Pelicans and Hawks topple Timberwolves and Thunder
The New Orleans Pelicans kept rolling with a 117-106 victory over the West-leading Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night, as the Hawks held on to snap Thunder's 5-game winning streak. Zion Williamson scored 27 points for the Pelicans, with CJ McCollum adding 24, as New Orleans pulled away in the second half for its fourth straight victory and ninth in 12 games. Anthony Edwards scored 35 points for for the Timberwolves, and Karl-Anthony Towns had 22. Minnesota dropped to 14-2 at home and lost consecutive games for the first time this season. Meanwhile Jalen Johnson scored a career-high 28 points and the Atlanta Hawks held off Oklahoma City 141-138. Atlanta opened the game with 11 straight points and never trailed. Trae Young had 24 points and 11 assists, one of four Hawks players who scored more than 20. Bogdan Bogdanovic added 23 points and Dejounte Murray had 22. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 33 points and 13 rebounds to lead Oklahoma City. But Isaiah Joe's last-second 3-pointer from the corner was no good and the Hawks improved to 5-9 at home, where they play 10 of 15 games in January. Max Strus scored 24 points and made his first six 3-pointers as the Cleveland Cavaliers had their highest-scoring game and most-lopsided victory of the season, routing the Washington Wizards 140-101. Donovan Mitchell scored 22 points in 24 minutes to help Cleveland snap a two-game losing streak. Caris LeVert added 21 points in 23 minutes, and Jarrett Allen had 17 points, 19 rebounds and seven assists. (AP)