Hornets score season-high 158
The Charlotte Hornets broke the franchise’s single-game scoring record on Wednesday night and notched the highest point total in the NBA this season in their 158-126 rout of the Pacers at Indiana.
Kelly Oubre Jr. had a career-high 39 points, going 10 of 15 on 3s — also a career best. LaMelo Ball had his fourth triple double of the season with 29 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds. Four players had 20 or more points, and the Hornets matched a season-best by making 24 3s.
With the victory, Charlotte snapped a two-game losing streak and pulled off a four-game sweep of the injury-depleted Pacers. The Pacers have lost three in a row and seven of nine.
CAVALIERS 115, BUCKS 99 >> Kevin Love scored 25 points, Cedi Osman added 23 and Cleveland beat defending NBA champion Milwaukee.
The host Cavs made 19 3-pointers, won for the eighth time in nine games and leapfrogged Milwaukee in the Eastern Conference standings. Darius Garland scored 19 and rookie Evan Mobley had 16 for the Cavs.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 26 points after missing a game with knee soreness, but had seven of Milwaukee’s 19 turnovers that led to 31 points for Cleveland. NUGGETS 124, NETS 118 >> Nikola Jokic had 26 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, Austin Rivers added 25 points off the bench and Denver outlasted host Brooklyn.
Will Barton had 21 points and 10 rebounds and DeMarcus Cousins chipped in 13 points off the bench for the Nuggets, who have won their last three games. CLIPPERS 111, MAGIC 102 >> Amir Coffey scored 19 points, Luke Kennard added 17 and Los Angeles rallied to win at Orlando one day after matching the second-largest comeback in NBA history.
The Clippers were down by maximum of 14 points on Wednesday, and trailed by two to start the fourth quarter, in which they outscored the Magic 35-24.
Seven Clippers made 3-pointers. Orlando’s Franz Wagner led the team with 21 points and nine assists, while Cole Anthony had 19 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Rookie Jalen Suggs scored 14 points, as did veteran guard Gary Harris. HAWKS 121, KINGS 104 >> Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 18 points in his return from a knee injury, Onyeka Okongwu also scored 18 off the bench and Atlanta recovered from a slow start to beat visiting Sacramento.
The Hawks relied on their backups for their fifth consecutive win. Atlanta’s bench outscored Sacramento’s backups 70-24, including a 41-11 advantage in the first half. Harrison Barnes led Sacramento with 28 points.
The Kings suffered their fifth consecutive loss overall and 10th straight on the road.
HEAT 110, KNICKS 96 >> Duncan Robinson scored 25 points while shooting 7 of 11 from 3-point range, leading four Miami players with 20 or more points in the Heat’s victory over visiting New York.
Jimmy Butler added 22 points, Tyler Herro scored 21 and P.J. Tucker had 20 for the Eastern Division-leading Heat, who have won eight of 10.
BULLS 111, RAPTORS 105 >> DeMar DeRozan scored 29 points, Zach LaVine added 23 and Chicago beat visiting Toronto.
Nikola Vucevic also scored 17 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, notching his fifth straight double-double and helping the Bulls win consecutive games for the first time since Jan. 7.
Gary Trent Jr. led the Raptors with 32 points, while OG Anunoby added 23 points. Toronto has lost six of its last nine games.