CAVALIERS 123, CELTICS 116
Betting Results:
Head to Head: Cavaliers, odds 1.961
Line: Cavaliers (+1.5), odds 1.909
Total Points: Over (233), odds 1.901
Pre-game Prediction
Cavaliers, 38.9%
Celtics, 61.1%
BOSTON (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 41 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, to help the Cleveland Cavaliers rally from 22 points down and stun the Boston Celtics 123-116 on Friday night in the final regular-season meeting of the Eastern Conference’s top two teams.
Darius Garland added 20 points and seven assists. Evan Mobley finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds for his 27th double-double to give Cleveland a split in the four-game series with the playoffs just over two months away.
Jayson Tatum finished with 46 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists. Jaylen Brown added 37 points, marking the first time Boston’s top stars both posted 30-point games this season.
The Cavaliers had all of their players available, while the Celtics played without starters Jrue Holiday (finger) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness).
It did nothing to stymie the Celtics early as they sprinted out to a 25-3 lead. But after a cold start the Cavs responded, going on a 41-22 run to get back into the game.
THUNDER 135, HAWKS 119
Betting Results:
Head to Head: Thunder, odds 1.171
Line: Thunder (-10.5), odds 1.889
Total Points: Over (246.5), odds 1.878
Pre-game Prediction
Thunder, 78.6%
Hawks, 21.4%
ATLANTA (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder continued their overwhelming dominance of the Eastern Conference by beating the Atlanta Hawks 135-119 on Friday night.
Luguentz Dort scored 20 points and led Oklahoma City's long-range assault by shooting 6 of 11 on 3-pointers. Jalen Williams also scored 20 points for the Thunder.
Oklahoma City never trailed and improved to 21-1 against the Eastern Conference. The Thunder (48-11), who have the Western Conference's top record, are 27-10 against the West.
Atlanta center Onyeka Okongwu had 23 points and 13 rebounds. Caris LeVert scored 23 points.
Trae Young added 19 points with 12 assists for the Hawks. Young shot only 5 of 14 from the field.
LAKERS 106, CLIPPERS 102
Betting Results:
Head to Head: Lakers, odds 1.814
Line: Lakers (+1.5), odds 1.917
Total Points: Under (220), odds 1.909
Pre-game Prediction
Clippers, 48.2%
Lakers, 51.8%
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic scored 31 points on his 26th birthday and LeBron James had 28 points and 13 rebounds in the Los Angeles Lakers’ fifth straight victory, 106-102 over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night.
Doncic scored 10 points in the fourth quarter of a gritty performance by the Lakers, who were missing two injured starters on the second night of a back-to-back home set. They still won their city rivalry game with strong defense and Doncic’s playmaking, finally holding on for their 11th win in 13 games.
Ivica Zubac had a season-high 27 points and 16 rebounds for the Clippers, who have lost four of five since the All-Star break. Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points, and James Harden had 18 in a 5-for-22 shooting performance, including 1-for-10 on 3-pointers.
After struggling with his shot again for three quarters, Doncic hit consecutive 3-pointers midway through the fourth to stretch the lead to 10 points.
KNICKS 114, GRIZZLIES 113
Betting Results:
Head to Head: Knicks, odds 2.158
Line: Knicks (+2.5), odds 1.889
Total Points: Under (245.5), odds 1.909
Pre-game Prediction
Knicks, 44.5%
Grizzlies, 55.5%
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — OG Anunoby made the go-ahead 3-pointer with 5.3 seconds remaining, finishing with 19 points as the New York Knicks beat the Memphis Grizzlies 114-113 on Friday night.
Anunoby’s basket came after the teams exchanged leads in the final two minutes. Memphis had the last possession, but Ja Morant’s layup attempt rolled off the front of the rim, and a tip by Santi Aldama was off the mark.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 23 points and six assists. Deuce McBride had 17 points off the bench and Mikal Bridges scored 15.
Morant had 25 points and seven assists. Desmond Bane finished with 24 points and matched his season high with 12 rebounds. Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 18 points.
The Knicks put together a short rally in the latter stages of the first half to pull even at 52-all before Memphis carried a 59-56 into the break. New York benefitted from 10 Memphis turnovers in the half, leading to 15 points.
NUGGETS 134, PISTONS 119
Betting Results:
Head to Head: Nuggets, odds 2.076
Line: Nuggets (+2.5), odds 1.881
Total Points: Over (240.5), odds 1.894
Pre-game Prediction
Nuggets, 52.8%
Pistons, 47.2%
DETROIT (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 23 points, 17 rebounds and 15 assists, Jamal Murray scored 31 points, and the Denver Nuggets ended the Detroit Pistons’ eight-game winning streak with a 134-119 win on Friday night.
Michael Porter Jr. scored 28 points and Christian Braun matched Jokic with 23 for Denver, which has won 11 of its last 13 games.
Malik Beasley had 16 points as Detroit’s sixth man, but the Pistons’ starters were outscored 113-54. Cade Cunningham finished with 11 points on 3-for-12 shooting and only had five assists and three rebounds.
The Nuggets led 107-87 going into the fourth quarter and Detroit never made a significant run, although they cut the deficit from 25 to 15 in garbage time.
