Harden, Nets stop Clippers’ surge
LOS ANGELES — James Harden scored 37 points, and the Brooklyn Nets held off a furious fourthquarter rally to edge the Los Angeles Clippers 112108 on Sunday night for their season-best sixth victory in a row.
The Nets wrapped up a 5-0 trip, beating Golden State, Sacramento, Phoenix, and both Los Angeles teams to complete their longest undefeated single trip in franchise history. All but two of the wins were by double digits. They’ve now defeated West teams eight straight times.
Harden just missed a triple double, finishing with 11 rebounds and seven assists. Kyrie Irving added 28 points and eight assists.
KNICKS 103 TIMBERWOLVES 99
Julius Randle had 25 points and 14 rebounds, helping host New York recover after blowing a 21-point lead to give Tom Thibodeau a win over the team he last coached.
Minnesota fired coach Ryan Saunders hours after losing for the eighth time in the last nine games.
A person with knowledge of the situation said that the Timberwolves were finalizing plans to introduce Toronto assistant Chris Finch as the new coach Monday. The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Finch’s hiring has not been formally completed.
Saunders was with the Timberwolves for parts of three seasons, going 43-94. Minnesota has the league’s worst record this season at 7-24 and is already 7½ games out of what would be the final play-in spot in the West’s postseason.
PELICANS 120, CELTICS 115
Brandon Ingram highlighted a 33-point performance by hitting a goahead 3-pointer with 33.3 seconds left in overtime as host New Orleans held on for a victory after rallying from 24 points down in the third quarter.
Zion Williamson scored 24 of his 28 points after halftime and had 10 rebounds, four assists and a block for the Pelicans.
MAGIC 105, PISTONS 96
Nikola Vucevic had 37 points and 11 rebounds, Evan Fournier added a season-high 29 points as Orlando won at home.
The Magic have won three in a row, their longest streak since opening the season 4-0.
HAWKS 123, NUGGETS 115
Trae Young had 35 points and 15 assists, Clint Capela added 22 pointas Atlanta topped visiting Denver.
The Hawks had lost five of six and eight of 10. The Nuggets have lost six of seven on the road.
RAPTORS 110, 76ERS 103
Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet each had 23 points as Toronto won at home for its fourth straight victory.
THUNDER 117, CAVALIERS 101
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 31 points and nine assists as Oklahoma City handed host Cleveland its 10th consecutive loss.
BUCKS 128, KINGS 115
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 38 points and Khris Middleton scored 32 to lead host Milwaukee to its ninth win in a row over Sacramento.