Kyrie Irving sank a three-pointer as the shot clock expired with 21.9 seconds to play as the Cleveland Cavaliers held on to hand the Phoenix Suns their fifth loss in a row, 101-97 on Monday night.
Brandon Knight’s three-pointer cut Cleveland’s lead to 96-95 with 1:27 to go and, after LeBron James missed a jumper, Knight hit another three, but it was waved off because of an offensive foul against the Suns’ Tyson Chandler.
The Cavs almost turned it over on their next possession, but got the ball to Irving, who made a jumper from beyond the top of the key.
In his fourth game since returning from knee surgery, Irving also hit a 3.7m floater to put Cleveland ahead 96-92 with 1:44 to go.
Irving scored 22 points, J.R. Smith had 17 and Kevin Love added 16 for the Cavs, who ended a two-game skid. James had 14 points, only two on nought-for-three shooting in the fourth quarter.
T.J. Warren scored 23 for the Suns, who earlier in the day announced they had fired assistant coaches Mike Longabardi and Jerry Sichting.
WARRIORS 122, KINGS 103
In Oakland, California, Stephen Curry overcame a slow start to score 23 points as part of his sixth career triple-double as Golden State beat Sacramento for their 29th victory in 30 games this season.
Curry added a career-high 14 rebounds and 10 assists, while Klay Thompson scored 29 and Draymond Green had 25 points for the Warriors, who have won 33 straight regular-season home games.
Omri Casspi scored a career-high 36 points, tying Mike Bibby’s team record with nine three-pointers for Sacramento. However, the Kings still lost their 11th straight against their Northern California rivals.
The Kings were excited to have a healthy DeMarcus Cousins for the first time in three meetings with the Warriors this season, but he played less than 13 foul-plagued minutes.
SPURS 101, TIMBERWOLVES 95
In San Antonio, Kawhi Leonard had 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Boban Marjanovic also scored 17 as San Antonio remained undefeated at home by holding off Minnesota.
San Antonio joined the 1978 Portland Trail Blazers and 1986 Houston Rockets as the only Western Conference teams to open a season 18-0 at home.
The Spurs had six players in double figures and overcame coach Gregg Popovich’s early ejection. Popovich was thrown out with 1:13 remaining in the first half on two successive technical fouls following a non-call on LaMarcus Aldridge.
HORNETS 108, LAKERS 98
In Charlotte, North Carolina, Kemba Walker scored 18 of his 38 points in the fourth quarter as Charlotte defeated Los Angeles in Kobe Bryant’s final game in Charlotte against the team that drafted him — and promptly traded him — nearly 20 years ago.
Cody Zeller had 16 points and eight rebounds, and Nicolas Batum added 15 points and 11 assists for the Hornets.
Bryant, who received a taped message from Hornets owner Michael Jordan before the game, finished with 20 points on five-of-20 shooting. He had only three points in the second half, making just one of 10 shots.
Jordan did not attend, but congratulated him on an “unbelievable career” during a message that was played on the arena’s scoreboard before tip-off.
In other NBA action, it was:
‧ Bulls 104, Raptors 97
‧ Pacers 93, Hawks 87
‧ Magic 104, Pelicans 89
‧ Clippers 108, Wizards 91
‧ Nets 111, Heat 105
‧ Mavericks 103, Bucks 93
‧ Jazz 95, 76ers 91
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Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
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