Rockets release veteran center Cousins

The Houston Rockets have released DeMarcus Cousins after just 25 games. Cousins was waived t his week after signing a $2.3 million contract with Houston in the off season. He returned to the court this season after missing all of last season while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon.The 30-year-old Cousins was averaging 9.6 points and 7.6 rebounds this season playing in a reserve role. The four- time All- Star has averaged 20.8 points and 10.7 rebounds in an 11- year career in which he also played with Sacramento, New Orleans and Golden State.

Late Tuesday

CAVALIERS 112, HAWKS 111:

Lamar Stevens drove for an easy dunk with 4.1 seconds left and Atlanta failed to get off a final shot as the Cleveland ended its 10-game losing streak — the NBA's longest this season. It was Cleveland's first win since Feb. 1. Collin Sexton scored 29 points, Darius Garland 17 and Jarrett Allen had 13 points and 14 rebounds for the Cavs.

CLIPPERS 135, WIZARDS 116:

Kawhi Leonard scored 32 points and the Los Angeles Clippers routed Washington, snapping the Wizards' season-high five-game winning streak. Paul George had 30 points before exiting with 7:19 remaining because of a minutes restriction after a toe injury.

NUGGETS 111, TRAIL BLAZERS 106:

Nikola Jokic had 41 points and Jamal Murray celebrated his 24th birthday by scoring 19 of his 24 in the fourth quarter. Damian Lillard had 20 of his 25 points in the second half and added 13 assists but it wasn't

enough for the Blazers. MAVERICKS 110, CELTICS 107:

Luka Doncic hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 0.1 seconds remaining — his second go-ahead 3 in the final minute — and the Mavericks avoided a fourth-quarter collapse.

NETS 127, KINGS 118:

Bruce Brown scored 13 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter to lead Brooklyn. The Nets had five players score in double figures. James Harden recorded his sixth triple-double with the Nets, finishing with 29 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists.

BUCKS 139, TIMBERWOLVES 112:

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 37 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as the Bucks Chris Finch's debut. The Timberwolves lost their fifth straight and ninth in their last 10 games as their record fell to an NBA-worst 7-25.

WARRIORS 114, KNICKS 106:

Stephen Curry scored 37 points in the first game this season with fans at Madison Square Garden. Gov. Andrew Cuomo allowed New York's arenas to open to fans at 10% capacity, which meant roughly 2,000 at The Garden.

76ERS 109, RAPTORS 102:

Philadelphia ended Toronto's four-game winning streak as Tobias Harris scored 12 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter after the 76ers built a big early lead with long-range shooting. PISTONS 105, MAGIC 93: Saben Lee scored a career-best 21 points to help Detroit snap a threegame losing streak.