(The Sports Xchange) – The Philadelphia 76ers ended their NBA-record tying 26-game losing streak with a 123-98 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday.
Guard Michael Carter-Williams and forward Thaddeus Young both scored 21 points for the 76ers (16-57), who had a 19-point lead at halftime and were up by 30 after three quarters in cruising to their first victory since Jan. 29.
Five players scored in double figures for Philadelphia, who shot 52.2 percent and limited Detroit to 38.8 percent shooting while forcing 18 turnovers.
Greg Monroe collected 20 points and 10 rebounds for Detroit (26-47).
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Clippers 118, Rockets 107
Guard Chris Paul and center DeAndre Jordan carried the short-handed Los Angeles Clippers to a 118-107 victory over the Houston Rockets.
The Clippers (52-22) lost All-Star forward Blake Griffin to injury early in the first half yet managed to extend their lead over the Rockets (49-23) in the race for the third seed in the Western Conference playoffs race.
Paul finished with 30 points and 12 assists and Jordan added 20 points and 12 rebounds.
Rockets guard James Harden had 32 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
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Heat 88, Bucks 67
Center Chris Bosh scored 14 points as the Miami Heat, resting several of their starters for much of the second half, rolled to an 88-67 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.
LeBron James was relatively quiet, making five of 10 shots to finish with 13 points. Rashard Lewis and guard Toney Douglas also scored 13 each for Miami.
John Henson notched 12 points and 10 assists while point guard Ramon Sessions had 15 to lead the Bucks.
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Spurs 96, Pelicans 80
The San Antonio Spurs defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 96-80 for their 17th successive victory, matching the franchise record set in 1995-96.
Guard Marco Belinelli led the Spurs with 18 points. Forward Kawhi Leonard and guard Manu Ginobili scored 15 each.
Guard Brian Roberts, back after missing two games with a knee injury, led New Orleans with 18 points. Guard Austin Rivers scored 16.
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Wizards 101, Hawks 97
Guard John Wall scored 25 points and forward Drew Gooden added 16 points as the Washington Wizards beat the Atlanta Hawks 101-97.
Center Marcin Gortat had 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Wizards, who moved within one game of the fifth placed Brooklyn Nets with nine games remaining and could clinch a postseason spot for the first time since 2008 if the New York Knicks lose at the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.
Guard Jeff Teague scored 19 points and forward Paul Millsap added 17 points for the Hawks.
Washington went from trailing by nine points in the third quarter to leading by 10 with 2:38 remaining in the game.
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Mavericks 103, Kings 100
The Mavericks needed a 10-0 run late in the fourth quarter to escape with a 103-100 win over the Sacramento Kings.
Kings forward Travis Outlaw had the chance to send it into overtime but his desperation three-point attempt as time expired bounced off the backboard.
Dallas are in ninth place in the Western Conference and needed a victory over the struggling Kings to remain in contention for the playoffs.
They blew a 17-point lead late in the second quarter and were trailing 89-84 with 4:05 to go before they went on their late run.
Six Dallas players scored in double-figures, led by forward Dirk Nowitzki’s 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
