Hawks wings clipped, win streak snapped

(The Sports Xchange) – Anthony Davis shook off a sore groin to pour in 29 points and grab 13 rebounds and Eric Gordon added 20 points as the New Orleans Pelicans snapped the Atlanta Hawks’ 19-game winning streak with a 115-100 points win.

The Pelicans (26-22) led by as many as 19 points with 4:57 left in the fourth quarter and coasted to the victory. Omer Asik contributed a season-high 17 rebounds.

The Hawks (40-9) lost for the first time since a 107-77 defeat at the hands of Milwaukee on Dec. 26. Atlanta had won 33 of 35 games — including 12 straight against Western Conference opponents.

Atlanta was led by guard Jeff Teague with 21 points.

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Cavaliers 97, 76ers 84

LeBron James had 18 points and 11 assists and Matthew Dellavedova made two big three-pointers to help the Cleveland Cavaliers win their 11th consecutive game.

The Sixers cut a 20-point deficit down to two points early in the fourth quarter. They were within five before Dellavedova sank a three-pointer with the shot clock winding down, extending the Cavs’ lead to 91-83 with 2:30 left.

Cavaliers (30-20) guard Kyrie Irving had 24 points, five rebounds and five assists, and Kevin Love grabbed 15 rebounds on a night he struggled with his shot and finished with just five points.

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 Grizzlies 102, Suns 101

 

Memphis’ Marc Gasol scored 15 points, collected eight assists and blocked a shot by Phoenix forward Markieff Morris in the final seconds as the Grizzlies beat the Suns for the seventh straight time.

Down 101-94 after a three-pointer by Phoenix’s Isaiah Thomas with 1:49 left, the Grizzlies dug in and scored the final eight points of the game to notch their seventh straight win overall. Forward Jeff Green had a big three-point play with 4.5 seconds left to provide the winning point.

Mike Conley had 23 points for the Grizzlies (36-12), while Thomas had 24 to lead the Suns (28-22).

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Hornets 92, Wizards 88

Al Jefferson had 18 points and 12 rebounds and Brian Roberts added 18 points to lead the surging Hornets, who are 11-3 since Jan. 3.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds for the Hornets (21-27), while Bradley Beal had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Wizards (31-18).

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Bucks 82, Raptors 75

Khris Middleton scored 25 points and the Bucks defeated Toronto to extend their winning streak to four games.

Middleton shot 10 for 17 from the field and grabbed nine rebounds as the Bucks (26-22) snapped the Raptors’ six-game winning streak. Forward Jared Dudley added 14 points for the Bucks, including a big three-pointer late in the fourth quarter.

DeMar DeRozan had 16 to lead the Raptors (33-16).

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 Thunder 104, Magic 97

Russell Westbrook posted 25 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists to record his second triple-double of the season and lead Oklahoma City to a victory.

The Thunder (24-24) ended a two-game losing streak despite playing without forward Kevin Durant, who is sidelined due to a sprained left big toe. Oklahoma City pulled within three games of the Phoenix Suns in the race for the Western Conference’s final playoff spot.

Orlando (15-36) lost its ninth consecutive game.