Basketball

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, two of the favorites for the NBA's MVP award, showed why in a pair of exciting games on back-to-back days in Oklahoma City. Neither emerged as a clear favorite to claim the hardware.

BOSTON (AP) — Sam Hauser started in place of Jayson Tatum and did what he and the Boston Celtics have done all season — shoot a bunch of 3-pointers and make more than their share.

TORONTO — A.J. Lawson has been living the dream this week. He had his first career NBA start on Friday, lining up for his hometown Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena. Then on Monday, Lawson had his best game as a professional basketball player.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Spencer Dinwiddie scored 28 points, and the depleted Dallas Mavericks stopped a five-game slide by edging the San Antonio Spurs 133-129 on Monday night. Klay Thompson had 26 points for Dallas in its first win since Feb. 27.

NEW YORK (AP) — LeBron James sat on the end of the Lakers' bench, wearing a red baseball cap while watching his team in the first game since his groin injury .

The Miami Heat were up by 11 over Charlotte with 6:47 left on Monday. They led by 11 over Chicago going into the fourth quarter on Saturday. They led 10 over New York midway through the fourth quarter on March 2. All at home, too.

CHICAGO (AP) — Josh Giddey had a season-high 29 points along with 10 rebounds before leaving midway through the fourth quarter with a right ankle injury, and the Chicago Bulls won their third straight game, 121-103 over the Indiana Pacers on Monday n

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Ja Morant had 29 points and 12 assists, and the Memphis Grizzlies rallied from an early 16-point deficit to beat the Phoenix Suns 120-118 on Monday night.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 35 points, 18 rebounds and eight assists, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 140-127 on Monday night.

TORONTO (AP) — Toronto native A.J. Lawson made seven 3-pointers while scoring a career-high 32 points, and he also had 12 of the Raptors' franchise-record 73 rebounds in a 119-104 victory over the Washington Wizards on Monday night.