NBA: Knicks beat Wizards, Warriors thrash Spurs, Hawks beat Pacers, Nuggets overcome Clippers

Jalen Brunson scored 34 points, including a pair of crucial free throws with 13.9 seconds remaining, and the New York Knicks held off a furious Washington rally in a 112-108 win over the Wizards on Friday night.

Julius Randle had 23 points and 16 rebounds for the Knicks, who won for the sixth time in seven games. He also provided the biggest highlight of the game with his dunk with the left hand in the third quarter on Washington’s Daniel Gafford.

The Knicks went on a 14-0 run early in the quarter, and still led 105-94 with 2 minutes remaining before Washington nearly got the game back. A layup by Kyle Kuzma cut the lead to three with 27 seconds remaining, and then Randle made just one of two free throws.

Kuzma was fouled on a 3-pointer with 16 seconds remaining, but made only two of three attempts from the line. Brunson then made both of his free throws to make it 110-106.

Kuzma and Rui Hachimura missed at the other end, and two more Brunson free throws turned the game into six points with 3.5 seconds left. Kuzma then made a shot at the buzzer to finish with 40 points on the night.

Jalen Brunson. He just took over the game,” Kuzma said. He is an All-Star this year. He has been playing phenomenal basketball. You can tell from the team from last year to this year, they have more poise and patience, and they look to him, and he delivered tonight.”

Golden State Warriors 144, San Antonio Spurs 113

Jordan Poole scored 25 points, Donte DiVincenzo added 22 and the Golden State Warriors beat the San Antonio Spurs 144-113 on Friday night before an NBA-record crowd of 68,323 at the Alamodome.

The attendance broke the previous regular season record of 62,046 watching Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls play the Atlanta Hawks in the Georgia Dome on March 27, 1998.

The Spurs normally play at the AT&T Center, but have returned to their old home as the franchise celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Golden State set its season high for points, surpassing its previous record in a 143-141 double-overtime victory over Atlanta on January 2.

Klay Thompson had 16 points and Stephen Curry added 15. Tre Jones had 21 points for San Antonio. The Spurs have lost four in a row and seven of eight.

Atlanta Falcons 113, Indiana Pacers 111

John Collins hit a missed jumper with less than a second left to give the Atlanta Hawks a 113-111 win over the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.

Trae Young scored 26 points and De’Andre Hunter had 25 for the Hawks. Young was 6 of 10 from 3-point range and Hunter 6 of 9. Hunter’s six 3-pointers were a career high. The Hawks made 16 of 31 3-pointers overall. Onyeka Okongwu added 18 points and a career-high 20 rebounds for him.

Bennedict Mathurin scored 26 points and Buddy Hield had 18 points for Indiana. The short-staffed Pacers who didn’t have three starters.

Then Dejounte Murray, who had 18 points, stole the ball and scored to give the Hawks a 108-107 lead. Mathurin scored to put the Pacers ahead 109-108 with 58 seconds left. He was fouled at the basket but he missed the free throw.

Young made a 3-pointer to give the Hawks a 111-109 lead with 32 seconds remaining. Hield made two free throws to tie it at 111 with 21.5 seconds to go.

“When we take shots, we tend to play defense,” Hawks coach Nate McMillan said. ‘It was good to see some of those shots go down. Our last game (against Milwaukee) was like something went over the hoop and nothing was going to fall on anyone. Tonight those shots started falling. De’Andre turned on him and started knocking down shots and Trae too. I think our defense was really good to keep them to 22 points (in the fourth quarter).’

New Orleans Pelicans 116, Detroit Pistons 110

Jonas Valanciunas scored 13 of his 33 points in the first quarter and the new orleans pelicans they went on to beat the Detroit Pistons 116-110 on Friday night.

“JV had a monster game,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “He dominated in the post and he dominated on the backboards and we needed every point and every rebound.”

New Orleans’ CJ McCollum and Trey Murphy III each had 19 points and Naji Marshall added 17. The Pelicans played without a trio of injured players: Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Herbert Jones.

“For our team to be really successful, everyone has to eat,” Murphy said.

With key players out of the lineup, Pelicans like Murphy are taking advantage of the bigger roles.

“It helps with the growth of all our guys,” Green said. “The ability to get significant minutes pays dividends.”

Minnesota Timberwolves 121, Phoenix Suns 116

Anthony Edwards scored 31 points, D’Angelo Russell had 17 and Minnesota held off Phoenix.

Taurean Prince added 16 points off the bench and fellow backup Naz Red had 13 points for Minnesota. The Timberwolves won for the fourth time in five games and bounced back from a 135-118 loss at Detroit on Wednesday night.

Damion Lee led Phoenix with a career-high 31 points and Mikal Bridges had 24. The Suns again were without stars Chris Paul and Devin Booker, along with Cameron Johnson and backups Cameron Payne and Landry Shamet.

Deandre Ayton returned after missing two games with a left ankle sprain and had 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Oklahoma City Thunder 124, Chicago Bulls 110

Josh Giddey matched a season high with 25 points and added 10 rebounds, helping Oklahoma City beat Chicago.

Rookie Jalen Williams scored 22 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 21 for the Thunder. They have won two in a row, four of five and completed a sweep of their season series against Chicago.

Zach LaVine scored 25 points for the Bulls.

Orlando Magic 108, Utah Jazz 112

Lauri Markkanen scored 28 points and blocked Franz Wagner’s 3-pointer in the final moments as Utah edged past Orlando.

Jordan Clarkson, who scored 23 points, hit the go-ahead layup, and rookie Walker Kessler made two free throws after recovering the second of two missed free throws by Collin Sexton with 11.8 seconds left.

Markkanen switched Wagner past the 3-point line and blocked the equalizing attempt just as the shot left Wagner’s hand.

Wagner, who scored 26 points, matched his career-high of five 3-pointers, including a 28-foot off-balance runner to beat the third-quarter buzzer.

Denver Nuggets 115, Los Angeles Clippers 103

Jamal Murray scored 24 points, Michael Porter Jr. added 22 and the Denver Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Clippers 115-103 on Friday for their fifth straight victory.

The Nuggets got sole possession of the first in the Western Conference over the inactive Memphis Grizzlies despite the absence of Nikola Jokic. The match was lost due to the handling of his right wrist.

The Nuggets beat the Clippers for the second time in a week, though this one was much closer than the 31-point thrashing they dished out at Ball Arena.

At least until the fourth quarter. That’s when the Nuggets pulled away, extending a three-point lead to double figures. They scored nine straight to go up 104-92, their biggest lead of the game. Aaron Gordon hit a 3-pointer and Bruce Brown added four points. Gordon finished with 17 points.

Houston Rockets 114, Sacramento Kings 139

Domantas Sabonis posted his fourth triple-double of the season, and the Sacramento Kings defeated the Houston Rockets 139-114 on Friday for their third straight win.

Sabonis finished with 19 points, 16 assists and a career-high 15 rebounds as the Kings (23-18) moved five games over .500 for the first time since 2006.

Harrison Barnes scored 27 points and De’Aaron Fox added 24.

With 11:09 remaining, Malik Monk, Chimezie Metu, Tari Eason and Garrison Matthews were ejected. Monk and Matthews went head to head after Monk was called for a foul during a fast break.

Jalen Green scored 27 points for the Rockets (10-32), who have lost nine straight games and 14 of the last 15. Jabari Smith Jr. had 27 points and eight rebounds.