American Basketball: Heat Secure Fourth Win
Norman Powell sank seven three-pointers and scored 36 points to lead the Miami Heat to their fourth consecutive victory, defeating the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons 118-112 in the NBA early Friday morning.
Powell had scored 19 points by halftime, including five three-pointers, giving the Heat a 63-54 lead.
Kid Cunningham led the Pistons with 31 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds, but Detroit lost for the third time in four games.
In another game, Kawhi Leonard scored 20 of his 45 points in the fourth quarter, extending the Los Angeles Clippers' best winning streak of the season to six games with a 118-101 victory over the Utah Jazz. James Harden added 20 points and Nicolas Batum scored 14 for Los Angeles, who had a 6-21 record through December 18 before more than doubling their winning streak in less than two weeks, starting with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on December 20.
The Jazz were without four key players: Quentin George, Lauri Markkanen, Wes Bailey, and Jusuf Nurkic, due to injury and illness.
Jaylen Brown scored 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Boston Celtics defeated the Sacramento Kings 120-106.
Boston has won six of its last seven games, while the Kings have lost three straight.
Kevin Durant scored 22 points and dished out 11 assists against a former team as the Houston Rockets beat the Brooklyn Nets 120-96 in New York. The Rockets secured their fourth consecutive victory.
The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Dallas Mavericks 123-108, thanks to Tyrese Maxie's 34 points.
Max Christie led the Mavericks with 18 points, but the team suffered its fourth straight loss.