Mavs beat Hornets, Doncic scores 39
CHARLOTTE, N.C. Luka Doncic had 39 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, and the Dallas Mavericks continued their surge heading into the postseason, beating the Charlotte Hornets 130104 on Tuesday night for their 15th win in 17 games.
The NBA's leading scorer had 21 points and made five 3-pointers in the first quarter as the Mavericks bolted to a 36-14-point lead. Doncic finished 8 of 17 from beyond the arc in his 21st triple-double of the season. He also set a Mavericks franchise record for points in a season with 2,341, surpassing Mark Aguirre's 2,330 in 1983-84. THUNDER 112, KINGS 105 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points in his return from injury, and Oklahoma City rallied from a 20-point deficit to defeat Sacramento as the Kings' Domantas Sabonis had his double-double streak halted at 61 games.
Gilgeous-Alexander had missed six of the team's previous seven games with a bruised right thigh, and the team went 2-4 without him. He gave Oklahoma City a much-needed boost against the Kings, scoring the team's final six points to seal an important win. The Thunder entered the contest a game behind the Minnesota Timberwolves for the best record in the Western Conference with four games remaining. NUGGETS 111, JAZZ 95 Jamal Murray scored 28 points, Nikola Jokic tallied 28 points and 13 rebounds, and Denver pushed past shorthanded Utah.
Murray missed seven games with a knee injury but is working his way back into game shape the last two contests. After being restricted to 21 minutes against Atlanta on Saturday, Murray went 11-for-20 in 27 minutes against the Jazz.
Joel Embiid had 37 points and 11 rebounds and Philadelphia extended their winning streak to six games with a win over Detroit.
Buddy Hield scored 18 and Kelly Oubre Jr. added 17 as the 76ers (45-35) continued their push to avoid the Play-In Tournament and stayed in contention for the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Tyler Herro scored four of his 33 points in the second overtime and Miami outlasted the Atlanta.
Jimmy Butler had 25 points and nine assists and Nikoa Jovic added 23 points and eight rebounds as the Heat won for the fifth time in seven games.
Tyrese Haliburton scored 30 points, Pascal Siakam added 16 points in 26 minutes in his second game back in Toronto and Indiana pulled away early in the second half and beat Toronto.
Giannis Antetokounmpo left late in the third quarter with a calf injury, but Milwaukee hung on to beat Boston in a game that featured an NBA record-low total of two free-throw attempts.
Anthony Edwards scored a career-high 51 points and Minnesota overcame an early 21-point deficit with a dominant second half to beat Washington.
Jalen Brunson scored 45 in his second straight 40-point game, and the New York Knicks beat Chicago.
ROCKETS 118, MAGIC 106
Fred VanVleet scored a season-high 37 points and Houston snapped a fivegame skid with a victory over Orlando.
SPURS 102, GRIZZLIES 87
Victor Wembanyama had 18 points, seven blocks, seven rebounds and six assists, Julian Champagnie added 17 points, and San Antonio rode a third-quarter burst to victory.