Tim Hardaway Jr. had a season-high 32 points and the host Detroit Pistons clinched their first winning season in nine years by defeating the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers 133-122 on Friday night.
The last time Detroit (42-32) posted a winning season was 2015-16 when it finished 44-38. The Pistons also snapped a 12-game losing streak against the Cavaliers. Detroit had not beaten Cleveland since Feb. 24, 2022.
Malik Beasley supplied 19 points, while Ausar Thompson had 18 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots. Dennis Schroder contributed 17 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.
Donovan Mitchell carried the Cavaliers with 38 points. Darius Garland had 21. Pistons All-Star Cade Cunningham missed his third straight game due to a left calf contusion.
Clippers 132, Nets 100
Kawhi Leonard finished with 31 points, including 19 in the second quarter, as Los Angeles rolled to its seventh win in eight games with the victory over Brooklyn in New York.
Leonard, who also had six rebounds and four steals, scored 25 points in the first half, while Ivica Zubac added 21 points and 12 boards. James Harden had 17 points and six assists for the Clippers, who shot 55 percent from the field and outscored the Nets 79-42 in the second and third quarters.
Keon Johnson led Brooklyn with 13 points, while Cameron Johnson contributed 11. Brooklyn’s other three starters — Ziaire Williams, Nic Claxton and D’Angelo Russell — were held to a combined 17.
Raptors 108, Hornets 97
Jakob Poeltl scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead host Toronto past Charlotte for its third consecutive win.
Poeltl’s efficient 12-of-14 effort from the field pushed him to his 22nd double-double of the season. Immanuel Quickley scored 19 points on 6-of-15 shooting and had nine assists, while Scottie Barnes added 18 points, six rebounds and six assists.
Mark Williams led the Hornets with 18 points and 12 rebounds on a perfect 9-of-9 from the field. DaQuan Jeffries scored 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting as Charlotte took its fourth straight loss.
Knicks 116, Bucks 107
OG Anunoby had 31 points, Mikal Bridges added 26 and New York held on for a road win over Milwaukee.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who have won three of the last four, and Josh Hart chipped in 13 points, 14 boards and eight assists.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 30 points and nine rebounds, while Kyle Kuzma and Ryan Rollins each scored 20 points. Milwaukee has dropped three straight and four of its last six.
Nuggets 129, Jazz 93
Nikola Jokic had 27 points and 14 rebounds and Michael Porter Jr. scored 20 points as host Denver routed Utah.
Russell Westbrook had 17 points and Christian Braun contributed 16 for the Nuggets, who have won three of their past four games.
Collin Sexton scored 20 points to lead the Jazz, who have lost five in a row and 15 of 16. Kyle Filipowski finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds, and Keyonte George also scored 18 points.
Timberwolves 124, Suns 109
Julius Randle had 25 points, six rebounds and eight assists, and Minnesota pulled away for a win over Phoenix in Minneapolis.
Rudy Gobert notched 17 points and 12 rebounds for Minnesota, which completed a four-game sweep of the Suns during the regular season. Anthony Edwards finished with 20 points, and Jaden McDaniels scored 16.
Kevin Durant scored 23 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead Phoenix. Collin Gillespie had 22 points and 10 assists, and Royce O’Neale finished with 21 points off the bench.
Warriors 111, Pelicans 95
Stephen Curry overcame a slow start in his return from injury to score 23 points as visiting Golden State defeated New Orleans to snap a two-game skid.
Curry, who missed two games because of a pelvic contusion, scored just three points in the first quarter. But the Warriors gradually took control. Jimmy Butler III added 18 points and 10 rebounds for Golden State.
Bruce Brown scored 18 points and Yves Missi had 12 points and 10 boards for New Orleans, which was outscored 28-13 in the fourth quarter.
–Field Level Media
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