deep. It was Kristaps Porzingis, the Knicks' electrifying first - round pick, who again stole the show Wednesday. Porzingis was very efficient offensively, scoring a team - high of 17 points (6 - 10 FG, 2 - 2 3Pt, 3 - 3 FT), to go along with 10 rebounds and four blocked shots. He's now notched two double - doubles in a row, which brings his season total to nine. Porzingis is averaging 14 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks on the season. After missing Sunday's game due to an illness, superstar Carmelo Anthony returned to the lineup. Anthony did n't have the best game shooting the ball, but still finished with 12 points (5 - 16 FG, 0 - 3 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT), while also adding six rebounds and a pair of assists. Anthony has combined to shoot just 9 - for - 29 from the field and 1 - for - 6 from the three - point line over his last two games, so he'll look to turn things around moving forward. Arron Afflalo chipped in with 13 points (6 - 10 FG, 1 - 4 3Pt) and eight rebounds as well. With Jahlil Okakor being suspended two games due to a few off - court incidents, the Sixers had JaKarr Sampson move into the starting lineup. Sampson led all Sixer scorers with 12 points (4 - 7 FG, 0 - 2 3Pt, 4 - 5 FT), to go along with five rebounds over 23 minutes. The 12 points were the most he's scored since the season opener, considering he's averaging just 6 points and 3 rebounds on the season. Sampson should get the start again Saturday with Okafor remaining out on suspension. Hollis Thompson and Richaun Holmes came off the bench and tried to give the Sixers a much - needed spark. Thompson recorded 13 points (5 - 12 FG, 3 - 5 3Pt) and four rebounds, while Holmes added 11 points (4 - 6 FG, 0 - 1 3Pt, 3 - 4 FT) and three rebounds. The Knicks' next game will be at home against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, while the Sixers will head home to play the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.
+The Indiana Pacers (6 - 8) defeated the Dallas Mavericks (10 - 5) 111 - 100 on Monday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. After coming into Saturday on a six game win streak, the Mavericks have now lost two straight games, with the Pacers being the latest to serve them a loss. The Pacers were able to shoot 50 percent from the three - point line and out - rebound the Mavericks 44 - 37 to help them steal the victory on the road. The Pacers win stems from a big night by Donald Sloan. Sloan shot an outstanding 10 - for - 14 from the field and 3 - for - 5 from the three - point line to score 29 points. He also converted on 6 - of - 9 attempts from the free throw line, adding to his point total. It was only his second game of the season scoring over the 20 - point mark. Luis Scola also was able to have a productive night against the Mavericks. He scored 14 points (4 - 11 FG, 1 - 3 3Pt, 5 - 6 FT) and grabbed 11 rebounds. He's now grabbed double - digit rebounds in three of the last four games he's played in. With Roy Hibbert sitting out with an injury, Ian Mahinmi got his first start at center on the season and was able to post 10 points and seven rebounds. It was his second game in a row reaching double figures in points, after not scoring more than nine points previously this year. Despite the loss, the Mavericks still had plenty of offensive production from their starters. Monta Ellis shot 9 - for - 19 from the field and 1 - for - 5 from beyond the arc to score 24 points, while also handing out six assists. He's averaging 20 points and 5 assists on the season. Dirk Nowitzki also had one of his better offensive games of late. He shot 9 - for - 17 from the field and 2 - for - 4 from the three - point line to score 22 points. He also had 11 rebounds, marking his second double - double of the season. Chandler Parsons and Jameer Nelson were also able to reach double figures in points with 16 and 10 points respectively. The team overall just did n't have their usual defensive presence to keep the Pacers from getting the victory. The Pacers' next game will be on the road against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, while the Mavericks will be at home against the New York Knicks on Wednesday.
+The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Miami Heat, 93 - 90, at American Airlines Arena on Tuesday. Despite the victory, the Hawks (8 - 2) did not get off to the best start against a depleted Heat (2 - 8) squad. Atlanta struggled to get a lead over Miami and did n't pull ahead until there was just over two minutes left in the second period. From there, it was a game of runs as the teams traded leads before the Hawks were able to hold off one last push of desperation by Miami. Atlanta did, however, lose Dwight Howard late in the third quarter, as he left the game with a left quad contusion and did not return. He did still manage to finish with a double - double of 11 points and 11 rebounds in just 25 minutes. In the end, Dennis Schroder led the way for Atlanta, scoring 18 points and dishing out four assists, while Paul Millsap, who ended up playing a solid dose of minutes at the center position, posted 15 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals Tuesday night. For the Heat, it was yet another dominant performance from center Hassan Whiteside, who finished with 19 points and 25 rebounds en route to his ninth double - double of the season. Josh Richardson matched Whiteside's 19 points in 38 minutes, as he looks to be fully healthy after missing the start of the season with a knee injury. Dion Waiters, however, who is filling in as the team's starting point guard with Goran Dragic (ankle) out, struggled from the field, shooting 5 - of - 18 and scoring just 11 points. Justise Winslow also missed Tuesday's game with a wrist injury. Up next, the Hawks will look to keep rolling at home against Milwaukee on Wednesday, while the Heat will look to turn things around against the Bucks on Thursday.
+The Sacramento Kings defeated the Denver Nuggets, 120 - 113, at Pepsi Center on Tuesday. In a battle between two teams battling for the eight - seed in the west, the Kings were able to prevail with a big road win. An 18 - 2 run in the second quarter was the decisive stretch for Sacramento, as they never relinquished their lead after that big run. Turnovers really killed Denver, as they committed 14 of them, while forcing just eight from the Kings. Sacramento shot 52 percent from the field, with Denver shooting 48 percent on their end. Sacramento (15 - 19) have n't had many road wins to celebrate this season, but this won catapulted them into playoff positioning for the time being. DeMarcus Cousins was once again the catalyst for the Kings, as he accumulated 31 points, six rebounds and six assists. Darren Collison had one of his best games of the season, tallying 26 points and seven assists. Kosta Koufos was the only other starter in double figures, scoring 18 points on 8 - of - 9 shooting. Arron Afflalo punished his former team with 19 points on 8 - of - 10 shooting off the bench. The Kings will play again on Wednesday, when they host the injury - riddled Miami Heat. Denver (14 - 21) had to play this game in the second half of a back - to - back set and they clearly were hampered by that fact in this loss. Danilo Gallinari did all he could for the Nuggets, leading the team with 24 points, four rebounds and three assists on 8 - of - 12 from the field. Nikola Jokic continued his recent surge, collecting 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Jusuf Nurkic was a nice spark off the bench, accruing 16 points, six rebounds and four assists. Things do n't get any easier for Denver, as they play the San Antonio Spurs for their next game on Thursday.
+The grit - and - grind Memphis Grizzlies (44 - 17) took home the 97 - 90 win over the Los Angeles Lakers (16 - 45) on Friday. The Grizzlies are 5 - 3 since returning from the All-Star break, doing enough to stay nestled between the Western Conference-leading Golden State Warriors and the third - place Portland Trial Blazers for second place in West playoff standings. Zach Randolph led the way with a team - high 24 points and 13 rebounds in 37 minutes to help the Grizzlies put a bowtie on their season series with the Lakers, having won all four matchups. Rookie point guard Jordan Clarkson scored a career - high 25 points, but after he made a two - point field goal to put the Lakers up 75 - 67 with 11 minutes left in the game, Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger put Tony Allen on the rookie, and the Grizzlies roared back, with Clarkson bottled up so bad that he only got off two more shots the rest of the way and missed both of them. Still trailing 87 - 86 with 1:50 left in the game, Jeff Green stole the ball on a bad pass from Jordan Hill, and Green ended up being fouled, which sent him to the line to knock down both of his free throws and give the Grizzlies the lead they would never relinquish. Memphis will travel to New Orleans to play the Pelicans on Saturday, and the Lakers will return home to host the Mavericks on Sunday, when they will try to stop their four - game skid.
+It was a big night for the Sacramento Kings as they earned their fourth straight win. Center DeMarcus Cousins in particular scored in droves, shooting 13 - of - 24 for 40 points on the night. Cousins added 12 rebounds and eight assists and went 12 - of - 19 at the free - throw line. An edge in free - throws made a big difference for the Kings. Sacramento shot 18 - of - 25 from the line, while LA was just 8 - of - 15. The Kings also shot a stellar 49 percent from the field. Los Angeles, meanwhile, poured in a respectable 12 three - pointers. Four of those came from sixth man Lou Williams, who exploded for 29 points and five assists. Highly-touted rookie Brandon Ingram, meanwhile, struggled, scoring just seven points on 2 - of - 7 shooting and 1 - of - 4 at the free - throw line. The Lakers still managed to shoot 45 percent as a team.
+The Golden State Warriors defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, 117 - 92, at Oracle Arena on Saturday. Golden State were expected to win this game easily and they left no doubt with this 25 - point result. The second quarter is where they separated themselves from Milwaukee, as they won that quarter, 36 - 15. Golden State actually led by at least 18 points for the entirety of the second half, thanks to that run. The shooting statistics were lopsided, with Golden State hitting 60 percent of their shots to Milwaukee's 40 percent. Defensive rebounding really helped the Warriors too, as they outrebounded the Bucks, 38 - 23. The Bucks (34 - 35) had won eight of nine headed into this matchup, but facing the Warriors is a different animal. Michael Brogdon led the team with 18 points, four rebounds and three assists. Khris Middleton totaled just 11 points and five assists, Greg Monroe led the bench with 12 points and seven rebounds. Giannis Antetokounmpo had one of his worst games of the season, collecting just nine points, three rebounds and three assists. Milwaukee's next game wo n't be until Tuesday, when they take on the Portland Trail Blazers on the road. The Warriors (55 - 14) have extended their winning streak to three games with this victory, as they appear to be getting back on track. Stephen Curry led Golden State, as he accrued 28 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals. Klay Thompson finished second on the team, dropping 21 points. Draymond Green flirted with a triple - double, accumulating eight points, eight rebounds and 10 assists. Andre Iguodala was a huge spark off the bench, providing 15 points, four rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Golden State's next game will be on Monday, when they face the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road.
+The New Orleans Pelicans (25 - 42) defeated the Sacramento Kings (26 - 41) 123 - 108 at Sleep Train Arena on Wednesday. Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson put on a scoring clinic in the blowout, as both players took advantage of their matchups against the struggling Kings. Sacramento is 1 - 9 over their last 10 games and the team has fallen off the wagon since the all - star break. Anthony Davis got off to a strong start and dominated in the second quarter, where his team ended the half with a 21 point lead. Davis scored 27 points and grabbed 14 rebounds on 10 - of - 20 shooting, while Ryan Anderson was lethal in 26 minutes off the bench and finished with 29 points that included five baskets from behind the arc. Omer Asik has received sporadic minutes over the last few games, but earned the starting nod on Wednesday after not playing any minutes on Monday. Asik contributed a lowly five points, to go along with four rebounds in the unimpressive performance. New Orleans shot selection was all but unstoppable for Sacramento, as they shot 54 percent as a unit. The Kings look monotonous since dropping off in the playoff chase, and their struggle on the defensive end of the floor has opened up blowout losses. They entered the game without the depth of Rajon Rondo (thumb/shoulder) and Marco Belinelli (ankle), which posed major mismatches in the backcourt. The help defense at the rim was also absent, save for DeMarcus Cousins doing whatever he can to keep his team in the game. Cousins finished with 20 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and two blocks on 8 - of - 21 shooting, while Darren Collison impressed on the offensive end with 23 points, which included a perfect 3 - of - 3 from deep. After the brutal second quarter, the Kings bounced back in the third quarter and chipped six points off lead, but it was far from enough to bring the game close enough to compete. Both teams play on Friday, as the Kings will visit the Detroit Pistons (34 - 34), while the Pelicans will host the Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers (35 - 33).
+This was one of the tightest games of the season, as neither team led by more than seven points. In total, there were nine ties and 14 lead changes, as it came down to the final seconds. Defense was key for Miami, as they held Indiana to 37 percent shooting and just 10 points in the fourth quarter. The Heat also dominated the rebounding and assists, winning the rebounding, 58 - 38, and the assists, 23 - 14. Paul George was the only Indiana player with more than 15 points, as he tallied 22 points, seven rebounds and three assists in the defeat. Myles Turner totaled 11 points, seven rebounds and five blocks. Hassan Whiteside was the player of the game, as he amassed 26 points and 22 rebounds in the win. The Johnson duo was huge off the bench for Miami, as Tyler Johnson and James Johnson combined for 29 points, eight rebounds and nine assists.
+The Detroit Pistons (15 - 12) defeated the Boston Celtics (14 - 12) Wednesday 119 - 116 at The Palace in Auburn Hills in Detroit. The teams went wire - to - wire, exchanging blow after blow in the second half. However, with just over two minutes to go in the game, the Pistons were able to open up a seven - point lead that the Celtics were simply unable to come back from. For Detroit, it was Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's night, as the shooting guard out of Georgia scored a team - high 31 points in 44 minutes while shooting 10 - of - 16 from the field. Reggie Jackson also had an efficient night, scoring 23 points in just 28 minutes, while Andre Drummond recorded yet another double - double, finishing with 16 points and 12 rebounds in 35 minutes. The Pistons' starting five carried the team the whole night, as they managed to score 92 of the teams 119 points. For the Celtics, they got a career - night from point guard Isaiah Thomas, who finished with a career - high 38 points and seven assists in 38 minutes. Unfortunately for the team, they were unable to get enough from their other guys despite Thomas' constant heroics. Jared Sullinger continues to have his most effecive season yet, as he recorded a double - double of 17 points and 10 rebounds in 27 minutes, while Amir Johnson finished with 11 points in 21 minutes. Tyler Zeller was the fourth and final Celtic to score in double figures, recording 12 points in just 10 minutes off the bench. Up next, the Pistons will head to Chicago Friday to take on the Bulls, while the Celtics will head home Friday to play the Hawks.
+The Phoenix Suns defeated the New York Knicks, 113 - 111, at Talking Stick Resort Arena on Tuesday. While this game was tight throughout the final 15 minutes, it took some major swings to get there. In fact, New York went on a 22 - 6 run to start the fourth quarter to take an unlikely lead after trailing by 12 points headed into the fourth. There were only four ties and 11 lead changes, as Phoenix led for nearly 40 minutes of this game. Defense was key for the Suns, as they held the Knicks to 39 percent shooting and out - rebounded them, 61 - 43. New York (14 - 11) did a great job of fighting through adversity and coming back in this game, but it simply was n't enough. Kristaps Porzingis carried the load, as he tallied 34 points, eight rebounds, three steals and three blocks before fouling out in overtime. Kyle O'Quinn was the Knicks second best player, accruing 22 points and 14 rebounds off the bench. Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose struggled mightily, as Anthony went 3 - of - 15 en route to 13 points, while Rose went 0 - of - 6 before exiting with back spasms. Things do n't get any easier for New York, as they play the Golden State Warriors on the road for their next game. This marks the Suns (8 - 17) fifth overtime game this season, as they were able to prevail despite choking in the fourth quarter. Eric Bledsoe was the player of the game, as he accumulated 31 points, six rebounds and eight assists in the victory. Tyson Chandler continued his rebounding dominance, totaling 13 points and 23 rebounds. Marquese Chriss had his best game of the year, scoring 14 points and grabbing 12 boards. P.J. Tucker finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and three steals, while locking down Carmelo Anthony. Devin Booker had a game to forget, amassing just 12 points, one rebound and no assists on 3 - of - 16 shooting. On deck for the Suns is a tough home matchup against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday.
+The Brooklyn Nets (10 - 23) defeated the Boston Celtics (18 - 15) 100 - 97 on Saturday. Brooklyn, which had only three road victories this season, got a rare road win against the Celtics. The Nets largely accomplished their unlikely feat by going through the weak spot of the Celtics' otherwise formidable defense, the frontcourt. As has often been the case this season, Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young dominated down low with a pair of double - double efforts. Lopez led all scorers with a season - high 30 points, and added 13 rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block for his sixth double - double in the last seven games. Meanwhile, Young contributed 16 points, 10 boards, an assist and a steal. The Nets impressively scored almost half of their points in the paint, collecting 46 near the basket on the afternoon, and also hauled in 50 rebounds. While Boston matched them in scoring down low and actually bested them by one board in the latter category, Lopez's mammoth offensive showing played an integral role in allowing Brooklyn to escape with a hard - fought victory. Veteran Joe Johnson was the third Brooklyn starter to turn in a notable effort, posting 20 points on 9 of 19 shooting. It was somewhat of a breakout game for the 15 - year veteran, who had not eclipsed the 20 - point mark since Dec. 8 against the Rockets, and who was also coming off three straight single - digit scoring outings. Bojan Bogdanovic contributed a solid 13 points and six rebounds, while Jarrett Jack, who was only able to muster two points but who did dish out nine assists, exited the game late in the third quarter with what is believed to be a right knee sprain at a minimum. Jack's right leg appeared to buckle on a fast break opportunity, and the Nets will hold out hope for the best with respect to their veteran point guard. The Nets improved to 10 - 23 but remain in fourth place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division. They now head home to face this same Celtics squad Monday in the second game of the teams' home - and - home series. The Celtics struggled to find the basket all afternoon, particularly from long range. They could only manage 39 and 22 percent metrics, respectively, from the field and beyond the arc. Isaiah Thomas did lead the way with a solid 24 points, six assists, two rebounds and two steals over 36 minutes, and shot a respectable 10 - for - 22. However, Thomas could only drain two of the nine three - point shots he attempted, and missed a 27 - footer with 14 seconds left that would have closed the Boston deficit to three at the time. The dependable Jae Crowder did pick up a technical for a scuffle with Jack, but also put up 16 points and hauled in seven boards. He also handed out three assists and recorded a pair of steals. While the other three starters could only muster single - digit scoring, Amir Johnson did supplement his seven points with 11 rebounds. Evan Turner and Marcus Smart paced the Boston reserves, who scored 41 as a group, with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Turner added seven rebounds and three assists, while Smart pitched in with three boards, an assist and three steals. Two of Smart's thefts came in the final 19 seconds, but the Celtics were only able to convert those into two points in the form of a Turner field goal off the rebound of Thomas' aforementioned three - point miss. Boston fell to 18 - 15 but remains in second place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division. They hit the road to for another go - around with the Nets at the Barclays Center on Monday.
+The Portland Trail Blazers (33 - 16) narrowly avoided their fourth straight loss Tuesday, holding off a late charge from Utah to defeat the Jazz (17 - 31) 103 - 102. Portland had lost eight of its last ten games, including an 0 - 3 road trip last week, coming into Tuesday's contest and was desperate for a win. Utah hung tough with Portland and made things very interesting when Joe Ingles' three pointer brought the Jazz within two points with just under 10 seconds to go in the game. However, LaMarcus Aldridge's free throws put the game out of reach for the Jazz as Portland notched a much - needed win. Utah has been a thorn in the side for the West's top teams of late, coming within five points of the Clippers and securing a surprising win over Golden State last week. Gordon Hayward led all scorers with 27 points on 10 - of - 16 shooting. Dante Exum started at point guard again, but only logged 20 minutes on the floor and was held scoreless while Trey Burke put up 18 points in 34 minutes. Utah gets another top team in the West on Wednesday when Memphis comes to town. Portland's recent struggles have affected its playoff standing, but the Trail Blazers were able to pull off a victory to temporarily stop the bleeding. The Trail Blazers are one of four teams in the Western Conference with 33 wins now and need to right the ship if they want to keep their standing in the top four. Robin Lopez returned to the floor for the first time since mid - December and contributed 11 points and six rebounds. He suffered a facial laceration in the third quarter, but was able to return to the game. Portland is idle Wednesday before hosting Phoenix on Thursday.
+The Toronto Raptors (37 - 17) beat the Atlanta Hawks (43 - 12) 105 - 80 on Friday. The Raptors came out of the gate strong in their first post All-Star break game. They had a four - point lead going into halftime and then outscored Atlanta 28 - 13 in the third quarter and led by as much as 35 points in the fourth. Louis Williams came off the bench and had a game - high 26 points with four steals and a block. Toronto is 3 - 1 against the East-leading Hawks this season. Atlanta played a sluggish second half against the Raptors in Friday's matchup of the top two Eastern Conference teams. The Hawks were led in scoring by Paul Millsap, Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver, all three of whom started and scored 11 points. Korver went just 2 - of - 11 from beyond the arc, however. Atlanta has now lost four of its last seven games dating back to a pre - break loss to the Celtics. The Raptors will take on the Rockets in Houston on Saturday, while the Hawks will take on the Bucks in Milwaukee on Sunday.
+The Memphis Grizzlies (25 - 9) defeated the New York Knicks (5 - 32) 105 - 83 on Monday at Fed Ex Forum Arena in Memphis. The Grizzlies were able to dominate right from the start in this one, out - scoring the Knicks 47 - 36 in the first half alone. They were then able to coast to a 22 - point victory in the second half, giving the home fans a show. The Grizzlies were the superior shooters in this one, going 52 percent from the field and 47 percent from the three - point line, while the Knicks went just 43 percent from the floor and 31 percent from beyond the arc. With Zach Randolph still sidelined, both Mike Conley and Marc Gasol continued to make up for the bulk of his production. Conley had a very effective shooting night, going 9 - for - 12 from the field and 2 - for - 3 from the three - point line to score 22 points. He did a little bit of everything in this game, nearing a triple - double with seven rebounds and seven assists as well. Conley struggled to only eight points on Saturday, so it was a nice bounce back game for him. Gasol on the other hand posted 14 points (5 - 12 FG, 4 - 5 FT), eight rebounds and two blocks. He did n't near his season average of 20 points per game, but he was still effective enough to help secure the victory. Tony Allen had 14 points (6 - 8 FG, 1 - 1 3Pt, 1 - 1 FT) of his own. More importantly though, Allen had a huge defensive effort in this one, posting a season - high of seven steals. The only other player to reach double figures was Courtney Lee, who had 11 points in 26 minutes. The Knicks were still without Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire, which continued to limit their offensive abilities. Quincy Acy led the team in a surprise performance off the bench. He went 7 - for - 8 from the field and 2 - for - 3 from the three - point line to score 19 points. He had only reached double figures three other times this season, making it even more impressive for the young forward. He also got it done on the boards though, posting a season - high of 14 rebounds. It marked his first double - double of the year. Jose Calderon was one of the only other players to give Acy any help. Calderon was very efficient with his shot, going 5 - for - 7 from the floor and 3 - for - 3 from beyond the arc to score 13 points, while adding six assists. Tim Hardaway Jr seemingly struggled to get in a groove and finished with 12 points (4 - 14 FG, 2 - 8 3Pt, 2 - 4 FT) in 33 minutes. The Grizzlies' next game will be on the road against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, while the Knicks will travel to Washington to play the Wizards on Wednesday.
+When the worst offense faces the worst defense, 29 - point games are the outcome. Golden State were unstoppable on offense, as they sjhot 63 percent from the field and 67 percent from three - point range. Much of that has to be attributed to ball movement, as they recorded 37 assists on 49 buckets. Eric Bledsoe did all he could to keep the Suns hanging around, as he accumulated 27 points, five rebounds, four assists and five steals in the defeat. The Splash Brothers (Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson) were on display for Golden State, as they combined for 57 points, going 11 - of - 14 from three - point range. Kevin Durant was n't too shabby either, totaling 20 points, four rebounds and eight assists. Draymond Green's nine points and five rebounds do n't look great, but he handed out a game - high 13 assists, making numerous hustle plays with the game well out of hand.
+Washington has not been manhandled in their home building all season, but Utah took are of them easily here. In fact, they led for over 42 minutes of this game, as Washington could n't get it within six points in the second half. Rebounding was the key, as Utah won that battle, 52 - 27. Gordon Hayward carried the load for Utah, as he tallied 30 points and nine rebounds. Rudy Gobert was a presence down low, accumulating 15 points, 20 rebounds and four blocks. George Hill finished with 21 points and six assists. John Wall led Washington in scoring, as he provided 23 points and 11 assists, despite committing nine turnovers. Bradley Beal was second on the team, finishing with 22 points, three rebounds and four assists. Bojan Bogdanovic was the only other Wizard in double figures, as he dropped 15 points off the bench.
+The Nuggets had a 22 - point lead in the third quarter, as they barely held on for their eighth win in 12 games. The key was rebounding, as they won that battle, 48 - 38. The assist - to - turnover ratio was decisive as well, with Denver recording five more assists and four less turnovers than Milwaukee. Jabari Parker was the Bucks best player, as he tallied 27 points, 11 rebounds and four assists. Giannis Antetokounmpo accrued 23 points, eight rebounds and five assists. John Henson started at center and provided 16 points, five rebounds and four blocks. Nikola Jokic recorded his first career triple - double, accumulating 21 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists. Wilson Chandler started for Danilo Gallinari and collected 23 points, eight rebounds, three assists and four blocks. Kenneth Faried recorded a 19 - point, 11 - rebound double - double. Jamal Murray was a nice spark off the bench, leading all bench players with 18 points.
+The Cavs shot 54 percent from deep, as they hit 25 - of - 46 of their three - point attempts. The 25 three - pointers is an NBA record for most in a game. Kyrie Irving led the way for Cleveland with a game - high 43 points on 14 - of - 21 shooting, in 36 minutes, while LeBron James filled the stat sheet with 38 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, in 39 minutes.. Channing Frye and Richard Jefferson were the only other players to score in double digits for the Cavs, as they added 11 points each. Meanwhile, Tim Hardaway Jr. was the high - point man for Atlanta, with 36 points on 13 - of - 20 shooting, in 35 minutes off the bench. Paul Millsap followed up with 27 points on 9 - of - 16 shooting, and nine rebounds, in 37 minutes. Four other players scored in double digits for the Hawks, including Dwight Howard, who finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds, three steals, two assists and one block, in 27 minutes.
+Despite there being just seven ties and four lead changes, neither of these teams led by more than nine points for the entirety of this contest. The Clippers just kept the Magic at bay all game long, as they never trailed after the first quarter. Los Angeles was extremely efficient from the field, as they shot 50 percent from the free - throw line and from three - point range. All five starters scored in double figures for the Clippers, as Austin Rivers led the team with 25 points on 9 - of - 12 shooting. Blake Griffin tallied 23 points, seven rebounds and three assists. DeAndre Jordan went 12 - of - 18 from the free - throw line en route to a 22 - point, 12 - rebound evening. Aaron Gordon kept the Magic hanging around, as he scored a career - high 33 points in the defeat. Evan Fournier and Jeff Green were the only other Magic players in double figures, as Fournier scored 23 points, while Green dropped 19 of his own.
+The Golden State Warriors (56 - 13) won their third game in four nights Saturday with a 106 - 91 win over the Utah Jazz (31 - 38) at the Oracle Arena. Golden State accomplished a rare feat Saturday, even by its lofty standards. The Warriors were the first team to score 100 points on the Jazz in nearly a month, a span of 12 games. Stephen Curry scored a game - high 24 points and Leandro Barbosa continued his offensive surge with 19 points (8 - 10 FG, 1 - 2 3Pt) off the bench. With the victory, Golden State won the season series against Utah 3 - 1. Utah has now dropped two of its last three after going 8 - 1 to begin March. Granted, both losses came against playoff opponents (Washington and Golden State) and were competitive games overall. Rudy Gobert had a quiet outing on the boards by his standards, pulling down nine rebounds. This was his second straight game without double - digit rebounds after reaching that mark in his previous ten outings. Derrick Favors had a solid outing with 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead the team in both categories and Trey Burke scored 20 off the bench. The Jazz will return home to face the Timberwolves on Monday. Golden State continued its dominance at home Saturday, improving its record at the Oracle Arena to 33 - 2. The Warriors now have a seven and a half game lead over Memphis for the top spot in the Western conference with just 13 games remaining. Golden State had three starters and two bench players score in double figures Saturday, illustrating its scoring depth. The Warriors will host the Wizards on Monday before kicking off a stretch of seven road games in their next eight contests.
+The host San Antonio Spurs took down the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, 118 - 104. The Spurs (33 - 9) remain the league's second - ranked team with Thursday's double - digit win. San Antonio received the unfortunate news on Thursday that veteran big man Pau Gasol had suffered a broken fourth metacarpal bone and will likely miss considerable time. The Spurs' spirits were lifted on the court, however, as the team earned a strong win. For the fifth straight game, superstar forward Kawhi Leonard scored at least 30 points, leading the team with 34. Leonard, who was named an All-Star starter hours before tip - off, played an integral part in the Spurs' third - quarter charge to take a commanding lead. Five Spurs scored in double digits and the team finished the night shooting over 51 percent in what was a strong offensive outing for the powerful team. The Nuggets (17 - 24) had their three - game win streak snapped in San Antonio. Despite the loss, Denver continued to see promising play from breakout sophomore center Nikola Jokic. Jokic dominated with a career - high 35 points along with 12 rebounds and four assists. Guard Will Barton, who once again filled in for an injured Gary Harris, delivered 18 points and dished out seven assists. However, the middling Nuggets were unable to run with the powerhouse Spurs for the entirety of the game, due in large part to poor shooting from their remaining players. Denver finished at just 40 percent shooting on the night. The Spurs will visit Cleveland on Saturday, while Denver will host the Los Angeles Clippers.
+The New Orleans Pelicans (29 - 47) defeated the Brooklyn Nets (21 - 56) 106 - 87 on Sunday afternoon. The Nets announced prior to the game that veterans Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young would sit for the remainder of the season, in order to avoid further wear and tear in the latter stages of a lost season. The move signaled the inclusion of Henry Sims and Thomas Robinson into the starting five, beginning with Sunday's tilt versus the Pelicans. Sims got things off on the right foot, sharing the team scoring lead with 12 points, and adding seven rebounds, an assist and a steal. Meanwhile, Robinson, who'd already done an outstanding job filling in for Young in a handful games in the latter stages of the season, posted a double - double with 11 points and 15 rebounds. New Orleans was led by Luke Babbit's 21 points, and he added four assists, a rebound and a block. With the Pelicans holding a comfortable lead, the next two leading scores came from the bench, beginning with Tim Frazier, who tallied his first career - double with 19 points, 13 assists, two rebounds and three steals. Alexis Ajinca was next with 16 points, six rebounds, an assist, a steal and four blocks. Dante Cunningham represented the first unit well, chipping in with 14 points, four rebounds, three assists and a steal. James Ennis continued his solid play with New Orleans with 14 points, three rebounds, two assists, four steals and a block. Jordan Hamilton was also highly effective, tallying 13 points, 11 rebounds and three assists. The Pelicans remain in last place in the Western Conference's Southwest Division. They head to Philadelphia to take on the Sixers on Tuesday night. Brooklyn was paced by Sean Kilpatrtick's 15 points and three rebounds off the bench over 26 minutes. Markel Brown equaled Sims' team - high scoring total in a reserve role, and added a rebound and an assist. Wayne Ellington totaled 10 points, three assists, a rebound, a steal and a block. The Nets are currently in fourth place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division. They head to Washington to take on the Wizards on Wednesday night.
+The Washington Wizards (40) defeated the Toronto Raptors (0 - 4) 125 - 94 on Sunday during game four of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Behind a very impressive shooting performance as a team, the Wizards were able to finish the series sweep of the Raptors, as they eliminated them from the playoffs Sunday with the win. The Wizards got off to an extremely quick start, shooting 71 percent from the field and 60 percent from the three - point line in the first quarter to secure a 14 - point lead. They carried that momentum into the second and pushed themselves up by 16 points at the break. The Wizards never let off the gas and at one point led by 36 points, as the Raptors just did n't have an answer for the Wizards' offense. The Wizards had seven players reach double figures in points in this one, receiving a nice effort from their bench to go along with some other impressive performances between the starters. Bradley Beal led the way with 23 points (5 - 15 FG, 3 - 6 3Pt, 10 - 11 FT), while also adding five assists and four steals. Beal was one of the big reasons for the quick start considering he had eight points at the end of the first quarter and 15 points by halftime. Beal has had a big post - season thus far, averaging 21 points over his first four contests. John Wall got off to a hot start as well though and finished the game with 14 points (3 - 5 FG, 1 - 2 3Pt, 7 - 7 FT) and 10 assists. He could've put up some much higher numbers, but he was limited to just 25 minutes due to the huge lead the Wizards had early on in the game. Coming up with a surprise performance was Marcin Gortat, as he posted 21 points (8 - 9 FG, 5 - 7 FT) and 11 rebounds over 29 minutes. After not doing too much in the first two games of this series, he really picked it up over the last two, combining for 45 points and 24 rebounds during that stretch, while notching two double - doubles in a row. Drew Gooden and Ramon Sessions received extra time off the bench with the lead. Gooden added 13 points (5 - 8 FG, 3 - 4 3Pt) and four rebounds, while Sessions had 15 points (5 - 7 FG, 3 - 4 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT) and three assists. After struggling during the start of the playoffs, Kyle Lowry finally found some production for the Raptors. He went 8 - for - 15 from the field and 2 - for - 7 from the three - point line to score 21 points, while also adding eight rebounds and four assists. He did turn the ball over six times though and received a technical for throwing the ball in frustration at the referee, so Lowry did n't necessarily have the type of success that he had hoped coming into the 2015 NBA Playoffs and he ends his season in disappointing fashion. Jonas Valanciunas nearly recorded a double - double with 16 points (7 - 10 FG, 2 - 2 FT) and nine rebounds. It was a solid end to the season for Valanciunas, who averaged 12 points and 9 rebounds during the regular season. Both DeMar DeRozan and Louis Williams reached double figures as well. DeRozan finished with 14 points (6 - 13 FG, 2 - 2 FT), four assists and three steals, while Williams chipped in with 14 points (4 - 11 FG, 2 - 6 3Pt, 4 - 6 FT) and one rebound. The Raptors just could n't keep up with the Wizards' shooting as Toronto finished at just 44 percent from the field and a meager 28 percent from deep. The Wizards will now have to wait to see who wins the Atlanta Hawks/Brooklyn Nets series in order to find out who they'll play next. The Hawks currently lead that matchup 2 - 1.
+The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the New York Knicks, 104 - 93, at BMO Harris Bradley Center on Wednesday. These are two teams going in opposite directions and Milwaukee showed just which way in this win. While there were only two ties and four lead changes in total, neither team led by more than 12 points. It took a second half run for Milwaukee to win, as they outscored the Knicks, 49 - 37, in the second half. Their ability to get to the free - throw line was huge, with the Bucks going 22 - of - 28 from the charity stripe, while New York hit just 8 - of - 12. Turnovers were a huge impact, with the Knicks committing 16 turnovers to the Bucks eight. Fastbreak points and scoring in the paint were a huge difference as well, combining to win those categories, 70 - 36. The Knicks (26 - 39) have just four wins in their last 11 games, as they continue to slide down the standings. Derrick Rose had his best shooting game of the season though, scoring 26 points on 13 - of - 16 shooting. Carmelo Anthony accumulated 16 points, four rebounds and three assists. Kristaps Porzingis collected 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Willy Hernangomez did commit six turnovers, but amassed 13 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out. On deck for New York is a road matchup with the Detroit Pistons on Saturday. The Bucks (30 - 33) are now 8 - 3 across their last 11 games, which has catapulted them into the playoffs. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way for Milwaukee, as he tallied 32 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists. Khris Middleton finished second on the team, totaling 18 points, three rebounds and four assists. Greg Monroe was a huge spark off the bench, providing 17 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Milwaukee will host the Indiana Pacers for their next game on Friday.
+The Detroit Pistons (31 - 49) defeated the Charlotte Hornets (33 - 47) 116 - 77 on Sunday in Detroit. The Pistons opened up the game strong, starting on a 12 - 2 run in the first six minutes and winning the first quarter 30 - 10. From there on out, they never lost control. Jodie Meeks led the way scoring for Detroit, posting a game - high 24 points on 8 - of - 12 shooting in 27 minutes off the bench. After a rough stretch to start the month, Meeks has picked up his production off the bench as of late, averaging 17 points in his last three outings. Andre Drummond posted a monster double - double in the winning effort of 15 points (7 - 12 FG) and 19 rebounds in 32 minutes, while Greg Monroe came up a rebound shy of a double - double of his own, posting 17 points (4 - 10 FG. 9 - 10 FT), nine rebounds and four assists in 33 minutes. Reggie Jackson struggled shooting the ball, going just 1 - of - 7 from the field and scoring five points, but he was still able to dish out 13 assists in 30 minutes. The Pistons recorded an efficient 33 assists on 41 made field goals to just 14 turnovers and outrebounded the Hornets 56 - 33. At one point, Charlotte was well in the playoff race, but have consistently fallen towards the bottom of the Eastern Conference since then. Four players scored in double figures, with Noah Vonleh leading the way in one of his best performances of the season, scoring 16 points (6 - 11 FG) and 12 rebounds in 29 minutes off the bench. Gerald Hendersen was not far behind, scoring 14 points on 6 - of - 16 shooting in 26 minutes, while Brian Roberts (11) and Jeff Taylor (10) round out the four Hornets who scored in double figures. Kemba Walker had a very poor shooting performance, going just 2 - of - 11 from the field and recording seven points and seven assists in 31 minutes. Up next, the Pistons will head to Cleveland to play the Cavaliers on Monday, while the Hornets will travel back home Monday to go up against the Rockets.
+The visiting Houston Rockets defeated the Denver Nuggets on Friday, 128 - 110. Houston (13 - 7) seemingly had no problem on Friday despite playing a double - OT game in Oakland against the Warriors on Thursday night. The grueling schedule did not stop the Rockets from taking both halves of their back - to - back. Much of the team's success can be attributed to star guard James Harden, who followed a triple - double on Thursday with 20 points, six rebounds, and seven assists in Denver. Harden and the Rockets have provided the most three - heavy offense in the league this season, and hit 17 three - pointers on Thursday to show it. Houston's bench played a critical role in the win, with sixth man Eric Gordon scoring 18 points and sophomore Sam Dekker scoring 17. The Nuggets (7 - 12), meanwhile, have now won only one of their last five games. Denver remains the top rebounding team in the league, and held a 52 - 42 advantage against Houston on the boards. Unfortunately for the Nuggets, this has not translated to the win column. The team struggled to match its opponent on the perimeter on Thursday, hitting just nine three - pointers on 30 percent shooting while allowing its opponents to shoot 50 percent from the field and hit 17 threes. Forward Wilson Chandler was an exception, as he continued his strong scoring stretch with 24 points from the bench. The Nuggets will visit Utah on Saturday, while the Rockets will host the Celtics on Monday.
+The Nets' Randy Foye's buzzer - beating three - pointer was notably his only basket, and propelled Brooklyn to a thrilling victory. Bojan Bogdanovic's 26 points in 27 minutes led Brooklyn, a total that he supplemented with four rebounds and two assists. Sean Kilpatrick followed with 23 points on the strength of a 9 - of - 15 tally from the field, including 4 - of - 7 from three - point range. Brook Lopez supplied 21 points, while Jeremy Lin registered 17 points, four assists and a pair of steals before exiting in the third quarter with a hamstring injury. Charlotte was paced by Nicolas Batum's 24 - point effort. Jeremy Lamb followed from the bench with 17 points, while Kemba Walker and Cody Zeller contributed a pair of 15 - point efforts. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist posted a 12 - point, 10 - rebound double - double, and Frank Kaminsky produced 13 points and five rebounds in reserve.
+The Denver Nuggets (11 - 15) defeated the Los Angeles Clippers (18 - 8) 109 - 106 on Friday. Denver snapped their three - game losing streak with the win, but they've still secured just two wins over their last nine games. Kenneth Faried followed up the double - double he earned in the Nuggets' last game with 14 points and seven rebounds in 28 minutes Friday. Seven Nuggets finised in double figures, with Nate Robinson leading the way, scoring a team - high 20 points in 16 minutes off the bench. Denver will try to keep the good times rolling when they host the Indiana Pacers on Saturday. Los Angeles had their two - game win streak snapped, and they've now lost three of their last five games. Blake Griffin broke the 30 - point plateau for the second straight game, scoring 32 points and pulling down 12 rebounds in 41 minutes. Chris Paul collected his 13th double - double of the season, putting up 17 points and 15 assists in 39 minutes. The Clippers will host the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.
+The visiting Golden State Warriors defeated the Toronto Raptors, 127 - 121, on Wednesday at Air Canada Center. Both teams got off to a scorching hot start, scoring a combined 72 points in the first quarter, with the Raptors (7 - 4) taking an early four - point lead. But then, the Warriors (9 - 2) decided to take it to another level in the second period, dismantling Toronto in a second quarter that ended with Golden State taking a 66 - 53 lead into halftime - - a lead that they would not give up from that point on. Despite a late push from the Raptors in the closing moments of the game, the Warriors, led by 35 points from Steph Curry and 30 from Durant, ended up being far too much to handle. Klay Thompson had a rough night shooting, going just 4 - of - 15 from the field en route to 15 points. For the Raptors, DeMar DeRozan maintained his spot as the top scorer in the league with 34 points on top of four rebounds and six assists. That is his ninth 30 - point game of the season and his scoring average is now up to 33 points per game. Kyle Lowry added 24 points of his own, to go along with five rebounds and five assists, but the effort from Toronto's two All-Stars was simply not enough in the end. The loss came despite the Raptors managing to get to the line 41 times and making a grand total of 37 free throws. Up next, the Warriors will look to earn their sixth straight win of the season against the Celtics on Friday, while the Raptors will hope to end their two - game losing streak Friday against the Nuggets.
+The league's top two scorers squared off in epic proportions on Sunday as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the visiting New Orleans Pelicans, 101 - 92. The Thunder (13 - 8) now sit at five games above .500 and are narrowly trailing the Rockets and Grizzlies for the fourth - best record in the Western Conference. The bigger story from Sunday, however, was point guard Russell Westbrook's fifth straight triple - double. Westbrook scored 28 points, had a whopping 17 rebounds, and dished out 12 assists. Westbrook's streak of five games with a triple - double is the best of his career and the longest since Michael Jordan's seven - game streak in 1989. The All-Star's effort helped to propel the Thunder to victory on Sunday, though solid perimeter defense advanced the team's cause. The Pelicans were held to under 37 percent shooting from the field and 6 - of - 28 from three - point range. The Thunder offense, meanwhile, shot almost 47 percent on the night, with solid contributions from guard Victor Oladipo (15 points) and bench big man Enes Kanter (17 points, 10 rebounds). For the Pelicans (7 - 14), meanwhile, 37 points for league - leading scorer Anthony Davis was not enough to earn the win. In addition to the scoring output, Davis had 15 rebounds, two steals, and four blocks. The Pelicans struggled aside from Davis, however, as the rest of the starting five combined for just 25 points. The team also saw a rebounding deficit despite Davis's strong performance on the boards, as the Thunder held a 59 - 51 advantage on the glass. The Thunder will visit the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, while the Pelicans will host the Memphis Grizzlies.
+The Utah Jazz blew out the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, 109 - 89. Utah (16 - 10) remains plagued by injuries, as starting point guard George Hill (toe) and bench combo guard Alec Burks (ankle) remained out for Wednesday's game. This did n't seem to slow the Jazz down, however, as the team clicked on both ends of the floor. Utah shot a ridiculous 58 percent from the field and 56 percent from three - point range, including 13 makes. Sophomore shooting guard Rodney Hood led the team's offense with 25 points on 9 - of - 14 shooting and 5 - of - 9 from three. On defense, Utah was able to hold Oklahoma City to just 36 percent shooting and six three - pointers. Anchoring the team's defense was center Rudy Gobert, who recorded three blocked shots and 12 rebounds, both team highs. For the second night in a row, the Thunder (15 - 11) and guard Russell Westbrook underwhelmed. Westbrook led the team with 27 points but shot an abysmal 7 - of - 25 from the floor with five turnovers. The guard also played below his averages on the glass and in the assist column, recording only six rebounds and five assists. Those numbers were also team highs, however, as the Thunder struggled to move the ball or crash the glass against Utah's tough interior lineup. The team shot only 36 percent and had just 14 assists on the night. The Jazz will host the last - place Dallas Mavericks on Friday, while the Thunder will take on the Phoenix Suns on Saturday.
+The Grizzlies scored a season - high 115 points to outpace the high - octane Rockets. Mike Conley's 24 points led the way, and the Grizzlies impressively shot 51 percent and 52 percent from the field and three - point range, respectively. Marc Gasol was next with 16 points, and Tony Allen supplied nine points. Zach Randolph's 16 points led the bench, while Vince Carter (14 points) and James Ennis (13 points) were also productive in reserve roles. Ryan Anderson's season - high 31 points paced Houston. James Harden provided a modest 16 points, but handed out a jaw - dropping 17 dimes. However, he also committed a game - high nine turnovers. Montrezl Harrell compiled 16 points and eight rebounds, while Patrick Beverley went for 13 points. Eric Gordon posted 17 points while taking a whopping 16 of his 19 shot attempts from beyond the arc.
+The Pacers (22 - 33) knocked off the 76ers (12 - 42) 106 - 95 behind 30 points and four assists from Rodney Stuckey. Indiana jumped out to a 23 - 16 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, extending the lead to 18 points at the half. The Pacers had only one starter in double - figures, as C.J. Miles scored 17 points on 6 - of - 12 shooting. Luis Scola added 16 points and seven rebounds, while Damjan Rudez chipped in 10 points. The Pacers had 24 assists on 40 field goals and forced Philadelphia into 17 turnovers. The Sixers, who have dropped two straight, were led by 16 points and 10 rebounds from Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. Nerlens Noel added 12 points, nine rebounds and nine blocks, while Tim Frazier, who started with Michael Carter-Williams no longer on the roster, finished with 13 points. In his first game in more than two years, Jason Richardson scored seven points in 18 minutes. Up next, the Sixers head to Orlando to take on the Magic on Sunday. Indiana returns home to host the Warriors, also on Sunday.
+Wednesday's Lakers-Hawks matchup featured numerous strong performances off the bench. For Atlanta, sixth man Tim Hardaway Jr. posted 26 points in 21 minutes. Hardaway was 8 - for - 10 from the field with five three - pointers. While Hardaway was the leader of the bench unit, big man Kris Humphries also made a significant contribution, scoring 11 points in 14 minutes. For Los Angeles, meanwhile, former Sixth Man of the Year Award recipient Lou Williams provided a spark, scoring 18 points on 6 - for - 11 from the field. Two other bench players scored in the teens for LA, as guard Jordan Clarkson contributed 16 on 7 - for - 12 shooting. Forward Larry Nance Jr., meanwhile, scored 14 points on an extremely efficient 7 - for - 9 shooting. Nance also contributed two steals and a block, putting in an impressive effort on the defensive end.
+The Cleveland Cavaliers (55 - 22) defeated the Charlotte Hornets (44 - 32) 112 - 103 on Sunday. As he's done on so many other occasions, LeBron James took the reins of the Cavaliers offense in a crucial game. With Kyrie Irving sitting out with an injured ankle, James led the way for Cleveland with a game - high 31 points, and added 12 assists, eight rebounds and a pair of steals. He was far from the only contributor however, as J.R. Smith and Kevin Love also notably stepped up in the absence of their All-Star point guard. The victory helped the Cavs open up a 4 - game lead over the idle Toronto Raptors for the top seed in the Eastern Conference with five games to play. Cleveland will have to keep their knife sharpened for at least a couple of more contests, as their remaining games include four opponents who will be fighting for playoff position. The Hornets' attack was spearheaded by Kemba Walker, who pitched in with 29 points, seven assists, six rebounds, four steals and a block. The standout point guard compiled 21 of those points in the second half. Marvin Williams followed with a bounce - back effort after a couple of down performances, tallying 22 points, six rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block. Courtney Lee was next with 11 points, three assists, a rebound, three steals and a block. Jeremy Lin paced the reserves with 14 points, three rebounds and an assist. Charlotte has clinched a playoff spot and is presently tied for second place in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division, while also currently being slotted in the sixth seed. They visit the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night. Smith followed James' effort with a season - high 27 points, which he supplemented with five rebounds, three assists and a steal. His point total included six three - pointers in nine attempts from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Love posted a near double - double with 25 points, nine rebounds, four assists and a block, while draining five treys himself. In all, Cleveland shot 54 percent (16 - for - 29) from long distance. The Cavaliers head to Milwaukee for a Tuesday night tilt with the Bucks.
+The Atlanta Hawks (28 - 22) defeated the Dallas Mavericks (28 - 23) 112 - 97 on Monday. The subject of trade rumors and victim to a notable slump for most of January, Jeff Teague's 2016 had n't exactly gotten off to the best of starts. However, the 27 - year - old point guard had slowly begun crawling his way back to prominence over the four games prior to Monday, averaging a solid 16 points per contest during that span. Monday's matchup against a Mavericks defense that had struggled against point guards this season proved to be the final domino to fall in Teague's resurgence, as he managed a season - high 32 points, and complemented them with eight assists, five rebounds and a steal over 28 highly efficient minutes. Having totaled a modest 12 points in the first half as Atlanta built a 53 - 46 lead, Teague tallied 13 points in the third quarter alone, helping the home team emerge from the period with a commanding 86 - 73 lead they would n't surrender. Dallas' attack was led by Chandler Parsons, who continued a recent string of considerably productive play. He managed 19 points, 11 rebounds and a pair of assists for his second double - double in the last three games. Dirk Nowitzki returned from his night off against the Suns on Sunday to collect 18 points, three rebounds, an assist and a pair of steals. The reserve tandem of J.J. Barea and Raymond Felton registered the two next - highest scoring totals, with the former amassing 15 points and four assists, while the latter posted 13 points, two assists, a rebound and a steal. Wesley Matthews was the only other Mavericks player with double - digit scoring, totaling 11 points while adding three assists and a rebound as well. Zaza Pachulia could only pitch in four points, but did haul in 13 boards. The Mavericks remain in third place in the Western Conference's Southwest Division. They head home for a date with the Miami Heat on Wednesday. Teague's prolific night was seconded by a 16 - point contribution from Kyle Korver, who also posted three assists, two rebounds and a block. The sharpshooting two - guard's performance was a notable departure from his previous pair of contests, when he'd managed six points against the Pacers and then was held scoreless versus the Heat. Dennis Schroder made it a successful night for the Hawks point guards by collecting 14 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal off the bench in just 16 minutes of action. Paul Millsap had a rare quiet night on the scoreboard with only eight points, but did manage to pull down 12 rebounds, dish out two assists and record two blocks. Al Horford was able to put together a 10 - point, four - rebound performance against Pachulia's tough defense, and also added a pair of assists and a rejection. With the win, the Hawks move just a half - game back of the Heat for the top spot in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division. They head to Philadelphia to take on the Sixers on Wednesday.
+Harrison Barnes and Wesley Matthews posted over 60 percent of the Mavs' offense by scoring a combined 50 points, but no other player managed to hit double digits in the scoring column. Deron Williams notably was held scoreless over 10 minutes in his return from a calf injury before exiting the game early, although J.J. Barea was able to fill out the stat sheet with nine points, six assists, two rebounds and a steal while once again logging a solid allotment of minutes (28). Isaiah Thomas' 30 points (22 in the fourth quarter) led the way for Boston. Backcourt mate Avery Bradley's 18 - point, 13 - rebound double - double was also pivotal in helping the Celtics overcome 19 turnovers, five of which came from Thomas. Kelly Olynk was the only other double - digit scorer for Boston, posting 10 points.
+The Miami Heat (34 - 26) defeated the Chicago Bulls (30 - 29) 129 - 111 on Tuesday. It's often said that a change of scenery can do wonders for a player's outlook and consequently, his performance. Such appears to be the case with Miami's latest acquisition, 15 - year veteran Joe Johnson. In just his second game in a Heat uniform, Johnson paced the starting unit with 24 points, and added five rebounds, four assists and a block, his second performance of 20 points or more in two games in South Florida. He was an integral part of a historic shooting performance for the home squad, which tallied a 68 percent success rate from the field, including 50 percent from beyond the arc. Not only was it the top team shooting night to date in the 2015 - 16 campaign, but also the 17th - best such effort in the last 50 seasons. The 129 points also represented Miami's highest scoring tally of the season. Lost in the Heat's offense's coming - out party was a pretty fair showing on the scoreboard by the Bulls. Seven Chicago players - - four starters and three reserves - - managed double - digit scoring, led by Derrick Rose's 17 points. He added three assists and a steal, in his first game back from the hamstring ailment that had caused him to miss the three previous contests. Aaron Brooks followed with a 16 - point performance that paced the Bulls' bench, and that also included a pair of rebounds and an assist. Pau Gasol was next with a near double - double, registering 15 points, nine boards, six assists and a block. Taj Gibson supplied 13 points, three rebounds, an assist and a steal, while Mike Dunleavy amassed 10 points, two rebounds and an assist. Bobby Portis and Doug McDermott were the other two reserves with double - digit scoring, as they each contributed 11 points. The former also brought down seven boards and recored four steals, while the latter complemented his scoring total with a rebound, an assist and a steal. The Bulls are in third place in the Eastern Conference's Central Division, and dropped a half - game back of the now eighth - seeded Detroit Pistons with the loss. They head up the road to Orlando for an encounter with the Magic on Wednesday night. With such a prolific showing, the Heat naturally had plenty to be pleased about on the stat sheet. Hassan Whiteside continued to show that perhaps coming off the bench is what best suits him, as he once again paced Miami with a 26 - point, 14 - rebound effort that also included an assist and four blocks. It was notably the sixth straight double - double in his six post - All - Star - break games, all in a reserve role. Johnson was next with his aforementioned 24 - point haul, and he also posted five rebounds, four assists and a block. Luol Deng continued his solid stretch of play, totaling 20 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal. Dwyane Wade was next in line with 18 points, seven assists and a pair of rebounds, and Goran Dragic was right behind with a 17 - point, 11 - assist double - double that was supplemented with four boards and a steal. Miami sits atop the Eastern Conference's Southeastern Division, and currently has a hold on the fourth seed in the conference as well. They remain home to face the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.
+The Wizards (9 - 3) defeated the Bucks (7 - 7) 111 - 100 on Saturday night for the second time this season. Washington, which prevailed 108 - 87 on Nov. 1, used a strong second half to overcome early turnovers and extend their winning streak to two games after beating the Cavaliers on Friday. The Wizards committed 12 turnovers in the first half but finished with only 14, while registering 24 assists on 43 field goals. Paul Pierce led the way with 25 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out after 28 minutes of play. Marcin Gortat added 10 points and 12 rebounds, and John Wall finished with 19 points and nine assists. Bradley Beal added 17 points off the bench, and Kris Humphries had 12 points and nine rebounds in 20 minutes. The Wizards shot 46 percent from the field, compared to Milwaukee’s 43 percent. The Bucks, who jumped out to a seven - point first quarter lead, were unable to translate that success to the second half, putting up only 17 points in the third period as the Wizards began to pull away. Brandon Knight led all scorers with 27 points to go with six assists and five rebounds. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a career - high 20 points (8 - 8 FT) in 35 minutes, and Ersan Ilyasova added 13 points off the bench. Jabari Parker had just six points on 3 - of - 11 shooting. Milwaukee was out - rebounded 53 - 36 overall and 20 - 8 on the offensive glass. Up next, the Bucks play host the Pistons on Tuesday, while the Wizards host the Hawks, also on Tuesday.
+The Orlando Magic (14 - 27) beat the Bulls (26 - 13) on Monday in Chicago. Nikola Vucevic and Victor Oladipo each scored 33 points for the Magic, breaking a six - game losing streak. Vucevic also had 11 rebounds and four assists. He has now scored 33 or more in two straight games and has had a double - double in five straight. Rookie Elfrid Payton shot 5 - of - 7 from the field for 10 points to go along with four rebounds, seven assists, two steals and one block. The Magic are nine wins away from matching their 2013 - 14 win total of 23 but still have the third - worst record in the Eastern Conference. Pau Gasol followed up Saturday's 46 - point, 18 - rebound game with 28 points and 14 boards. Derrick Rose returned to the lineup after sitting out the Bulls' previous game with soreness in his left knee. He wound up with 18 points, seven assists and two steals in 30 minutes. Chicago's leading scorer this season, Jimmy Butler finished with 17 points in 43 minutes. Tony Snell started again for the Bulls, who hold the Eastern Conference's fourth - best record. The Magic will head home to face the Rockets (27 - 11), and the Bulls will stay in Chicago to face the Wizards (25 - 12) on Wednesday.
+The Portland Trail Blazers (32 - 13) scored more points than the Washington Wizards (29 - 15), 103 - 96. LaMarcus Aldridge decided to postpone surgery on his left thumb, returning to the lineup after missing two games. The Wizards are now just half a game up on the Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls for the two seed in the Eastern Conference after their two - game losing streak. Nicolas Batum and Robin Lopez sat out due to unrelated injuries. Allen Crabbe started, and Dorell Wright replaced him in the starting lineup in the second half. LaMarcus Aldridge provided 26 points and nine rebounds in 36 minutes despite the injury. The team converted all 20 of their free - throw attempts. Chris Kaman grabbed a game - high 10 rebounds in 25 minutes. All-Star starter John Wall paced the Wizards with 25 points, nine assists, four rebounds and one steal. His backcourt mate Bradley Beal added 16 points, five rebounds and five assists. Marcin Gortat was the only Wizards starter who failed to score double figures, finishing with four points in 31 minutes. The Trail Blazers begin a four - game Eastern Conference road trip Monday against the Brooklyn Nets. The Wizards continue their four - game, five - night Western Conference road trip Sunday against the Denver Nuggets.
+The Minnesota Timberwolves (37 - 13) took down the Memphis Grizzlies (10 - 40) 90 - 89 on Friday. Ricky Rubio had his best shooting performance since returning from an ankle injury that kept him out for all of December and January and most of November. He hit three of his four shots from beyond the arc and went 6 - of - 12 from the field for 17 points. The Timberwolves are enjoying their best stretch of the season, going 3 - 3 over their past six games. They've also won back - to - back games for the first time all season. Zach Randolph, who finished with six points and 10 rebounds, failed to record a double - double for just the second time in 15 games since returning from a knee injury. The Grizzlies are 12 - 3 since he's been back in the lineup. Marc Gasol (15 points) tied his season - low with three rebound, while Mike Conley and Jeff Green each scored 15 points. Memphis lost to an under - .500 opponent for just the third time this season. Memphis will try to bounce back against the top team in the East, the Hawks, on Sunday, while the Timberwolves will head to the Palace of Auburn Hills to take on the Pistons on Sunday.
+Blake Griffin had a standout performance in the Los Angeles Clippers' 111 - 102 loss to the Indiana Pacers, rounding out the box score to the tune of 24 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, one steal and two blocks on 10 - of - 21 shooting. The Pacers, meanwhile, shot 49 percent from the field and had all five starters finish in double figures. Paul George, who had missed the previous three games with a sore left ankle, suited up and added 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists on 6 - of - 13 shooting. Thaddeus Young led the Pacers with 17 points, to go along with seven rebounds and two assists. Myles Turner added 12 points, Jeff Teague scored 15 points and Monta Ellis added 14 points. The Pacers went on to record 21 assists as a team in the win, but were quite balanced across the roster in that area, as George's five led the team.
+The Washington Wizards (6 - 4) escaped with a 97 - 95 victory over the Detroit Pistons (7 - 6) on Saturday. This was a spectacular game from start to finish, as it was nip - and - tuck throughout. The only major differential in the stat sheet were the steal totals, as Washington had 10 compared to Detroit's three. The benches were also a big difference in the game, as the Wizards got 51 bench points while the Pistons got just 15. If this does end up being a playoff matchup down the line, it would be a heck of a series. The Wizards didn’t get their best performances from John Wall and Bradley Beal, but the “others” played well here and carried them to a win. In fact, Wall and Beal combined for just 15 points, seven assists, three rebounds and three steals in the win. This was Beal's first game in two weeks after sufffering a shoulder injury, so ithe poor game is nothing to be concerned with. The two best players for Washington on this night were Nene Hilario and Ramon Sessions. Nene tallied 18 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals in the win, while going 9 - for - 10 from the field. Sessions was great as well, as he totaled 14 points, nine assists and four rebounds off the bench. This is a deeper team than in years past and that may be exactly what they need to be successful. The Wizards will look to keep up their winning ways against the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday. The Pistons played all their starters at least 32 minutes and they fell just short on Saturday. Every starter scored at least 16 points, except for Andre Drummond who tallied eight points and 13 rebounds in the defeat. The Pistons best player on this night was Marcus Morris, who collected 18 points, nine rebounds and four assists in the loss. Reggie Jackson contributed 20 points and nine assists, but committed six turnovers in an up - and - down performance. This was a tough loss, but it's a good sign to see them compete so hard with the Eastern Conference elite. The Pistons will look to bounce - back against the struggling Milwaukee Bucks on Monday.
+The Boston Celtics (24 - 35) held on in a nail - biter Wednesday to defeat the Utah Jazz (24 - 36) 85 - 84 at the TD Garden. The Celtics led 81 - 73 with just under 2:30 to play, but the Jazz battled back with contributions from Trey Burke, Gordon Hayward, and Rodney Hood to force the game to be decided on the last possession. Gordon Hayward hit the go - ahead shot with one second remaining, but Boston would have the last laugh. Tyler Zeller converted a buzzer - beater under the hoop to give Boston the win. Utah is now 5 - 2 since the All-Star break after suffering Wednesday's heart - breaking defeat. It looked like the Jazz were going to escape with the win after Hayward's jumper, but the Celtics drew up the right play and Zeller sunk the game winner. Rudy Gobert was dominant on the glass once again, pulling down 16 rebounds to go with 10 points. The Jazz will look to bounce back Friday in Philadelphia. Boston did n't let Tuesday's blowout loss to Cleveland bleed into Wednesday as it notched a tough win against a resurgent Utah club. Isaiah Thomas was effective off the bench again, posting his fifth 20 - point performance as a Celtic. Kelly Olynyk returned to action Wednesday, but his impact was minimal as he finished with a rebound and an assist in seven minutes of action. Boston will kick off a three - game road swing Friday in New Orleans.
+The powerhouse Toronto Raptors (49 - 23) made a mockery of the host New Orleans Pelicans (26 - 46) on Saturday night, winnning 115 - 91. With the win, Toronto is now just one game away from the first 50 - win season in franchise history. The red - hot Raptors have held fast at second in the Eastern Conference, remaining just two games behind LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Raps gave the rest of the league a reminder of their contender status on Saturday, absolutely eviscerating the shorthanded Pelicans. While star point guard Kyle Lowry went just 3 - for - 13 from the field on Saturday, Lowry's fellow All-Star and backcourt partner in crime DeMar DeRozan picked up the slack. "The Quadruple Capital" shot an impressive 9 - for - 11 from the field en route to a team - high 23 points. It was n't just the stars that shone in New Orleans, however, as the frontcourt of Luis Scola and Jonas Valanciunas contributed heavily to the win. Scola shot exclusively from behind the three - point line, going an impressive 4 - for - 5. Valanciunas, meanwhile, pulled down nine boards and blocked a whopping five shots. With just 10 games remaining, the Raptors are poised to demolish their franchise high in wins and to be in play for the top spot in the conference. The Pelicans, meanwhile, remain decimated by injuries, with the latest and greatest of them all sidelining superstar Anthony Davis for the remainder of the season. Not a single member of the Pelicans original starting five suited up on Saturday, as each of them was dealing with various injuries. A brutally weakend starting lineup took the floor in New Orleans, with career journeyman Alonzo Gee logging a team - high 41 minutes. As a whole, the team turned the ball over just seven times, an impressive feat against the stingy Toronto defense. Nevertheless, the team shot just 27 percent from deep and seemingly allowed everything on defense, as Toronto converted 53 percent of its shots. The Raptors will host the Thunder on Monday in a battle of two of the league's top teams. The Pelicans, meanwhile, will see a less grueling matchup as they start next week off with a home game against the struggling Knicks.
+The host New York Knicks defeated the Detroit Pistons, 105 - 102, at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday. These are two teams expected to battle for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and this game had a playoff atmosphere written all over it in a hard - fought matchup. While there were only eight ties and six lead changes, no team led by more than 12 points. New York actually held the lead for the final 30 - plus minutes, but could n't quite pull away. The key for the Knicks was their rebounding, as they snatched down 52 boards to the Pistons' 40. Offensive rebounding was especially decisive, with New York grabbing 19 of those to Detroit's eight. In addition to that, the Knicks recorded nine blocks, while the Pistons swatted away just one shot on their end. Detroit (6 - 6) continues to struggle on the road this season, as they are now 1 - 6 outside of Detroit. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope led the team in scoring with 21 points, but missed an open game - tying three with two seconds left. Tobias Harris was second on the team in scoring, as he totaled 19 points and 10 rebounds. Andre Drummond made a return from a one - game absence to score 15 points and grab nine boards in the loss. Ish Smith tallied 14 points and eight assists on an efficient 6 - of - 7 shooting. Jon Leuer was the only bench player with more than seven points, as he dropped 17 points and nine rebounds in 27 minutes. Detroit will have to step up their road game, as they travel to face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday for their next fixture. New York (5 - 6) got a much needed win here and Kristaps Porzingis carried the load. In fact, Porzingis dropped a career - high 35 points on 13 - of - 22 shooting. He also added seven rebounds and three assists in his best game of the year. Carmelo Anthony tallied 22 points, five rebounds and three assists of his own in the victory. Derrick Rose was the only other Knick in double figures, scoring 15 points, while adding five rebounds and three assists. Joakim Noah scored just seven points, but provided 15 rebounds, three assists and three blocks out of the center position. On deck for New York is a road matchup against the Washington Wizards on Thursday.
+The Detroit Pistons (5 - 19) defeated the Sacramento Kings (11 - 13) 95 - 90 on Saturday. Detroit has won back - to - back games, both coming on the road. Jodie Meeks made his season debut in Friday's 105 - 103 win over the Phoenix Suns. Coach Stan Van Gundy has opted to bring Meeks off the bench for his first two games, playing him just over 20 minutes in both contests. Josh Smith led the way for the Pistons on Saturday, putting up 21 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks in 38 minutes. Greg Monroe scored a game - high 24 points off the bench. Sacramento has dropped three straight games, continuing to struggle with DeMarcus Cousins (viral meningitis) out of the lineup. They could n't get their shots to fall Saturday, shooting just 36 percent from the field and 69 percent from the free - throw line. Carl Landry collected a double - double in 24 minutes off the bench, but it was n't enough to overcome the Pistons. The Pistons will end their road trip in Los Angeles on Monday against the Clippers. Sacramento will stay home to host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday.