WASHINGTON — Russell Westbrook had the third game in NBA history with 20-plus rebounds and 20-plus assists – he and Wilt Chamberlain have the other two – and the surging Washington Wizards moved closer to Indiana in the Eastern Conference playoff standings by outgunning the Pacers 154-141 on Monday night.

Westbrook had 14 points to go along with his career-high 21 rebounds and career-high-tying 24 assists, his league-leading 32nd triple-double of the season. He has 178 triple-doubles, three short of Oscar Robertson’s record, with seven games remaining for Washington.

Rui Hachimura scored 27 points and Bradley Beal had 26 as Washington scored a season high and moved within one-half game of Indiana for ninth place in the East. Teams that finish between seventh and 10th will enter the league’s new play-in tournament for the main playoff draw.

The Wizards earned the tiebreaker over the Pacers by winning the first two meetings. The teams meet one more time this season at Indiana on Saturday.

Domantas Sabonis had 32 points and 20 rebounds and Caris LeVert scored 33 points for the Pacers, who have lost three of four. Eight Pacers scored in double figures.

Washington finished the first half with a 20-8 run over the final 4:15 to take an 82-66 lead at the break. Westbrook had three of his 11 second-quarter assists during that stretch. It was Washington’s highest scoring first half of the season.

Westbrook had 14 assists and 12 rebounds at the half while taking just three shots. Westbrook’s layup with 10:23 left in the third clinched his triple-double. His 32 are the fourth most in any NBA season; he holds the record with 42.

One game removed from scoring a franchise record 152 points, the Pacers allowed a season high in points as Washington shot 61.2% from the field.

MAGIC 119, PISTONS 112: Mo Bamba had 22 points and 15 rebounds – both career highs – and Orlando won in Detroit.

Saddiq Bey led Detroit with 26 points in a game that had little at stake – with the possible exception of lottery positioning. The Pistons (19-46) have the second-worst record in the NBA. Orlando (21-44) is now even with Oklahoma City for the fourth-worst mark. Idle Minnesota (20-45) is in between.

The Magic were without Coach Steve Clifford, who missed a sixth straight game. The team did announce before the game that Clifford has cleared the league’s health and safety protocols for COVID-19 and will return to the bench Wednesday night against Boston.

HAWKS 123, TRAIL BLAZERS 114: Danilo Gallinari made seven 3-pointers and finished with 28 points, leading Atlanta over visiting Portland in a matchup Monday night of teams battling for playoff positioning in their respective conferences.

The Hawks snapped Portland’s four-game winning streak, which had come entirely on the road. Atlanta came into the night tied for fifth in the Eastern Conference, with the Trail Blazers holding the same spot in the West. Both teams are looking to avoid dropping as low as seventh, which would force them into the play-in tournament.

WARRIORS 123, PELICANS 108: Stephen Curry scored 41 points, Draymond Green had 10 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds, and Golden State took a big step toward locking up a postseason berth with win in New Orleans.

The Warriors, who currently occupy a Western Conference play-in position, moved four games ahead of 11th-place New Orleans with seven games remaining. But these teams meet twice more, giving the Pelicans a small measure of hope – if they can figure out how to contain Curry. Pelicans defenders often looked mesmerized by the Warriors star as he dribbled along the perimeter before pulling up for deep 3-pointers or initiating clever drives toward the rim. His eight 3s included a pull-up from 30 feet as he seemed to dazzle what should have been a hostile New Orleans crowd of nearly 4,000.

NOTES

LAKERS: With LeBron James still working himself back to full strength from a sprained right ankle, the Los Angeles Lakers found out Monday they’ll be without their other point guard for more than a week. Coach Frank Vogel said James and Dennis Schröder were out for Monday’s game against the Denver Nuggets.

Vogel said he was sitting James in the second game of a back-to-back after the four-time MVP experienced ankle soreness during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 121-114 loss to the Toronto Raptors. Schröder will be out much longer. He entered the league’s coronavirus health and safety protocol on Sunday and will miss at least 10 days.

The Lakers had lost three straight and six of seven entering Monday. They have gone 8-15 since James sprained the ankle on March 14 against the Atlanta Hawks. Vogel said James didn’t suffer any setbacks and the decision to sit him was precautionary.

CAVALIERS: After being away for five years, Anderson Varejão is returning to the Cavaliers. The curly-haired center, who endeared Cleveland fans with his hustle and his work on the boards, is expected to sign with the Cavaliers for the remainder of the season after the NBA granted the team a roster hardship exception, a person familiar with the decisions told the Associated Press on Monday.

Varejão spent 12 seasons with Cleveland (2004-2016) before he was traded months before the team won the NBA title. He could join the Cavaliers as early as Tuesday, said the person, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the negotiations are ongoing.

Varejão hasn’t played in an NBA game since 2017 with Golden State. The 38-year-old’s return is little more than a ceremonial move by the Cavs, who want to honor and celebrate Varejão for his time with the team and give fans something to cheer in the final days of another dreadful season.

« Previous

Bergeron, Bruins blank Devils to clinch playoff spot

Next »

College baseball coaches with UMF ties making mark at Division I programs