Boogie’s big night gets Pelicans past Nuggets

Center scores 40 points, grabs 22 rebounds

NEW ORLEANS — Demarcus Cousins had 40 points, 22 rebounds and four blocks, and the New Orleans Pelicans won for the second time in three games without Anthony Davis, defeating the Denver Nuggets 123-114 on Wednesday night.

Jrue Holiday scored 27 points and E’twaun Moore had 14 for New Orleans, which shot 53.5 percent (46 of 86).

Gary Harris scored 24 for the short-handed Nuggets, who remained without recently injured frontcourt stalwarts Nikola Jokic and Paul Millsap.

Emmanuel Mudiay scored 17 points, while Will Barton and Jamal Murray each scored 15 for the Nuggets, who were as close as 97-94 after Malik Beasley’s 3 with 11:25 to go, only to fade down the stretch.

At Charlotte, N.C., Kevin Durant had 35 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, and Golden State beat Charlotte without Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. It was Durant’s first triple-double of the season.

At Cleveland, Lebron James drained a 3-pointer with 15 seconds left and finished with 32 points as Cleveland tied a franchise record with its 13th straight win.

Warriors 101, Hornets 87 — Cavaliers 101, Kings 95 — Celtics 97, Mavericks 90 —

At Boston, Kyrie Irving had 23 points and five assists, and Jayson Tatum added 17 points and 10 rebounds to help Boston win its fourth straight.

At Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo had 25 points and nine rebounds, and Milwaukee used a strong start to the fourth quarter to win for the fourth time in five games.

At Orlando, Fla., Evan Fournier scored 27 points but injured his right ankle as Orlando rallied to beat Atlanta in overtime.

At San Antonio, Lamarcus Aldridge scored 18 points, and balanced San Antonio earned its eighth straight win over Miami. The Spurs shot 52.9 percent from the field.

At

New York, Courtney Lee scored 24 points, Kristaps Porzingis had 18 after a slow start in his return to the lineup, and New York rebounded from consecutive losses.

At Indianapolis, Victor Oladipo scored 27 points, including a clutch 3-pointer with 31.1 seconds left, and Indiana handed Chicago its 10th straight loss.

At Los Angeles, Karl-anthony Towns had 21 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks and Minnesota handed Los Angeles its third straight loss.

Bucks 104, Pistons 100 — Magic 110, Hawks 106, OT — Spurs 117, Heat 105 — Knicks 99, Grizzlies 88 — Pacers 98, Bulls 96 — Timberwolves 113, Clippers 107 —

Gerald Herbert The Associated Press New Orleans Pelicans center Demarcus Cousins (0) goes to the basket in the first half against the Denver Nuggets in New Orleans on Wednesday.