Paul Millsap had 28 points and 15 rebounds, while five other Atlanta Hawks players scored in double figures as the Hawks stretched their franchise-record winning streak to 17 games in a row with a 113-102 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night.
Atlanta (38-8) have won 31 of 33 and lead the Eastern Conference by a commanding seven games.
This was a bit tougher than expected against the struggling Nets, who kept it close most of the way.
Photo: AFP
The Hawks pulled away in the final quarter, leading by as many as 15. Millsap finished off Brooklyn’s last run with a three-pointer from the corner with 2 minutes, 34 seconds remaining, pushing Atlanta to a 109-98 edge.
Joe Johnson led the Nets with 26 points.
It was not enough to prevent Brooklyn’s 11th loss in 13 games, a slide that has knocked the team out of the top eight in the Eastern Conference.
CAVALIERS 99, TRAIL BLAZERS 94
In Cleveland, Ohio, Kyrie Irving scored a career-high 55 points, breaking the arena record while LeBron James watched from the bench and leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to their eighth straight win.
Irving took over with James sidelined with a sprained right wrist. He buried a three-pointer with 6.4 seconds left to break a 94-94 tie, grabbed a rebound off a missed three-pointer by Portland’s Damian Lillard, and as many in the crowd chanted “M-V-P” and James danced near the bench, Irving dropped two free throws with 2.1 seconds remaining to seal the win.
Irving broke the previous scoring record at Quicken Loans Arena held by Allen Iverson. His point total was also the highest in the league this season, bettering the 52 scored by Golden State’s Klay Thompson and Minnesota’s Mo Williams. Irving made a team-record 11 three-pointers and finished 10 of 10 from the free-throw line.
LaMarcus Aldridge, playing his second game since deciding to delay thumb surgery until after the season, scored 38 to lead the Trail Blazers, who have dropped six of seven.
76ERS 89, PISTONS 69
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Robert Covington scored 19 points, while Michael Carter-Williams had 14 points and 10 assists as the Philadelphia 76ers snapped a six-game losing streak.
JaKarr Sampson had 13 points and Luc Mbah a Moute added 12 for the Sixers (9-37). Carter-Williams, back after missing the Sixers’ last game due to an upper respiratory infection, finished one rebound shy of a triple-double.
Greg Monroe led the Pistons (17-30) with 20 points, and Jodie Meeks scored 19 off the bench. Detroit shot just 2 of 20 from three-point range in a matchup of slumping squads missing their top scorers. The Pistons have lost four straight, and three since leading scorer Brandon Jennings ruptured his left Achilles in a 101-86 loss to Milwaukee on Saturday.
RAPTORS 119, KINGS 102
In Toronto, Lou Williams scored 27 points as the Toronto Raptors made a season-high 17 three-pointers in a victory over the slumping Sacramento Kings.
Greivis Vasquez scored 18 and Jonas Valanciunas had 15 for the Raptors, who won their fourth straight. It is Toronto’s longest streak since a six-game run last month.
Rudy Gay scored 22 points, Ben McLemore had 17 and DeMarcus Cousins 13 for the Kings, whose season-long losing streak reached seven games. Forward Carl Landry returned after missing the previous five games with a sprained right wrist and finished with 14 points.
In other NBA action, it was:
‧ Spurs 95, Hornets 86
‧ Nuggets 93, Pelicans 85
‧ Knicks 100, Thunder 92
‧ Rockets 99, Mavericks 94
‧ Timberwolves 110, Celtics 98
‧ Clippers 94, Jazz 89
‧ Suns 106, Wizards 98
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