Pacers' guard Victor Oladipo took care of business in the second half to snap the Cavaliers' winning streak.
The Warriors finished their six-game road trip undefeated, while the Bulls and Kings both earned overtime wins.
Pacers (15-11) defeat Cavaliers (18-8) - 106-102
The Cavs stepped onto the court putting their 13-game winning streak on the line. Indiana jumped out to a 13-2 lead, but LeBron James and Kevin Love combined for 22 points to put the Cavs ahead 33-32 after one. Offensively, the Pacers were able to match Cleveland bucket-for-bucket, but the Cavs went on a 10-2 run to go up by six points at halftime.
James had 18 in the first half.
In the third quarter, Victor Oladipo went scorched earth and nearly outscored the Cavs. Oladipo poured in 20 points in 12 minutes to put the Pacers up by three. Cleveland would get within a basket of tying the score or going ahead five times in the fourth but was never able to reclaim the lead. Oladipo had 33 points and eight rebounds to end the Cavs' streak. James finished with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists.
Warriors (21-6) defeat Pistons (14-11) - 102-98
The Warriors are still without Steph Curry, but Draymond Green returned against the Pistons. After putting up a triple-double on Wednesday (Dec. 6), Kevin Durant had eight points, four rebounds, and four assists in the first quarter to lead Golden State to a 30-24 lead.
But the Pistons blitzed the Warriors in the second, outscoring Golden State 26-16 to take a four-point lead.
But the Warriors stormed back in the third, racing ahead by 10 points after outscoring the Pistons 31-17. However, Detroit wouldn't go down easy. Halfway through the fourth quarter, the Pistons got within three points twice, but each time the Warriors answered.
With 22 seconds left, Avery Bradley hit a three-pointer to again pull Detroit within two, but Klay Thompson iced the game with two free throws. Durant had 36 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and five blocks. Bradley scored 20 of his 25 points in the second half to keep the Pistons in the game.
Spurs (18-8) defeat Celtics (22-5) - 105-102
Two of the best coaching minds in the game (Greg Popovich and Brad Stevens) met up in San Antonio. The Celtics took an early 14-2 lead, but the Spurs battled back to make it a four-point game by the end of the first quarter. Kyrie Irving scored 17 points on 6-8 shooting for Boston. The score remained tight in the second, but San Antonio was able to inch ahead by one at halftime. LaMarcus Aldridge had 19 first-half points.
Jaylen Brown scored 10 points in the third quarter as the Celtics were able to reclaim a five-point lead.
The Spurs scored the first five points in the fourth to tie the game. The lead exchanged hands multiple times until the final few seconds.
With the scored tied at 102, Manu Ginobili nailed a dagger three-pointer to put San Antonio ahead. Aldridge had 27 points for the Spurs, while Irving led the Celtics with 36.
Nuggets (14-11) defeat Magic (11-16) - 103-89
The Nuggets have been struggling defensively over their last two games, giving up 122 points to the Mavericks and 123 points to the Pelicans. While Denver only allowed 24 points in the first quarter, their offense had just 14. But the Nuggets turned things around in the second, outscoring the Magic 35-23 to take a one-point lead into halftime. Will Barton had 12 points to get Denver back in the game.
The Nuggets extended their lead to 11 heading into the fourth, and Orlando wouldn't get any closer than nine in the final period.
Kenneth Faried came off-the-bench to score 20 points and grab 10 boards for Denver.
Raptors (16-7) defeat Grizzlies (8-17) - 116-107
These two teams have been on the polar opposite sides of success recently. The Raptors came into the game winning eight of ten, while the Grizzlies have lost 12 of 13. But it was Memphis that went up early. The Grizzlies had a nine-point lead after one, but the Raptors cut that number to five by halftime.
Memphis held off Toronto in the third to stay up one, but the dam broke in the final quarter. Toronto went on a 16-2 run to take a double-digit lead before winning by nine. DeMar DeRozan led the Raptors with 26 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.
Bucks (14-10) defeat Mavericks (7-19) - 109-102
The Mavericks jumped out to a 25-22 lead over the Bucks. Wes Matthews hit 3-3 from behind-the-arc, scoring 11 points to open the game. Dallas was able to nudge their lead to five by halftime despite 17 points from Milwaukee's MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo. While the Mavericks were up by 11 with two minutes to go in the third quarter, the Bucks scored 12 straight to jump back in the game.
Dallas reclaimed the lead late in the fourth on three Devin Harris' free throws, but Khris Middleton went on an individual 8-0 run to put Milwaukee ahead for good. Middleton finished with a game-high 31 points, while Antetokounmpo added 27 points and 11 rebounds.
Kings (8-17) defeat Pelicans (13-13) - 116-109
Playing against his former team, DeMarcus Cousins dominated in the first half, scoring 24 points on 9-14 shooting as the Pelicans led by six at halftime. It was just a five-point game heading into the fourth quarter, but with 3:32 remaining the Pelicans had gone back up nine; that's when the Kings scored eight straight to pull within one. A DeMarcus Cousins' dunk gave New Orleans a three-point lead with 49 seconds left, but Buddy Hield, who was involved in the trade for Cousins, knocked down a huge three to tie the score.
Each team missed their chance at a game-winner. The Kings controlled overtime from the tip to earn the seven-point win. Zach Randolph had 35 points and 13 rebounds for Sacramento.
Cousins led the Pelicans with 38 points and 11 rebounds.
Bulls (4-20) defeat Hornets (9-15) - 119-111 OT
Kris Dunn is one of the Bulls' core young players who will get a chance to log heavy minutes this season. He came out strong against Charlotte, scoring eight points to put Chicago ahead early 31-25. But Dunn had just two points in the second as the Hornets came back to tie the score at the break.
The two teams traded baskets and the lead throughout the third and fourth quarters. Neither one got up by more than five in regulation. With 49 seconds left the Bulls went up four, but the Hornets knocked down four clutch free throws to send the game into overtime. The score remained tied 108-108 at the 2:49 mark, but Chicago went on an 11-3 run to secure the victory. Another one of the Bulls' young players, rookie Lauri Markkanen, scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.
