Highlights from today's NBA games

Feb 26, 2017 - 6:36 AM HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE NBA GAMES PLAYED ON SATURDAY (SUNDAY AEDT)

BULLS 117 beat CAVALIERS 99 - Dwyane Wade scored 20 points and Jimmy Butler recorded a triple-double, leading the Chicago Bulls to a 117-99 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, who played without LeBron James.

James missed the game with strep throat, and coach Tyronn Lue said he wasn't sure how long the Cavaliers would be without the four-time MVP. Cleveland struggled as they often do without their star - they are 4-19 without him since he returned to Cleveland in 2014, including 0-4 this season.

WARRIORS 112 bt NETS 95 - Stephen Curry scored 27 points on a night Kevin Durant missed his first game of the season with a hand injury, and Golden State beat Brooklyn to clinch a playoff berth.

Klay Thompson added 24 points. Curry converted a four-point play just before halftime to put his team up 62-51 at the break. The two-time reigning MVP had five three-pointers and five assists.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson scored 16 points in the Nets' 16th straight defeat.

HEAT 113 bt PACERS 95 - Hassan Whiteside scored 22 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, Dion Waiters added 22 points and red-hot Miami pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat Indiana.

Goran Dragic added 21 points and James Johnson had 15 for Miami, who outscored Indiana 30-16 in the fourth. The Pacers played most of the second half without All-Star forward Paul George, who was ejected after getting two technical fouls on separate plays early in the third quarter.

It was the 16th win in the past 18 games for the surging Heat, who moved within one and a half games of idle Detroit for the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference. Miami also topped 100 points for the 16th consecutive game, extending the franchise record.

KNICKS 110 bt 76ERS 109 - Carmelo Anthony made a jumper with 0.3 seconds left to give New York a victory over Philadelphia 76ers.

The Knicks blew a 17-point lead and fell behind by one when Jahlil Okafor scored with nine seconds remaining. But Anthony dribbled left after a timeout, pulling up over Robert Covington to cap his 37-point performance.

The Knicks then intercepted the 76ers' inbounds pass to hold on and snap their two-game losing streak.

Okafor had a season-high 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the 76ers nearly pulled out the victory after beating Washington on Friday.

MAGIC 105 bt HAWKS 86 - Terrence Ross scored 24 points, Nikola Vucevic had 16 points and 14 rebounds and Orlando beat Atlanta to snap a two-game skid.

Ross played his second game with Orlando after coming over from Toronto in a trade for Serge Ibaka and gave Orlando the shooting touch they have lacked all season. He hit 10 of 15 from the field, including four of seven from three-point range.

Atlanta were playing the back-end of a back-to-back and dropped their third successive game. The Hawks are trying to remain in the top five in the Eastern Conference.

HORNETS 99 bt KINGS 85 - Frank Kaminsky had 23 points and 13 rebounds and Charlotte beat Sacramento to end a five-game losing streak.

The Hornets went ahead late in the first quarter and led the rest of the way for their second win in 14 games.

The Kings never got going offensively, and Charlotte led by 23 points in the second half while ending their 12-game road skid.

MAVERICKS 96 bt PELICANS 83 - Harrison Barnes scored 19 points and Dirk Nowitzki had 18 points and nine rebounds as Dallas ended a three-game losing streak by beating New Orleans.

The Pelicans fell to 0-2 since trading for DeMarcus Cousins and pairing him with Anthony Davis.

Davis had 39 points and 14 rebounds but scored only 12 in the second half. Cousins finished with 12 points and 15 rebounds.

ROCKETS 142 bt TIMBERWOLVES 130 - James Harden had 24 points and 10 assists to lead Houston to a victory over Minnesota as both teams set season scoring highs.

Houston won for the sixth time in seven games, handing the Timberwolves their first road loss in more than three weeks.

Source: AAP