Warriors top Wolves, regain 1st in conference

MINNEAPOLIS — Stephen Curry scored 22 of his 36 points in the third quarter and Klay Thompson pitched in with 28 points, giving the Golden State Warriors more than enough production to beat the fading Minnesota Timberwolves 117-107 on Tuesday and regain first place in the Western Conference.

Jonas Jerebko added 18 points, Kevin Durant scored 17 points and Draymond Green had 10 rebounds and nine assists for the Warriors (48-22), who bounced back from a loss at San Antonio on Monday and moved a half-game ahead of Denver (47-22) in the race for the top seed. The Nuggets were idle.

Curry went 8 for 14 from 3-point range, pushing him past the 300 mark for the third time in four seasons. The Warriors had 39 assists on 44 made field goals and finished 19 for 42 from 3-point range in the wrap-up of a four-game trip. They’ve won 20 of their last 25 games away from home.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 26 points and 21 rebounds, Andrew Wiggins totaled 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists and Josh Okogie had 19 points for the Timberwolves, who played again without the injured Jeff Teague, Derrick Rose, Robert Covington and Luol Deng, and lost their fourth straight game.

BUCKS 115, LAKERS 101

In Milwaukee, Khris Middleton scored 30 points and Brook Lopez added 28 as the Bucks beat Los Angeles.

Milwaukee played without Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is nursing an injured ankle, while LeBron James sat out for Los Angeles due to a sore groin.

Nikola Mirotic added 23 points for Milwaukee, which improved to an NBA-best 53-18.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had a season-high 35 points for the Lakers, three off his career best. Kyle Kuzma added 17 points. Los Angeles has lost four consecutive games and nine of 10.

ROCKETS 121, HAWKS 105

In Atlanta, James Harden had 31 points and 10 assists, Clint Capela added 26 points and 11 rebounds and Houston won its third straight game.

The Rockets have won 12 of 13 and have 10 wins in their last 13 road games.

Trae Young had 21 points and 12 assists and John Collins added 20 points 10 rebounds for the Hawks.

Chris Paul had 13 points, 11 assists, three steals and just one turnover. Capela got his sixth straight double-double and 37th overall.

76ERS 118, HORNETS 114

In Charlotte, N.C., Ben Simmons scored 28 points, JJ Redick had 27 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists and Philadelphia held on to beat the Hornets for their fifth straight victory.

Jimmy Butler added 23 points and nine assists, and Tobias Harris chipped in with 22 points and 12 rebounds for the 76ers (46-25), who remained in third place in the Eastern Conference standings.

Redick finished with seven 3-pointers, one shy of his career high.

NETS 123, KINGS 121

In Sacramento, Calif., D’Angelo Russell scored 27 of his career-high 44 points in the fourth quarter, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson made a layup with eight-tenths of a second remaining, and Brooklyn rallied from 28 points down in the second half to beat the Kings to snap a four-game losing streak.

Brooklyn was sluggish and out of sync for three quarters before Russell sparked the Nets’ biggest comeback of the season.

After scoring 17 points in the first half and going without a point in the third quarter, Russell shot 10 of 15 in the fourth quarter, repeatedly burning Sacramento’s defense with quick drives to the basket. Russell also had four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, breaking Allen Crabbe’s single-season record of 201 set last season. Russell has 202.

CLIPPERS 115, PACERS 109

In Los Angeles, Danilo Gallinari scored 24 points, Montrezl Harrell had 20 points and 12 rebounds, and the Clippers held off Indiana, preventing the Pacers from clinching a playoff berth.

Clinging to a 110-107 lead, Lou Williams hit a jumper with 40 seconds left to stop a 5-0 run by Indiana.

Tyreke Evans answered with a layup that again drew the Pacers within three.

After a timeout, Bojanc Bogdanovic slipped defending Patrick Beverley, who scored.