Bulls Clip Bucks, NBA Roundup

(Chicago, IL) -- The Bulls grinded out an 87-71 win over the Bucks at the United Center behind 16 points and 14 rebounds from Nikola Mirotic. Chicago held Milwaukee under 20 points in each of the first three quarters and to 34-percent shooting for the game. Tony Snell knocked down four from deep on his way to 20 points as the Bulls have won five of six. Ersan Ilyasova posted a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.  Khris Middleton chipped in 17 with six boards for Milwaukee, which had a four-game winning streak snapped.

Heat Smoke Sixers

(Miami, FL) -- Goran Dragic's second game with the Heat went better than his first as he put up 23 points and 10 assists in Miami's 119-108 win against the 76ers at AmericanAirlines Arena. Luol Deng posted a game-high 29 points on 11-of-14 shooting, while Hassan Whiteside compiled a 12-point, 14-rebound, double-double. Miami is 3-3 in its last six games. Nerlens Noel filled up the box score in the loss with 18 points, seven rebounds, two assists and four blocks. Robert Covington added in 16 points for the Sixers, who have lost four straight.

Rockets Pounce On Timberwolves

(Houston, TX) -- James Harden exploded for a triple-double with 31 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, leading the Rockets to a 113-102 win against the Timberwolves at the Toyota Center. Josh Smith added 17 off the bench, while Terrence Jones put up a 15-point, 15-rebound double-double. Minnesota cut the lead to one with 3:20 left in the fourth quarter before the Rockets closed the game on a 16-to-6 run. The Rockets have won two in-a-row. Andrew Wiggins tried to keep up with Harden, dropping 30 points and grabbing six rebounds. It was the third time Wiggins has hit 30 points or more during his rookie season. Ricky Rubio posted 14 points, nine boards and seven assists in the loss. Minnesota has lost three of four.

Nets Hammer Nuggets

(Denver, CO) -- Deron Williams racked up 16 points, 12 assists and five rebounds to lead the Nets to a 110-82 rout of the Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. Brook Lopez notched 19 points and nine boards off the bench as seven players scored in double figures. Thaddeus Young netted 15 points, Mason Plumlee posted 14 and Markel Brown had 10 to go with 11 rebounds for Brooklyn, which has won two in-a-row since a three-game skid. Danilo Gallinari scored 22 points to pace the Nuggets in their third straight loss. Will Barton added 15 off the pine in the setback.

Celtics Top Suns

(Phoenix, AZ) -- Avery Bradley finished with 23 points and six steals to help guide the Celtics past the Suns 115-110 at US Airways Center. Isaiah Thomas scored nine of his 21 points in the final three-minutes against his former team as Boston avoided a third straight loss. Brandon Bass chipped in 18 points and six rebounds in the win. Eric Bledsoe paced Phoenix with 21 points, 10 assists and seven boards in the team's fifth straight defeat. Brandon Knight put up 20 points in his Suns home debut and P.J. Tucker logged a 13 point, 12 rebound double-double in a losing effort.

Jazz Send Spurs To Third Straight Loss

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- Trey Burke scored 23 points off the bench to lead the Jazz to a 90-81 win over the Spurs in Utah. Gordon Hayward added 18 points for Utah, which has won two straight and four-of-five. Derrick Favors finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds in the win. Tim Duncan had 14 points and 10 boards for the Spurs, who are 0-and-3 since the All-Star break. Tony Parker had only five points on 2-of-9 shooting in the loss.

Grizzlies Hold Off Clippers

(Los Angeles, CA) -- Chris Paul turned the ball over in the closing seconds with the chance to take the lead and the Clippers fell to the Grizzlies, 90-87, at STAPLES Center. Mike Conley tallied 18 points and seven assists as Memphis outscored Los Angeles by five in the fourth quarter to pull out the victory.  Marc Gasol added 14 points, six rebounds and four helpers for the Grizz, who have won four of five. Paul finished with 30 points and 10 assists, but turned the ball over four times, including the costly one with just under two seconds left. DeAndre Jordan scored nine points and grabbed 17 rebounds in defeat.  Los Angeles had a four-game winning streak snapped.

Monday, February 23 Scoreboard

NBA

Miami Heat 119, Philadelphia 76ers 108

Chicago Bulls 87, Milwaukee Bucks 71

Houston Rockets 113, Minnesota Timberwolves 102

New Orleans Pelicans 100, Toronto Raptors 97

Boston Celtics 115, Phoenix Suns 110

Brooklyn Nets 110, Denver Nuggets 82

Utah Jazz 90, San Antonio Spurs 81

Memphis Grizzlies 90, Los Angeles Clippers 87

Tuesday, February 24 Schedule (All Times Central)

NBA

6:00 p.m. - Golden State Warriors at Washington Wizards

6:30 p.m. - Cleveland Cavaliers at Detroit Pistons

7:00 p.m. - Indiana Pacers at Oklahoma City Thunder

7:30 p.m. - Toronto Raptors at Dallas Mavericks