NBA roundup: Heat extend winning streak to six with dominant win over Celtics
Tyler Herro led the charge with a game-high 25 points, while Bam Adebayo added 21 as the Miami Heat secured their sixth straight victory, defeating the Boston Celtics 124-103 on Wednesday night.
Boston saw its nine-game winning streak come to an end as Miami’s hot shooting proved too much to handle. Kyle Anderson contributed 19 points off the bench, and the Heat shot an impressive 46.7% from beyond the arc, hitting 14-of-30 attempts. Seven Miami players finished in double figures.
Jaylen Brown paced the Celtics with 24 points and nine rebounds, while Derrick White and Jayson Tatum each added 16 points. Miami’s 21-point win equaled Boston’s worst loss of the season.
The Celtics were within five points at 100-95 with just under eight minutes remaining, but Miami responded with an 8-0 run to take full control. Despite Boston winning the rebounding battle 43-34, they struggled offensively, shooting just 44.8% from the field. The loss dropped their home record to 24-13.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a 33-point performance to help the Oklahoma City Thunder tie their franchise record for most wins in a season with a 119-103 victory over the Detroit Pistons. The Thunder matched their previous high of 64 wins, set during the team’s time in Seattle in the 1995-96 season.
Jalen Williams scored 23 points, while Chet Holmgren posted 22 points and 11 rebounds as Oklahoma City stretched its winning streak to 11 games.
Detroit played without key contributors Cade Cunningham (calf) and the suspended trio of Isaiah Stewart, Marcus Sasser, and Ronald Holland II. Tim Hardaway Jr. led the short-handed Pistons with 23 points.
Anthony Davis hit a clutch go-ahead floater with 3.4 seconds left, sealing a 120-118 win for the Dallas Mavericks over the Atlanta Hawks.
Trae Young had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but his contested three-pointer fell short. Young finished with 25 points and 12 assists, while Onyeka Okongwu posted 20 points and 14 rebounds. Atlanta's loss saw them fall a half-game behind the Orlando Magic for the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Davis led Dallas with 34 points and 15 rebounds, while Klay Thompson chipped in 17 points. Spencer Dinwiddie added 14 points and 10 assists as the Mavericks secured their third win in four games.
Kawhi Leonard delivered 28 points, while James Harden contributed 21 points and 10 assists, leading the Los Angeles Clippers to a 114-98 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Ivica Zubac had a strong all-around performance with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists, helping the Clippers pull into a three-way tie with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies for sixth place in the Western Conference. The Golden State Warriors remain just a half-game ahead in fifth place.
New Orleans, plagued by injuries, suffered its 11th loss in 15 games. Jose Alvarado recorded 17 points and 10 assists, while Bruce Brown added 16 points for the Pelicans.
Donovan Mitchell led the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers with 27 points in a commanding 124-105 victory over the New York Knicks.
Cleveland’s dominance was highlighted by a crucial 15-3 run that extended into the fourth quarter, with the Knicks going scoreless from the field for nearly three minutes. Jarrett Allen was highly efficient, scoring 21 points on 10-of-11 shooting.
New York got a strong effort from Karl-Anthony Towns, who recorded 25 points and 13 rebounds after sitting out the previous game. OG Anunoby added 23 points while shooting 5-of-8 from three-point range.
Jordan Poole scored 23 points, while JT Thor hit a clutch three-pointer late in the fourth quarter, helping the Washington Wizards secure a 116-111 victory over the Sacramento Kings.
Wizards rookies AJ Johnson and Bub Carrington had strong performances, with both scoring 19 points. Carrington knocked down five three-pointers, while Alex Sarr added 15 points.
Sacramento’s DeMar DeRozan finished with 29 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds, while Domantas Sabonis had 18 points, 16 rebounds, and seven assists. The Kings have now lost three straight and seven of their last eight games.
Alperen Sengun nearly recorded a triple-double with 15 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists, as the Houston Rockets cruised to a 143-105 win over the struggling Utah Jazz.
Houston, winners of 13 of their last 15 games, maintained their hold on the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Jalen Green led the scoring with 22 points, while Dillon Brooks and Jabari Smith Jr. also had strong contributions.
Utah continued its free fall with a seventh consecutive loss. Isaiah Collier was a bright spot for the Jazz, recording 22 points and 10 assists, but the team has now lost 17 of its last 18 games, holding the NBA’s worst record with five games left in the season.
Stephon Castle posted an impressive 15-point, 15-rebound, nine-assist performance, leading the San Antonio Spurs to a 113-106 upset win over the Denver Nuggets.
San Antonio saw contributions from multiple players, including Harrison Barnes with 20 points and Sandro Mamukelashvili, who recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Chris Paul added 17 points and eight assists.
Denver was without six of its top seven players, including Nikola Jokic (ankle). Russell Westbrook had a season-high 30 points and 11 rebounds, while Jalen Pickett notched his first career triple-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Tyrese Haliburton put up 22 points and 10 assists without committing a turnover, leading the Indiana Pacers to a 119-105 win over the Charlotte Hornets.
Indiana secured its eighth win in 10 games with solid contributions from Aaron Nesmith (16 points), Pascal Siakam (15), and Myles Turner (15).
Charlotte struggled once again, losing for the sixth time in seven games. Miles Bridges led the team with 18 points, while Mark Williams posted a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Seth Curry also added 16 points.
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