Pacers Pull Away For Win, NBA Roundup

INDIANAPOLIS -- George Hill has given Indiana the scoring punch it needed all season. He's also helping the Pacers' improved defense deliver the knockout punch. The combination has surging Indiana right back in the playoff chase. Hill scored a season-high 21 points Wednesday night, the defense forced 16 first-half turnovers and the Pacers pulled away for their second-biggest win of the season, 105-82 over struggling New York.

Suns 105, Magic 100

The Phoenix Suns haven't come close to playing consistent playoff basketball since parting ways with Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas at the trade deadline. If they want to eventually make it to the postseason, they will need to have more nights like they had against the Orlando Magic. Brandon Knight had 28 points and seven assists in his best game for Phoenix, and the Suns overcame a 15-point deficit to beat the Magic 105-100 on Wednesday.

Celtics 85, Jazz 84

Brad Stevens didn't think the first play would work. The second one turned out perfectly. Tyler Zeller banked in a shot from under the basket as time expired to give the Boston Celtics an 85-84 victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night. After Boston blew an eight-point lead in the final 2 1/2 minutes, the Celtics called timeout after Gordon Hayward's fallaway jumper from the right baseline with 1.7 seconds left gave Utah a one-point edge. Marcus Smart was unable to inbounds the ball and had to call timeout. Stevens went back to the drawing board. Smart then made a long inbounds pass to Zeller under the basket. He banked it off the backboard with 0.1 seconds showing on the clock. It went through the net as the buzzer sounded and was upheld after a review.

Hornets 115, Nets 91

The Charlotte Hornets didn't try to hide it: This was an important game. They couldn't have started it much better. Al Jefferson and Gerald Henderson each scored 19 points, Marvin Williams had 18 and the Hornets routed Brooklyn 115-91 on Wednesday night to move into sole possession of eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Mo Williams added 14 points and a season-high 14 assists for the Hornets, who rode a blistering start to their third straight win, breaking a tie with the Nets for the final playoff spot in the East.

Cavaliers 120, Raptors 112

LeBron James retaliated on the scoreboard after Jonas Valanciunas tackled him on a drive late in the third quarter. James scored 14 of his 29 points in the fourth and matched a season high with 14 assists and the Cleveland Cavaliers held on to beat the Toronto Raptors 120-112 on Wednesday night. Valanciunas was called for a flagrant foul 1 after he took down James on the play that drew a loud cheer from the sellout crowd of 19,800.

Grizzlies 102, Rockets 100

The Memphis Grizzlies needed a pick-me-up after dropping three of their last four games, including two straight at home. They found it in a thrilling last-second victory over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night. Marc Gasol made a jumper with 0.1 seconds left to give the Grizzlies a 102-100 victory.

Nuggets 100, Timberwolves 85

While many anticipated the Denver Nuggets to get a bounce in their step after the firing of coach Brian Shaw, Kevin Garnett was not one of them.

"To be honest, they quit on Brian Shaw and I thought they'll quit again," Garnett said. "A quitter is a quitter. That was my take on that."

Not this time. Kenneth Faried had 18 points and 14 rebounds to help the Nuggets win their second straight since Shaw's firing, 100-85 over Garnett's Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night. Will Barton scored 17 points off the bench and the Nuggets outscored Minnesota 52-28 in the paint to make interim coach Melvin Hunt 2-0 since taking over for Shaw. The Nuggets have won back-to-back games for the first time since Jan. 14.

Pelicans 88, Pistons 85

Anthony Davis was feeling great, fired up about being back on the court and not at all subtle about showing it. He struck a momentary pose with a huge smile after he'd finished a fast break with a soaring, one-handed dunk. He celebrated with a crouching fist pump after a clutch, mid-range jumper in the final minute. When it was over, Davis had piled up 39 points, 13 rebounds and eight blocks in his return from a right shoulder sprain, and the New Orleans Pelicans won for the sixth time in seven games, 88-85 over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.

Thunder 123, 76ers 118

Russell Westbrook donned a mask and played like a superhero. The All-Star Game MVP set career highs with 49 points and 16 rebounds, and added 10 assists for his fourth consecutive triple-double, helping the Oklahoma City Thunder defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 123-118 in overtime Wednesday night.

Spurs 112, Kings 85

The San Antonio Spurs are back home and beginning to show signs of returning to their old form. Kawhi Leonard had 21 points and San Antonio punctuated a return from a nearly monthlong road trip with its largest home victory of the season, 112-85 over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.

Warriors 102, Bucks 93

Stephen Curry needed just over a minute to turn a rough shooting night into a good one. Curry made three straight 3-pointers in a span of 65 seconds in the fourth quarter to help the Golden State Warriors beat the Milwaukee Bucks 102-93 on Wednesday night in their return from a season-high, six-game road trip.

Blazers 98, Clippers 93

The Portland Trail Blazers were able to overcome one of Damian Lillard's worst shooting games with a huge performance from Nicolas Batum down the stretch. Batum hit a 3-pointer that forced overtime, then set up three alley-oop baskets and added a clinching 3 in the final minute to rally the Trail Blazers past the Los Angeles Clippers 98-93 on Wednesday night.

Wednesday, March 4 Scoreboard

Indiana 105, New York 82

Phoenix 105, Orlando 100

Boston 85, Utah 84

Charlotte 115, Brooklyn 91

Cleveland 120, Toronto 112

Memphis 102, Houston 100

Denver 100, Minnesota 85

New Orleans 88, Detroit 85

Oklahoma City 123, Philadelphia 118 (OT)

Miami 100, LA Lakers

San Antonio 112, Sacramento 85

Golden State 102, Milwaukee 93

Portland 98, LA Clippers 93 (OT)

Thursday, March 5 Schedule (All Times Central)

Oklahoma City at Chicago, 7 p.m.

Dallas at Portland, 9:30 p.m.