Kyrie Irving matched his season high with 38 points and LeBron James added 32 to lift the Cleveland Cavaliers to their seventh straight victory on Tuesday, 103-95 over the Detroit Pistons.
The Cavs avenged a 23-point home loss to Detroit late last month. That game was part of a seven-game winning streak for the Pistons, but now Detroit are struggling to overcome the loss of Brandon Jennings, who ruptured his left Achilles tendon on Saturday and is to miss the rest of the season.
James fell to the floor near the basket during the final seconds of the third quarter and got up grimacing, apparently concerned about at least one of his wrists. He went to the bench, but only briefly. His two-handed breakaway dunk early in the fourth put Cleveland up 80-68.
Photo: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY
BUCKS 109, HEAT 102
Brandon Knight had 17 points and six assists as the Milwaukee Bucks put seven players in double figures on the way to beating the Miami Heat.
Khris Middleton also scored 17 for the Bucks, who got 15 from Jerryd Bayless, 14 from O.J. Mayo, 13 from Giannis Antetokounmpo, 12 from John Henson and 11 from Chris Dudley.
With fighters Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao watching courtside, Milwaukee beat Miami for the third time in as many meetings this season.
They moved three games clear of the Heat in the race for the No. 6 spot in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks’ bench players outscored Miami’s 44-13.
Chris Bosh had 26 points for Miami. The Heat lost Dwyane Wade in the third quarter with what the team said was a strained right hamstring.
RAPTORS 104, PACERS 91
DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points and Kyle Lowry added 19 to lead Toronto to a win over Indiana.
The Atlantic Division-leading Raptors (30-15) overcame a sluggish first quarter to pick up their third straight win. The victory also gave Toronto a franchise record for most wins before the All-Star break.
Rodney Stuckey scored 22 points, while Solomon Hill finished with 15 to lead Indiana (16-31), who have lost eight of their past nine games.
Toronto took control in the second quarter with a 20-0 run, which turned a 32-21 deficit into a 41-32 lead. Indiana spent the rest of the game playing catch-up.
In other results on Tuesday, it was:
‧ Mavericks 90, Grizzlies 109
‧ Lakers 92, Wizards 98
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