NBA wrap: Spurs win a heart-stopper while Cavs’ slide continues

THE San Antonio Spurs won an overtime heart-stopper while the Cleveland Cavaliers continued their slide. It’s all in our NBA wrap.

Fans cheer as San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan is congratulated by teammates after scoring a basket, with less than one second left in the second half, to send an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans into overtime, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 95-93 in overtime. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

THE San Antonio Spurs won an overtime heart-stopper while the Cleveland Cavaliers continued their slide. It’s all in our NBA wrap.

AUSSIES IN ACTION

Patty Mills hit his first three-pointer — from his 11th attempt — in his comeback from off-season shoulder surgery.

Mills finished with seven points, three assists, two rebounds and one steal as the Spurs defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 95-93 in overtime.

Despite playing just his third game of the season, Mills was entrusted by Spurs coach Gregg Popovich to run the point for the closing stages of the fourth quarter and overtime. He responded with 28:48 solid minutes.

Matthew Dellavedova contributed 11 points, four assists and four rebounds as the Cleveland Cavaliers fell to the Milwaukee Bucks 96-80. Dellavedova started the game and played 29:37 minutes.

BUCKS 96 — CAVALIERS 80

Cleveland Cavaliers' Matthew Dellavedova (8) defends against Khris Middleton of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Brandon Knight scored 26 points and the Milwaukee Bucks led most of the way in a 96-80 win over the shorthanded Cleveland Cavaliers, who played without LeBron James for the second straight game.

James was sidelined because of a sore left knee, an injury that also forced him to miss Tuesday’s game against Atlanta. Kevin Love was out with back spasms, and the Cavaliers went on to their fourth loss in five games.

Matthew Dellavedova earned another start and posted 11 points, including three 3-pointers, grabbed 4 rebounds and dished 4 assists for the Cavs.

Kyrie Irving scored 25 points for Cleveland, and Tristan Thompson had 10 points and 13 rebounds. The Cavaliers scored seven points in the third quarter, a season low.

SPURS 95 — PELICANS 93

San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills, left, of Australia, chases the loose ball against New Orleans Pelicans guard Jimmer Fredette.

Manu Ginobili had 26 points and the San Antonio Spurs avoided their fourth overtime loss at home in December, escaping with a 95-93 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.

Ginobili had seven points in overtime, helping the Spurs (20-14) overcome an early six-point deficit in the extra period.

San Antonio star Tim Duncan had 16 points and 10 rebounds, tying Hall of Famer Karl Malone for fifth in career double-doubles with 814.

Patty Mills played 29 minutes off the bench and scored 7 points shooting 1 of 5 from beyond the arc.

Anthony Davis had 21 points and 12 rebounds for New Orleans (16-16). It was his 19th double-double of the season.

Ryan Anderson added 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Pelicans, and Tyreke Evans had 15 points. Jimmer Fredette finished with 14 points.

CLIPPERS 99 — KNICKS 78

New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, centre, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers centre DeAndre Jordan, left, and forward Matt Barnes defend.

J. J. Redick scored 20 points as the Clippers handed the Knicks a year-ending ninth consecutive loss.

DeAndre Jordan added 14 points and 12 rebounds for Los Angeles, and Blake Griffin had 13 points, seven rebounds and tied his career high with 11 assists. Jordan and Griffin scored four points apiece in a 13-0 run at the start of the third period that stretched the Clippers’ lead from 10 points to 23.

Carmelo Anthony was the only Knicks player in double figures with 19 points despite a sore right knee.

Knicks team president Phil Jackson was on hand at Staples Center, where he once guided the Lakers to repeat NBA championships. New York tied a season low for points while dropping to 2-16 on the road.

ROCKETS 102 — HORNETS 83

James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets celebrates a three-point shot during their game against the Charlotte Hornets.

James Harden scored 36 points, and the Houston Rockets bounced back from consecutive losses with a 102-83 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night.

A big run to start the third quarter put the Rockets well ahead, and Harden put it away when he scored eight straight points to push the advantage to 99-79 with 2 1/2 minutes remaining and send the starters to the bench.

The loss extends Charlotte’s skid to four games. The Hornets played without leading scorer Al Jefferson, who is out with a left groin strain.

Charlotte has dropped eight straight against Houston.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Gerald Henderson scored 16 points apiece for the Hornets.

PACERS 106 — HEAT 95

Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade, top, puts up a shot against Indiana Pacers' George Hill during the first half.

C.J. Miles scored 25 points and George Hill added 20 as the Indiana Pacers beat the Miami Heat 106-95.

The Pacers (12-21) have won six straight regular-season home games against the Heat.

Dwyane Wade led Miami (14-19) with 20 points. Chris Bosh had 18 points and eight rebounds, but the Heat lost their third straight since beating LeBron James and the Cavaliers on Christmas.

Miami appeared to be in position to end the skid after scoring the last four points of the second quarter and extending the lead to 56-46 early in the third.

But Miles and C.J. Watson combined for 10 points in a quarter-closing 17-2 run that erased a 68-61 deficit and gave the Pacers a 78-70 lead.

CELTICS 106 — KINGS 84

Boston Celtics guard Evan Turner (11) hangs from the rim after dunking against the Sacramento Kings.

Jared Sullinger had 20 points and 11 rebounds as the Celtics ended a four-game losing streak.

Kelly Olynyk added 15 points for Boston, which never trailed and avoided matching its longest losing streak this season.

Darren Collison and Carl Landry each scored 14 points to lead the Kings, who lost for the ninth time in 11 games.

Sacramento forward DeMarcus Cousins was ejected after collecting his second technical of the game midway into the final quarter. He finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Boston led by 16 after three quarters and pushed it to 92-67 when Olynyk’s 3-pointer capped a 9-0 spurt with just over seven minutes to play.

THUNDER 137 — SUNS 134 OT

Thunder forward Kevin Durant hangs from the basket after dunking in front of Marcus Morris of the Suns.

Kevin Durant scored 44 points in his return from a six-game absence and the Oklahoma City Thunder overcame Russell Westbrook’s ejection to beat the Phoenix Suns 137-134 in overtime.

Coming back from a sprained right ankle, Durant was 13 of 23 from the field and 12 for 12 at the free-throw line. He also had 10 rebounds and seven assists.

Anthony Murrow broke a tie in overtime with a four-point play, and the Thunder held on when Markieff Morris missed a potential go-ahead 3-pointer with 2.9 seconds left.

Westbrook picked up two technical fouls late in the first half. Westbrook and Suns centre Alex Len got tangled on a rebound, resulting in a brief skirmish that resulted in a flagrant foul on Len and a technical on Westbrook. After Westbrook hit two free throws, Durant and Markieff Morris were given technicals for jawing at each other.

Once play resumed, Westbrook converted a layup and was fouled, then was called for his second technical, forcing his ejection 7.8 seconds left before half-time. He had 20 points in the half.

Eric Bledsoe led the Suns with 29 points. Morris had 25 and Goran Dragic finished with 21.

Originally published as NBA wrap: Spurs win a heart-stopper while Cavs’ slide continues