NEW ORLEANS — Jimmy Butler had 23 points and nine rebounds before being ejected after a fourth-quarter melee and the Miami Heat held off the New Orleans Pelicans 106-95 on Friday night before a hostile and emotionally charged crowd.
Bam Adebayo scored 24 points for Miami, which returned from its All-Star break by beating snapping the Pelicans’ four-game winning streak in what also marked the Heat’s seventh straight victory over the Pelicans.
Miami reserve Thomas Bryant, along with Pelicans players Jose Alvarado and Naji Marshall, also were ejected after the on-court melee with 11:19 to go. Even a couple fans were escorted out, one of them after throwing things at Heat players from one of the first few rows.
The scuffle began when Heat center Kevin Love grabbed Zion Williamson to prevent a layup after Williamson had stolen the ball from Butler in the back court. Williamson fell to the court after Love’s foul.
Duncan Robinson scored 17 points and Tyler Herro scored 15 for the Heat. Herro, however, appeared to hurt his left knee with 1:40 left and hobbled straight to the locker room after he was helped to his feet.
Zion Williamson had 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for New Orleans, which played a second straight night without Brandon Ingram (illness).
THUNDER 147, WIZARDS 106
OKLAHOMA CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points and Oklahoma City beat Washington in the Thunder's highest-scoring game of the season.
Chet Holmgren added 25 points and 10 rebounds for Oklahoma City, which shot 59.8% from the field and 50% from 3-point-range. The Thunder previous season high was 140 in a victory over San Antonio on Jan. 24.
Oklahoma City led 80-57 at halftime and 117-81 after three quarters on a night the organization recognized 10 former players as part of Thunder Legacy Weekend.
Jordan Poole scored 21 points for Washington. The Wizards have lost 10 straight to fall to 9-47.
76ERS 104, CAVALIERS 97
PHILADELPHIA — Tyrese Maxey scored 24 points, Cam Payne added 16 points off the bench and Philadelphia beat Cleveland, sending the Cavaliers to their second straight loss and third in four games.
Cleveland, coming off a loss to Orlando on Thursday, was missing leading scorer and All-Star Donovan Mitchell, sidelined with an unspecified illness.
Maxey was having a quiet game until the fourth quarter. He scored 15 of the 76ers’ final 20 points and assisted on a 3-pointer by Buddy Heild that put Philadelphia ahead by eight points in the final minute.
Jarrett Allen had 24 points for the Cavaliers, who had their six-game road winning streak halted and lost for the fourth time in 22 games.
CLIPPERS 101, GRIZZLIES 95
MEMPHIS — Kawhi Leonard scored 24 points, Terance Mann had a season-high 23 points and 12 rebounds and Los Angeles pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat Memphis.
Paul George added 14 points for Los Angeles and Ivica Zubac finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out in the fourth quarter.
Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis with 29 points.
ROCKETS 114, SUNS 110
hOUSTON — Fred VanVleet scored 23 points, Jabari Smith Jr. had 22 points and 16 rebounds and Houston withstood Phoenix’s late surge.
Kevin Durant had 28 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists for Phoenix, comning off a loss in Dallas the night before. Fellow All-Star Devin Booker added 25 points and Bol Bol had season highs of 25 points and 14 rebounds.
Phoenix was without starters Bradley Beal, who missed a third straight game with tightness in his left hamstring, and Jusuf Nurkic, who has a sprained right ankle.
RAPTORS 123, HAWKS 121
ATLANTA — Immanuel Quickley hit six 3-pointers and scored 24 points to help Toronto beat Atlanta.
Scottie Barnes added 20 points and 10 assists for Toronto. Jacob Poeltl had 12 points, 13 rebounds and six assists.
Dejounte Murray led Atlanta with 24 points. De’Andre Hunter added 22 points. (AP)