Jaylen Brown had 33 points, 10 rebounds and five assists to help host Boston deny Detroit a franchise-record 14-game winning streak with a 117-114 victory in an NBA Cup game.
After Anfernee Simons extended Boston’s lead to 115-112 by making two free throws with 6.3 seconds on the clock, Cade Cunningham was fouled attempting a 3-pointer with 4.4 seconds remaining, but he missed the third free-throw attempt after he made the first two.
Boston’s Payton Pritchard made two free throws with 2.4 seconds left and then the Celtics came up with a steal on Detroit’s final possession.
Detroit would have set a franchise record by winning its 14th straight game. The Pistons also won 13 straight games in 1989-1990 and 2003-04. Detroit won the NBA title both seasons.
Derrick White added 27 points and seven rebounds for Boston. Pritchard made four 3-pointers and finished with 16 points. Cunningham scored a game-high 42 points and collected eight rebounds and five assists. He made 14 of 16 foul shots in the loss.
Knicks 129, Hornets 101
Jalen Brunson scored 33 points as part of New York’s efficient offense in a romp past host Charlotte.
Josh Hart poured in 22 points, Karl-Anthony Towns and Miles McBride each posted 19 and Mikal Bridges had 18 as the Knicks finished a five-game road stretch with a 3-2 mark.
The result eliminated Charlotte from NBA Cup contention. The Hornets have lost seven games in a row, hurt by Wednesday’s 41.2% shooting (35 of 85) from the field and 17 turnovers. Brandon Miller led the Hornets with 18 points.
Heat 106, Bucks 103
Tyler Herro scored 29 points and dished seven assists as Miami survived a late rally to beat visiting Milwaukee.
The Heat improved to 3-1 in NBA Cup East Group C, while the Bucks fell to 2-1. Both are still in contention to advance to the knockout rounds.
Bam Adebayo paired 17 points and 11 rebounds in Miami’s sixth consecutive win. Ryan Rollins posted 26 points and Myles Turner had 24 as Milwaukee, without Giannis Antetokounmpo for a fourth successive game due to a left groin strain, took its sixth straight loss.
Thunder 113, Timberwolves 105
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points to lead Oklahoma City to a home win over Minnesota in an NBA Cup West Group A game.
The Thunder have won 10 consecutive games and 18 of their first 19, the best 19-game start in the league since Golden State began 24-0 in 2015-16.
Anthony Edwards scored 14 of his team-high 31 points in the fourth quarter for the Timberwolves, who have lost three consecutive games. At 2-2, Minnesota is eliminated from NBA Cup contention.
Raptors 97, Pacers 95
Brandon Ingram hit a game-winning pullup jumper in the final second as Toronto defeated visiting Indiana in an NBA Cup game for their ninth straight win.
Ingram finished with 26 points and Scottie Barnes added 24 points and 10 rebounds as the Raptors finished first in the East Group A at 4-0. Immanuel Quickley scored 15 points and dished six assists for Toronto, and Ja’Kobe Walter contributed 13 points.
T.J. McConnell scored 16 points for the Pacers, who are 0-3 in the NBA Cup and have dropped three straight overall. Bennedict Mathurin added 15 points and missed a last-second 3-point attempt to end the game.
Grizzlies 133, Pelicans 128 (OT)
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 27 points, Jaylen Wells added a season-high 25 and Zach Edey contributed 21 points and 15 rebounds as Memphis recorded an overtime win at New Orleans.
Memphis’ Vince Williams Jr., forced into playing point guard because of multiple injuries at the position, had a career-best 17 assists. The Grizzlies earned their third victory in four games.
Jose Alvarado paced the Pelicans with a season-high 24 points. Saddiq Bey added 18 points and 10 boards.
Spurs 115, Trail Blazers 102
De’Aaron Fox scored 14 of his season-high 37 points in the fourth quarter and added eight assists as visiting San Antonio beat Portland.
Devin Vassell scored a season-best-tying 23 points for the Spurs, who improved to 4-1 during the absence of star big man Victor Wembanyama (calf). Deni Avdija scored a season-high 37 points to go with eight assists and six rebounds for the Trail Blazers.
The Spurs and the Nuggets, both 2-1 in West Group C play, will face off Friday in Denver with an automatic spot in the knockout round on the line. The Trail Blazers (2-2) were eliminated from the NBA Cup.
Suns 112, Kings 100
Mark Williams recorded 21 points and tied his season high with 16 rebounds, Collin Gillespie also scored 21 points and visiting Phoenix defeated Sacramento in an NBA Cup West Group A contest.
Phoenix never trailed en route to its fourth win in five games and its second in two meetings with the Kings this season. Sacramento lost for the ninth time in 11 games. The Suns and Thunder, both 3-0 in NBA Cup action, will meet on Friday at Oklahoma City with winner capturing the group.
The Kings, 0-3 in NBA Cup play, were eliminated from contention. Sacramento was led by Keegan Murray and Russell Westbrook, who each scored 19 points.
Rockets 104, Warriors 100
Reed Sheppard capped a career-best 31-point performance by sinking a key hoop with 2:58 remaining, Alperen Sengun added another in the final minute and Houston outlasted Golden State in an NBA Cup game at San Francisco.
In the season’s first rematch of Golden State’s first-round playoff upset of second-seeded Houston last April, Amen Thompson chipped in with 10 points and 14 rebounds for the Rockets, who finished Cup play with a 2-2 record in West Group C.
Houston will not advance to the Western semifinals of the Cup, nor will the Warriors, who fell for the third time in four Cup games and saw Stephen Curry limp to the locker room in the final seconds, favoring his left leg. The Warriors were led by Jimmy Butler III with 21 points.
–Field Level Media
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