Basketball

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Anthony Davis' dominance inside and Malik Beasley's blazing start from behind the 3-point arc all but put away the Pelicans before halftime in a game that could prove pivotal in the Western Conference playoff picture.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points, Josh Giddey had 15 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Brooklyn Nets 121-107 on Tuesday night for their sixth win in seven games.

TORONTO — There was no way the Toronto Raptors were going to let the Denver Nuggets earn a comeback win against them for the second time in eight days.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Jeremy Sochan had 29 points and 11 rebounds and the San Antonio Spurs had a franchise-high 22 3-pointers and season-high 39 assists in a 132-114 win over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Evan Mobley had 26 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers scored 35 points off Charlotte turnovers to beat the Hornets for the second time in three days, 120-104 on Tuesday night.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Bradley Beal scored 36 points, and the Washington Wizards snapped their three-game losing streak with a 117-97 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Dallas star Luka Doncic will miss a third consecutive game with a left thigh strain when the Mavericks visit San Antonio on Wednesday night.

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Cavaliers signed guard Sam Merrill to a multiyear contract on Tuesday, filling their open roster spot as they near clinching a playoff berth. Merrill signed a 10-day contract with the Cavs on March 3.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Minutes after igniting a comeback win in overtime against the NBA-best Bucks, Stephen Curry went back to work in the weight room doing sets of lunges off a bench with dumbbells in hand.

Let’s go ahead and put Denver and Sacramento into the Western Conference playoffs.