Conference Leaders Tumble – NBA Roundup

UNDATED (AP) — Brooklyn completed a four-game season sweep of the Heat as Joe Johnson scored 19 points and Marcus Thornton added 16 in the Nets' 88-87 win at Miami. Mason Plumlee was credited with a block on LeBron James' dunk attempt in the final seconds.

James had 29 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for the Heat, who now lead the East by just a half-game over Indiana.

The Spurs lost for the second time in three starts since a 19-game winning streak. Ricky Rubio scored 23 points and Gorgui Dieng (JOHR'-jee dee-ehng) had 12 and 15 rebounds as Minnesota hammered San Antonio 110-91.

The Spurs were just 4 for 17 from 3-point range and finished the game without Manu Ginobili (MAN'-oo jih-NOH'-blee), who left in the third quarter with a left calf contusion.

Elsewhere in the NBA:

— Kevin Durant's streak of 25-point games has ended at 41 after he finished with 23 in Oklahoma City's 107-92 win at Sacramento. Caron Butler also had 23 points for the Thunder, who are 3 ½ games behind the West-leading Spurs and 1 ½ games ahead of the Los Angeles Clippers for the second seed in the conference.

— James Harden and Terrence Jones each poured in 33 points to highlight Houston's offense in a 145-130 rout of the Los Angeles Lakers. The Rockets shot 58 percent and moved two games ahead of Portland for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

— Rodney Stuckey scored 29 points as Detroit beat Atlanta 102-95, allowing New York to pull within two games of the Hawks for the final Eastern conference playoff berth. Greg Monroe finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds, and Andre Drummond had 19 points and 17 rebounds for the Pistons.

— Dirk Nowitzki scored 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting to carry Dallas to its fifth straight win. Monta (MAHN'-tay) Ellis added 16 points for the Mavericks, who shot 56 percent and moved one game ahead of seventh-place Phoenix in the West.