Trey Lyles scored a season-high 18 points and Patty Mills bagged 14 as the San Antonio Spurs used a balanced effort to beat New York 119-83 on Tuesday night, ending the Knicks’ three-game winning streak.
San Antonio had eight players score at least eight points, including Dejounte Murray’s 17, in the Spurs’ seventh straight home victory over New York.
Immanuel Quickley led New York with 26 points. RJ Barrett added 15 and All-Star Julius Randle had 14.
The Knicks had won seven of nine entering Tuesday’s game, but were never able to find a consistent rhythm against the Spurs.
New York had 16 turnovers while failing to score 100 points for the first time since a 107-89 loss at Orlando on February 17.
In Milwaukee, Nikola Jokic reached a career milestone and helped the Denver Nuggets snap the Milwaukee Bucks’ five-game winning streak in an emphatic fashion.
Jokic had 37 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for his 50th career triple-double as the Nuggets trounced the Bucks 128-97.
The only other NBA player to collect at least 50 triple-doubles while primarily playing centre was Wilt Chamberlain.
“It just speaks to his greatness.,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.
“The guy doesn’t get fatigued. He doesn’t get tired. When he was out of the game, he was in the huddles, he’s on the bench imploring his teammates to rebound and play defence and move the ball. When your best player is doing that, that really sends a message.”
In Los Angeles, Dario Saric scored 10 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, Mikal Bridges added 19 and the Phoenix Suns overcame Devin Booker’s ejection for a 114-104 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
LeBron James scored 38 points for Los Angeles, who have lost five of seven with mounting injury problems.
In Boston, Kemba Walker had 25 points and six assists as the Celtics took advantage of a late scratch of All-Star Kawhi Leonard and held off the Los Angeles Clippers 117-112.
Jaylen Brown finished with 18 points. Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard each added 14 as the Celtics posted three straight victories for the first time since January.
The Clippers, who have lost five of eight, played without Leonard after he was ruled out shortly before the game due to back spasms.
In Washington, Ja Morant had 35 points and 10 assists, De’Anthony Melton and Dillon Brooks each added 20 points as the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Wizards 125-111.
Russell Westbrook had 23 points and 15 assists for the Wizards, but also committed eight of Washington’s 22 turnovers.
And Trae Young went on a personal 13-1 run in the fourth quarter, helping the Atlanta Hawks cool off hosts Miami Heat 94-80.