MALIK Beasley scored 26 points in 22 minutes off the bench and the host Detroit Pistons extended their winning streak to eight games by cooling off the Boston Celtics 117-97 on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila).
Detroit now has its longest winning streak in 17 years. The last time the Pistons won eight or more consecutive games came in 2008, when they strung together 10 victories from Jan. 23-Feb. 13.
Cade Cunningham had 21 points and 11 assists for Detroit, and Tobias Harris tossed in 16 points while grabbing nine rebounds. Jalen Duren added 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics, who saw their six-game winning streak snapped, with 27 points. Boston played without Jaylen Brown (thigh).
In other games, it was the Pacers 111, Raptors 91; Knicks 110, Sixers 105; Thunder 129, Nets 121; Heat 131, Hawks 109; Kings 118, Jazz 101; Clippers 122, Bulls 117; Blazers 129, Wizards 121; and Rockets 118, Spurs 106.
Pacers 111, Raptors 91
Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner hit a combined 12 of 14 from 3-point range and their efforts of 33 and 18 points, respectively, helped Indiana avoid a season sweep against Toronto with a rout in Indianapolis.
Haliburton went 12 of 15 from the field, including his 7-of-9 showing from beyond the arc. Turner shot 6 of 8 and made all five of his attempts from behind the arc. Pascal Siakam had 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Pacers.
RJ Barrett, who gave Indiana fits in two Toronto wins over the Pacers earlier this season, was limited to 16 points on 5-of-15 shooting. Jonathan Mogbo, scored 16 points off the bench.
Knicks 110, Sixers 105
Jalen Brunson scored nine unanswered points late in the fourth quarter for host New York, which squandered all of a 19-point lead before coming back to edge skidding Philadelphia.
Brunson scored 14 of his game-high 34 points in the final 6:33 for the Knicks, who snapped a two-game losing streak. Mikal Bridges had 28 points, including 19 in the first quarter. The Knicks were without Karl-Anthony Towns (knee).
Tyrese Maxey scored 30 points for the 76ers, who have lost nine straight—their longest losing streak since a 12-game skid late in the 2015-16 season, when they finished 10-72. Kelly Oubre Jr. had 27 points while Paul George added 25 points.
