UNDATED (AP) — Stephen Curry scored 20 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter, hitting three straight 3-pointers, and the NBA-leading Golden State Warriors overcame a 13-point deficit to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 104-89.
The Warriors ran off the first 17 points of the fourth quarter to seize an 85-81 advantage, holding Cleveland to 12 consecutive empty possessions. The Warriors improved to 13-2. They have won nine straight over the Cavaliers.
In other NBA action:
— A short-handed Philadelphia 76ers team beat the Denver Nuggets 103-89 and snapped their five-game losing streak. Playing without Joel Embiid and three other regulars, the 76ers held Nikola Jokic to three points in the second half on a night when enraged Nuggets coach Michael Malone was ejected and had to be restrained by Jokic after charging onto the court as the Philadelphia took control in the third quarter. Tyrese Maxey scored 22 points and Seth Curry added 20 for the 76ers.
— Ja Morant scored 17 of his 28-points in a third-quarter rally in the Memphis Grizzlies’ 120-108 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. Dillon Brooks and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 18 points each, and Desmond Bane had 16. Brandon Clarke finished with 14 points, 10 of them in the fourth quarter.
— Jimmy Butler led the Miami Heat with 32 points as they beat the Washington Wizards 112-97. The teams will meet again Saturday night in Washington, with Miami having rolled up four straight wins. The Wizards have lost their last two.
— The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the San Antonio Spurs 115-90. Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 points and 12 rebounds, while D’Angelo Russell added 22 points, and Malik Beasley hit five of Minnesota’s season-high 21 3-pointers for all 15 of his points.
— Rudy Gay hit five 3-pointers and scored 20 points in his season debut to help the Utah Jazz beat the Toronto Raptors 119-103. Gay also had five rebounds while playing just 18 minutes. He missed Utah’s first 14 games while recovering from offseason surgery on his right heel.