NBA roundup: Thunder edge Clippers in tight contest, Nuggets end Rockets' win streak

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 26 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder, the top team in the NBA Western Conference, to a narrow 103-101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, while the Denver Nuggets halted the Houston Rockets' nine-game winning run.

Despite facing challenges with his shooting, Gilgeous-Alexander successfully made all 11 of his free throw attempts, including two crucial shots in the final second that secured the win.

After squandering an early 12-point advantage, the Clippers fought back from a nine-point deficit in the third quarter, taking a three-point lead thanks to consecutive baskets from Kawhi Leonard with 4:47 left on the clock.

However, Alex Caruso hit a three-pointer with 1:54 remaining, putting Oklahoma City ahead 100-99, allowing the Thunder, who have already clinched the top seed in the West, to hold on for the victory.

Leonard recorded 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers, while James Harden contributed 17 points in a loss that hindered the Clippers' efforts to escape the play-in tournament.

In other action within the Western Conference, the Nuggets closed the gap to just one game behind the Rockets for third place with a 116-111 win in Houston.

Playing without NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic for the fourth consecutive game due to an ankle injury, the Nuggets outscored the Rockets 39-22 in the third quarter and held a 19-point lead with eight seconds remaining in that period.

The Rockets made a strong comeback, narrowing the gap to three points with Alperen Sengun's reverse layup with 21.9 seconds left.

Nevertheless, Houston was unable to complete the comeback, with the Nuggets securing the win at the free-throw line.

Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 39 points, while six of his teammates also scored in double figures. Michael Porter Jr. added 17 points, and DeAndre Jordan recorded 11 points along with 15 rebounds.

For the Rockets, Jalen Green scored 30 points, and Sengun achieved a triple-double with 17 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists.

"It can't always be pretty," Murray said. "We really locked in when we needed to."

The Cleveland Cavaliers, who are at the top of the Eastern Conference, ended a four-game losing streak with a comprehensive 120-91 win against Utah.

Jarrett Allen contributed 18 points, while Donovan Mitchell scored 16, helping to propel six Cavaliers players into double-digit scoring. Additionally, Evan Mobley recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds for Cleveland.

"It's a long season. We're going to go through some ups and downs, we're not going to play our best," Mitchell said.

"If this streak had happened in November I don't think everybody would be tripping as much. This is all part of the season. It's all part of getting better. Won tonight. We've turned the corner."

The Cavaliers enhanced their record to 57-14, securing the second-best standing in the league, trailing only the Oklahoma City team, which leads the Western Conference. They also preserved a five-game advantage over the defending champions, Boston, who triumphed over the Trail Blazers with a score of 129-116 in Portland.

A 15-0 run to open the second half lifted the Cavs ahead for good.

"We got some stops and then got in transition and made some shots. That helped," Mitchell said. "This is a great win. Now we've got to continue to take care of business."

In Portland, Jayson Tatum delivered an impressive performance, scoring 30 points along with nine rebounds and nine assists, leading the Celtics to their fifth consecutive victory despite the absence of Jaylen Brown, who missed his second game due to a right knee injury.

Although Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday were also unavailable, six players from the Celtics managed to score in double figures. Notably, Luke Kornet contributed 13 points off the bench, achieving a flawless six-for-six shooting from the field.

The Celtics made 23 three-pointers and maintained a lead throughout the second half, extending their advantage after the Trail Blazers narrowed an 18-point gap to just eight late in the third quarter.

In Detroit, rookie forward Ronald Holland, just 19 years old, came off the bench to score 26 points, guiding the Pistons to a victory over the visiting New Orleans team.

Jalen Duren supported the effort with 22 points and 12 rebounds, helping the Pistons withstand a remarkable 40-point game from CJ McCollum of New Orleans.

The Pistons are now just two wins away from achieving their first winning season since 2016, as they aim for their first playoff appearance since 2019 and their first playoff victory since 2008.

Currently, they sit sixth in the Eastern Conference, holding a four-and-a-half game lead over the Atlanta Hawks, who defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 132-119.

Meanwhile, the Miami Heat ended a 10-game losing streak by defeating the Charlotte Hornets 122-105, thanks to a stellar 42-point performance from Andrew Wiggins, who joined the team last month in the trade that sent Jimmy Butler to Golden State.

Miami remains in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, still in contention for the play-in tournament, while the Hornets, led by Nick Smith Jr.'s 19 points, have been eliminated from playoff contention.

SportsLigue