Towns makes two late three-pointers, lifts Timberwolves over Warriors

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns hit ago-ahead 3-pointer with 11 seconds to play after Kyle Andersonstole a pass by Draymond Green, and Minnesota held off GoldenState.

Jordan Poole gave Golden State the lead on a 3 with 1:28 left,moments after Towns had connected from deep. Poole had a game-high27 points.

The Warriors had a chance with 9.9 seconds left but StephenCurry couldn’t corral Poole’s errant pass, then Curry missed acontested 3 from the baseline just before the final buzzer.

Towns had 14 points and five rebounds in his second outingfollowing a 52-game absence with a strained right calf.

The Warriors had their nine-game home winning streak snapped andmissed a chance to boost their playoff positioning. A victory alsowould have clinched Sacramento’s first postseason berth since 2006.The Kings will try to end the longest playoff drought in NBAhistory Monday night at home against Minnesota.

BULLS 118, LAKERS 108

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James scored 19 points off the benchin his return from a monthlong injury absence, but Zach LaVine had32 to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 118-108 victory over the LosAngeles Lakers on Sunday.

DeMar DeRozan added 17 points for the Bulls, who easily overcameJames’ return with an impressive performance in their seventh winin nine games. LaVine hit 11 of his first 14 shots to lead anoffensive effort that snapped the Lakers’ three-game winning streakdespite the return of the NBA’s career scoring leader.

James sat out 13 games with right foot soreness, missing fourweeks during the Lakers’ run at a playoff berth.

For only the second time in his 20-year, 1,958-game NBA career,James wasn’t a starter. He came in midway through the firstquarter.

The Lakers still were without D’Angelo Russell, who missed hissecond straight game with a right hip injury. Los Angeles went 8-5in James’ absence.

CAVALIERS 108, ROCKETS 91

CLEVELAND (AP) — Jarrett Allen had 24 points and 14 rebounds,Donovan Mitchell scored 22 and Cleveland beat Houston to clinch aplayoff spot for the first time since 2018.

It’s also the first time Cleveland has made the playoffs withoutLeBron James on the roster since 1998.

The Cavaliers are closing in on locking up the No. 4 spot in theEastern Conference — and home-court advantage in the first round.They’ve won 9 of 11.

Evan Mobley added 19 points and Darius Garland had 17 forCleveland.

Jalen Green scored 30 to pace the Rockets, who have lost fivestraight.

GRIZZLIES 123, HAWKS 119

ATLANTA (AP) — Ja Morant scored 27 points in his return to theMemphis starting lineup and the Grizzlies held off Atlanta fortheir sixth consecutive win.

Desmond Bane added 25 points for Memphis, twice deliveringfourth-quarter baskets after the Hawks pulled within one.

Memphis is second in the Western Conference despite a 15-22 roadrecord. But the six-game winning streak, the NBA’s longest activestreak, includes two victories away from home.

Morant received a big cheer from the Atlanta sellout crowdduring pregame introductions. He came off the bench in his firsttwo games after serving an eight-game NBA suspension for posting avideo in which he was shown waving a gun at a Denver-area stripclub.

Trae Young led the Hawks with 28 points and 10 assists, one dayafter he was ejected for throwing the ball at an official during a143-130 win over Indiana.

CELTICS 137, SPURS 93

BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown scored 41 points and grabbed 13rebounds to lead Boston over San Antonio.

The Celtics were without star forward and leading scorer JaysonTatum, who was sidelined with a bruised left hip. But they stillmoved within 1½ games of Milwaukee for the Eastern Conference’sbest record with their seventh victory in nine games.

Malcolm Brogdon added 20 points and nine assists for Boston, andDerrick White had 19 points with eight rebounds.

Zach Collins had 21 points with seven rebounds for the Spurs,who finished an 0-4 road trip.

CAVALIERS 108, ROCKETS 91

CLEVELAND (AP) — Jarrett Allen had 24 points and 14 rebounds,Donovan Mitchell scored 22 and Cleveland beat Houston to clinch aplayoff spot for the first time since 2018.

It’s also the first time Cleveland has made the playoffs withoutLeBron James on the roster since 1998.

The Cavaliers are closing in on locking up the No. 4 spot in theEastern Conference — and home-court advantage in the first round.They’ve won 9 of 11.

Evan Mobley added 19 points and Darius Garland had 17 forCleveland.

Jalen Green scored 30 to pace the Rockets, who have lost fivestraight.

RAPTORS 114, WIZARDS 104

TORONTO (AP) — O.G. Anunoby scored 29 points, Fred VanVleet had28 and Toronto never trailed in a win over Washington.

Pascal Siakam had 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Jakob Poeltladded 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Ninth-place Toronto clinched the three-game season series withthe Wizards and maintained a three-game lead over 11th-placeWashington in the Eastern Conference standings. Both teams haveseven games remaining.

Scottie Barnes scored 13 points in his return to the startinglineup after missing two games because of a sore left wrist asToronto won for the ninth time in 10 home games.

Kristaps Porzingis scored 26 points for the short-handedWizards, who have lost four straight road games. Washington playedwithout guard Bradley Beal (left knee) for the third straight game,while forward Kyle Kuzma (right ankle) sat out for the fourthconsecutive game. Washington was also without guard Monte Morris(left groin).

HORNETS 110, MAVERICKS 104

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Charlotte Hornets overcame a 40-pointouting from Luka Doncic for their second win over Dallas in threedays, another costly blow to the Mavericks’ playoff hopes.

Gordon Hayward scored 22 points and P.J. Washington added 21points and 12 rebounds for the Hornets, who have been eliminatedfrom playoff contention.

Doncic picked up his 16th technical foul of the season in thethird quarter, meaning he will face a one-game suspension Mondaynight unless the technical is rescinded by the league office.

Kyrie Irving had 18 points for Dallas.

MAGIC 119, NETS 106

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Cole Anthony had 21 points to lead eightOrlando scorers in double figures, and the Magic overcame MikalBridges’ 44 points in a victory over Brooklyn.

Franz Wagner added 19 points and 10 rebounds for Orlando.Wendell Carter had 18 points and six rebounds, and Jalen Suggsreturned from an injury with 16 points to help the Magic win theirthird straight. Paolo Banchero finished with 11 points and ninerebounds.

Bridges came up one point short of his career high. Cam Thomasadded 18 points for the Nets, who lost for the sixth time in sevengames.

THUNDER 118, TRAIL BLAZERS 112

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 pointsand Oklahoma City beat depleted Portland.

Jalen Williams had 23 points and Isaiah Joe added 20 off thebench for the Thunder (37-38), who moved into a tie for ninth placein the Western Conference with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Shaedon Sharpe led the Trail Blazers with a career-high 29points, and Nassir Little scored a season-best 28 off the bench.The loss was Portland’s eighth in 10 games. The Blazers (32-42) arefour games back of 10th place in the West and the final spot in theplay-in tournament.

Portland was playing without four of its five regular startersas guards Damian Lillard (right calf) and Anfernee Simons (rightfoot), forward Jerami Grant (left calf) and center Jusuf Nurkic(right knee) all sat out.