Siakam powers Raptors to win over Cavs
Rockets, Thunder rally from big holes to get wins
TORONTO — Pascal Siakam scored 33 points, Kyle Lowry had 20 points and 11 assists, and the Toronto Raptors beat the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers 133-113 Monday night.
Norman Powell scored 26 points, Serge Ibaka had 14 and OG Anunoby 12 as Toronto won for the eleventh time in 14 home games. The Raptors have won back-to-back at home after losing three straight on their own court.
Collin Sexton scored 25 points, Darius Garland had 20 and Tristan Thompson 18 as the Cavaliers lost for the 16th time in 18 games.
Cleveland has dropped two straight after winning 117-109 at San Antonio on Thursday night to snap a season-long eight-game skid.
Lowry’s double-double was his 110th with Toronto, tying Antonio Davis for third-most in franchise history. They trail Jonas Valanciunas (137) and Chris Bosh (239).
Powell has scored 20 or more points in three straight games for the first time in his career. He scored 20 or more four times in 60 games last season.
The Raptors scored eight points off six Cavaliers turnovers in the first quarter. Kevin Love led the Cavs with seven points in the first, and Cleveland closed the quarter with a 10-0 run but still trailed 37-29.
WIZARDS 133, PISTONS 119: In Detroit, Bradley Beal scored 15 of his 35 points in the first quarter, and Washington took control with some torrid shooting before holding on for a victory over Detroit.
The Pistons were without injured stars Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond, and Washington shot 17 of 21 (81%) from the field in the first quarter. The Wizards also made all three of their 3-point attempts and all six of their free throws in the opening period, building a 43-31 lead.
Detroit rallied after falling behind by 16 in the second quarter, but the Wizards were relentless offensively. Isaiah Thomas returned from a calf injury and scored 23 points for Washington, and Davis Bertans added 17.
ROCKETS 109, SPURS 107: In Houston, Russell Westbrook scored 31 points, James Harden had 28 and Houston set a franchise record by overcoming a 25-point deficit to beat San Antonio.
The comeback eclipses the 23-point deficit Houston faced in a 110-107 victory against Portland on Jan. 22, 1977.
MAVERICKS 120, BUCKS 116: In Milwaukee, the Bucks’ 18-game winning streak ended when Seth Curry and Kristaps Porzingis each scored 26 points to help Dallas hang on for a victory even without star guard Luka Doncic.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 48 points and 14 rebounds, but got little support as Milwaukee lost for the first time since a 103-100 setback at Utah on Nov 8.
The winning streak was their longest since a franchise-record 20 consecutive victories by the 1970-71 championship team that featured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, then known as Lew Alcindor, and Oscar Robertson.
THUNDER 109, BULLS 106: In Oklahoma City, Chris Paul hit five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and Oklahoma City overcame a 26-point second-quarter deficit to beat Chicago.
Paul took over in the fourth, going 5 for 5 from deep and scoring 19 of his 30 points. His fourth 3-pointer of the quarter put Oklahoma City ahead 101-100, its first lead since the opening seconds. Paul also had nine rebounds and 10 assists.
GRIZZLIES 118, HEAT 111: In Memphis, Tenn., rookie Ja Morant had 20 points and 10 assists to lead Memphis to a victory over Miami.
Jonas Valanciunas finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds as Memphis won for the fourth time in five games. De’Anthony Melton scored 16 points, and Jaren Jackson Jr. had 15. TRAIL BLAZERS 111, SUNS 110: In Phoenix, Damian Lillard scored 27 points, including a crucial three-point play with 26 seconds left, and Portland bounced back from a 16-point deficit in the first half to beat Phoenix.
With Portland trailing 110-108, Lillard drove straight through the lane and made a layup while crashing into Aron Baynes, who was called for a blocking foul. Lillard hit the free throw to make it 111-110, and Phoenix couldn’t score on its final possession.