Luka Doncic powers Mavericks to 127-104 win over Pacers

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Luka Doncic finished with25 points, seven rebounds and six assists just hours after his mostrecent technical foul and one-game suspension were rescinded Mondayby the NBA and led the Dallas Mavericks past the Indiana Pacers127-104.

The Mavericks snapped a four-game losing streak and remained incontention in the race for one of the final two play-in spots inthe Western Conference. Kyrie Irving added 16 points and sixassists for Dallas.

Indiana was led by Bennedict Mathurin, who scored 22 points, andAndrew Nembhard, who had 17 points, five rebounds and five assistson a night the Pacers were missing three starters and a key backup.The Pacers have lost three straight and six of eight as they movecloser to locking up a lottery pick.

Doncic had picked up his 16th technical that was rescinded onSunday in the team’s second loss to Charlotte. The technical camewith 7:51 remaining in the third quarter of a 110-104 loss whenDoncic argued a no-call after missing a shot on a drive to thebasket. Crew chief Kevin Scott said in a pool report after the gamethat Doncic used “a profanity directed at the officials in protestto a no-call that was correctly judged in postgame videoreview.”

TIMBERWOLVES 119, KINGS 115

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Jaden McDaniels scored 20 points andMinnesota spoiled Sacramento’s bid to clinch a playoff berth forthe first time since 2006, the longest playoff drought in NBAhistory.

The Timberwolves won their fourth straight and completed a sweepof a back-to-back set at Golden State and Sacramento to tie theWarriors for sixth place in the Western Conference playoffrace.

Naz Reid scored 18 points, Anthony Edwards had 17 and RudyGobert had 16 points and 16 rebounds in the win.

De’Aaron Fox scored 29 points and Domantas Sabonis added 24points and 10 rebounds for Sacramento, which shot 5 of 26 from3-point distance.

The Kings will look to clinch a playoff berth when they travelto Portland for two games, starting Wednesday.

CLIPPERS 124, BULLS 112

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nicolas Batum got all of his season-high 24points on eight 3-pointers, and Eric Gordon added 22 points as LosAngeles beat Chicago.

Kawhi Leonard scored 22 points as the Clippers rebounded from anembarrassing loss to New Orleans with 20 3-pointers in animpressive outside shooting display led by Batum.

Russell Westbrook had 12 points, 10 assists and five rebounds asLos Angeles (40-36) kept hold of fifth place in the WesternConference standings and moved a half-game behind fourth-placePhoenix.

Zach LaVine scored 23 points and Nikola Vucevic had 20 pointsand eight rebounds for the Bulls, who followed up their impressivewin over the Lakers on Sunday with a dud.

NUGGETS 116, 76ERS 111

DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic recorded his 29th triple double ofthe season and Denver beat short-handed Philadelphia in a game JoelEmbiid sat out with a sore right calf.

That scuttled the highly anticipated showdown between MVPfront-runners that many felt could have decided whether Embiid, therunner-up the last two years, denies Jokic a third consecutiveaward. With Embiid in the locker room, Jokic scored 25 points,pulled down 17 rebounds and dished out 12 assists.

Tyrese Maxey scored 23 of his 29 points in the first half as theSixers dropped their third straight.

PELICANS 124, TRAIL BLAZERS 90

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Brandon Ingram scored 29 points and NewOrleans routed short-handed Portland.

CJ McCollum, who played nine seasons with the Blazers before hewas traded to the Pelicans last season, added 17 points. JonasValanciunas finished with 10 points and 21 rebounds, and NewOrleans led by as many as 36.

Keon Johnson had 20 points off the bench for the Blazers, whohave lost nine of 10 and will, in all likelihood, miss the playoffsfor the second straight season — although they have not beenmathematically eliminated. Most of their regular starters were outwith injuries, including top scorer Damian Lillard (right calf),Jerami Grant (bruised left quad), Jusuf Nurkic (right knee) andAnfernee Simons (right foot).

SUNS 117, JAZZ 103

SAT LAKE CITY (AP) — Devin Booker scored 24 points and Phoenixreserves sparked the decisive run in a win over Utah.

Deandre Ayton had 14 points after missing four games with abruised hip. But a trio off the bench was pivotal for Phoenix:Terrence Ross had 13 points, Cameron Payne added 12 and BismackBiyombo scored 11.

The Suns (40-35) had lost four in a row on the road. But withthis victory they sit more securely in the fourth spot in theWestern Conference playoff race — which would give them home-courtadvantage in the first round.

Lauri Markkanen scored 25 points for Utah, but shot 6 for 22.Walker Kessler had 18 points and eight rebounds for the Jazz(35-40), who have lost four straight. Kessler also matched a careerhigh with seven blocks.

KNICKS 137, ROCKETS 115

NEW YORK (AP) — Immanuel Quickley scored a career-high 40 pointsand Julius Randle had 26 as New York snapped a three-game losingstreak with a win over Houston.

RJ Barrett added 19 points, Obi Toppin had 15 and Quinten Grimesscored 14 for the Knicks.

Quickley connected on 14 of 18 shots from the field and addednine assists. He started in place of Jalen Brunson, who missed hissecond straight game with a bruised right hand.

Kevin Porter Jr. led the Rockets with 26 points. Jalen Green had19 and Kenyon Martin Jr. added 18 as Houston dropped its sixthstraight game.

BUCKS 126, PISTONS 117

DETROIT (AP) — Khris Middleton scored 34 points against the teamthat drafted him and Milwaukee beat Detroit without GiannisAntetokounmpo.

Milwaukee improved to an NBA-best 54-21 despite the absences ofAntetokounmpo (knee) and Jae Crowder (calf). Goran Dragic made hisBucks debut after signing with the team on March 4, but didn’tscore in nine minutes.

Brook Lopez had 24 points and 14 rebounds, Bobby Portis added 21points and 14 rebounds, and Jevon Carter scored 22.

The Pistons got 32 points, eight rebounds and eight assists fromJaden Ivey, but lost their sixth straight game and 17th of 18. Theyare 1-13 against Central Division opponents.