No let-up as Thunder storm their way into NBA playoffs

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Orlando Magic 113-108 for their ninth straight win, booking their NBA playoffs spot for a third consecutive year.

Chet Holmgren added 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Thunder and Ajay Mitchell had 16 points, five of them during a mid-fourth quarter run that put the Thunder ahead to stay on Tuesday night (Wednesday AEDT).

Paolo Banchero had 32 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for Orlando, who lost on a second straight night after a seven-game win streak of their own.

Gilgeous-Alexander's record 129th game scoring 20 or more points was accomplished on 14-for-27 shooting and 9-of-11 free throws. He hit 3-of-5 three-point shots, the final one giving the Thunder a 102-96 lead with 3:11 remaining.

His streak of 20-plus point road games, also an NBA record, reached 61 matches.

In Washington, Jalen Duren had 36 points and 12 rebounds for the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons, who lost fellow All-Star Cade Cunningham to back spasms in the first half of a 130-117 victory over the Wizards.

Cunningham was hurt early in the first quarter while diving for a loose ball. He played for a few more minutes before being taken out at the 6:40 mark.

Reserve Daniss Jenkins added 15 points for the Pistons, who have won four of five and sent the Wizards to their 13th straight loss.

The teams meet again on Thursday (Friday AEDT), and should Detroit prevail, Washington would equal the 14-game skid from early this season that sent them to a 1-15 start.

Bub Carrington scored a season-high 30 points for the injury-depleted Wizards.

In New York, Josh Hart scored a season-high 33 points on 12-of-13 shooting, including 5-of-5 from three-point range, to lead the Knicks to a 136-110 win over the Indiana Pacers.

OG Anunoby scored 26 points and Karl Anthony Towns added 22 points and 11 rebounds in the Knicks' fourth straight win.

Jarace Walker led the Pacers with 16 points as Indiana's losing streak reached 14 games.

In North Carolina, LaMelo Ball had 30 points and 13 assists as the Hornets pulled away in a huge fourth quarter to beat the short-handed Miami Heat 136-106.

Coby White scored 24 points off the bench and rookie Kon Knueppel added 22 as Charlotte (35-34) won for the ninth time in 12 games.

Tyler Herro had 20 points and eight rebounds to lead the Heat (38-31), who dropped their second straight following a season-best seven-game winning streak.

In other results, the Denver Nuggets routed the Philadelphia 76ers 124-96, the San Antonio Spurs beat the Sacramento Kings 132-104, the Minnesota Timberwolves held off the Phoenix Suns 116-104, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 123-116.