Vucevic, DeRozan help Bulls defeat Pistons
Nikola Vucevic scored 22 points, DeMar DeRozan had 20 points and 12 rebounds, and the Chicago Bulls routed the Detroit Pistons 133-87 on Tuesday night.
DeRozan sat for most of the final 16 minutes but still added seven assists. Eastern Conference-leading Chicago won after its season-best nine-game winning streak ended Sunday in Dallas.
Josh Jackson scored 16 points and Saddiq Bey added 14 for the Pistons, who had won two straight. Lonzo Ball added 18 points and Zach LaVine had 10 for Chicago.
PELICANS 128, TIMBERWOLVES 125 >> Brandon Ingra had 33 points and Josh Hart had 21 as New Orleans escaped the Timberwolves. Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 28 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 26.
WIZARDS 122, THUNDER 118 >> Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 30.8 seconds remaining and the Washington Wizards beat the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder despite being without star Bradley Beal because of health and safety protocols. Kuzma led the Wizards with 29 points, and Spencer Dinwiddie had 22 points and 10 assists. SUNS 99, RAPTORS 95 >> Devin Booker scored 16 points, including the goahead basket with 1:02 remaining, and Chris Paul had 15 points and 12 assists as the Phoenix Suns beat host Toronto to snap the Raptors’ longest winning streak of the season at six games.
Jae Crowder scored 19 points, Deandre Ayton had 16 and Mikal Bridges added 12. Chris Boucher had 13 points and 16 rebounds for the Raptors.
CAVS GIVE GM ALTMAN A CONTRACT EXTENSION >> Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman has been rewarded for the team’s turnaround with a contract extension and new job title, a person familiar with Cleveland’s plans told the Associated Press on Tuesday night.
Altman, who has reshaped the Cavs’ roster and moved them back into playoff contention, has agreed to the extension through the 2027-28 season, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not made the deal official.
Altman will also assume the new title of president of basketball operation.