Tim Hardaway Jr. had a season high 32 points and the Detroit Pistons host dressed his first winning season in nine years by defeating the eastern conference leader Cleveland Cavalier’s 133-122 on Friday night.
Last time Detroit (42-32) published a winning season was 2015-16 when it finished 44-38. The pistons also snapped a 12-match losing line against Cavaliers. Detroit had not beaten Cleveland since February 24, 2022.
Malik Beasley delivered 19 points, while Ausar Thompson had 18 points, 10 returns and four blocked shots. Dennis Schroder contributed 17 points, 10 assists and seven returns.
Donovan Mitchell wore Cavaliers with 38 points. Darius Garland had 21. Pistons All-Star Cade Cunningham missed his third straight game because of a left veal control.
Clippers 132, network 100
Kawhi Leonard finished with 31 points, including 19 during the second quarter, when Los Angeles rolled to his seventh victory in eight matches with the victory over Brooklyn in New York.
Leonard, who also had six returns and four steals, got 25 points during the first half, while Ivica Zubac added 21 points and 12 boards. James Harden had 17 points and six assists for Clippers, who shot 55 percent from the field and exceeded Nets 79-42 during the second and third quarters.
Keon Johnson led Brooklyn with 13 points, while Cameron Johnson contributed 11. Brooklyn’s other three starters – Ziaire Williams, Nic Claxtton and D’Angelo Russell – was held for a combined 17.
Raptors 108, Hornets 97
Jakob Poeltl scored 24 points and took 12 returns to lead Toronto past Charlotte for his third victory in a row.
Poeltl’s effective 12-of-14-effort from the field pressed him into his 22nd double down of the season. Immanuel Quickley scored 19 points on 6-off-15 shooting and had nine assists, while Scottie Barnes added 18 points, six returns and six assists.
Mark Williams led Hornets with 18 points and 12 returns on a perfect 9-of-9 from the field. Daquan Jeffries got 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting when Charlotte took his fourth straight loss.
Knicks 116, Bucks 107
OG Anunoby had 31 points, Mikal Bridges added 26 and New York was on for a road victory over Milwaukee.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 14 points and 10 returns for Knicks, which has won three of the last four, and Josh Hart chipped in 13 points, 14 boards and eight assists.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led Bucks with 30 points and nine returns, while Kyle Kuzma and Ryan Rollins each got 20 points. Milwaukee has lost three straight and four of the last six.
Nuggets 129, Jazz 93
Nikola Jokic had 27 points and 14 returns and Michael Porter Jr. got 20 points when worth Denver directed Utah.
Russell Westbrook had 17 points and Christian Braun contributed 16 for Nuggets, which has won three of his last four matches.
Collin Sixteen got 20 points to lead the jazz, who has dropped five in a row and 15 out of 16. Kyle Filipowski finished with 18 points and 13 returns, and Keyonte George also got 18 points.
Timberwolves 124, Suns 109
Julius Randle had 25 points, six returns and eight assists, and Minnesota pulled away for a victory over Phoenix in Minneapolis.
Rudy Gobert noted 17 points and 12 returns for Minnesota, which completed a four-game swipe of Suns during the regular season. Anthony Edwards finished with 20 points and Jaden McDaniels made 16 years.
Kevin Durant got 23 points and took six returns to lead Phoenix. Collin Gillespie had 22 points and 10 assists, and Royce O’Neale ended with 21 points from the bench.
Warriors 111, Pelicans 95
Stephen Curry overcame a slow start in his return from injury to score 23 points when visiting Golden State defeated New Orleans to snap a two-game skid.
Curry, who missed two matches due to a pelvic contusion, got only three points during the first quarter. But Warriors gradually took control. Jimmy Butler III added 18 points and 10 returns for Golden State.
Bruce Brown got 18 points and Yves Missi had 12 points and 10 boards for New Orleans, which outscored 28-13 during the fourth quarter.
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