NBA Roundup: Cavs throttle Celtics. Westbrook drops 45, and Lowry returns

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS 114 BOSTON CELTICS 91

BOSTON – LeBron James netted 36 points, 10 rebounds and six assists to help the Cavs (51-27) move up a full game over the Boston Celtics for the first seed in the East. Kyrie Irving chipped in 19 points, Kevin Love added 15 points and 16 rebounds.

Cleveland held Boston to just 21.2 percent shooting from 3-point range.

Isaiah Thomas had 26 points and six assists for the Celtics (50-28).

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 103 MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES 100

MEMPHIS – Russell Westbrook went off for 45 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds for the Thunder (45-33). Westbrook was one rebound away from setting the all-time record for triple-doubles in a season, which would’ve beaten out Oscar Robertson‘s 41. Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph scored 23 and 20 points, respectively, for the Grizzlies (42-37). Randolph also grabbed nine rebounds.

TORONTO RAPTORS 105 DETROIT PISTONS 102

AUBURN HILLS – Kyle Lowry dropped 27 points and dished out 10 assists for the Raptors (48-31) in his first game back after a wrist injury sidelined him for 18 games. Tobias Harris and Ish Smith each scored 16 for the Pistons (35-43).

MIAMI HEAT 112 CHARLOTTE HORNETS 99

CHARLOTTE – Goran Dragic cashed in 33 points for the Heat (38-40). Hassan Whiteside added 13 points and 20 rebounds. Nicolas Batum had 24 points and seven assists for the Hornets (36-43).

HOUSTON ROCKETS 110 DENVER NUGGETS 104

HOUSTON – James Harden led the way with 31 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds for the Rockets (53-25). Nikola Jokic put up 12 points, 19 rebounds, nine assists and five steals for the Nuggets (37-41).

LOS ANGELES LAKERS 102 SAN ANTONIO SPURS 95

SAN ANTONIO – Tyler Ennis and Jordan Clarkson scored 19 and 17 points, respectively, for the Lakers (23-55). Tony Parker had 14 points for the Spurs (60-18).

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 120 PHOENIX SUNS 111

PHOENIX – Stephen Curry exploded for 42 points and 11 assists to lead the Warriors (65-14). Klay Thompson added 22 points. Devin Booker dropped 21 points for the Suns (22-57).

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS 112 DALLAS MAVERICKS 101

LOS ANGELES – Blake Griffin poured in 32 points for the Clippers (48-31). DeAndre Jordan grabbed 20 rebounds and scored 11. Chris Paul dropped 22 points and handed out 11 assists. J.J. Redick chipped in 25 points. Harrison Barnes had 15 points for the Mavs (32-46).