CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago star Zach LaVine missed the Bulls’ game Saturday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers (where the Bulls won 101-91) because of lingering soreness in his left knee while guard Alex Caruso returned from a broken right wrist, giving the defense a big boost. Lavine missed the final three games prior to the All-Star break. The high-flying guard had platelet-rich plasma therapy, a cortisone injection and fluid drained in Los Angeles, hoping the treatment will help him get through the remainder of the season. The Bulls knew they’d have to manage the situation the rest of the way and that LaVine might miss some games. The fact that the two-time All-Star wasn’t able to play even though they had two days off did not seem to raise extra alarms for coach Billy Donovan. Caruso had not played since Jan. 21.
Elsewhere in the NBA:
— The Minnesota Timberwolves continue to be the most surprising story of the NBA season, thanks to a great series of drafts. The Timberwolves made it seven wins in their last eight games by downing the Eastern Conference-leading Heat, 113-104. Jaylen Nowell finished with 16 points for Minnesota, one more than Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards. Towns hit an 11-foot jumper with 3:53 left to give Wolves the lead for good at 102-100. Tyler Herro poured in 30 points for the Heat, who were held to 37 points in the second half. Miami’s Markieff Morris had six points and four rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench in his first game in more than four months.
— Klay Thompson scored a season-best 38 points in leading the Warriors past the defending NBA champion Bucks, 122-109. Thompson had his second 30-point performance since returning Jan. 9 from a two-year absence following knee and Achilles surgeries. Milwaukee native Jordan Poole returned to Golden State’s starting lineup and scored 30 points with five 3-pointers.
— The Raptors earned their third straight win as Pascal Siakam (see’-A’-kam) scored 33 points and Scottie Barnes had 25 in a 127-115 victory at Denver. Chris Boucher added 21 points and 13 rebounds for the Raptors, and Barnes also had 10 assists and eight rebounds. Nikola Jokic (nih-KOH’-lah YOH’-kihch) had 26 points and 10 rebounds to lead Denver.
— Jordan Clarkson poured in a career-high 45 points to overcome the absence of Rudy Gobert (goh-BEHR’) and Mike Conley and help the Jazz beat the Kings, 134-125. Clarkson set a franchise record for points as a reserve with the first 40-point game for the Jazz since he had 41 last season. He made seven 3s and was 8 of 8 from inside the arc.
— Josh Hart scored a career-high 44 points and the Trail Blazers ended a six-game skid by defeating the Wizards, 127-118. Hart also grabbed eight rebounds and dished six assists in Portland’s first win since the All-Star break.
— The Pacers’ three-game skid is over after Tyrese Haliburton had 19 points and 10 assists in a 119-108 decision over the Spurs. Pacers guard Duane Washington Jr. had 19 points, all in the first half.
