Tobias Harris scored 25 points and the host Detroit Pistons squeaked out a 104-103 win over the Boston Celtics in a showdown of the Eastern Conference’s top teams on Monday.
Detroit’s Jalen Duren supplied 18 points and nine rebounds, while Cade Cunningham – named an All-Star starter earlier in the day – had 16 points and 14 assists. Duncan Robinson added 15 points, all on 3-pointers as the Pistons won their third game in a row.
Jaylen Brown, also chosen as an All-Star starter, had 32 points and 11 rebounds but missed a potential winning shot on Boston’s final possession. Payton Pritchard had 17 points and Sam Hauser added 16 points.
With Boston down by five in the last 90 seconds, Brown scored on back-to-back possessions to close the gap to one. The Pistons came up empty on their next trip. After a timeout, Brown missed a fadeaway jumper as the final buzzer sounded.
Bucks 112, Hawks 110
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 21 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to help visiting Milwaukee defeat Atlanta to end a three-game losing streak.
The Hawks began cutting a 23-point deficit with 6:52 remaining in the third period but couldn’t climb out completely. A heavily defended game-tying shot attempt by CJ McCollum didn’t go, and Milwaukee won its first game in 10 days.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s 32 points and Jalen Johnson’s 28th double-double this season (28 points, 16 rebounds) weren’t enough to propel the Hawks. Antetokounmpo posted his 15th double-double of the season, and the Bucks got 19 from Bobby Portis and 18 from AJ Green.
Warriors 135, Heat 112
Brandin Podziemski exploded for 24 points, Stephen Curry added 19 in a balanced attack and Golden State overcame the loss of Jimmy Butler III to a knee injury to run away from Miami in San Francisco.
The team’s leading scorer at the time with 17 points, Butler wrenched his right knee pursuing a ball under the Golden State basket with 7:41 remaining in the third quarter. The six-time All-Star immediately fell to the court in serious pain and had to be helped to the locker room.
Norman Powell had 21 points to pace the Heat. Andrew Wiggins had 18 in his first San Francisco appearance since he was traded to Miami last February as part of a package for Butler.
Thunder 136, Cavaliers 104
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points and Chet Holmgren added 28 with eight rebounds as Oklahoma City handed host Cleveland its worst loss in two seasons.
Isaiah Joe and Luguentz Dort notched 18 points for the league-leading Thunder, who tied their season high with 23 3-pointers. Dort made five of six shots from beyond the arc, while Joe and Holmgren had four each as Oklahoma City won for the sixth time in seven games.
Donovan Mitchell led the way for the Cavaliers with 19 points on 5-of-18 shooting. Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Jaylon Tyson and De’Andre Hunter added 16 points each as Cleveland’s two-game win streak was snapped.
Spurs 123, Jazz 110
Victor Wembanyama, who earlier in the day was named an All-Star starter for the first time, rang up 33 points and grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds as San Antonio dispatched visiting Utah.
Stephon Castle added 18 points while Dylan Harper chipped in 15 points as the Spurs logged their third consecutive win.
Keyonte George put up 30 points and Jusuf Nurkic added 20 as the Jazz dropped their fourth straight outing. Lauri Markkanen, Utah’s leading scorer, missed his third straight game with an illness.
76ers 113, Pacers 104
Tyrese Maxey recorded 29 points, eight assists and a career-high eight steals to lift host Philadelphia to a victory over Indiana.
After getting named an All-Star Game starter for the first time earlier in the day, Maxey took over down the stretch for the 76ers, who had lost three of their past four games. Joel Embiid added 30 points and nine rebounds for the Sixers.
Andrew Nembhard scored 25 points and Pascal Siakam had 24 to lead the Pacers, who have followed a three-game winning streak by losing three of their past four games.
Suns 126, Nets 117
Dillon Brooks scored 27 points, hitting a season-high six 3-pointers, and Phoenix led most of the way in its victory over Brooklyn in New York.
Brooks finished 8 of 15 overall after going 2 of 13 and scoring five points on Saturday against the New York Knicks. Devin Booker added 24 and Collin Gillespie contributed five 3-pointers in a 22-point showing.
Michael Porter Jr. led the Nets with 23 and Noah Clowney added 16. Brooklyn shot 50.6% but allowed at least 125 points for the eighth time this season.
Clippers 110, Wizards 106
James Harden had 36 points, seven rebounds and nine assists as visiting Los Angeles won its sixth straight game with a victory over Washington.
In a game that featured 11 ties and 10 lead changes, the Wizards pulled even at 106-all with 57.6 seconds left before four Harden free throws sealed the outcome. Washington has lost seven straight.
Alex Sarr recorded 28 points and six rebounds to lead the Wizards, while Kyshawn George added 18. Los Angeles shot 17.9% (5 of 28) from 3-point range but still won for the 13th time in 15 games.
Mavericks 114, Knicks 97
Max Christie tallied a game-high 26 points with a career-high eight 3-pointers as Dallas, which never trailed, routed host New York. The Mavericks matched their season high with a three-game winning streak.
Naji Marshall scored 19 points with eight rebounds and Cooper Flagg added 18 points and seven rebounds in his return for the Mavericks, who were led by a dominant second quarter in which they outscored New York 44-25.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 22 points and 18 rebounds, and Jalen Brunson had 22 points with six assists. New York has lost nine of 11 games, including six by double digits.
-Field Level Media
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