MILWAUKEE (AP) — James Harden scored 26 points and the Houston Rockets beat the Milwaukee Bucks 110-99 on Wednesday night for their 17th straight victory.
The Rockets passed the Boston Celtics for the longest winning streak in the NBA this season. Houston hasn’t lost since Jan. 26 at New Orleans.
Eric Gordon scored 18 points for Houston and had two momentum-swinging 3-pointers in the third quarter. Chris Paul had 16 points and 11 assists.
RAPTORS 121,
PISTONS 119, OT
DETROIT (AP) — DeMar DeRozan scored 42 points, then fed Fred VanVleet for the tiebreaking jumper from the left corner with 1.1 seconds remaining in overtime to lift Toronto past Detroit.
The Raptors became the first NBA team to clinch a playoff berth this season.
With the score tied late in overtime, Detroit’s Reggie Bullock missed from the perimeter. DeRozan pushed the ball up the court and found VanVleet open in the corner. His shot from just inside the 3-point line gave Toronto the lead. Blake Griffin had 31 points for Detroit.
CAVALIERS 113,
NUGGETS 108
DENVER (AP) — LeBron James scored 39 points, including nine down the stretch, and dished out 10 assists as Cleveland beat Denver after squandering a 16-point lead.
James made one off-balanced shot after another in the waning minutes to turn back the Nuggets, who didn’t take their first lead of the game until 8:35 remaining on a driving layup by Mason Plumlee. Jeff Green gave Cleveland the lead for good with a 3-pointer on a play set up by James after he tapped a loose ball out to him.
JAZZ 104, PACERS 84
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Rudy Gobert had 23 points and 14 rebounds, and Donovan Mitchell added 20 points and six assists in Utah’s victory over Indiana.
The Jazz improved to 15-2 over their last 17 games. Ricky Rubio gad 18 points and seven assists for Utah, and reserve Jae Crowder added 16 points.
Myles Turner led Indiana with 24 points.
LAKERS 108,
MAGIC 107
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Brook Lopez scored 27 points and hit two free throws with 0.6 seconds to play, and Los Angeles blew a nine-point lead in the final 90 seconds before rallying back to beat Orlando.
The game ended with a curious officiating decision. When the Magic inbounded the ball at midcourt after Lopez’s free throws, the Staples Center clock apparently started before anyone had touched the ball. But after video review, the officials ruled the teams must have a jump ball at center court, effectively preventing the Magic from getting a final chance to win.
BULLS 119,
GRIZZLIES 110
CHICAGO (AP) — Lauri Markkanen scored 22 points, Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn added 21 apiece and Chicago handed Memphis its 15th straight loss,
Memphis’ Dillon Brooks scored 20 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter.
