Wiggins lifts Wolves
Canadian star leads Minnesota over Raptors
MINNEAPOLIS — Andrew Wiggins scored 31 points against his hometown team, Tyus Jones hit a three-pointer with 19.5 seconds left and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Toronto Raptors, 112-109, in National Basketball Association action Wednesday night.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 29 points and 14 rebounds and Wiggins hit 11 of 19 shots to help the Timberwolves snap a four-game losing streak. Minnesota committed just eight turnovers, and Shabazz Muhammad scored 22 points off the bench.
DeMar DeRozan scored 30 points and DeMarre Carroll hit all five of his 3s and finished with 19 points and nine boards for the Raptors, who led by 13 points in the first half. Kyle Lowry added 20 points and Toronto shot 53 per cent from the field, but Lowry missed a potential tying three at the buzzer.
Heat 106, Bucks 88 MILWAUKEE — Hassan Whiteside had 23 points and 16 rebounds, and the Miami Heat extended their winning streak to 12 games with a 106-88 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
A lacklustre night for the Bucks got worse with 6:34 left in the third quarter when Jabari Parker, part of the team’s young core, left the game with a sprained left knee. Parker hurt the same knee two seasons ago.
The injury appeared to deflate the rest of the Bucks and their fans. Leading by 11 at the time of Parker’s injury, Miami maintained a comfortable, double-digit lead the rest of the way.
James Johnson added 20 points for the Heat. All-star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 22 points and eight rebounds, while Parker finished with 14 points.
Cavaliers 132, Pacers 117 INDIANAPOLIS — Kyle Korver scored a season-high 29 points and LeBron James gave the Cleveland Cavaliers a second-half energy boost, lifting the defending champs over the Indiana Pacers, 132-117.
Cleveland has won the first three games on its four-game road trip and six of its last seven overall.
James had 25 points, six rebounds and nine assists and Korver hit 8 of 9 3-pointers. Kyrie Irving had 29 points.
C.J. Miles scored 23 points to lead the Pacers, who ended a season-best seven-game winning streak. Jeff Teague had 22 points and 14 assists.