Last-second shot by Irving lifts Mavericks by Nuggets
A floater, a runner, a hook shot — call it whatever. Maybe Kyrie Irving would settle for crucial game-winner.
The Dallas guard hit a running lefthanded shot at the buzzer, capping a wild final 26 seconds and lifting the host Mavericks past Denver 107-105 on Sunday.
Luka Doncic scored 37 points and Irving 24 as up-and-down Dallas (39-29) beat the defending champs for its fifth win in six games, answering a 1-5 stretch that followed a seven-game win streak.
The Mavs, who had a 59-37 edge in rebounds and led by 13 midway through the fourth quarter, pulled even with Phoenix as part of a virtual three-way tie with Sacramento for the West’s sixth and final guaranteed playoff spot.
Jamal Murray scored 23 points for the Nuggets (47-21), who fell a half-game behind Oklahoma City atop the West. The Mavs frustrated center Nikola Jokic into a 6-for-16 shooting day. Jokic, who had 16 points, was agitated over no-calls while Dallas made plenty of contact.
The Nuggets had a five-game road win streak stopped. They had won all five by double digits, a franchise first.
■ Celtics 130, Wizards 104: At Washington, Sam
Hauser shot 10-for-13 on 3-pointers and totaled 30 points for Boston, which never trailed despite missing three injured starters in its fifth straight win and 16th in 18 games. Jayson Tatum hit six 3s and totaled 30 points for the Celtics, who hit 24 of 50 3-point tries. Washington lost for the 19th time in 21 games.
■ Heat 104, Pistons 101: At Detroit, Bam Adebayo sank a 3-pointer at the buzzer and totaled 20 points and 17 rebounds for Miami. Duncan Robinson hit seven 3s and totaled 30 points for the Heat, reaching 1,000 3-pointers in his 343rd game — breaking the NBA record of Buddy Hield, who reached 1,000 3s in 350 games.
■ Bucks 140, Suns 129: At Milwaukee, Damian Lillard and Bobby Portis each scored 31 points for Milwaukee, which hit 24 of 41 3-point tries in its third win in four games. The Bucks were without top scorer Giannis Antetokounmpo (30.8 ppg), who had a sore left hamstring.
■ Spurs 122, Nets
115, OT: At San Antonio, Victor Wembanyama had 33 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists and seven blocks for San Antonio, which closed regulation on a 17-4 run and halted a three-game skid. Brooklyn lost for the fifth time in six games.
■ Hawks 110, Clippers 93: At Los Angeles, Dejounte Murray scored 21 points for Atlanta, which led 61-44 at halftime and halted a three-game skid. Kawhi Leonard had 28 points for Los Angeles in its fourth loss in five games.
■ Magic 111, Raptors 96: At Orlando, Fla., Paolo Banchero scored 29 points for Orlando, which won its third straight and eighth in 10 games while handing Toronto its seventh loss in a row.