UNDATED (AP) — The Brooklyn Nets continue to fade after building a 1 1/2-game lead in the NBA’s Eastern Conference.
The Nets now find themselves 2 1/2 games behind East-leading Philadelphia following their fourth straight loss, 113-109 to Dallas. Luka Doncic scored 24 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 23 to help the Mavericks complete a sweep of the two-game season series.
Dorian Finney-Smith scored 17 points as the Mavericks reached 10 games over .500 for the first time this season.
The Nets fell despite Kyrie Irving’s season-high, 45 points. Kevin Durant chipped in 20 points and nine rebounds for Brooklyn.
Checking out Thursday’s other NBA action:
— The Clippers are No. 3 in the Western Conference following a 118-94 pounding of the Lakers. Paul George led seven Clippers in double figures with 24 points and Kawhi Leonard had 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the blowout win. Kyle Kuzma dropped in a team-high 25 points for the Lakers, who played without LeBron James and received just four points from Anthony Davis on 2 of 9 shooting.
— Caris LeVert scored 31 points, including nine in the final 2:17 to push the Pacers past the Hawks, 133-126. All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis scored 30 points on 12-of-14 shooting with nine assists for Indiana. Trae Young led the Hawks with 30 points and 10 assists.
— Nikola Vucevic provided 29 points and 14 rebounds as the Bulls hammered the Hornets, 120-99. Zach LaVine returned from an 11-game absence due to the league’s health and safety protocols and scored 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting for Chicago.
— Wayne Ellington and Cory Joseph scored 18 points apiece to help the Pistons beat the Grizzlies, 111-97 and end a four-game losing streak. Memphis scored just 17 points in the second quarter and 21 in the third but trailed by just eight heading into the final period.
— The Wizards eked out a 131-129 win over the Raptors as Bradley Beal had 14 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. Russell Westbrook had 13 points, 17 rebounds and 17 assists for his league-leading 34th double of the season and 180th of his career, one behind Oscar Robertson’s all-time record. Pascal Siakam matched his career high with 44 points for the Raptors, who lost for the fifth time in six games and fell four games behind the Wizards for the 10th spot in the Eastern Conference.
— Stephen Curry scored 34 points and added seven assists as the Warriors raced past the Thunder, 118-97. Mychal Mulder chipped in 25 points in just 20 minutes off the bench, making seven 3-pointers in 13 attempts. Andrew Wiggins posted 18 points and seven rebounds as Golden State took a major step toward securing a spot in the play-in.
