Pelicans top Nets for third in a row
Williamson propels New Orleans in win
Zion Williamson scored 28 points and wowed the Barclays Center crowd with a high-flying alley-oop dunk, and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the host Brooklyn Nets 104-91 on Tuesday night.
CJ McCollum added 16 points, Larry Nance Jr. had 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Brandon Ingram and Herb Jones each finished with 11 points for the Pelicans, who opened a fourgame road swing with their third consecutive win and seventh in eight games. New Orleans is fifth in the Western Conference.
“I think it says we’re watching film and adjusting as we get further in the season,” Nance said.
New Orleans ( 42- 26) clinched its second consecutive winning season, something the franchise hadn’t done since 2009, when it was still known as the Hornets.
Cam Thomas had 25 points and Mikal Bridges added 15 for the Nets, who have lost four in a row.
Other games
Magic 112, Hornets 92: Cole Anthony scored 17 of his 21 points in the second quarter and Orlando routed Charlotte to clinch at least a play-in berth in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Rockets 137, Wizards 114: Jalen Green tied a career high with 42 points, and visiting Houston closed the third quarter on a 25-6 run en route to their its straight victory with a win over Washington.
Mavericks 113, Spurs 107: Kyrie Irving scored 28 points, Luka Doncic had 18 points and 16 assists, and Dallas held off host San Antonio — the Mavericks’ sixth win in their past seven games. Dallas (40-29) trails Sacramento (39-28) by percentage points for sixth place in the Western Conference and the final automatic playoff berth.
Nuggets 115, Timberwolves 112: Nikola Jokic had 35 points and 16 rebounds and Michael Porter Jr. scored 13 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter as visiting Denver fended off the undermanned and undersized Minnesota.
Notes
Cavaliers All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell could miss at least another week after breaking his nose in Cleveland’s loss at Houston this past weekend.
• Lakers big man Christian Wood had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Tuesday in the latest injury setback for Los Angeles’ depth players.