NBA roundup: Cavs’ Irving pours in 55 points

CLEVELAND — Kyrie Irving had a career-high 55 points, the highest scoring output in the NBA this season, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 99-94 Wednesday night despite not having LeBron James.

James missed the game with a sprained right wrist that is also expected to keep him out of Friday’s home game against the Sacramento Kings.

Irving, the Cavs’ star point guard, dazzled in James’ absence, scoring 14 consecutive points and 24 of their last 28 while setting a franchise record for 3-pointers in a game (11) and a Quicken Loans Arena scoring record.

With 6.4 seconds left, Irving hit the decisive 3-pointer. With the score tied at 94, Irving walked the ball down the floor and shot it over a much taller Nic Batum, who was defenseless to stop it.

Hawks 113, Nets 102

ATLANTA — Forward Paul Millsap scored 28 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to help Atlanta earn its 17th consecutive victory. Millsap topped 20 points for the third straight game and finished just two points shy of his season high.

Atlanta improved to 15-0 in January. The winning streak is tied for the 14th longest in NBA history.

The Hawks also got 20 points and 10 rebounds from center Al Horford, 17 points from guard Kyle Korver, 13 each from guard Dennis Schroder and guard Jeff Teague and 12 points from forward DeMarre Carroll. Brooklyn was led by guard Joe Johnson, who had 26 points against his old teammates.

76ers 89, Pistons 69

PHILADELPHIA — Forward Robert Covington scored 19 points and guard Michael Carter-Williams had 14 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds as Philadelphia beat Detroit.

Guard JaKarr Sampson added 13 points for Philadelphia, which limited the Pistons to a season-low point total on 30.7 percent shooting from the field, another low. The Sixers, who jumped out to a 24-4 lead at the beginning of the game, had dropped their previous six.

Forward Greg Monroe had 20 points and 11 rebounds to pace Detroit, which lost its fourth straight. Guard Jodie Meeks, an ex-Sixer, scored 19 points.

Raptors 119, Kings 102

TORONTO — Reserve guard Lou Williams scored 14 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter as Toronto defeated Sacramento for its fourth win in a row.

Rudy Gay, a former Raptors forward, scored 22 points for the Kings, whose losing streak stretched to seven games.

The game was tied at 54 at the half before the Raptors took over the game by outscoring the Kings 39-22 in the third quarter.

Timberwolves 110, Celtics 98

MINNEAPOLIS — Guard Kevin Martin returned to action and poured in a game-high 21 points, leading Minnesota past Boston. Martin, playing for the first time since fracturing his right wrist Nov. 19 against the New York Knicks, came off the bench and shot 7-for-18 in 29 minutes.

Guard Zach LaVine added 17 points for Minnesota, and center Gorgui Dieng had 16 points and 14 rebounds.

Seven Boston players scored in double figures, led by forward Jared Sullinger, who had 16 points.

Knicks 100, Thunder 92

NEW YORK — New York won a third straight game at Madison Square Garden for the first time this season, knocking off Oklahoma City. The Knicks won for the fourth time in five games overall. The Thunder played their second straight game without forward Kevin Durant, who was out with a sprained big toe.

Forward Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks with 31 points and 10 rebounds, guard Langston Galloway scored 18 points and forward Lance Thomas added 17 points. Thomas is playing on his second 10-day contract of the month.

Guard Russell Westbrook poured in 40 points to lead Oklahoma City.

Rockets 99, Mavericks 94

HOUSTON — Dallas center Tyson Chandler missed two free throws with 16.3 seconds remaining, stalling a comeback bid as Houston held on.

Chandler went to the line after Rockets guard James Harden earned a flagrant foul attempting to prevent a Chandler layup in transition. Chandler rimmed out both free throws, and Dallas followed with a turnover on the ensuing inbounds pass for its fourth consecutive loss.

Mavericks guard Monta Ellis scored a game-high 33 points, but he scored just two in the fourth quarter. Former Rockets forward Chandler Parsons chipped in 21 points for the Dallas, while forward Dirk Nowitzki added 12 points on 4-for-11 shooting. Forward Josh Smith paced Houston with 18 points.

Nuggets 93, Pelicans 85

NEW ORLEANS — Guard Arron Afflalo made a 3-pointer from the right wing and a critical 12-foot baseline jumper in the final 2:27 for a team-high 20 points, leading Denver Nuggets to a victory over New Orleans.

Afflalo was one of five Denver players in double figures — center Jusuf Nurkic had 15, forward Kenneth Faried 14, forward Danilo Gallinari 11 and forward J.J. Hickson 10 — as the Nuggets snapped a seven-game losing streak.

Guard Tyreke Evans led New Orleans with 25 points.

Clippers 94, Jazz 89

SALT LAKE CITY — Chris Paul and Jamal Crawford each scored 21 points to help Los Angeles begin a long, eight-game road trip with a victory.

Power forward Blake Griffin had a quiet night for him, finishing with 17 points and seven rebounds. Small forward Matt Barnes added 14 points, while reserve guard Austin Rivers chipped in with 12 points.

Power forward Enes Kanter led the Jazz with 21 points and 11 rebounds for his 11th double-double.

Griffin hit a key jumper with 1:44 remaining to give the Clippers a five-point lead and squelch Utah’s final push.

Spurs 95, Hornets 86

SAN ANTONIO – The Spurs let most of an 18-point, second-quarter lead disappear, but used a 12-0 run in the fourth quarter to help beat the Hornets for the ninth straight time.

Charlotte, trailing by 17 at the half, made a 16-3 push in the third quarter, cutting the Spurs lead to two, which was the margin when Spurs forward Matt Bonner and guard Manu Ginobili hit 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter to give San Antonio a comfortable lead again.

Guard Tony Parker led the Spurs with 17 points, and guard Danny Green scored 16, making four 3-point baskets. Guard Gerald Henderson led Charlotte with 18 points. Center Al Jefferson scored 17.