Friday around the NBA

Cavaliers 110, Hawks 108, OT

ATLANTA

LeBron James had 29 points to pass another Hall of Famer on the NBA’s all-time scoring list and the Cavaliers recovered after blowing a big first-half lead to beat the Hawks in overtime. James had 16 rebounds and nine assists, just missing a triple-double. The Cavaliers still lead Toronto, which won at Memphis, by 21/2 games in the race for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. James moved past Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson into 11th place on the NBA’s scoring list when he scored on a layup late in the third quarter. Atlanta’s Al Horford was called for goaltending on the play. The basket gave James 26,711 points. He began the night 21 points behind Robertson’s 26,710 points.

Hornets 100, 76ers 91

CHARLOTTE, N.C.

Kemba Walker had 27 points and 11 rebounds, and the Hornets defeated the 76ers, leaving them on the verge of clinching an Eastern Conference playoff spot. The Hornets (44-31) can wrap up a postseason berth for the second time in three seasons if Detroit beats Chicago on Saturday night. Walker had three 3-pointers late in the fourth quarter to seal the win. Nicolas Batum overcame a shaky start and had 19 points and seven assists for the Hornets, who have won 14 of their last 17 games and positioned themselves to potentially host a playoff series. Al Jefferson chipped in with 13 points and seven rebounds. Jerami Grant and Hollis Thompson each had 17 points, Carl Landry added 16 and Elton Brand chipped in 13 points and 11 rebounds for Philadelphia.

Knicks 105, Nets 91

NEW YORK

Langston Galloway scored 14 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter and the Knicks beat the Nets to split the season series. Derrick Williams had 16 points in place of injured starter Kristaps Porzingis as the Knicks avoided dropping the four-game series for the second straight season. Jerian Grant, also getting a start because of injury, finished with 14 points and Carmelo Anthony scored 13. Porzingis has a strained right shoulder and Jose Calderon is out with a deep thigh bruise. It’s unclear if either will play again this season. Sean Kilpatrick scored 17 points and Brook Lopez had 16 in outplaying twin brother Robin on their 28th birthday, but the Nets fell apart in the fourth quarter of their fourth straight loss.

Mavericks 98, Pistons 89

AUBURN HILLS, MICH.

Jose Barea scored 29 points and Dirk Nowitzki added 19 as the Mavericks beat the Pistons. The win moved Dallas a half-game ahead of Utah for seventh place in the Western Conference, with the Jazz playing later Friday. Even with the loss, Detroit leads eighth-place Indiana by a half-game and ninth-place Chicago by 1 1/2 games in the East. The Pistons visit the Bulls on Saturday. Marcus Morris led the Pistons with a season-high 29 points, while Andre Drummond had 12 points and 17 rebounds. Morris scored 16 points in the first quarter, but Detroit’s reserves struggled at the start of the second. Dallas put up the first 15 points of the quarter to take a 40-25 lead, forcing Stan Van Gundy to rush his starters back onto the floor.

Raptors 99, Grizzlies 95

MEMPHIS, TENN.

DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points, Kyle Lowry added 22, and Raptors held off the Grizzlies. Terrence Ross was key in the fourth quarter, scoring all 12 of his points in the final period, converting four 3-pointers in the fourth. Jonas Valanciunas had 11 points, 14 rebounds and a career-best seven blocks as the Raptors won their second straight and third in the past four. Norman Powell scored 14 for Toronto. Zach Randolph led seven Memphis players in double figures with 16 points. Jordan Farmar, Lance Stephenson and Xavier Munford each had 12 points. Tony Allen, JaMychal Green and Vince Carter had 10 apiece for the Grizzlies, who lost their fifth straight. The game featured 14 lead changes and 11 ties and neither team led by more than five points in the fourth quarter when there were four ties. Ross provided a small cushion for the Raptors with consecutive 3-pointers near the nine-minute mark. He added a third for nine straight Raptors points.

Bucks 113, Magic 110

MILWAUKEE

Jabari Parker made a driving basket with 10.1 seconds left to put Milwaukee ahead and Tyler Ennis hit two free throws that sealed the Bucks’ win over Orlando. Parker finished with 26 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo had a triple-double with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, and Greg Monroe and Khris Middleton each added 18 points as the Bucks snapped the Magic’s three-game winning streak. Evan Fournier had tied up Monroe, but Monroe — 4 inches taller than the 6-foot-7 Fournier — easily won the tip and the ball ended up in Parker’s hands. Ennis made the sixth lead change of the fourth stand with his two free throws with 3.8 seconds left. Fournier’s desperation heave from behind the arc missed. Nikola Vucevic scored 22 points on 10-of-13 shooting and Victor Oladipo added 18 for the Magic.

Associated Press