Timberwolves beat Cavaliers 131-122 for 4th straight win

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Julius Randle had 28 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists to help the Minnesota Timberwolves hang on to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 131-122 on Thursday night for their fourth consecutive victory.

Anthony Edwards added 25 points, nine assists and seven rebounds while becoming the third-youngest player in NBA history to reach 10,000 career points, following LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Edwards, who is 24 years and 156 days old, hit the five-digit mark with a 13-foot fadeaway jumper midway through the fourth quarter. Only seven players ever have hit the five-digit mark before 25.

Randle scored 13 points in the third quarter as the Timberwolves built a 20-point lead while outscoring the Cavaliers 43-22 to match the team’s season high for points in any period. Jaden McDaniels had 26 points on 11-for-14 shooting, and Donte DiVincenzo went 6 for 10 from 3-point range to finish with 22 points as Minnesota fended off a late Cavaliers surge.

The Timberwolves improved to 15-5 since Thanksgiving Day, the best record in the NBA over that span. They started the game on a 17-5 run and finished with season highs in field goal shooting (51 for 89, 57%) and 3-point shooting (20 for 38, 53%) percentages.

Sam Merrill had 11 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, hitting a 3-pointer with 2:56 left for Cleveland that cut the deficit to four. Donovan Mitchell had 30 points and eight assists for the Cavaliers, who played without forward Dean Wade after he left their previous game with a bruised left knee.

PACERS 114, HORNETS 112

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Pascal Siakam scored 30 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and made a driving layup with 11.5 seconds left to lift Indiana to a win over Charlotte that snapped its 13-game skid and finally gave coach Rick Carlisle his 1,000th career win.

Carlisle had been stuck on 999 victories since his injury-depleted team beat Sacramento on Dec. 8. He improved to 1,000-891 in 24 seasons as an NBA coach.

T.J. McConnell added 23 points and eight assists, and Aaron Nesmith chipped in 16 points.

LaMelo Ball made seven 3-pointers and had 33 points and eight assists off the bench to lead the Hornets, who lost a heartbreaker at home for the second straight night.

After Siakam scored to put the Pacers in front, McConnell stole the ensuing inbounds pass. Ben Sheppard made one of two free throws, giving the Hornets the ball with 8 seconds left and a chance to tie or win.

However, the play broke down, Collin Sexton’s jump shot hit the front rim and the Hornets were unable to corral the rebound.

JAZZ 116, MAVERICKS 114

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Lauri Markkanen had 33 points and seven rebounds and Utah snapped a five-game losing streak with a victory over Dallas.

Keyonte George added 19 points and seven assists. Brice Sensabaugh scored 14 points and Kevin Love chipped in 10 points and 10 boards.

Cooper Flagg had 29 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists to lead Dallas. Klay Thompson made six 3-pointers and scored 23 points off the bench. Anthony Davis added 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Mavs.

Utah scored 25 points off 21 Dallas turnovers and outscored the Mavericks 64-46 in the paint.

Dallas scored baskets on four straight possessions, culminating in Max Christie’s 3-pointer, to take a 107-100 lead with 4:39 left. Utah then held the Mavericks without a basket for nearly four minutes and surged into the lead.

Markkanen scored three straight baskets to fuel a 12-0 run that gave the Jazz a 112-107 lead with 1:41 left. Utah scored on seven of its final nine possessions to secure the victory.