Cavs creep closer to record-losing streak

CLEVELAND (AP):

The Cavaliers' long losing streak is almost history. Cleveland's slide reached 22 games - one shy of the NBA's single-season record - as Danny Granger scored 23 points and Darren Collison added 22 to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 117-112 win over the Cavaliers, now winless in 2011 and losers of 32 of 33.

Unless they can win tonight in Memphis, the Cavs (8-41) will match the league's all-time mark for consecutive futility, a record shared by the 1995-96 expansion Vancouver Grizzlies and 1997-98 Denver Nuggets.

The Cavs had several chances to pull out their first win since December 18, but Anthony Parker missed a runner in the lane with 18.8 seconds left and Granger put it away by making four free throws in the final 17.1 seconds.

Ramon Sessions scored 25 points and Antawn Jamison had 21 for Cleveland.

Thunder 104Hornets 93

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP):

Kevin Durant continued a scoring tear with 43 points and 10 rebounds and led a key fourth-quarter run and Oklahoma City beat New Orleans.

Durant eclipsed 40 points for the third time in four games, and he leads the NBA with five 40-point games this season.

The league's scoring leader hit two free throws, a jumper and a 3-pointer from the right wing, and then a driving foul-line jumper during a10-2 run that put the Thunder in control midway through the fourth quarter.

David West had 20 points and 15 rebounds and Chris Paul scored 15 points for New Orleans, which has lost three of four following a10-game winning streak.

The win put Oklahoma City a half-game ahead of the Hornets for fourth place in the Western Conference and clinched the season series for the Thunder.

Mavericks 113 Knicks 97

NEW YORK (AP):

Dirk Nowitzki had 29 points and 11 rebounds, and Dallas took control in the third quarter before beating New York for their sixth straight victory.

José Barea added 22 points and Tyson Chandler had 15 points and 11 boards for the Mavericks, who outscored the Knicks 26-6 to open the second half and went on to their fifth consecutive win in New York.

This one wasn't as dominant as the Mavs' 128-78 rout on January 24, 2010, their most lopsided win ever and the Knicks' worst loss on their home floor. But Dallas were just as impressive in the first seven minutes of the third quarter en route to their 16th win in the past 18 meetings overall.

Danilo Gallinari scored 27 points and Amare Stoudemire finished with 21, but missed all five shots in the second half before leaving for good as the Knicks went deep into their bench.

Rockets 97 Jazz 96

SALT LAKE CITY (AP):

Kevin Martin scored on a three-point play with 6.9 seconds left and finished with 22 points to lead Houston over Utah.

C.J. Miles missed a last-second 3-pointer that would have won it for the Jazz, who were without starters Deron Williams and Andrei Kirilenko.

Utah outscored Houston 19-7 over the final six minutes of the third quarter to take an 82-79 lead into the fourth.

But the Jazz couldn't match the Rockets from beyond the arc.

Houston made 11 of 22 on the night, while the Jazz were just 1 of 11 on 3-pointers.

Hawks 100 Raptors 87

ATLANTA (AP):

Joe Johnson scored a season-high 37 points, Josh Smith had 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Atlanta handed Toronto their 13th straight loss.

The Hawks have won two of three and five of eight.

Toronto's losing streak is the team's longest since they dropped 13 in a row from February 12-March 7, 2002.

Amir Johnson scored 20 points and DeMar DeRozan added 16 for Toronto, which dropped to 5-22 on the road.

Other results: Bulls 106; Clippers 88; Grizzlies 102; Timberwolves 84; Bobcats 97; Pistons 87; Suns 92; Bucks 77; Nuggets 109; Trail Blazers 90; 76ers 106; Nets 92.