FRIDAY’S GAMES
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Nuggets 108, WIZARDS 100: Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray each scored 25 points to keep Denver’s playoff hopes alive by beating Washington. The one-two punch of Jokic and Murray allowed the Nuggets to maintain their sights on one of the final two playoff spots in the Western Conference.
PACERS 109, Clippers 104: Bojan Bogdanovic scored 28 points and Indiana used a late 9-0 run to hold on for a victory over Los Angeles, putting them on the precipice of clinching a playoff spot. The Pacers won for only the second time in five games but can clinch a playoff berth with one more win or a Detroit loss.
RAPTORS 116, Nets 112: Kyle Lowry had 25 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds in his 10th triple-double with Toronto, Jonas Valanciunas scored 23 and the Raptors beat Brooklyn for their 12th straight victory over the Nets. DeMar DeRozan scored 21 points, Fred VanVleet had 16 and Pascal Siakam 11.
Timberwolves 108, KNICKS 104: Karl-Anthony Towns had 24 points and 13 rebounds, and Minnesota clinched their first winning record in 13 years by beating New York. Taj Gibson scored 18 points, and Andrew Wiggins added 17 points and 11 rebounds to help the Wolves improve to 42-31.
CAVALIERS 120, Suns 95: LeBron James scored 27 points in three quarters, Kevin Love added 20 and Cleveland welcomed back three players from injury during a blowout over sinking Phoenix, who lost their 10th straight game. James added nine assists and six rebounds.
THUNDER 105, Heat 99: Russell Westbrook scored 17 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter to help Oklahoma City beat Miami. Westbrook went 6 for 6 from the field and made 3 of 4 free throws in the final period. He also had 13 rebounds and eight assists. Steven Adams added 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Thunder.
Bucks 118, BULLS 105: Shabazz Muhammad scored 21 points and Milwaukee overcame another sluggish start to beat Chicago. Milwaukee star swingman Giannis Antetokounmpo missed the game because of a sprained right ankle.
Utah at SAN ANTONIO (late): Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points and the Jazz got back on the winning track by beating the Mavericks 119-112 on Thursday night. Two nights after a loss to Atlanta ended a nine-game winning streak, Utah moved into a tie with Minnesota for seventh place in the Western Conference playoff race.
Boston at PORTLAND (late): James Harden scored 42 points, including a pair of 3s down the stretch, and the Rockets snapped the Trail Blazers' 13-game winning streak with a 115-111 victory on Tuesday night. Portland's winning streak was tied for the second-longest in franchise history.
Atlanta at GOLDEN STATE (late): Justin Jackson scored 11 of his season-high 20 points in the third quarter and the Kings beat the Hawks 105-90 on Thursday night in a game that was delayed due to protesters who were locked arm-in-arm surrounding entrances to Golden1 Center.