Toronto Raptors (15-11, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Miami Heat (14-11, eighth in the Eastern Conference)

Miami; Monday, 7:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Toronto looks to stop its four-game skid with a win against Miami.

The Heat have gone 8-6 against Eastern Conference opponents. Miami is 7-5 in games decided by 10 or more points.

The Raptors are 13-7 against Eastern Conference opponents. Toronto ranks fourth in the league with 29.4 assists per game led by Immanuel Quickley averaging 6.2.

The 121.7 points per game the Heat score are 7.8 more points than the Raptors give up (113.9). The Raptors average 115.8 points per game, 2.4 fewer than the 118.2 the Heat allow to opponents.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jaime Jaquez Jr. is averaging 15.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and five assists for the Heat. Norman Powell is averaging 21 points, seven rebounds and three steals over the last 10 games.

Scottie Barnes is averaging 19.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.6 blocks for the Raptors. Brandon Ingram is averaging 31 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Heat: 5-5, averaging 118.9 points, 46.4 rebounds, 28.2 assists, 8.4 steals and 5.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.8 points per game.

Raptors: 4-6, averaging 107.2 points, 42.7 rebounds, 27.8 assists, 8.9 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.7 points.

INJURIES: Heat: Pelle Larsson: out (ankle).

Raptors: Jamal Shead: day to day (quad), RJ Barrett: out (knee), Immanuel Quickley: day to day (illness), Jamison Battle: day to day (ankle).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Memphis Grizzlies (11-14, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (6-19, 14th in the Western Conference)

Inglewood, California; Monday, 10:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles heads into the matchup with Memphis after losing three straight games.

The Clippers are 4-12 against Western Conference opponents. Los Angeles has a 1-6 record in one-possession games.

The Grizzlies are 10-8 in Western Conference play. Memphis ranks sixth in the Western Conference with 11.6 offensive rebounds per game led by Zach Edey averaging 3.9.

The Clippers score 111.6 points per game, 4.3 fewer points than the 115.9 the Grizzlies give up. The Grizzlies average 114.1 points per game, 2.6 fewer than the 116.7 the Clippers give up.

The teams meet for the third time this season. In the last meeting on Dec. 6 the Grizzlies won 107-98 led by 23 points from Cedric Coward, while Kawhi Leonard scored 24 points for the Clippers.

TOP PERFORMERS: James Harden is averaging 26.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 8.2 assists for the Clippers. Ivica Zubac is averaging 33.0 points over the last 10 games.

Jaren Jackson Jr. is shooting 46.4% and averaging 16.8 points for the Grizzlies. Cam Spencer is averaging 6.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Clippers: 2-8, averaging 112.6 points, 39.5 rebounds, 23.6 assists, 9.3 steals and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting 47.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.0 points per game.

Grizzlies: 7-3, averaging 118.5 points, 49.6 rebounds, 30.7 assists, 7.5 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 48.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.9 points.

INJURIES: Clippers: Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), Derrick Jones Jr.: out (knee).

Grizzlies: John Konchar: out (thumb), Scotty Pippen Jr.: out (toe), Javon Small: out (toe), Zach Edey: out (ankle), Brandon Clarke: out (knee), Ty Jerome: out (calf).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Houston Rockets (16-6, third in the Western Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (18-6, second in the Western Conference)

Denver; Monday, 9:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Denver hosts Houston looking to end its four-game home slide.

The Nuggets are 13-5 in conference games. Denver averages 125.5 points while outscoring opponents by 9.6 points per game.

The Rockets are 9-5 in Western Conference play. Houston is fifth in the NBA scoring 120.6 points per game while shooting 48.6%.

The Nuggets' 13.5 made 3-pointers per game this season are only 0.8 more made shots on average than the 12.7 per game the Rockets give up. The Rockets average 120.6 points per game, 4.7 more than the 115.9 the Nuggets give up.

The teams meet for the second time this season. In the last meeting on Nov. 22 the Nuggets won 112-109 led by 34 points from Nikola Jokic, while Reed Sheppard scored 27 points for the Rockets.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jokic is averaging 29.5 points, 12.3 rebounds and 10.9 assists for the Nuggets. Hunter Tyson is averaging 2.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Alperen Sengun is averaging 23 points, 9.4 rebounds, seven assists and 1.5 steals for the Rockets. Amen Thompson is averaging 20.0 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Nuggets: 7-3, averaging 126.7 points, 41.4 rebounds, 30.3 assists, 5.8 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 53.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.8 points per game.

Rockets: 7-3, averaging 115.7 points, 47.2 rebounds, 24.8 assists, 9.3 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 48.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.0 points.

INJURIES: Nuggets: Christian Braun: out (ankle), Aaron Gordon: out (hamstring), Julian Strawther: day to day (back).

Rockets: Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Dorian Finney-Smith: out (ankle), Tari Eason: out (oblique).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Demond Williams Jr. threw three of his four touchdown passes in the second quarter, and Washington's defense had five interceptions as the Huskies kicked off bowl season with a 38-10 victory over Boise State in the LA Bowl on Saturday night.

Denzel Boston made a 78-yard TD catch for Washington's first score before Dezmen Roebuck, Raiden Vines-Bright and Quentin Moore caught TD passes for the Huskies (9-4) in the school's fourth victory in its last five bowl games.

Coach Jedd Fisch’s Huskies had no players opt out of bowl participation from their solid Big Ten roster, and it showed in their overwhelming performance against the Mountain West champion Broncos (9-5). Washington scored 38 consecutive points after yielding a field goal on Boise State's opening drive.

Jonah Coleman rushed for 86 yards and a TD in his final game at Washington, while Boston had six catches for 125 yards in what might be the junior star’s farewell.

Washington dominated its LA Bowl debut in the fifth and possibly final edition of the postseason game created in tandem with SoFi Stadium, which opened in 2020 for the city’s two NFL teams. Bowl officials haven’t confirmed reports the game won’t be played next year.

Maddux Madsen threw two interceptions in a 51-yard first half before sitting down for the Broncos, who dropped to 0-3 in the bowl games following their three straight conference titles under coach Spencer Danielson. Madsen wore a protective boot while watching the second half of his second game back from a month's absence with a lower leg injury.

Max Cutforth did little better, throwing three more interceptions — including two on consecutive plays — before finishing with 202 yards passing and a late TD.

Boise State also lost the LA Bowl to UCLA in 2023, but made the College Football Playoff last season.

Williams passed for 214 yards while throwing four TD passes in a bowl game for the second time. Williams also did it last December in the Sun Bowl, and he finished a solid sophomore season with one dynamic throw after another.

The Huskies broke out midway through the second when Boise State’s secondary left their best receiver running alone down the middle. Boston went untouched for his 11th receiving TD and the 20th of his career, the eighth Huskies receiver to hit that mark.

Two snaps after Williams hit Roebuck for a 6-yard TD, Madsen threw an atrocious interception to Rahshawn Clark. Williams found Vines-Bright for the freshman's first TD with 1:17 left.

On Washington's first drive after halftime, Moore fought off a defender to catch a 32-yarder for the tight end's second TD in four seasons — although a spoilsport official flagged Moore for unsportsmanlike conduct when he celebrated with a powerful Gronk Spike in a bowl game hosted by tight end Rob Gronkowski.

Cutforth threw an end-zone interception to Leroy Bryant in the fourth quarter, and 295-pound edge rusher Deshawn Lynch returned another interception 57 yards on Boise State's next snap.

Takeaways

Boise State: Neither Madsen nor Cutforth looked good, and their performances raise questions about the Broncos' future under center. Madsen could return for his senior year, while Cutforth wasn't exceptional in his late-season opportunity.

Washington: The Huskies played superbly under Fisch despite getting one week to prepare for a low-stakes game 1,150 miles from Seattle with 23,269 fans in attendance. Michigan's potential interest in Fisch also clearly wasn't a distraction to a program on the rise.

Up next

Boise State: The Broncos move to the revamped Pac-12 next season with expectations of contending for a title, although their year begins with a nonconference gauntlet against Oregon and Memphis.

Washington: The Big Ten won't get any easier, but the Huskies are a fundamentally sound team. Fisch said Friday he expects this team to contend for the College Football Playoff in 2026.

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NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A.J. Staton-McCray scored 18 points and Seton Hall beat Rutgers 81-59 on Saturday night in the Garden State Hardwood Classic.

Adam Clark added 16 points for Seton Hall (10-1), which has won four straight and is off to its best start since 2011-12. Elijah Fisher and Najai Hines added 10 points apiece.

Harun Zrno scored 15 points to lead Rutgers (5-6). Dylan Grant added 12 points and six rebounds. Lino Mark had 10 points.

Seton Hall opened on an 11-0 run and built a 35-21 halftime lead. Staton-McCray scored 12 first-half points. Mark had eight to pace Rutgers, which shot 27% (6 of 22) in the first half.

Clark scored 14 points in the second half as the Pirates shot 64.5% (20 of 31).

It was the 76th meeting in the series. The Pirates have won 7 of 11 matchups since 2014. Seton Hall’s last win in the series was on Dec. 11, 2022, a 45-43 victory at Jersey

Mike’s Arena.

Seton Hall: At Providence on Friday in a Big East Conference opener.

Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights will look to end a three-game skid at home against Pennsylvania on Saturday.

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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jackson Blake scored in the shootout, and the Eastern Conference-best Carolina Hurricanes beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 on Saturday night to open a home-and-home set.

Seth Jarvis scored his 18th goal, Nikolaj Ehlers and Alexander Nikishin also scored and Shayne Gostisbehere had two assists for the Hurricanes, who have won two consecutive shootouts. Carolina has won three straight and six of eight overall.

The teams relocate to Raleigh, North Carolina, to play again Sunday night.

Bobby Brink, Trevor Zegras and Carl Grundstrom scored for the Flyers, who concluded their six-game homestand with a 2-2-2 record.

Flyers goalie Sam Ersson made the only two saves in overtime, off shots from Gostisbehere and, with about 10 seconds left, veteran Jordan Staal. Ersson finished with 18 saves.

Philadelphia missed all four attempts in the shootout before Blake beat Ersson to end it.

The Flyers had one of their best opening periods of the season. Brink made a move at the blue line and fired a shot past goalie Pyotr Kochetkov’s glove for a 1-0 lead.

Konecny made a backhand pass across the crease to a charging Zegras, who jammed the puck home to make it 2-0.

The Hurricanes tied it in the second. Midway through the period, Gostisbehere smoothly intercepted an outlet attempt, then passed to Ehlers, who unloaded a wrist shot over Ersson’s glove.

Nikishin unloaded a would-be pass toward Mark Jankowski, but the puck detoured off Philadelphia center Noah Cates’ skate and slipped past Ersson to make it 2-2.

Jarvis put Carolina ahead 3-2 with 7:34 left in the game, but Grundstrom tied it 17 seconds later on a breakaway.

The Flyers had just 18 shots against Kochetkov, who stopped 15.

The teams play at Carolina on Sunday.

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TORONTO (AP) — Connor McDavid had two goals and an assist and Tristan Jarry made 25 saves in his first game for Edmonton, helping the Oilers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3 on Saturday night.

Vasily Podkolzin also scored twice, Darnell Nurse and Zach Hyman added goals and Leon Draisaitl had three assists to reach 999 career points. Edmonton is 6-2-1 in its last nine and 15-11-6 overall.

Jarry and defenseman Spencer Stastney made their Oilers debuts. Jarry was acquired from Pittsburgh on Friday in a five-player deal that sent fellow goalie Stuart Skinner and defender Brett Kulak to the Penguins. Stastney was added in a deal with Nashville.

Steven Lorentz, Easton Cowan and Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored for Toronto. Dennis Hildeby allowed all six goals on 32 shots before getting pulled. Artur Akhtyamov — Toronto’s fifth goalie to see action 32 games into the season — made four saves in relief in his first NHL action.

Toronto lost in regulation for the first time since Nov. 28 after going 4-0-2 over its last six.

McDavid tied it at 2 in the second period with his second goal of the game when Maple Leafs defenseman Troy Stecher accidentally put the puck in his own net.

Nurse put the Oilers in front with 31 seconds left in the second. Podkolzin scored twice early in the third as Edmonton put three past Hildeby in a 2:26 span.

Oilers: At Montreal on Sunday night.

Maple Leafs: Host Chicago on Tuesday night.

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SEATTLE (AP) — Hannes Steinbach and Wesley Yates III both had 14 points to lead six Huskies in double figures, and Washington breezed to a 105-69 victory over Southern Utah on Saturday.

Steinbach made 7 of 9 shots for the Huskies (7-3), who improved to 4-1 at home. He added six rebounds. Yates made 4 of 9 from 3-point range.

Desmond Claude and Bryson Tucker each had 12 points for Washington. JJ Mandaquit hit three 3-pointers and scored 11, adding five assists. Zoom Diallo contributed 10 points, six rebounds and four assists.

Elijah Duval had 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists to pace for the Thunderbirds (4-8), now 0-7 on the road. Tanner Hayhurst had 16 points and Isaiah Cottrell added 13 points and six boards.

Claude and reserves Mandaquit and Tucker all had eight points as Washington took a commanding 53-33 lead into halftime. Mandaquit hit two 3-pointers to cap a 10-0 run in the final 2:04, doubling the Huskies' lead. The Thunderbirds did not attempt a free throw before the break, while Washington made 15 of 17.

The Huskies' lead reached 30 on a layup by Steinbach with 7:42 left to play.

Washington had only two turnovers. The Huskies turned 11 Southern Utah miscues into 18 points and had a 21-2 advantage on fast-break points.

The last time Washington scored 100 came in a 100-99 double-overtime victory over Seattle University on Dec. 17, 2023. The Huskies scored 99 in a six-point double OT win over Southern University earlier this season.

Washington: Versus Seattle U at Climate Pledge Arena on Friday.

Southern Utah: At Northern Arizona on Thursday.

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EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Jackson Shelstad scored 11 of his 21 points in the first half when Oregon took a 36-point halftime lead and cruised to a 104-62 win over UC Davis on Saturday to snap a five-game losing streak.

Takai Simpkins added 18 points, Kwame Evans Jr. had 14 points and 13 rebounds and Ege Demir scored 15 points for the Ducks, who were coming off losses to UCLA and USC in their first Big Ten games of the season.

Carl Daughtery Jr. scored 15 points for the Aggies (5-4).

The Ducks scored the first 16 points of the game and the final nine of the first half for a 52-16 lead after shooting 54%. Davis made only 4 of 27 (15%) in the half and didn’t get its first points for over six minutes until Daughtery’s bucket.

The Ducks led by as many as 49 points in the second half and reached the 100-point mark for the first time since a 106-75 win over Boise State on Nov. 9, 2019.

The Ducks, who made 10 of 21 3-pointers, finished at 61% shooting overall to the Aggies' 35%.

UC Davis is home against Seattle on Wednesday.

Oregon is home against Portland on Wednesday.

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EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Nick Martinelli scored 22 points and grabbed five rebounds as Northwestern took down Jackson State, 93-53 on Saturday.

The Wildcats (6-4, 0-2 Big Ten) snapped a three-game losing streak and Chris Collins earned his 200th career victory as Northwestern's head coach.

Martinelli's layup 44 seconds into the contest gave Northwestern the lead, and they would not trail the rest of the way. They carried a 41-24 advantage into halftime on the way to a comfortable victory.

Angelo Ciaravino scored 13 points (5-for-6 shooting) and had five rebounds and four assists in 18 minutes. Arrinten Page added 12 points (4-of-6) and hauled in seven rebounds.

The Tigers (1-9) were led by Daeshun Ruffin's 20 points. Dorian McMillian added nine points and grabbed eight rebounds.

Northwestern was dominant on the glass, grabbing 45 total rebounds to Jackson State's 29. They also scored 34 points in the paint and 19 points off fast breaks. The Wildcats shot 50% from the field and held JSU to 29%.

Collins is the second coach in school history to reach the 200-win mark, joining Dutch Lonborg (234 wins).

Jackson State faces Hampton in Atlanta on Thursday in the Chris Paul HBCU Classic.

Northwestern hosts Valparaiso on Tuesday.

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Syla Swords and Ashley Sofilkanich both had 17 points to lead five Michigan players in double-digit scoring, and the sixth-ranked Wolverines beat Akron 85-59 on Saturday.

Michigan (9-1) pulled away for good early in the second quarter, fueled by its defense. In the first half, the Wolverines forced 16 turnovers and generated 17 points off them. Michigan’s average of forcing 25.4 turnovers per game ranks eighth nationally and first in the Big Ten.

Shaena Brew led the Zips (1-8) with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting, adding four rebounds and five assists.

The Wolverines took a 48-30 halftime lead, shooting nearly 50% from the floor. Kendall Dudley hit a 3-pointer from the corner late in the first half, pushing Michigan’s lead to 20 before the break.

The Wolverines outscored Akron 50-22 in the paint, with Michigan’s production primarily coming from transition layups. Entering the game, the Wolverines averaged 13.9 steals per game. They finished Saturday's game with 13.

Michigan’s defense powered its transition offense, highlighted by Sofilkanich and Olivia Olson both reaching season-highs with four steals.

Olson finished with 16 points, while Mila Holloway had 12 and Te'yala Delfosse had 10.

The Wolverines sliced through the Zips’ defense and Akron’s delayed defensive rotations resulted in frequent fouls. The Wolverines drew 28 fouls, but made only 17 of 30 free throws — far below their team average of 70.1% from the line.

After topping the century mark in two of its last three games, the Wolverines’ 4-of-13 shooting clip from 3-point range marked its smallest margin of victory since a 72-69 loss to No. 1 UConn on Nov. 21.

Shaena Brew led the Zips (1-8) with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting, finishing with four rebounds and five assists.

Michigan: Hosts Oakland on Dec. 21.

Akron: Hosts Geneva on Tuesday.

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NEW YORK (AP) — Oziyah Sellers scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half, Zuby Ejiofor tied a career-high by blocking eight shots for the second straight game and No. 22 St. John’s survived a difficult start and pulled away for a 91-64 victory over Iona on Saturday.

Sellers made four 3s in the second half and shot 7 of 13. He had his second-best showing of the season after shooting 3 of 15 in the previous two games against Auburn and Ole Miss.

Ejiofor also had six points and 10 rebounds. Ian Jackson added 14 points in his return to the starting lineup. Joson Sanon and Bryce Hopkins each had 13 points.

St. John’s (6-3) missed 12 of its first 13 shots, but wound up shooting 51.7% and scored at least 90 points for the sixth time this season

C.J. Anthony scored 20 for Iona (8-4), which shot 38%.

It was the first meeting between the teams since coach Rick Pitino left Iona to coach St. John’s in March 2023. Pitino led Iona to a 64-22 record and two NCAA Tournament appearances in three seasons at the school before returning to the Big East.

Sanon sank two 3s in the final 84 seconds to put St. John’s up 36-26 by halftime. Iona cut the lead to 48-44 on a 3 by Anthony with 14:22 left before the Red Storm pulled away.

The Red Storm scored 10 points straight for a 58-44 lead when Sellers hit a corner 3 with 11:31 left and took a 71-50 lead on a layup by Sellers with 7:23 left.

Iona: Will visit Vermont on Dec. 20.

St. John’s: Will host DePaul in its Big East opener on Tuesday.

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CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Malik Reneau, Tre Donaldson and Ernest Udeh Jr. all turned in double-doubles and Miami beat Louisiana-Monroe 104-79 on Saturday.

Reneau had 20 points and 10 rebounds, Udeh logged 14 points and 15 rebounds and Tre Donaldson had 18 points and 11 of a program-record 29 assists for Miami (9-2), which won its fourth straight. Tru Washington added 15 points and Timotej Malovec 12.

MJ Russell had 18 points, Krystian Lewis 15, Renars Sondors 14, Dylan Diaz 12 and Lavell Brodnex 11 points and 13 rebounds for the Warhawks (3-8).

The game was tied once seven minutes in then the Hurricanes took a 49-38 lead at halftime, using their strength inside to score 42 points in the paint to overcome a 2-of-11 showing at the 3-point line.

Miami found its 3-point stroke in the second half, going 9 of 14, with Donaldson and Malovec hitting consecutive 3s early in the second half for a double-figures lead, where it would stay.

The Hurricanes shot 60% and were plus-19 on the boards.

Louisiana-Monroe opens its Sun Belt Conference season at home against South Alabama on Wednesday.

Miami is home against Florida International on Tuesday.

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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored a season-high 39 points, Paul George had 23 and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Indiana Pacers 115-105 on Friday night.

VJ Edgecombe added 22 points for the 76ers, who played without Tyrese Maxey — the NBA’s third-leading scorer (31.5 points per game) sat out with an illness.

Pascal Siakam had 20 points for the defending Eastern Conference champion Pacers, who dropped to 6-19.

Siakham’s jumper with 8:24 remaining gave Indiana a 100-95 lead, but the Pacers missed nine consecutive shots — including three 3-pointers — after that as the 76ers went on a 13-2 run. The spurt was capped with Embiid’s offensive rebound and follow basket. The 2023 MVP was fouled on the play and made the free throw to push Philadelphia's lead to 108-102.

Embiid, the seven-time All-Star who has been beset with injuries the last 1 1/2 seasons, came in averaging 18.2 points while playing in just nine of Philadelphia’s 23 contests due to left and right knee issues. However, he looked more like himself on Friday, hitting a step-back 3-pointer at the first-half buzzer to give him 14 points inn the second quarter.

Philadelphia improved to 6-4 with Embiid in the lineup.

The 76ers had four days off since losing 112-108 at home to LeBron James and the Lakers on Sunday night, giving Embiid plenty of time for rest and recovery. He was upgraded after being probable on the pregame injury report.

George, who was drafted by Indiana and played there from 2010–2017, also looked more like the nine-time All-Star that he is by finishing with a season high in points following offseason knee surgery.

Philadelphia was 33 for 43 on free throws while Indiana was 16 for 19. Indiana’s frustration with the disparity in attempts was apparent in the final minutes, as head coach Rick Carlisle received a technical foul with just over three minutes left and Siakham was assessed with one with 1:41 remaining.

Pacers: Host Washington on Sunday.

76ers: At Atlanta on Sunday night.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 24 of his 48 points in the fourth quarter, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers back from a 15-point deficit in the final period to a 130-126 victory over the Washington Wizards on Friday night.

The Cavaliers went 15 of 53 from 3-point range, with Darius Garland going 0 for 11, but Mitchell connected from long range to tie the game at 122. Then he put Cleveland ahead to stay, scoring inside with 60 seconds remaining.

With the Cavaliers still up 124-122, Washington's Marvin Bagley III rebounded a miss, but Mitchell tied him up, forcing a jump ball. The 6-foot-11 Bagley has 8 inches on Mitchell, but both players mistimed their jumps and Lonzo Ball came up with possession for Cleveland. He made two free throws with 30.9 seconds left.

Mitchell's layup with 5.9 seconds to play put the Cavaliers up by six.

Cleveland attempted 34 3-pointers in the first half. The Cavaliers didn't shoot well but were still up 62-60 after two quarters. The third period was a fiasco for Cleveland that included Ball hitting nothing but glass on a breakaway layup attempt, and Nae'Quan Tomlin fouling out with 2:24 left in the period. Tomlin accumulated his six fouls in just 10:05 of playing time.

Washington led by as many as 17 points and was up 100-85 after three.

Mitchell started the fourth with 11 points in just over 2 1/2 minutes, cutting the margin to five with a 3-pointer. He was assessed a technical foul with 5:16 to play after making a layup, and he left the game then. But he quickly returned to play a decisive role down the stretch.

Bub Carrington and CJ McCollum scored 27 points apiece for Washington, and Jamir Watkins added a career-high 15.

Cavaliers: Host Charlotte on Sunday.

Wizards: At Indiana on Sunday.

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Josh Giddey had 26 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds, Zach Collins added 16 points off the bench and the Chicago Bulls erased a 13-point, second-half deficit to beat the Charlotte Hornets 129-126 on Friday night and snap a seven-game losing streak.

Coby White had 20 points including two free throws to seal the game as all five Chicago starters finished in double figures in scoring.

Kon Knueppel had a career-high 33 points and nine assists for the Hornets, who have lost four of their last five. Miles Bridges added 32 points.

The Hornets had a chance to tie with 10 seconds left when Knueppel launched a 3-point attempt from the top of the key. Officials initially called Collins for a foul, but then overturned the call after watching the replay and awarded the Bulls the ball ruling that Collins had not made contact with Knueppel.

White was then fouled and made two free throws with 8.2 seconds left.

The Hornets led 61-51 at halftime behind 20 points from Bridges and 17 from Knueppel, as they combined to go 7 of 11 from 3-point range.

Charlotte extended its lead to 13 in the third quarter before the Bulls battled back to take a 102-99 lead with 9 minutes on a breakaway and-one layup by Isaac Okoro. With 39.1 seconds remaining, Giddey drove and scored on a shot high off the glass to extend Chicago's lead to five.

The Bulls won despite the Hornets making 16 3s on 43.2% shooting. Chicago was just 10 of 28 from beyond the arc.

Josh Green played in his first game of the season for Charlotte after offseason shoulder surgery.

Chicago: Host the Pelicans on Sunday.

Charlotte: At Cleveland on Sunday.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

DETROIT (AP) — Isaiah Stewart scored 17 points to lead a balanced scoring attack as the Detroit Pistons beat the Atlanta Hawks 142-115 on Friday night.

Detroit, which has won five of six, had seven players in double figures and 12 with at least seven points, tying an NBA record held by the 2018-2019 Bucks and 2021-22 Spurs. Cade Cunningham had 15 points and seven assists.

Jalen Johnson recorded his third straight triple-double, finishing with 19 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. It was his fifth triple-double of the season, breaking Bill Bridges' franchise record from 1969-70, and the seventh of his career, tying Mookie Blaylock's team record.

Johnson also became the fifth NBA player to have 15 straight games with at least seven points, rebounds and assists, joining Oscar Robertson, Wilt Chamberlain, Nikola Jokic and Russell Westbrook.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 22 points for Atlanta, which has lost four of five.

The Pistons led 69-60 at the half, but the margin could have been much larger if not for Alexander-Walker's 20 points. Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff used 11 players in the opening two quarters, and 10 of them scored.

Detroit took control on both ends in the third quarter, outscoring the Hawks 35-19. The Pistons shot 58.3% (14 for 24) from the field and held Atlanta to 27.3% (6 for 22). Daniels, Johnson and Okongwu were the only Hawks players to score in the quarter — the rest of the team combined to go 0 for 9.

Hawks: Visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.

Pistons: Visit the Boston Celtics on Sunday.

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AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/nba

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 36 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists as the Denver Nuggets breezed past the Sacramento Kings 136-105 on Thursday night for their franchise-record 11th straight road win.

Peyton Watson scored 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting for the Nuggets (18-6), who shot 59% from the field and completed a 4-0 trip. Cameron Johnson added 16 and Jonas Valanciunas had 15 points and six rebounds off the bench.

Jokic made 14 of 16 shots from the floor, including both his 3-pointers, and went 6 for 8 at the free-throw line. He did not play in the fourth quarter.

Jamal Murray and Tim Hardaway Jr. had 11 points apiece for Denver, which hasn't lost away from home since a 109-107 defeat at Portland on Oct. 31.

Malik Monk scored 18 points off the bench to pace the Kings (6-19), who have lost six of seven. Russell Westbrook had 17 and Maxime Raynaud finished with 15 points and nine rebounds.

The score was tied at 13 before the Nuggets went on a 24-6 run in the first quarter. Jokic shot 6 for 7 from the field and had 16 points in the first 12 minutes.

His 3-pointer with 32 seconds remaining in the second sent the Nuggets into halftime with their biggest lead to that point at 77-54. They started the third period on a 10-0 run, with eight points by Jokic, and led by 37 in the fourth.

Kings guard DeMar DeRozan moved into 23rd place on the NBA career scoring list with two free throws in the second quarter, passing Vince Carter (25,728 points).

Aaron Gordon (hamstring) sat out his ninth consecutive game for Denver, and Christian Braun (ankle sprain) missed his 13th straight.

Domantas Sabonis remained sidelined with a left knee injury for Sacramento, and Dennis Schroder sat out with left hip soreness, missing his seventh game in a row. Zach LaVine missed his third game this season with a sore right thumb.

Nuggets: Host the Houston Rockets on Monday.

Kings: At the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Tim Stützle scored twice, and the Ottawa Senators used a four-goal first period to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 6–3 on Thursday night, snapping a three-game skid.

Michael Amadio had a goal and two assists, David Perron and Drake Batherson each had a goal and an assist, and Claude Giroux also scored. Dylan Cozens finished with three assists, and Linus Ullmark made 22 saves for Ottawa, which had lost six of its past eight but has now won two straight on the road.

Boone Jenner had a goal and an assist for the Blue Jackets in his first game back after missing 14 with an upper-body injury. Dante Fabbro and Dmitri Voronkov also scored, and Zach Werenski added two assists as Columbus dropped its fourth straight.

Elvis Merzlikins was pulled after making two saves on five shots, allowing three goals for the 12th time in 13 starts. Jet Greaves stopped 21 in relief.

Perron opened the scoring at 6:58 of the first, poking in a loose rebound, and Batherson doubled the lead just over a minute later with a wrister from outside the crease. Stützle’s power-play goal with 5:05 left in the period made it 3–0 and sent Merzlikins to the bench.

Jenner cut the deficit with 1:56 remaining in the first, but Amadio restored Ottawa’s three-goal lead with 34 seconds to go.

Fabbro made it 4–2 at 3:02 of the second, and Voronkov pulled Columbus within one on a power play at 8:10. Stützle answered with his second of the night with 2:01 to go in the period, and Giroux sealed the win with an empty-netter with 1:23 remaining in the game.

Senators: At Minnesota on Saturday.

Blue Jackets: Host Las Vegas on Saturday.

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AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

WASHINGTON (AP) — Brandon Bussi stopped all three shots in a shootout to lift the Carolina Hurricanes to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Thursday night in a matchup of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference standings.

The win pulled the Hurricanes even with Washington atop the conference and Metropolitan Division. Bussi ran his record to 10-1-0. The Carolina rookie stopped Anthony Beauvillier, Dylan Strome and Sonny Milano in the shootout. Strome also failed to convert a breakaway in overtime after two Carolina players collided.

Washington has lost all four of its shootouts this season.

Seth Jarvis had the lone goal in the shootout, but it was Logan Stankoven who gave him the opportunity by scoring the tying goal with 2:15 left in regulation. Nikolaj Ehlers scored for Carolina in the second.

Connor McMichael opened the scoring for Washington in the second, and Nic Dowd put the Capitals up 2-1 with 8:28 left in the third.

Bussi has now won eight straight. Only Cam Ward, with a nine-game run in 2009, has a longer streak in franchise history.

It was an eventful third period for Dowd, who dropped the gloves with Jordan Martinook two seconds into the final stanza and then broke a 1-all tie by redirecting Rasmus Sandin’s sharp pass past Bussi.

But an attempted centering pass bounced to Stankoven in the left circle, and his shot evened the game back up.

The Hurricanes beat the Capitals in the second round of last season's playoffs. Washington entered the night with a one-point lead over Carolina atop the East.

The Capitals have scored first a league-high 23 times, going 16-4-3 in those games.

The Capitals announced earlier in the day that Ryan Leonard, who injured a shoulder last Friday at Anaheim, needs approximately three to four weeks to recover.

Hurricanes: At Philadelphia on Saturday night.

Capitals: At Winnipeg on Saturday night.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl