Mavs end Bucks’ 18-game streak despite 48 from Giannis
MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks’ 18-game winning streak ended Monday night when Seth Curry and Kristaps Porzingis each scored 26 points to help the Dallas Mavericks hang on for a 120-116 victory even without star guard Luka Dončić.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 48 points and 14 rebounds, but got little support as Milwaukee lost for the first time since a 103-100 setback at Utah on Nov 8.
The winning streak was their longest since a franchise-record 20 consecutive victories by the 1970-71 championship team that featured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, then known as Lew Alcindor, and Oscar Robertson.
Dončić sat out with a sprained right ankle, while the Bucks were missing injured point guard Eric Bledsoe.
HOUSTON (AP) — Russell Westbrook scored 31 points, James Harden had 28 and Houston set a franchise record by overcoming a 25-point deficit to beat San Antonio.
The comeback eclipsed the 23-point deficit Houston faced in a 110-107 victory against Portland on Jan. 22, 1977.
Houston fell behind early as Harden shot 4 of 17 in the first half. He finished 10 for 29.
The Spurs managed just 35 points in the second half after setting a season high for first-half scoring and leading 72-53 at the break. LaMarcus Aldridge led San Antonio with 19 points and 13 rebounds.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Chris Paul hit five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and Oklahoma City erased a 26-point second-quarter deficit to rally past Chicago.
Paul took over in the fourth, going 5 for 5 from deep and scoring 19 of his 30 points. His fourth 3 of the period put Oklahoma City ahead 101-100, its first lead since the opening seconds. Paul also had nine rebounds and 10 assists.
The Bulls tied it at 106 before Steven Adams put the Thunder ahead with a free throw and Paul added two more in the final five seconds.
Zach LaVine finished with 39 points for the Bulls.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Rookie guard Ja Morant had 20 points and 10 assists to lead Memphis over Miami.
Jonas Valanciunas finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds as the Grizzlies won for the fourth time in five games.
Miami had won four of five, including three overtime victories. Jimmy Butler had 25 points and eight assists, and Tyler Herro scored 22.
Memphis scored 11 straight points to take a 115-107 lead with 2:31 left.
RAPTORS 133, CAVALIERS 113
TORONTO (AP) — Pascal Siakam scored 33 points, Kyle Lowry had 20 points and 11 assists, and Toronto topped the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers.
Norman Powell scored 26 points, Serge Ibaka had 14 and OG Anunoby added 12 as the Raptors won for the 11th time in 14 home games. The defending NBA champions have won back-to-back at home after losing three straight on their own court.
Collin Sexton scored 25 points, Darius Garland had 20 and Tristan Thompson 18 as the Cavaliers lost for the 16th time in 18 games.
Powell has scored 20 or more points in three straight games for the first time in his career. He scored 20 or more four times in 60 games last season.
DETROIT (AP) — Bradley Beal scored 15 of his 35 points in the first quarter, and Washington took control with some torrid shooting before holding off Detroit.
The Pistons played without injured stars Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond, and Washington shot 81% (17 of 21) from the field in the first quarter. The Wizards also made all three of their 3-point attempts and all six of their free throws in the opening period, building a 43-31 lead.
Isaiah Thomas returned from a calf injury and scored 23 points for Washington. Davis Bertans added 17 as the Wizards snapped a four-game losing streak.
Derrick Rose and Markieff Morris each scored 22 for Detroit.
The Wizards shot 78% (14 of 18) in the final quarter.
TRAIL BLAZERS 111, SUNS 110
PHOENIX (AP) — Damian Lillard scored 27 points, including a crucial three-point play with 26 seconds left, and Portland bounced back from a 16-point deficit in the first half to beat Phoenix.
With the Blazers trailing 110-108, Lillard drove straight through the lane and made a layup while crashing into Aron Baynes, who was called for a blocking foul. Lillard hit the free throw to make it 111-110, and Phoenix couldn’t score on its final possession as Ricky Rubio’s 3-point attempt bounced off the rim with two seconds left.
CJ McCollum led the Trail Blazers with 30 points.
Portland led for most of the fourth quarter but Phoenix pulled ahead 110-108 with 32 seconds left when Kelly Oubre Jr. converted a four-point play. Oubre scored 24 points for the Suns, who played a second straight game without star guard Devin Booker because of his right forearm injury.
Portland has won 11 straight against the Suns.
