Simons scores 31 points as Blazers beat Bucks

Anfernee Simons scored 31 points and the Portland Trail Blazers capitalized on Giannis Antetokounmpo's absence, beating the Milwaukee Bucks 122107 on Monday night for their third straight victory.

Simons has averaged 30 points and has shot 18 of 39 from 3-point range during Portland's winning streak.

Antetokounmpo didn't play for the Bucks due to a sore left ankle. Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer said before the game he believes it's a short-term issue.

Jrue Holiday led the Bucks with 23 points. Bobby Portis and Jordan Nwora had 17 each. PELICANS 120, RAPTORS 90 >> CJ McCollum scored 23 points, and the New Orleans Pelicans shot a season-best 58.4% to defeat the Toronto Raptors.

Brandon Ingram had 10 points and 11 rebounds and eight assists, leaving him two short of his first triple-double

Fred VanVleet scored 20 points and Pascal Siakam added 18 points for Toronto, which has lost two straight on the heels of an eight-game winning streak.

BULLS 120, SPURS 109 >> DeMar DeRozan scored 19 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter, and the Chicago Bulls beat the San Antonio Spurs 120-109 on Monday night for their fourth straight victory.

It was DeRozan's seventh consecutive game with at least 30 points, extending his career high.

Lonnie Walker IV scored 21 points for the Spurs, and All-Star Dejounte Murray had 19 points and 11 assists for the Spurs.

NETS 109, KINGS 85 >> In his first game as a member of the Nets, Seth Curry scored 23 points to lead Brooklyn to a win over the Sacramento Kings.

Brooklyn snapped its 11game losing streak.

Despite getting a gamehigh 26 points from De'Aaron Fox, Sacramento's modest two-game winning streak came to an end. Davion Mitchell finished with 13 and Donte DiVincenzo chipped in with 12.

WIZARDS 103, PISTONS 94 >> Kyle Kuzma scored 17 of his 23 points in the third quarter, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 16, and Deni Avdija had 12 points and a career-high 15 rebounds as the Washington Wizards sent the Detroit Pistons to their eighth straight loss.

Saddiq Bey led Detroit (12-45) with 24 points. CAVS' ALLEN AN ALL-STAR REPLACEMENT >> Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen will replace James Harden at this year's AllStar Game.

Allen, who has been having a strong second season with Cleveland, was chosen to take the place of the injured Harden by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on Monday.

Allen will join teammate Darius Garland for this year's event in Cleveland, giving the Cavs two All-Stars for the first time since 2018.