By ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK (AP) — Cade Cunningham scored 36 points, Malik Beasley had 22 and a pair of clutch 3-pointers in the final 40 seconds and the surging Detroit Pistons beat New York, 124-119, on Monday night, Jan. 13, their second straight victory over the Knicks after dropping the previous 16 meetings.
Cunningham’s brilliant play helped the Pistons nurse a small lead for much of the second half, but the Knicks forced the ball out of his hands on two late possessions. Both times the Pistons were able to swing it around to an open Beasley, who made the first for a 121-117 lead and the second to put them up five with 6.3 seconds to go.
Beasley was 6 for 8 behind the arc as the Pistons (21-19) won for the 10th time in 12 games.
Jalen Brunson had 31 points and 11 assists for the Knicks, not appearing bothered by the shoulder injury he sustained while scoring 44 points Sunday in a win over Milwaukee. Mikal Bridges added 27 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 26 points and 12 rebounds despite frequently grabbing his right thumb in pain after getting hit on a drive in the first half.
The Pistons sent an email document Monday touting Cunningham’s candidacy for the All-Star Game, and the way he is playing and they are winning, his selection seems warranted.
They had plenty enough offense while shooting 50% from the field and 40% behind the arc, but neither Bridges, OG Anunoby nor anyone else had much success stopping Cunningham.
Meanwhile, Jalen Green tied his career high with 42 points, capped by a layup that gave Houston the lead late, and the Rockets rallied for a 120-118 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies were down by four before Jaylen Wells made a 3-pointer followed by a steal and layup from Brandon Clarke that put them up 115-114 with just under a minute left.
Green’s layup put the Rockets on top 116-115 before a turnover by Ja Morant gave Houston the ball back. Amen Thompson was fouled and made two free throws with 8.1 seconds left to make it 118-115.
Morant missed two free throws after that and Fred VanVleet added two free throws for Houston with 2.1 seconds left to make it 120-115 and secure the victory.
It was Houston’s fourth straight win overall and second in a row over Memphis after beating the Grizzlies 119-115 on Thursday night.
In Toronto, Ochai Agbaji scored the go-ahead basket with 1:33 left in the fourth quarter and the Raptors rallied to beat the Golden State Warriors, 104-101.
Scottie Barnes scored 23 points and Jakob Poeltl had 13 points and 13 rebounds as the Raptors won for the second time in 18 games.
Chris Boucher scored 18 points, RJ Barrett added 15, and Agbaji and Gradey Dick each had 12.
In Washington, Anthony Edwards scored 20 of his 41 points in the fourth quarter and the Minnesota Timberwolves overcome a sloppy first half and beat the NBA-worst Wizards, 120-106.
Earlier Monday, Edwards was fined $50,000 by the NBA for an obscene gesture directed at an official in Saturday’s loss in Memphis.
Edwards, a two-time All-Star, had a strong final period, shooting 6 for 11 from the floor and 3 for 5 from 3-point range to turn what had been a tight contest into a comfortable win.
