Towns, Edwards star, Wolves beat Bucks

Timberwolves 138, Bucks 119: KarlAnthony Towns had 25 points and 11 rebounds, Anthony Edwards scored 25 points and Minnesota pulled away for a victory over Milwaukee, who was playing without star Giannis Antetokounmpo due to right knee soreness.

Naz Reid added 14 points off the bench for Minnesota in a matchup that turned testy early. Timberwolves guard Patrick Beverley and Milwaukee’s George Hill were both ejected after a first-quarter skirmish.

Minnesota won for the 10th time in 11 games by taking control in the third quarter with a barrage of 3-pointers. The Timberwolves shot 22 of 47 from 3, including 9 of 14 in the third.

Khris Middleton scored 15 for Milwaukee, which had won eight of nine. Antetokounmpo was ruled out as the team manages the strain on his knees.

Hornets 129, Mavericks 108: Miles Bridges scored 23 points, P.J. Washington added a season-high 21 and the Hornets routed the road-weary Mavericks for their fourth straight victory.

Terry Rozier scored 18 points, and LaMelo Ball and Kelly Oubre each had 17 points for the Hornets. They shot 20 of 42 from 3-point range.

Wizards 127, Lakers 119: LeBron James passed Karl Malone for second place on the NBA’s career scoring list, but it was part of another loss for his Lakers when the host Wizards rallied from a 16-point deficit to win.

James scored 38 points, and Russell Westbrook added 22 in his return to Washington, but the Lakers’ small lineups couldn’t stop 7-foot-3 Kristaps Porzingis, who scored 16 of his 27 points in the final quarter.

Cavaliers 113, Pistons 109: All-Star point guard Darius Garland had 24 points and 12 assists, Evan Mobley had his NBA rookie-high 20th double-double and the host Cavaliers beat the Pistons.

Mobley finished with 12 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Cedi Osman scored 16 points and Kevin Love had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who earned their 41st win to clinch their first non-losing season in four years.