HEAT TOP CELTICS TO SNAP BOSTON’S 16-GAME STREAK
MIAMI» Goran Dragic scored 27 points, Dion Waiters had 26 with a pair of big 3-pointers in the final minutes and the Heat held on to beat Boston 104-98 on Wednesday night, snapping the Celtics’ 16-game winning streak.
Tyler Johnson scored 16 points for Miami, which saw what was an 18-point lead cut to one in the final moments. The Heat shot 49 percent and outrebounded the Celtics 48-37.
Kyrie Irving scored 23 points for Boston. Jayson Tatum added 18, and Jaylen Brown and Marcus Morris each had 14.
WEDNESDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
Russell Westbrook scored a season-high 34 points and added 10 rebounds and nine assists to help the Thunder roll past the Warriors, 108-91. … LeBron James shook off a blow to the face and scored 23 points in the fourth quarter — including 18 straight — as the Cavaliers won their sixth consecutive game, 119-109 over the Nets. James needed stitches in the third quarter to close a gash above his lip that drew blood. He punched back at the Nets in the fourth and finished with 33 points. … Joel Embiid had 28 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks and the fast-starting 76ers handled another Western Conference opponent with relative ease, beating the Trail Blazers, 101-81. … Dwight Howard had 26 points, a key block at the end of regulation and 13 rebounds, including a crucial offensive board in overtime, in the Hornets’ 129-124 victory over the Wizards .… Blake Griffin had 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, Wesley Johnson scored a season-high 24 points and the Clippers snapped a nine-game skid with a 116-103 victory over the Hawks .…Tim Hardaway Jr. scored a careerhigh 38 points, including 12 during a 28-0 run in the third quarter that sent the Knicks to a 108100 victory over the Raptors. Kristaps Porzingis added 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks, who outscored the Raptors 41-10 in the third. … Jimmy Butler tied a season high with 26 points, Taj Gibson scored a season-high 24, and the Timberwolves held off the Magic 124118. … Anthony Davis had 29 points and 11 rebounds, Demarcus Cousins added 24 points and 15 rebounds, and the Pelicans beat the Spurs 107-90. … Harrison Barnes banked in a 30-footer at the buzzer to give the Mavericks a 95-94 victory over the Grizzlies. … Derrick Favors scored 23 points, reserve Rodney Hood added 19 and the Jazz beat the Bulls 110-80. Alec Burks chipped in 15 points for Utah, which snapped a three-game losing streak to Chicago extending back to the 2015-16 season.