Stephen Curry had 24 points as the Golden State Warriors used a smothering defensive effort in the third quarter to pound the Washington Wizards 107-76 on Monday.
The Warriors held the Wizards without a field goal for nearly 11 minutes after halftime, with Washington missing their first 15 shots. Golden State outscored the Wizards 29-8 in the quarter to take a 24-point lead.
Curry also had six assists and five rebounds as the NBA-leading Warriors (57-13) moved closer to securing the league’s top playoff seed. Golden State have a huge lead over Memphis (50-21) in the Western Conference and are pulling away from East-leading Atlanta (53-17) as well.
It was a season low in points for Washington, who have lost three in a row.
Bradley Beal scored 12 points, and John Wall finished with 11 points, five assists and five rebounds for the Wizards, who shot 33.3 percent.
CELTICS 110, NETS 91
In Boston, Evan Turner had 19 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds as the Celtics snapped a three-game losing streak that had dropped them out of playoff position.
Avery Bradley scored 20 points to lead the Celtics, who moved a half-game ahead of Charlotte for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Hornets lost 98-86 at Chicago.
Tyler Zeller and Kelly Olynyk each had 18 points for Boston, who bounced back from a 105-97 overtime loss to Detroit at home on Sunday. Coach Brad Stevens said he felt his players tightened up in that game, but they had a mostly stress-free second half on Monday after quickly pulling away in the third quarter.
Brook Lopez scored 31 points for the Nets, who had won two in a row to give themselves renewed playoff hopes. However, they endured bad nights all over the roster, from Joe Johnson (three for 11) to Jarrett Jack (one for nine) to Alan Anderson (two for nine).
ROCKETS 110, PACERS 100
In Indianapolis, Indiana, James Harden scored 19 of his 44 points in the fourth quarter as the Rockets handed the Pacers their sixth straight loss.
Josh Smith added 18 points for the Rockets (47-23), who have won four of five.
Indiana’s sinking playoff hopes took another big hit despite 23 points from C.J. Watson. George Hill had 20 points for the Pacers (30-40).
Harden, one of the favorites for the NBA MVP award, was 10 of 21 from the field and 21 for 22 from the free-throw line. He also had seven assists and four rebounds.
BULLS 98, HORNETS 86
In Chicago, Nikola Mirotic scored 14 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter as the Bulls clinched a playoff spot.
Pau Gasol had 27 points and 12 rebounds as Chicago moved into a tie with Toronto for third place in the Eastern Conference. Jimmy Butler added 19 points in his return to the lineup after missing 11 games with a sprained left elbow.
The Bulls played without center Joakim Noah, who was scratched because of general soreness, but managed to bounce back from an ugly 107-91 loss at Detroit on Saturday.
Kemba Walker had 29 points and Mo Williams scored 15 for the Hornets, who were without Cody Zeller (right shoulder) and shot just 34.6 percent from the field.
Charlotte have lost four of five to fall out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Hornets are a half-game back of Boston, who beat Brooklyn 110-91 on Monday night.
GRIZZLIES 103, KNICKS 82
In New York, Zach Randolph scored 23 points and Marc Gasol had 21 as the Memphis Grizzlies secured a playoff spot with the road win.
The Grizzlies (50-21) shot 52 percent from the field in their third consecutive victory. Vince Carter added 14 points, Jeff Green scored 12 and Kosta Koufos had 10.
New York (14-57) have dropped four in a row and 11 of 13. Langston Galloway scored 19 points, Andrea Bargnani had 18 and reserve Jason Smith finished with 16.
The Knicks grabbed their first lead of the game on Galloway’s three-pointer with 10 minutes and 31 seconds left in the third, but the Grizzlies closed the period with an 18-5 run. Randolph’s driving layup gave Memphis a 74-61 lead heading into the fourth period.
TIMBERWOLVES 106, JAZZ 104
In Salt Lake City, Utah, Rookie guard Zach LaVine scored 27 points, including two three-pointers to force overtime, as Minnesota rallied past Utah.
LaVine’s clutch shots in the fourth quarter set up a 6-1 Minnesota run to start overtime that the Jazz could not overcome.
The Timberwolves won for only the third time this month.
The game featured some of the NBA’s top young stars. No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Wiggins scored 22 points and fellow rookie Sean Kilpatrick added 13 off the bench for Minnesota. Chase Budinger had 15 points, including an overtime three-pointer that gave the Timberwolves a 102-97 lead.
Second-year center Rudy Gobert had 18 points, 17 rebounds and six blocks for the Jazz. Rookie forward Joe Ingles scored a career-high 18, and Derrick Favors added 19 points and 12 boards.
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