Randle scores 44 points, Knicks beat slumping Hawks 123-112
UNDATED (AP) — Julius Randle scored a season-high 44 points, making a career-best seven 3-pointers and leading the New York Knicks to their third straight victory, 123-112 over the slumping Atlanta Hawks. Randle added nine rebounds and five assists in perhaps the best performance of a season that should merit All-Star consideration. The seventh-year forward scored 17 points on 7-for-8 shooting in the first quarter to send the Knicks to a fast start and ended up one point shy of his career high. RJ Barrett added 21 points and rookie Immanuel Quickley had 16 for the Knicks, who improved to 14-15 and can reach .500 with a victory over Orlando on Wednesday.
In other action:
— Stephen Curry scored 36 points in three quarters and the Golden State Warriors routed the Cleveland Cavaliers 129-98. Draymond Green tied his career high with 16 assists as the Warriors got double-figure scoring from six players and sent the Cavaliers to their eighth straight loss. Collin Sexton led the Cavaliers with 23 points. Cleveland shot 38.9% from the floor and was winless on its five-game road trip.
— Kyrie Irving scored a season-high 40 points, James Harden had his fifth triple-double with Brooklyn and the Nets beat the Sacramento Kings 136-125 as injured Kevin Durant watched from the bench. Irving went 15 of 22 and made nine of the Nets’ franchise-record 27 3-pointers, including back-to-back shots from beyond the arc to start the game and three more as part of a 23-4 run in the third quarter. It was the seventh time in 20 games with Brooklyn that Irving scored 30 or more. Harden had 29 points, 14 assists and 13 rebounds, his ninth consecutive game with a double-double. The club record is 10.
— Marcus Morris had season highs of 32 points and six 3-pointers, and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Miami Heat 125-118 for their fourth straight victory. The Clippers won without Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, who were out for the second straight night because of injuries. Jimmy Butler had 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Heat, who fell to 4-9 on the road. Ivica Zubac added 22 points for the Clippers, and Lou Williams had 18 points and 10 assists.
— Zach LaVine scored 12 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter to help Chicago force overtime, and the Bulls then pulled away from the Indiana Pacers for a 120-112 victory. Chicago had lost 10 straight against Indiana and eight straight on the road in the series. Domantas Sabonis scored 25 points and Malcolm Brogdon had 23 for the Pacers, who had won two in a row.
— Bradley Beal scored 37 points in an entertaining duel with ex-teammate John Wall, and the Wizards beat the undermanned Houston Rockets 131-119 in Wall’s return to Washington. Wall was traded in December for Russell Westbrook and a future first-round pick. He had season highs of 29 points and 11 assists for the Rockets.
— The Utah Jazz cruised to a homecourt 134-123 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-NBA
Spurs-Pistons game postponed by coronavirus-related issues
UNDATED (AP) — Tuesday’s game between the San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons has been postponed, marking the second time this month that the NBA has called off a game because of coronavirus-related issues.
The NBA announced Monday that the Spurs have someone who tested positive. That, combined with contact tracing, meant they would not have the league minimum of eight players available to begin a game.
The Spurs were without guard Quinndary Weatherspoon for Sunday’s game against Charlotte because of the league’s COVID-19 protocols. Weatherspoon had played 10 minutes on Friday in Atlanta, then was flagged by the protocols over the weekend.
NBA-CAVALIERS-DRUMMOND
AP source: Cavs to sit Andre Drummond while pursuing trade
CLEVELAND (AP) — A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press that the Cleveland Cavaliers will make center Andre Drummond inactive for upcoming games as they pursue a trade for him. Drummond did not dress for Sunday night’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers and will continue to stay on the sideline. The person who spoke to the AP says there is “nothing imminent” on the trade front. The Cavs said Sunday that Drummond was out for “rest.” The Cavs have lost seven straight games and 11 of 13. Drummond was a two-time All-Star with Detroit before he traded to Cleveland last year.
Elsewhere in the NBA:
— The Detroit Pistons say Blake Griffin will be out of the lineup while he and the organization work out a resolution on his future, a sign that the star forward’s days with the team could be numbered. Griffin, who turns 32 next month, came to Detroit in a trade during the 2017-18 season. The Pistons have made just one postseason appearance with him and have spent much of the last year overhauling their roster in earnest. Detroit is 8-19 this season, and Griffin has already missed seven games.
— Forward Anthony Davis’ injured Achilles tendon is not ruptured, and he will be reevaluated when the Los Angeles Lakers return from their road trip. Davis had an MRI exam on Monday, and he is out indefinitely. The All-NBA first-teamer left the Lakers’ game at Denver in the second quarter Sunday night with an apparent aggravation of the tendonosis that has bothered his right heel for at least two weeks.
— Parties may be part of NBA All-Star weekend next month. They just won’t include NBA All-Stars. Players taking part in All-Star weekend in Atlanta will largely have to remain in their hotels when not at the arena, the league told teams on Monday, and all players and coaches — whether part of All-Star events or not — will have to continue getting tested daily for COVID-19. The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association agreed on those rules.