The Associated Press
TORONTO — Fred VanVleet scored 36 points, O.G. Anunoby had 24, and the Toronto Raptors used a franchise-record 49-point first quarter to beat Denver, handing the slumping Nuggets their season-high fourth straight loss, 125-110, on Tuesday.
Nikola Jokic scored 28 points, Michael Porter Jr. had 23, and Aaron Gordon had 18 for the Western Conference-leading Nuggets, who are winless since a March 6 home victory over the Raptors.
VanVleet shot 13-for-22 and made a season-high eight of his 12 attempts from long distance as Toronto extended its home winning streak to five.
Jakob Poeltl had 12 points and 11 rebounds, Pascal Siakam scored 12 points, and Gary Trent Jr. had 11 for the Raptors, who never trailed.
Jamal Murray shot 5-for-18 and scored 14 points, and Bruce Brown added 12 for Denver.
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Cavaliers 120, Hornets 104
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Evan Mobley had 26 points, and Cleveland scored 35 points off Charlotte turnovers to beat the Hornets for the second time in three days.
Cedi Osman scored 24 points off the bench, and Caris LeVert added 22 points and seven assists for the Cavaliers, who played without All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell (sprained finger) and center Jarrett Allen (eye contusion).
Kelly Oubre Jr. had 28 points, and Terry Rozier added 22 and 10 assists for the Hornets, who have lost three straight.
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Wizards 117, Pistons 97
WASHINGTON — Bradley Beal scored 36 points, and Washington snapped its three-game losing streak.
Playing without Kyle Kuzma, the Wizards still raced out to a 22-point advantage in the first quarter, and although they’ve had issues holding those types of leads this season, the last-place Pistons represented little threat.
Killian Hayes led Detroit with 20 points.
The Pistons snapped an 11-game skid by beating Indiana on Monday, but they allowed the Wizards to shoot 68% in the first quarter — including 14 of 16 inside the arc — a night later.
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Spurs 132, Magic 114
SAN ANTONIO — Jeremy Sochan had 29 points and 10 rebounds, and San Antonio had a franchise-high 22 3-pointers and season-high 39 assists.
San Antonio center Zach Collins added 25 points, six rebounds and five assists.
The Spurs are 6-27 in 2023, but have now won four of seven.
Orlando rookie Paolo Banchero had 27 points, and Wendell Carter Jr. added 16 points.
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Lakers 123, Pelicans 108
NEW ORLEANS — Anthony Davis has 35 points and 17 rebounds, Malik Beasley hit seven 3-pointers in just the first half, and Los Angeles took a 36-point, second-quarter lead.
Beasley finished with 24 points for the Lakers, who hit 15 of their 18 3s before halftime.
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Thunder 121, Nets 107
OKLAHOMA CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points, Josh Giddey had 15 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, and Oklahoma City beat Brooklyn for its sixth win in seven games.
Lu Dort matched his season-high with 24 points.