Pistons defeat Knicks 115-106 as Cunningham scores 36
DETROIT (AP) — Cade Cunningham had 36 points and eight assists, lifting the Detroit Pistons to a 115-106 win over the New York Knicks on Thursday night in a possible preview of a first-round matchup in the NBA playoffs.
New York was without starters OG Anunoby (thumb) and Josh Hart (knee) due to injuries and failed to clinch the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.
All-Star guard Jalen Brunson briefly left the game late in the third quarter after rolling his left ankle but returned to finish with 15 points, missing 10 of 15 shots.
The Knicks led for much of the game, but sixth-place Detroit outscored them by nine in the fourth quarter.
Jalen Duren had 18 points and 13 rebounds, making all nine shots. Tobias Harris scored 17 points and rookie Ron Holland had 13.
New York’s Karl-Anthony Towns scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Precious Achiuwa took advantage of opportunities on a short-handed team and scored 18 points.
PACERS 114, CAVALIERS 112
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Tyrese Haliburton scored eight of his 23 points during a key scoring run in the fourth quarter and Aaron Nesmith added 22 points to help Indiana rally past short-handed Cleveland.
Indiana won its sixth straight and secured a top-four seed and the home-court advantage in a playoff series for the first time since 2014. The Pacers are also one win away from their first 50-win season since 2013-14.
Haliburton added 10 assists, eight rebounds and three blocks while making four 3-pointers. Myles Turner had 13 points, seven rebounds and four blocks.
Cleveland’s Ty Jerome finished with 24 points and six assists despite being held out of the fourth quarter. De’Andre Hunters had 23 points and 11 rebounds. And, Jaylon Tyson missed a midrange jumper at the buzzer that could have forced overtime.
Coach Kenny Atkinson rested four of his five starters because the Cavs had already clinched the No. 1 seed in the East. Center Jarett Allen grabbed 10 rebounds in the first half before joining the starters on the bench, and Atkinson was ejected after drawing consecutive technical fouls for arguing following a no-call with 58.6 seconds left in the third quarter.
HAWKS 133, NETS 109
NEW YORK (AP) — Zaccharie Risacher scored a season-high 38 points as Atlanta routed Brooklyn.
The No. 1 pick in the draft shot 15 for 20 from the field, including 6 for 11 from 3-point range.
Trae Young added 24 points and 12 assists for the Hawks, who shot 57%. Dyson Daniels had 10 points, nine assists, nine rebounds and three steals to raise his NBA-leading total to 226.
Jalen Wilson finished with 20 points for the Nets. Tosan Evbuomwan added 18 points and six rebounds.
The Hawks never trailed and led 69-45 at halftime behind 23 points from Risacher.
BUCKS 136, PELICANS 111
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 28 points and 11 rebounds as Milwaukee extended their winning streak to six games with a victory over New Orleans.
Kevin Porter Jr. had 20 points and seven assists, Kyle Kuzma and Gary Trent Jr. each scored 17 points, Bobby Portis added 14 and Ryan Rollins finished with 12 for the Bucks.
Milwaukee moves on to an important two-game, regular-season ending series against the Detroit Pistons on Friday and Sunday.
Lester Quinones scored 21 points and Jamal Cain and Keion Brooks Jr. each had 20 as the Pelicans dropped their fifth straight game. Antonio Reeves scored 16 while Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Karlo Matkovic contributed 15 points and 10 rebounds apiece.
TIMBERWOLVES 141, GRIZZLIES 125
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 44 points, including 18 during Minnesota’s franchise-record, 52-point third quarter, and they beat Memphis in a game between teams fighting to avoid the play-in tournament.
Julius Randle added 31 points and 10 rebounds for the Wolves, who broke open the game with the highest-scoring quarter in the NBA this season. Edwards was 5 for 5 in the third and Randle scored 14 points as Minnesota made 18 of 21 shots (85.7%).
Naz Reid finished with 14 points as Minnesota won its sixth in the last seven, and joined the Golden State Warriors and Grizzlies tied in the sixth through eighth spots in the Western Conference at 47-33.
Ja Morant led Memphis with 36 points, showing off a new celebration by pretending to throw a grenade into the crowd after making a 3-pointer. Desmond Bane added 28 and Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 23 as Memphis had its three-game winning streak snapped.