Sports46 FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017

DENVER: Cleveland Cavaliers forward Channing Frye (right) fouls guard Jamal Murray as he drives to the rim in the second half of an NBA game Wednesday, March 22, 2017, in Denver. The Nuggets won 126-113.— AP Westbrook’s triple-double helps Thunder beat Philly

OKLAHOMA CITY: Russell Westbrook Denver, which also got 21 points from came off the bench to add for Milwaukee, which cruised to a victory recorded his 35th triple-double of the sea- Gary Harris and 16 from Nikola Jokic. 20 as Charlotte pulled off a fourth-quarter over Sacramento. The win moved the son with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 14 Kyrie Irving lead the Cavs with 33 points comeback to defeat Orlando. Orlando Bucks into a tie with Indiana for the sixth assists as the but James had just 18 and the two stars entered the fourth quarter with a five- spot, one game behind fifth-place Atlanta cruised to a 122-97 win over the sat out much of the fourth quarter with point lead but Frank Kaminsky came off in the tight Eastern Conference playoff on Wednesday night. Cleveland trailing by double digits. the bench to score 13 of his 18 points and race. The Bucks have been the NBA’s The Thunder have won 16 straight games Walker added eight points to help the hottest team the past three weeks, win- against Philadelphia, a run that stretches CELTICS 109, PACERS 100 Hornets outscore the Magic 32-20 in the ning 10 of 12 games. Greg Monroe had to the 2008-09 season, the franchise’s first Isaiah Thomas scored 25 points, Avery final quarter. also had 15 15 points for the Bucks, who have won in Oklahoma City. Westbrook, who made Bradley had 18 with eight rebounds and points and added 10. two straight and four of five. Mirza all six of his field-goal attempts and all six Boston beat Indiana night for its fifth win Terrence Ross led five Magic in double fig- Teletovic and Khris Middleton had 13 of his free throws, has recorded five triple- in six games. added 15 points ures with 19 points while Nikola Vucevic points each and Malcolm Brogdon had doubles against Philadelphia, his highest with eight boards and eight assists, and had 14 points and 12 rebounds. 12. Rookie Buddy Hield had 21 points total against any NBA team. He needs six Jae Crowder also scored 15 points for and Tyreke Evans added 18 for the Kings. triple-doubles in Oklahoma City’s final 11 Boston, which won for the 12th time in 13 WIZARDS 104, HAWKS 100 and Garrett Temple had 12 games to tie Oscar Robertson’s single-sea- home games. Paul George led the Pacers Bradley Beal scored 28 points and John points each. son record, set during the 1961-62 season. with 37 points and Jeff Teague had 25. Wall added all 22 of his in the second half Nik Stauskas led the 76ers with 20 points, Indiana has alternated by winning and to help Washington over Atlanta. Wall JAZZ 108, KNICKS 101 reaching the 20-point mark in consecutive losing in its last 15 games. also had 10 assists on a night he shot just scored a career-high 35 games for the first time in his career. 6 of 21 from the floor, including two points and grabbed 13 rebounds as Utah BULLS 117, PISTONS 95 assists to Beal during a late 14-2 run that rallied to defeat New York. The Jazz NUGGETS 126, CAVALIERS 113 Nikola Mirotic scored a season-high 28 helped Washington ensure victory after snapped a three-game losing streak, Wilson Chandler scored 18 points in his points as beat . Mirotic shot Atlanta had led by as many as 12 early. while the Knicks dropped their third in a return from a pulled groin and provided 12 of 15 and made 4 of 6 3-point attempts Ian Mahinmi had 10 rebounds off the row. Gobert carried the Jazz throughout stellar defense on LeBron James in to lead Chicago to an easy win after drop- bench as the Wizards used a 55-44 edge with the 7-foot-1 Frenchman scoring off Denver’s victory over Cleveland. The ping eight of 10. Jimmy Butler added 16 on the glass to overcome 40 percent pick-and-rolls, offensive put- Nuggets bounced back from consecutive points and 12 assists. Joffrey Lauvergne shooting. Tim Hardaway Jr scored 29 backs and even going full-court for a dunk heartbreaking last-second losses to filled in for suspended Robin Lopez points and Dennis Schroder had 18 to after a . The Jazz struggled on Houston with a signature win that and outplayed Andre Drummond with 17 lead the Hawks, who fell to their fifth con- offense, but Gobert connected on 13 of increased their lead to 1 1/2 games over points and seven rebounds. Rookie Paul secutive defeat. 14 shots. Gordon Hayward finished with idle Portland in the race for the final play- Zipser added a career-high 15 points. 19 points and eight rebounds for the Jazz. off spot in the West. Will Barton scored 20 BUCKS 116, KINGS 98 Kristaps Porzingis led New York with 24 points, Kenneth Faried added 17 and HORNETS 109, MAGIC 102 Greek star points, while Derrick Rose added 17 and Jamal Murray had 15 off the bench for Kemba Walker scored 22 points and had 32 points, 13 rebounds and six assists tallied 16.— AP