Nets Slaughter Nuggets – NBA Roundup

UNDATED (AP) — LeBron James wore a dark mask on Thursday to protect his broken nose, and it did nothing to alter his usual offensive display against the New York Knicks.

The Miami forward hit the 30-point plateau for the fifth consecutive game, pouring in 31 on 13 of 19 shooting as the Heat ripped the Knicks 108-82 in Miami. James was back on the court after missing Sunday's game due to his busted beak.

Dwyane (dwayn) Wade also had the hot hand, hitting 10 of his 13 field-goal attempts to finish with 23 points.

The Heat shot 61 percent overall and turned it into a rout by outscoring the Knicks 23-3 over the last seven minutes of the third quarter. Miami also shut out Carmelo Anthony after he torched them for 29 points over the first 26 1/2 minutes.

The Heat's sixth straight win keeps them two games behind Indiana for the NBA's Eastern Conference lead.

The Pacers blew a 17-point lead in the first half before improving to an NBA-best 28-3 at home.

Roy Hibbert had 24 points and 12 rebounds as the Pacers rallied for a 101-96 win over lowly Milwaukee. Paul George and Lance Stephenson each scored 18 points for the Pacers, who led by 12 late in the first half before the Bucks went on a 22-4 run to go up by six early in the third quarter.

Indiana still owns the NBA's best record after improving to 44-13.

Elsewhere in the NBA:

— Trevor Ariza (ah-REE'-zuh) hit a go-ahead layup with 1:20 left in the third overtime to help Washington pick up its fifth straight win, 134-129 against Toronto. Marcin Gortat fouled out with 31 points and 12 rebounds, John Wall also had 31 points, and Ariza fouled out with 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Wizards.

— Paul Pierce finished with 18 points and the Brooklyn Nets led 29-8 by the end of the first quarter before settling for a 112-89 laugher at Denver. Ten Nets scored at least eight points as the team pulled within four games of the Atlantic Division-leading Raptors.

NEW YORK (AP) — The Sacramento Kings will be without their top player for tonight's game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Center DeMarcus Cousins has been handed a one-game suspension and a $20,000 fine by the NBA for his conduct during Tuesday's loss to Houston. Cousins punched Rockets guard Patrick Beverley in the stomach about 2 ½ minutes into the game and was fined for verbally abusing official Courtney Kirkland and failing to leave the court in a timely manner following his third-quarter ejection.

UNDATED (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks waived forward Caron (kuh-RAHN') Butler after agreeing to a contract buyout.

The 33-year-old Butler made 13 starts and appeared in 34 games this season, averaging 11.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists.

Also agreeing to a buyout was Kings guard Jimmer Fredette (freh-DEHT'), clearing the way for the former BYU sensation to become a free agent.

Fredette is averaging 5.9 points while shooting 47.5 percent from the floor and 49.3 percent from 3-point range.

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Indiana 101, Milwaukee 96

Washington 134, Toronto 129,3OT

Miami 108, New York 82

Brooklyn 112, Denver 89

Utah at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.

Memphis at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.

Golden State at New York, 8 p.m.

Chicago at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Charlotte at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.

Sacramento at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.

New Orleans at Phoenix, 10:30 p.m.

Washington at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.

Orlando at Miami, 7:30 p.m.

Detroit at Houston, 8 p.m.

Indiana at Boston, 8 p.m.

Brooklyn at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.

Cleveland at Memphis, 9 p.m.

Denver at Portland, 10 p.m.

Minnesota at Sacramento, 10 p.m.

New Orleans at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.

New York at Chicago, 1 p.m.

Golden State at Toronto, 4 p.m.

Philadelphia at Orlando, 6 p.m.

Utah at Indiana, 6 p.m.

Charlotte at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.

Dallas at San Antonio, 7 p.m.

Atlanta at Phoenix, 8 p.m.