Dragic gores Celtics as Heat pull off upset
James hits 23 in fourth as Cavs down Nets
MIAMI, Nov 23, (AP): Goran Dragic scored 27 points, Dion Waiters had 26 with a pair of big 3-pointers in the final minutes and the Miami 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 had 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. The Celtics got down by 18 in the first half, which has been a very comfortable place for Boston this season. Boston had overcome 18-point deficits against Oklahoma City and Charlotte, a 17-point hole against Golden State, a 16-pointer against Atlanta and rallied from 13 down to win in Dallas this week. The Celtics almost did it again. Down by 14 midway through the fourth, the unflappable Celtics went on a 13-0 run in just about three minutes getting to 91-90 when Smart made one of two free throws with 3:14 remaining.
Waiters decided that was close
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enough. His 3-pointer from the left wing bounced off the rim, then the top of the backboard, before falling to end Miami’s scoreless drought. Waiters added another 3-pointer over Al Horford to make the lead seven, Hassan Whiteside had a big tip-in with 1:10 left and Miami would hang on from there.
Thunder 108, Warriors 91
In Oklahoma City, Russell Westbrook scored a season-high 34 points and added 10 rebounds and nine assists to help Oklahoma City roll past Golden State.
Oklahoma City beat the Warriors for the first time since Kevin Durant left the Thunder to join the Warriors after the 2015-16 season. Golden State won all four meetings last season.
Westbrook said it was just another game in the buildup, but he didn’t play like it. At one point in the third quarter, Westbrook and Durant went forehead to forehead and were called for double technicals.
Cavaliers 119, Nets 109
In Cleveland, LeBron James shook off a blow to the face and scored 23 points in the fourth quarter including 18 straight for Cleveland and the Cavaliers beat Brooklyn for their sixth straight victory.
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.
With the Cavs up 100-99, James began his one-man show with a pair of free throws. He dropped in a couple left-handed shots and then drained two 3-pointers the last a step-back with 55 seconds left to give Cleveland a 118107 lead.
James’ solo performance enabled the Cavs to avenge a 112-107 loss in Brooklyn last month.
Bucks 113, Suns 107, OT
In Phoenix, Khris Middleton scored 40 points and Eric Bledsoe added 30 in his return to Phoenix, leading shorthanded Milwaukee.
Devin Booker led the Suns with 23 points and hit a long 3-pointer as time expired in the fourth quarter to force overtime. But they had four of their season-high 29 turnovers in overtime and shot 1 for 8 in the extra period.
Rockets 125, Nuggets 95
In Houston, Trevor Ariza had a season-high 25 points in Houston’s victory over Denver.
Ariza was 7 of 10 from 3-point range. Chris Paul had 23 points and 12 assists, and James Harden added 21 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in limited action.
76ers 101, Trail Blazers 81
In Philadelphia, Joel Embiid had 28 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks and fast-starting Philadelphia handled Portland with ease.
Coming off a 21-point victory over Utah on Monday night, the 76ers scored the game’s first 16 points and held a double-digit lead most of the way.
Hornets 129, Wizards 124, OT
In Charlotte, NC, Dwight Howard had 26 points and 13 rebounds, including a key block at the end of regulation and a crucial offensive rebound in overtime, to help Charlotte beat Washington.
Kemba Walker and Jeremy Lamb each had 24 points for the Hornets, who overcame a nine-point fourth quarter deficit. The Hornets wrapped up a perfect three-game homestand.
John Wall had 31 points and 11 assists, and Bradley Beal added 22 points for the Wizards.
Clippers 116, Hawks 103
In Atlanta, Blake Griffin had 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, Wesley Johnson scored a season-high 24 points and Los Angeles beat Atlanta to snapped a nine-game skid.
The Clippers had dropped 11 of 12, but they overcame a monthlong struggle of closing out opponents, taking the lead for good on a pair of free throws by Lou Williams with 4:11 left in the third quarter.
Pelicans 107, Spurs 90 In New Orleans, Anthony Davis had 29 points and 11 rebounds, Demarcus Cousins added 24 points and 15 rebounds, and New Orleans beat San Antonio.
Jrue Holiday scored 13 points and Darius Miller chipped in 13 on four 3-pointers for the Pelicans.
Mavericks 95, Grizzlies 94 In Memphis, Tenn, Harrison Barnes banked in a 30-footer at the buzzer to lift Dallas past Memphis.
Officials reviewed the play to make sure the shot got off in time. Memphis suffered its sixth straight loss after squandering an 18-point lead in the first half.
Barnes led the Mavericks with 22 points, nine of them coming in the fourth quarter to help Dallas thwart a late Memphis comeback. Timberwolves 124, Magic 118 In Minneapolis, Jimmy Butler tied a season high with 26 points, Taj Gibson scored a season-high 24, and Minnesota held off Orlando.
Jeff Teague had 22 points and 11 assists, and Andrew Wiggins added 20 points as all five starters scored in double figures to help the Timberwolves end a two-game slide.
Knicks 108, Raptors 100 In New York, Tim Hardaway Jr. scored a career-high 38 points, including 12 during a 28-0 run in the third quarter that sent New York past Toronto.
Kristaps Porzingis added 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks, who outscored the Raptors 41-10 in the third. Kyle Lowry scored 25 points and DeMar DeRozan had 18 for the Raptors.
Kings 113, Lakers 102 In Sacramento, Calif, Zach Randolph had 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, Willie Cauley-Stein added 26 points and the Sacramento beat Los Angeles.
Buddy Hield added 10 points for Sacramento, including a pair of 3-pointers during a 15-5 run to open the fourth quarter. Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 14, Frank Mason added 11 and De’Aaron Fox had 13 in his first NBA matchup against Lonzo Ball.
Jazz 110, Bulls 80 In Salt Lake City, Derrick Favors scored 23 points, reserve Rodney Hood added 19 and Utah beat Chicago.
Alec Burks chipped in 15 points for Utah, which snapped a three-game losing streak to Chicago extending back to the 2015-16 season.
Robin Lopez scored 15 points and Bobby Portis added 14 points and eight rebounds off the bench for the Bulls. Justin Holiday and Kris Dunn chipped in 12 points apiece. Chicago (3-13) dropped to 0-3 on its Western road trip.