Hawks 113, Nets 102
Paul Millsap scored 28 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead the Atlanta Hawks to their franchise record-extending 17th consecutive victory, a 113-102 triumph over the Brooklyn Nets.
Atlanta (38-8) has now won 31 of the last 33 games and improved to 15-0 in January. The Hawks also got 20 points and 10 rebounds from center Al Horford.
Brooklyn (18-27) was led by guard Joe Johnson, who scored 26 points against his former team mates.
Cavaliers 99, Trail Blazers 94
Kyrie Irving had a career-high 55 points, the highest scoring output in the NBA this season, and the Cleveland Cavaliers won their eighth straight game despite missing LeBron James.
James sat out the game with a sprained right wrist but Irving carried the load for the Cavs (27-20) to surpass the previous NBA season-high of 52 points shared by Minnesota’s Mo Williams and Golden State’s Klay Thompson.
Portland (32-14) got 38 points from LaMarcus Aldridge in the loss.
Spurs 95, Hornets 86
The San Antonio Spurs used a 12-0 run in the fourth quarter to overcome Charlotte.
Tony Parker scored 17 points, Danny Green added 16 and San Antonio (30-17) prevailed despite nearly losing an 18-point lead before rebounding in the fourth.
Rockets 99, Mavericks 94
Dallas Mavericks center Tyson Chandler missed two free throws with 16.3 seconds remaining, stalling a failed comeback in the Houston Rockets’ win over Dallas.
Chandler went to the line in the final minute with Dallas (30-17) trailing by three, but was unable to deliver.
Monta Ellis had 33 in the defeat while Josh Smith led Houston (32-14) with 18.
Knicks 100, Thunder 92
Carmelo Anthony recorded 31 points and 10 rebounds as the New York Knicks won a third straight game at Madison Square Garden for the first time this season.
The Knicks (9-37) have claimed victories in four of their last five games overall.
Russell Westbrook poured in 40 points for Oklahoma City (23-23), who played a second straight game without injured Kevin Durant (toe).
Nuggets 93, Pelicans 85
Arron Afflalo made a three-pointer from the right wing and a critical 12-foot baseline jumper in the final 2:27 for a team-high 20 points, leading Denver Nuggets to a victory over New Orleans.
Afflalo was one of five Denver players in double figures.
Tyreke Evans had 25 points to lead New Orleans (24-22).
76ers 89, Pistons 69
Robert Covington scored 19 points and Michael Carter-Williams had 14 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Detroit Pistons for a rare win.
Philadelphia (9-37) snapped a six-game losing streak while Detroit (17-30) lost their fourth straight.
Raptors 119, Kings 102
Reserve guards Lou Williams scored 14 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter as the Toronto Raptors defeated the Sacramento Kings for their fourth win in a row.
Toronto improved to 31-15.
Rudy Gay, a former Raptors forward, scored 22 points for the Kings (16-28) whose losing streak stretched to seven games.
Timberwolves 110, Celtics 98
Kevin Martin returned to action and poured in a game-high 21 points, leading the Minnesota Timberwolves to a win over the Boston Celtics.
Martin played for the first time since fracturing his right wrist Nov. 19 against the New York Knicks.
