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Pistons overcame scuffle, ejections to beat Magic, 121-101

DETROIT (AP) — Alec Burks scored a season-high 32 points, Saddiq Bey added 28 and the Detroit Pistons overcame the ejection of two players after a scuffle to beat the Orlando Magic 121-101 on Wednesday night and snap a six-game losing streak.
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Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) blocks a shot attempt by Detroit Pistons guard Hamidou Diallo (6) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

DETROIT (AP) — Alec Burks scored a season-high 32 points, Saddiq Bey added 28 and the Detroit Pistons overcame the ejection of two players after a scuffle to beat the Orlando Magic 121-101 on Wednesday night and snap a six-game losing streak.

Killian Hayes and Hamadou Diallo were thrown out after the fight just before halftime. Moritz Wagner was tossed for Orlando and took a shot to the back of the head from Hayes and appeared to be briefly knocked out.

Jalen Duren finished with seven points and 18 rebounds for the Pistons, who got 76 points from their bench.

Franz Wagner had 19 points for Orlando, which lost on back-to-back nights after winning eight of nine.

With 33 seconds left in the first half, Moritz Wagner hip-checked Hayes into the Pistons bench as they chased a loose ball. With Wagner facing the players on the Detroit bench, every Orlando player in uniform raced to the spot.

Wagner was ejected for a flagrant foul, while Hayes and Hamadou Diallo were ejected for their actions in the aftermath. Hayes got back up and struck Wagner in the back of the head, knocking him into the bench.

NETS 108, HAWKS 107

ATLANTA (AP) — Kyrie Irving scored 15 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, Kevin Durant had 26 points and a season-high 16 rebounds and Brooklyn beat Atlanta for its 10th straight victory.

The winning streak is the longest in the NBA this season and the Nets’ longest since they took 10 in a row in 2005-06. The 2002-03 team also won 10 straight. The franchise record is 14, set in 2003-04 and matched in 2005-06.

Brooklyn (23-12) has won 14 of 15.

The injury-riddled Hawks (17-18) were without leading scorer Trae Young, leading rebounder Clint Capela and starting forward De’Andre Hunter. Dejounte Murray scored 24 points for Atlanta.

BULLS 119, BUCKS 113, OT

CHICAGO (AP) — DeMar DeRozan scored 42 points and Chicago rallied to beat Giannis Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee in overtime.

The Bulls trailed by 15 early in the fourth quarter, only to pull even in the closing minute of regulation. DeRozan scored 10 in overtime, Nikola Vucevic hit a 3 in the extra period and the Bulls beat one of the NBA’s best teams after losing to one of the worst — Houston — two nights earlier.

Antetokounmpo matched a season high with 45 points and set one with 20 rebounds. He also committed two turnovers in the closing seconds of regulation, and the Bucks extended their season-high losing streak to four.

PELICANS 119, TIMBERWOLVES 118

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Zion Williamson scored a career-high 43 points, capping it with New Orleans’ final 14 points in the last 2:44, and the Pelicans outlasted Minnesota for its fourth straight victory.

Anthony Edwards, who scored 27 points for Minnesota, missed a baseline fade for the win as time expired in a game in which the Wolves led most of the way, and by as many as 11 points, before losing their fourth straight.

Trey Murphy III scored 21 points, going 5 of 6 from 3, and CJ McCollum had 20 points for the Pelicans. Jonas Valanciunas had 12 points and 11 rebounds. D’Angelo Russell had 27 points for Minnesota.

KINGS 127, NUGGETS 126

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Malik Monk scored 33 points, including the tiebreaking free throw with 0.7 seconds left, and Sacramento came back from down 19 points late in the third quarter to beat Denver.

Nikola Jokic scored 40 points for Denver but missed a 3-pointer at the top of the key as time expired.

De’Aaron Fox had 31 points and 13 assists, while Domantas Sabonis returned to the lineup with 31 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. The Kings had lost three of four at home.

The Nuggets played without Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and Bruce Brown. They had their five-game winning streak snapped.

WARRIORS 112, JAZZ 107

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jordan Poole scored 26 points and converted a key layup with 1:27 left and undermanned Golden State rallied to beat Utah.

Ty Jerome hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 5:18 to play after his own steal, then made a key rebound to help set up Donte DiVincenzo’s 3 the next time down as Golden State got another big performance from the backups.

DiVincenzo scored 19 points and Jerome 17 with the Warriors completing a back-to-back minus starters Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins.

Lauri Markkanen scored 29 points and had seven 3-pointers and a season-best 16 rebounds for the Jazz.

HEAT 112, LAKERS 98

MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler scored 27 points, Bam Adebayo added 23 points and 14 rebounds and Miami beat Los Angeles to move over .500.

Tyler Herro had 18 points and nine assists for the Heat (18-17). Caleb Martin scored 13 points and Gabe Vincent added 12.

LeBron James had 27 points, nine rebounds and six assists for the Lakers, playing on the second night of a back to back. Russell Westbrook and Dennis Schroder each had 15 for the Lakers.

WIZARDS 125, SUNS 102

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rui Hachimura matched his career high with 30 points and converted a pivotal three-point play to help Washington beat Phoenix in a meeting of depleted teams.

Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle Kuzma each had 22 points for Washington as three-time Wizards All-Star Bradley Beal sat out with hamstring soreness.

Deandre Ayton scored 31 points for the Suns, who said Wednesday that All-Star guard Devin Booker will miss at least four weeks because of a left groin strain. Phoenix also is missing Cam Johnson, Cam Payne and Landry Shamet.

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More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

The Associated Press

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