KENNARD GOES CRAZY, GRIZZLIES IN PLAYOFFS
Luke Kennard made a franchise-record 10 3-pointers to match his career high with 30 points, Desmond Bane added 25 points and the Memphis Grizzlies clinched a playoff spot after building a 31-point halftime lead and coasting to a 151-114 victory over the Houston Rockets on Friday night at home.
Ja Morant scored 18 points and had eight assists in his second game after serving an eight-game league-imposed suspension after he posted a video in which he is shown waving a gun at a Denver-area strip club. Morant, as he did in his first game back Wednesday also against the Rockets, again came off the bench. He entered with 5:08 left in the first quarter.
Jaren Jackson Jr. also scored 18 points and had seven rebounds and two blocks for Memphis, which had the second-most points in franchise history. The Grizzlies won their 11th straight at home and moved within three games of idle Denver, which holds the top spot in the Western Conference.
Tari Eason had 21 points to lead Houston, while Kevin Porter Jr. and Jabari Smith Jr. each had 20.
Celtics 120, Pacers 95: Jayson Tatum scored 34 points, setting a franchise record with his 40th 30-point game this season, and host Boston rolled past Indiana.
Tatum passed Hall of Famer Larry Bird, who had 39 30-point games during the 1987-88 season.
Jaylen Brown added 27
Grizzlies 151, Rockets 114
points and seven rebounds, and Derrick White finished with 22 points and nine assists for the Celtics, who have won four of five and improved to 27-9 at home this season.
Wizards 136, Spurs 124:
Corey Kispert scored 26 points and sank six 3-pointers, Deni Avdija added 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Washington pulled away for a win over visiting San Antonio.
Delon Wright added 24 points and Kristaps Porzingis 23 for the Wizards, who missed three-time AllStar Bradley Beal (left knee sprain) for a second game but snapped a four-game skid.
Raptors 118, Pistons 97:
Pascal Siakam scored 32 points, Chris Boucher had 19 points and 13 rebounds and Toronto routed Detroit for its eighth win in nine home games.
Jaden Ivey scored 20 points and Marvin Bagley III and James Wiseman each had 14 for Detroit, but the Pistons lost for the 16th time in 17 games.
Hornets 117, Mavericks 109:
P.J. Washington Jr. scored 28 points and Gordon Hayward added 25 as undermanned Charlotte built a 21point lead and held on to beat Dallas on the road.
Luka Doncic had 34 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Mavericks, who lost their third straight and for the sixth time in eight games. Kyrie Irving scored 18 points after missing one game with a toe injury.
Bucks 144, Jazz 116: Grayson Allen scored a season-high 25 points to lead visiting Milwaukee to a victory over Utah. Allen made five 3-pointers and shot 57 percent from the field to help the Bucks lead wire-to-wire.
Bulls 124 Trail Blazers 96: Zach LaVine scored 33 points and visiting Chicago dominated short-handed Portland.
Warriors 120, 76ers 112: Jordan Poole scored 33 points and swished a key 3pointer with 1:18 to play off a pretty pass by Draymond Green, Stephen Curry added 29 points and eight rebounds, and host Golden State rallied past Joel Embiid and Philadelphia.
Embiid checked back into the game with 8:26 left and scored 13 straight on the way to 46 points, but the Warriors came back from 11 down for their ninth straight home win — and one of the most important yet as they fight for playoff positioning.
Kings 135, Suns 127: Kevin Huerter led all scorers with 29 points and host Sacramento beat Phoenix.
Lakers 116, Thunder 111: Anthony Davis had 37 points and 14 rebounds, Dennis Schröder added 13 of his 21 points in the second half and host Los Angeles got a vital victory for its playoff hopes.
Lonnie Walker scored 20 points in an impressive return to the rotation for the Lakers, who have won three straight to move even with Minnesota in seventh place in the Western Conference standings.