LeVert scores 31 as Pacers beat Pistons
Pacers 122, Pistons 113: Caris LeVert scored 20 of his 31 points in the first half and visiting Indiana sent Detroit to its 13th straight loss on Thursday night.
LeVert was 12 of 18 from the field. Justin Holiday added 17 points for Indiana, shooting 5 of 15.
Saddiq Bey led the Pistons with 28 points and 10 rebounds. Cade Cunningham had 19 points, and Frank Jackson had 18. Detroit is an NBA-worst 4-23.
Nets 114, 76ers 105: Kevin Durant scored 34 points, making a four-point play with the game tied and 1:46 left, and Brooklyn beat host Philadelphia.
The Nets were missing seven players because of coronavirus health and safety protocols but still had Durant, the NBA’s leading scorer who added 11 rebounds and eight assists.
Blake Griffin and Nic Claxton both added a season-high 17 points for the Nets, who had just nine players available.
Patty Mills scored 14 points in Eastern Conference-leading Brooklyn’s fourth straight victory.
Joel Embiid had 32 points, nine rebounds and six assists in the 76ers’ third straight loss. Seth Curry scored 29 points.
It was Brooklyn’s second straight game without starters James Harden, LaMarcus Aldridge and DeAndre’ Bembry, along with reserves Bruce Brown, Paul Millsap, Jevon Carter and James Johnson.
Bulls at Raptors, ppd.: Coach Billy Donovan wasn’t sure how many players the Chicago Bulls will have for their next game.
They’re scheduled to host the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. Whether that game is played remains to be seen.
The Bulls still had plenty of uncertainties on Thursday as they try to work their way back after having two games this week postponed because 10 players were in the NBA’s health and safety protocol.
“I think the league is trying to do everything they can possibly do to play games and also keep teams safe and healthy,” Donovan said.
The Bulls have not played since a loss at Miami last Saturday. Two days later, backup forward Alize Johnson entered the protocol, leaving Chicago with the league minimum eight players available.
The Bulls were scheduled to host Detroit on Tuesday and visit Toronto on Thursday. Chicago instead became the first team in the league to have games postponed this season by the NBA.