NBA Wrap: Pistons hand LeBron, Cavs 2nd straight loss

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan — Andre Drummond had 25 points and 18 rebounds and made some crucial free throws when he was fouled intentionally, helping the Detroit Pistons rally to a 104-99 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night (Wednesday Manila time).

LeBron James scored 23 of his 30 points in the first half, but the Pistons double-teamed him on a couple of big possessions down the stretch and Cleveland couldn't convert. The Cavs lost their second straight after winning eight in a row.

Drummond's free throw with 2:07 left gave the Pistons a 98-97 advantage, and Detroit was able to hold on. It was 102-99 with 13.8 seconds remaining after Reggie Jackson made two free throws for the Pistons. J.R. Smith then missed a contested 3-pointer from near the top of the key.

NUGGETS 115, PELICANS 98

NEW ORLEANS — Danilo Gallinari scored a season-high 32 points for the Nuggets and New Orleans' Anthony Davis hurt his left shoulder in the first quarter as Denver defeated the downtrodden Pelicans.

Jameer Nelson scored all 16 of his points in the last 14:10 of the game, helping Denver secure its fourth victory in five games. Will Barton added 17 points and Gary Harris 16.

Ryan Anderson scored 24 and Eric Gordon 19 for the injury-riddled Pelicans, who were able to stay within single digits most of the game before fading in the final minutes.

NETS 90, HAWKS 88

NEW YORK — Brook Lopez had 26 points and Thaddeus Young hit two free throws with 1.4 seconds left to give Brooklyn a victory over Atlanta.

After a timeout, Young knocked away Thabo Sefolosha's inbounds pass to Al Horford as time expired.

Young finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Jarrett Jack and Shane Larkin each had 14.

Horford scored 18 points for the Hawks. Paul Millsap had 17 and Kyle Korver added 13.

TIMBERWOLVES 103, HEAT 91

MIAMI — Andrew Wiggins scored 24 points and Zach LaVine added 17 as Minnesota overcame a triple-double by Miami's Hassan Whiteside to beat the Heat.

Shabazz Muhammad scored 16 and Karl-Anthony Towns had 14 points and 14 rebounds for Minnesota, which snapped a four-game slide.

Whiteside had 22 points, 14 rebounds and 10 blocks — his second triple-double — for Miami, which was outscored 41-22 in the fourth.

Luol Deng scored 20 points, Goran Dragic had 16 and Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh each scored 10 for Miami.

KNICKS 102, HORNETS 94

NEW YORK — Rookie Kristaps Porzingis scored a season-high 29 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as New York beat Charlotte.

Less than a week after he just missed beating the Hornets when his 3-pointer was ruled after the buzzer, Porzingis couldn't be denied by Charlotte defenders or the clock in the 20-year-old Latvian's biggest moment in the NBA.

The slender, 7-foot-3 forward who was thunderously booed when the Knicks drafted him with the No. 4 pick had fans chanting "Por-zing-is! Por-zing-is!" in the fourth quarter, shortly after his three-point play gave the Knicks a 93-81 lead.

Carmelo Anthony added 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks. Arron Afflalo scored 16.

Kemba Walker scored a season-high 31 points for the Hornets.

WIZARDS 115, BUCKS 86

WASHINGTON — John Wall had 19 points, nine assists and six rebounds as Washington beat Milwaukee.

Otto Porter also scored 19 to help the Wizards win by double digits for the first time this season. Washington had six players in double figures.

Milwaukee was led by Khris Middleton, who scored 14 points in the team's worst loss of the season.