Aussies’ efforts not enough to tame Timberwolves in NBA

Australians Dante Exum and Josh Green have both had decent court time for Dallas, but the Mavericks still went down 118-110 in their NBA clash to the Timberwolves in Minnesota.

Minus their superstar Luka Doncic (quadriceps) for the second time in five games, Exum certainly made his presence felt for the visitors, registering 11 points, two rebounds and six assists from 24 minutes of action on Friday (AEDT).

Green managed two points and five assists from his 15 minutes.

For the hosts, Anthony Edwards scored a season-high 44 points, which included six three-pointers, as Minnesota won for the 12th time in 15 games.

Rudy Gobert registered 20 points on 7-of-7 shooting and also had 11 boards and three blocks for Minnesota, who own the second-best record in the NBA at 23-7.

Tim Hardaway Jr matched his season high of 32 points and Jaden Hardy added 17 for the Mavs (18-14), who lost for the sixth time in nine.

In Denver, Nikola Jokic had 26 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists for his 11th triple-double of the season as the defending champion Nuggets scored a crushing 142-105 win over Memphis.

Peyton Watson scored a career-high 20 points while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Julian Strawther contributed 12 points each for Denver (23-10), who earned their sixth win in a row.

Desmond Bane logged 23 points and Marcus Smart put up 17 for the Grizzlies, who played without Ja Morant (illness).

Memphis had been 4-0 since Morant returned from a 25-game suspension to open the season.

In Portland, Victor Wembanyama had 30 points, six rebounds, six assists and seven blocks as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Trail Blazers to snap a five-game losing streak.

For the Blazers, Australian Matisse Thybulle managed four points, two rebounds and one assist from his 28 minutes.

In Boston, the Celtics overcame a 21-point deficit and raised their home record to 15-0 by beating Detroit 128-122 in overtime.

The Pistons also made dubious NBA history, losing for the 28th straight time for the longest in-season streak.

If they fall on Saturday against the visiting Toronto Raptors, they would tie the longest skid of all time, including from one season to the next.

Kristaps Porzingis scored a season-high 35 points and added eight rebounds for Boston (24-6), while Jayson Tatum finished with 31 points, seven boards and 10 assists.

Brandon Ingram scored 26 points to lead three New Orleans players with 20-plus points as the hosting Pelicans held off the Utah Jazz 112-105.

CJ McCollum added 22 points and Zion Williamson had 21 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Pels.

In Chicago, Myles Turner scored 24 points and Tyrese Haliburton delivered a double-double (21 points, 20 assists) to lift the visiting Pacers to a 120-104 victory over the Bulls.

Buddy Hield added 19 points for Indiana, while Jalen Smith, Bennedict Mathurin (both 15) and Aaron Nesmith (12) rounded out a balanced attack.

Elsewhere, the Los Angeles Lakers had a comfortable 133-112 win over the Charlotte Hornets and the Miami Heat beat the Golden State Warriors 114-102.