Butler ejected during scuffle, Heat stave off Pelicans

NEW ORLEANS >> Jimmy Butler had 23 points and nine rebounds before being ejected after a fourthquarter melee and the Miami Heat held off the New Orleans Pelicans 106-95 on Friday night before a hostile and emotionally charged crowd.

Bam Adebayo scored 24 points for Miami, which returned from its All-Star break by beating snapping the Pelicans' four-game winning streak in what also marked the Heat's seventh straight victory over the Pelicans.

Miami reserve Thomas Bryant, along with Pelicans

players Jose Alvarado and Naji Marshall, also were ejected after the oncourt melee with 11:19 to go. Even a couple fans were escorted out, one of them after throwing things at Heat players from one of the first few rows.

The scuffle began when Heat center Kevin Love grabbed Zion Williamson to prevent a layup after Williamson had stolen the ball from Butler in the back court. Williamson fell to the court after Love's foul. THUNDER 146, WIZARDS 107 >> Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points and Oklahoma City beat Washington in the Thunder's highestscoring game of the season.

Chet Holmgren added 25 points and 10 rebounds for Oklahoma City, which shot 59.8% from the field and 50% from 3-point-range. The Thunder previous season high was 140 in a victory over San Antonio on Jan. 24.

76ERS 104, CAVALIERS 97 >> Tyrese Maxey scored 24 points, Cam Payne added 16 points off the bench and Philadelphia beat Cleveland, sending the Cavaliers to their second straight loss and third in four games.

Cleveland, coming off a loss to Orlando on Thursday, was missing leading scorer and All-Star Donovan Mitchell, sidelined with an unspecified illness.

CLIPPERS 101, GRIZZLIES 95 >> Kawhi Leonard scored 24 points, Terance Mann had a season-high 23 points and 12 rebounds and Los Angeles pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat Memphis.

Paul George added 14 points for Los Angeles and Ivica Zubac finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

ROCKETS 114, SUNS 110 >> Fred VanVleet scored 23 points, Jabari Smith Jr. had 22 points and 16 rebounds and Houston withstood Phoenix's late surge.

RAPTORS 123, HAWKS 121 >> Immanuel Quickley hit six 3-pointers and scored 24 points to help Toronto beat Atlanta.