NBA News Wire
NBA game roundup: Hawks win eighth in a row
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Hawks have their longest winning streak in 17 years, and the Philadelphia 76ers have yet another loss.
Guard Kyle Korver hit five 3-pointers, but the Hawks needed a solid defensive effort to overcome an otherwise cold-shooting game and defeat the 76ers 95-79 Wednesday night for their eighth win in a row.
Korver, who missed just two times from behind the arc, scored 17 points, as did forward Paul Millsap. Forward DeMarre Carroll had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. The streak is the longest for Hawks since they started the 1997-98 season with 11 victories.
Philadelphia guard Michael Carter-Williams had 10 rebounds and nine assists to go with eight points, but he also committed nine turnovers.
Clippers 103, Pacers 96
INDIANAPOLIS — Jamal Crawford made two huge jumpers down the stretch to stave off a furious Indiana rally and deliver Los Angeles a victory. Crawford scored 18 off the bench to lead the Clippers, who won their ninth in a row, the fourth-longest streak in franchise history.
Guard Chris Paul had 17 points and 15 assists, forward Blake Griffin 17 points and 10 rebounds and center DeAndre Jordan 12 points and 19 rebounds as three of the Clippers’ five starters posted double-doubles. Guard J.J. Redick scored 16 points, and forward Matt Barnes added 11.
Indiana wiped out a 15-point deficit in the first half and nearly climbed out of a 20-point hole late in the third quarter thanks to a second unit that produced 66 points, led by a season-high 30 from guard C.J. Miles, who made seven of 14 from 3-point range.
Wizards 91, Magic 89
ORLANDO, Fla. — Bradley Beal scored as time expired on an alley-oop, out-of-bounds pass from Andre Miller to lift Washington over Orlando.
John Wall had 21 points, 11 assists and six rebounds to lead the Wizards to their seventh consecutive victory over the Magic over the last two seasons. Washington won for the sixth time in seven games, snapping the Magic’s two-game winning streak.
Victor Oladipo led the Magic with 17 points and six rebounds. Tobias Harris had 15 points and six rebounds.
Hornets 96, Celtics 87
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Al Jefferson had 23 points and 14 rebounds, and Charlotte pulled away late to beat Boston. The Hornets won their second straight and further distanced themselves from a recent 10-game losing streak.
They led by as many as 12 in the third quarter and then pulled away with a 9-0 run after the Celtics cut the margin to 87-85 in the final five minutes.
Charlotte point guard Kemba Walker converted a three-point play with 3:46 left, Jefferson scored inside with 2:57 remaining, Jefferson went outside to hit a 20-footer with 1:19 remaining, then Walker capped it with a 20-footer with 21.6 seconds for a 96-85 lead.
Spurs 109, Knicks 95
SAN ANTONIO — Missing its top four players, San Antonio still handed New York a 10th consecutive defeat. The Spurs dismissed the Knicks with a 16-0 push in the third quarter that increased the lead to 25 points.
Spurs guard Tony Parker missed his third straight game with a hamstring injury. Forward Kawhi Leonard was out after sustaining a hand injury Tuesday in game at Utah. Forward Tim Duncan, 38, and guard Manu Ginobili, 37, were given the night off to rest.
New York was short-handed as well. Forward Carmelo Anthony sat out with a sore left knee, and reserve guard J.R. Smith missed the game with a sore left heel.
Mavericks 112, Pelicans 107
DALLAS — Monta Ellis came alive in crunch time, scoring 13 of his team-high 26 points in the final 4:20 to spark Dallas to a victory over New Orleans.
Ellis took charge with an array of difficult jumpers and then a beautiful floater that swished through with 22.1 seconds left to put the Mavericks up by four. Pelicans point guard Jrue Holiday (30 points, 10 assists) made it a one-point game with his fifth 3-pointer. However, Ellis calmly sank two free throws after being fouled for a 110-107 lead with 13 seconds to go.
Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson got off a good look from beyond the arc, but the ball spun out. New Orleans forward Anthony Davis finished with 31 points and 11 rebounds.
Timberwolves 90, Trail Blazers 82
MINNEAPOLIS — Rookie forward Andrew Wiggins scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and Minnesota snapped a six-game losing streak with a win over Portland.
Wolves guard Corey Brewer chipped in with 19 points, eight rebounds and five steals and was a perfect 10-for-10 at the line. Minnesota had five players score in double figures.
Point guard Damian Lillard led the Trail Blazers with 23 points. Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge was held to 10 points on 3-of-14 shooting for Portland, which had a five-game winning streak stopped and also lost for the second time in its past 16 games.
Bulls 105, Nets 80
CHICAGO — Guard Derrick Rose scored 23 points, leading Chicago past Brooklyn.
Forward Pau Gasol added 16 points and 16 rebounds for the Bulls, who won for only the third time in eight home games this season. Chicago outscored Brooklyn 54-29 in the second half to coast to the victory.
The Nets lost by more than 20 points for the third consecutive game and dropped to 2-9 in their past 11 visits to the United Center. Guard Deron Williams led Brooklyn with 17 points and five assists, while forward Kevin Garnett tallied 13 points and seven rebounds.