Big scoring games from Kyrie Irving and Jalen Green anchored the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets to respective key home wins.
Cade Cunningham dropped another double-double in Detroit's fifth win, while Stephen Curry and Golden State jumped to the no. 9 spot in the West. | Photos: Pistons, Warriors
Joining the Cleveland Cavaliers as the hottest teams in the East are the Detroit Pistons, who chalked up their fifth straight win on the same night the Golden State Warriors started their second-half playoff push on a high.
KYRIE IRVING SUSTAINS HOT FORM; CAVALIERS, PISTONS STAY HOT
- Dallas Mavericks (31-26) def. New Orleans Pelicans (13-43), 111-103: Kyrie Irving dropped 35 points, his third straight 30-point outing that padded the Mavericks' winning streak to three games in a nice victory over the Pelicans.
- Milwaukee Bucks (31-24) def. Washington Wizards (9-46), 104-101: Brook Lopez denied former teammate Khris Middleton in the endgame, as the Bucks hung on to deny the Wizards for a third straight win.
- Cleveland Cavaliers (46-10) def. New York Knicks (37-19), 142-105: Donovan Mitchell and the league-best Cavaliers stamped their class over the Knicks to rack up a league-leading 26th home win of the season.
[ALSO READ: Quickfire Donovan Mitchell sparks Cavaliers’ sixth straight win in 37-point romp of Knicks]
- Detroit Pistons (30-26) def. San Antonio Spurs (24-30), 125-110: For the first time since the 2018-2019 season, the Pistons reached the 30-win mark, on top scoring their first victory in San Antonio in a over a decade en route to fifth straight win at expense of the Spurs.
WARRIORS PICK UP WHERE THEY LEFT OFF; GRIZZLIES COMPLETE COMEBACK
- Golden State Warriors (28-27) def. Sacramento Kings (28-27), 132-105: Buddy Hield and Moses Moody registered 22 points each in a lopsided Warriors’ triumph and improved top 4-1 since trading for Jimmy Butler.
- Memphis Grizzlies (37-19) def. Orlando Magic (28-30), 105-104: Jaren Jackson Jr’s game-sealing block capped off a wild 19-point Grizzlies comeback in Orlando to stave off the Magic.
- OKC Thunder (45-10) def. Utah Jazz (13-43), 130-107: The West-leading Thunder quickly regained their winning ways behind a 23-point domination of the Jazz.
- Houston Rockets (35-21) def. Minnesota Timberwolves (31-26), 121-115: Jalen Green and Anthony Edwards went for bucket after bucket but the Rockets held down in the endgame to topple the Timberwolves.
[ALSO READ: Jalen Green shows way as Rockets survive Anthony Edwards’ 37 for short-handed Timberwolves]
- Miami Heat (26-28) def. Toronto Raptors (17-39), 120-111: Tyler Herro and the Heat wasted an early 14-point lead, but recovered in overtime to send the Raptors to a fourth straight home loss.