Celtics overcome Cavs, James’ triple-double
BOSTON — Isaiah Thomas scored 31 points, including the go-ahead free throws, as the Boston Celtics outlasted LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-99 on Wednesday night.
Boston’s win overshadowed the seventh triple-double of the season for James, who finished with 28 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. Kyrie Irving added 28 points for the Cavaliers, who lost for the first time when leading at any point in the fourth quarter on the road.
The game marked the third meeting this season between the top two teams in the Eastern Conference, and the first win by the Celtics.
WIZARDS 105, RAPTORS 96
In Toronto, Bojan Bogdanovic had 27 points off the bench and Bradley Beal added 23 as Washington snapped an eight-game losing streak against the Raptors.
John Wall had 12 points and 13 assists for his 39th double-double of the season as the thirdplace Wizards took the first of a home-andhome series against Toronto, moving a game up on fourth-place Toronto in the standings.
DeMar DeRozan had 24 points and Serge Ibaka added 22 more for the Raptors, who were again without All-Star Kyle Lowry following the guard’s wrist surgery that will keep him out the remainder of the regular season.
SPURS 100, PACERS 99
In San Antonio, Texas, Kawhi Leonard had 31 points and 10 rebounds, and the Spurs returned from an eight-game road trip to beat Indiana.
Leonard hit a turnaround, fade-away jumper from 16 feet against Paul George with 2.4 seconds left to win it. Indiana’s Monta Ellis missed a pair of free throws with nine seconds remaining and George missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
San Antonio extended its winning streak to five games, including four straight to close its annual rodeo road trip in February.
HAWKS 100, MAVERICKS 95
In Atlanta, Paul Millsap scored with 30.5 seconds remaining and the Hawks held off Dallas.
After Millsap’s basket put the Hawks ahead 96-95, Harrison Barnes missed a chance to put the Mavericks back in front. His jumper was off the mark with Kent Bazemore in his face. Ersan Ilyasova was fouled going for the rebound and made both free throws with 11.1 seconds left.
Dallas still had a chance to force overtime, but Seth Curry slipped on the inbounds pass and Bazemore scooped up the loose ball, taking off the other way for a dunk that clinched the victory.
HEAT 125, 76ERS 98
In Miami, Tyler Johnson scored 24 points off the bench, and the Heat never trailed in a win over Philadelphia.
Wayne Ellington made six 3-pointers for 18 points for Miami, which has won 10 of its past 11 at home. Hassan Whiteside, Dion Waiters and Goran Dragic all scored 15 for the Heat, and Whiteside also grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.
Robert Covington scored 19 for the 76ers, who learned earlier Wednesday that center Joel Embiid will miss the remainder of the season with a left knee injury.
PELICANS 109, PISTONS 86
In New Orleans, Anthony Davis had 33 points and 14 rebounds, and the Pelicans snapped a three-game skid with a victory over Detroit.
Pistons 6-foot-11 center Andre Drummond was ejected for swatting at the back of 6-1 Pelicans guard Tim Frazier’s head after Frazier had ripped away a rebound late in the third quarter. Drummond had 13 points and 17 rebounds to that point, but also missed nine of 10 free throws.
NUGGETS 110, BUCKS 98
In Milwaukee, Nikola Jokic had his second triple-double in two nights to lead Denver over the Bucks.
The Nuggets, coming off a victory Tuesday at Chicago, have won back-to-back road games for the first time this season. They’ve also won consecutive games for the first time since taking three straight Jan. 24-28.
KNICKS 101, MAGIC 90
In Orlando, Fla., Kristaps Porzingis had 20 points and nine rebounds, and Derrick Rose scored 19 to help New York cruise past Orlando.
Facing a Magic team adjusting to playing with a smaller lineup, the Knicks used their superior size to their advantage. Porzingis, who missed the previous two games with a sprained right ankle, presented matchup problems for Orlando all night.
TIMBERWOLVES 107, JAZZ 80
In Salt Lake City, Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points and 15 rebounds to lead Minnesota over Utah.
Andrew Wiggins scored 20 points and Shabazz Muhammad added 18 for the Timberwolves, who won for the fourth time in five games. Utah was the fourth opponent in the last seven games that Minnesota held under 90 points.
ROCKETS 122, CLIPPERS 103
In Los Angeles, James Harden scored 26 points and Houston shot 20 of 52 on 3-pointers in a victory over the Clippers.
In four games since the All-Star break, the Rockets, who lead the NBA in 3-pointers made and attempted, have hit 72 on 206 attempts, an average of 18 of 51.5 from beyond the arc.
NETS 109, KINGS 100
In Sacramento, Calif., Brook Lopez had 24 points and eight rebounds, and Brooklyn never trailed in snapping a 16-game losing streak by defeating the Kings.