Nets overcome Rockets

NEW YORK >> Kyrie Irving had 31 points and a season12 assists, and the Brooklyn Nets overcame the loss of James Harden to beat the Houston Rockets 120108 on Wednesday night and move into first place in the Eastern Conference.

Harden sat out the fourth quarter against his former team with right hamstring tightness, finishing with 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

MAVERICKS 113, CELTICS 108 >> Luka Doncic had 36 points and eight rebounds and Dallas held on to beat Boston. TRAIL BLAZERS 124, PISTONS 101 >> Damian Lillard had 33 points and nine assists and Portland beat Detroit.

CJ McCollum added 24 points and Carmelo Anthony and Robert Covington each scored 16 in Portland’s fourth straight win. HEAT 92, PACERS 87 >> Duncan Robinson and Jimmy Butler helped Miami rally from a 13-point first-half deficit by spurring a decisive eight-point fourth- quarter run for a win over Indiana.

THUNDER 113, RAPTORS 103 >> Svi Mykhailiuk scored 10 of his season-high 22 points in the fourth quarter, and Oklahoma City rallied to beat Toronto.

TIMBERWOLVES 102, KNICKS 101 >> Anthony Edwards scored 11 of his 24 points over the final eight minutes, leading a fierce rally by Minnesota for a victory.

JAZZ 111, GRIZZLIES 107 >> Mike Conley scored 13 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, Jordan Clarkson added 24 points and Utah Jazz beat Memphis.

SUNS 121, BULLS 116 >> Devin Booker scored a seasonhigh 45 points, Chris Paul added 19 points and 14 assists, and Phoenix held on to beat Chicago.

BUCKS 112, LAKERS 97 >> Jrue Holiday had 28 points to lead Milwaukee past a Lakers team missing LeBron James, who suffered a high ankle sprain on Saturday against the Hawks.