Pistons halt Lakers streak, while OKC, San Antonio also win

DETROIT — Daniss Jenkins scored a career-high 30 points as the Detroit Pistons halted the Los Angeles Lakers' nine-game winning streak with a 113-110 victory on Monday.

A heavyweight showdown between Eastern Conference leader Detroit and the in-form Lakers did not disappoint, with Los Angeles recovering from a 16-point deficit in the second half to take the game to the wire.

Austin Reaves put the Lakers 110-109 ahead with 30 seconds remaining with a floating jump shot, but Jenkins scored Detroit's final four points for a hard-earned win.

Luka Doncic, who finished with 32 points, launched a last-gasp three-point attempt that could have forced overtime, but his effort fell short.

Detroit lined up again without star point guard Cade Cunningham, absent indefinitely after suffering a collapsed lung.

In Cunningham's absence, Jenkins stepped up to lead the Pistons, while Jalen Duren added 20 points with 11 rebounds and Duncan Robinson got 12.

"I'm no longer surprised," Pistons coach J. B. Bickerstaff said of Jenkins. "When he's gotten the opportunity he's delivered for us.

"Whether it's throughout the game or in clutch moments, he finds a way to impact winning. He deserves a lot of credit tonight."

The Lakers will wrap up a six-game road trip against the lowly Indiana Pacers on Wednesday before returning to California.

Doncic's 32 points were complemented by 24 from Reaves.

LeBron James narrowly missed out on a triple-double, scoring 12 points with 10 assists and nine rebounds.

Detroit improved to 52-19 to extend its lead at the top of the Eastern Conference to five games clear of the Boston Celtics (47-24).

The Lakers fell to 46-26 and remain third in the Western Conference with a two-game cushion over fourth-placed Houston.

SGA shines for OKC

In Philadelphia, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 22 points, Jalen Williams added 18 on his return to the lineup and the Oklahoma City Thunder won its 12th game in a row Monday night with a 123-103 victory over the short-handed Philadelphia 76ers.

Jared McCain had 13 points for the Thunder in his first game in Philadelphia since last month's trade. The defending NBA champions improved to 57-15, the best record in the league.

VJ Edgecombe scored 35 points for the 76ers, which played without Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Paul George.

Philadelphia began the day as the No 7 seed in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament but was just a half-game back of fifth-placed Toronto.

Williams was back in the lineup after missing 16 games with a right hamstring strain.

McCain helped the Thunder jump out to a 35-25 lead after the first quarter with a pair of three-pointers. Oklahoma City increased its lead to 24 and never was threatened after taking a 65-43 lead into halftime.

Jaylin Williams scored 18 points off the bench, and Chet Holmgren had 17 for the Thunder.

McCain, drafted by the 76ers with the No 16 overall pick last year, drew loud cheers when he entered in the first quarter.

Philadelphia sent McCain to Oklahoma City for draft picks at the February trade deadline. The 76ers are 10-12 since the deal.

Embiid sat out again with a right oblique strain. The 2023 MVP last played on Feb 26.

He worked out on the court Monday and is scheduled to have a more grueling session Tuesday, coach Nick Nurse said. There is still no timetable for Embiid's return.

Gilgeous-Alexander has now scored at least 20 points in 64 straight road games.

Red-hot Spurs on a roll

In Miami, Victor Wembanyama finished with 26 points, 15 rebounds and five blocked shots, and the San Antonio Spurs rolled past the sliding Miami Heat 136-111 on Monday night for a sixth consecutive victory.

Keldon Johnson and Dylan Harper each scored 21 off the bench for the Spurs, which are an NBA-best 22-2 since the start of February. They led by as many as 30, the biggest margin any visiting team has enjoyed in Miami so far this season.

Stephon Castle scored 19 for the Spurs, which at 54-18 remain three games back from Oklahoma City (57-15) in the race for the NBA's best overall record and No 1 seed in the Western Conference.

The Thunder beat Philadelphia on Monday for its 12th consecutive win.

Norman Powell scored 21 off the bench to lead the Heat, which remains stuck in the quagmire that is the Eastern Conference's play-in race and has lost five consecutive games.

Philadelphia (39-33) is seventh and a game up on Miami, while Orlando (38-33 after a loss to Indiana on Monday) is eight-and-a-half-games ahead of the Heat (38-34). And No 10 Charlotte (37-34) is now only a half-game behind Miami.

Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro each scored 18 for Miami, which has dropped five straight.

The Heat allowed 76 points in the first half and rested its starters in the fourth quarter.

Wembanyama was 11 for 22 from the field for the Spurs.

It was the fourth time this season that he finished a game with at least 26 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks.