Pascal Siakam scored 18 of his 30 points in the first half and hit the winning shot as the Indiana Pacers snapped a 13-game losing streak and gave coach Rick Carlisle his 1,000th career coaching victory in a 114-112 triumph against the host Charlotte Hornets Thursday night.
Collin Sexton’s potential tying shot was off the mark in the final second as the Hornets lost in the final seconds for the second night in a row.
Siakam scored on a go-ahead drive with 11.5 seconds left. He made 12 of 23 shots with three 3-pointers and also grabbed 14 rebounds. T.J. McConnell racked up 23 points off the Pacers’ bench, Aaron Nesmith supplied 16 points and Jay Huff added 10 points.
LaMelo Ball had a game-high 33 points, aided by seven 3-point baskets, in his first game coming off the bench since his rookie season (2020-21). Miles Bridges posted 19 points, Kon Knueppel had 18 points and Sexton finished with 11 points.
Timberwolves 131, Cavaliers 122
Julius Randle scored 28 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished eight assists to help Minnesota hold on to beat visiting Cleveland.
Jaden McDaniels finished with 26 points on 11-for-14 shooting for Minnesota, which won its fourth game in a row. Anthony Edwards scored 25 points on 10-for-20 shooting, and Rudy Gobert recorded a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points on 10-for-20 shooting to lead Cleveland, which lost for the second time in its past three games. He added eight assists. Sam Merrill scored 22 points off the bench, and Jarrett Allen notched a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards.
Jazz 116, Mavericks 114
Lauri Markkanen scored 33 points and Utah closed on a 16-7 run to beat visiting Dallas.
Keyonte George had 19 points and seven assists for Utah, which snapped a five-game losing streak. Brice Sensabaugh scored 14 points, Walter Clayton Jr. added 12, and Kevin Love had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Cooper Flagg led the Mavericks with 26 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Klay Thompson scored 23 points, Anthony Davis added 21 points and 11 rebounds, Naji Marshall had 17 points and Max Christie chipped in 16.
