WASHINGTON — The Cleveland Cavaliers launched their push to the NBA post-season Friday with a 127-89 pummeling of the Washington Wizards. Four-time NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James scored 28 points and Kyrie Irving added 25 with seven assists for the Cavaliers, who have now won 15 of their last 17 games. J.R. Smith added 15 points and Iman Shumpert scored 12 for Cleveland and James Jones chipped in with 10. With the win, the Cavaliers moved a half-game ahead of the Wizards into fourth place in the Eastern Conference. It wasn't the Cavs' most lopsided victory of the season, but it was a close second to their 39-point win over Charlotte. Long-range shooting was key. The Cavaliers connected on 14 of their 33 attempts from three-point range while the Wizards were just 1-of-16. The Cavaliers improved to 13-13 in road games this campaign, and they'll need to bolster that record even more as they play 14 of their next 19 on the road. John Wall and Nene scored 18 points apiece for the Wizards, who have now lost seven of their last nine games. Wall's layup opened the scoring, but Cleveland scored the next eight points and led the rest of the way. Raptors 105, Hawks 80: The Toronto Raptors routed the Atlanta Hawks 105-80 in a mismatch between the two teams with the best record in the Eastern Conference. Guards DeMar DeRozan and Lou Williams combined for 47 points as the Raptors won their fourth straight and snapped Atlanta's 12-game home winning streak. It was the third loss in four games for the Hawks (43-12), who had 22 turnovers and shot 33 percent from the floor. Pistons 100, Bulls 91: Andre Drummond dominated inside with 18 points and 20 rebounds as the depleted Detroit Pistons surprised the Central Division-leading Chicago Bulls 100-91. The Pistons, who had only 10 players in uniform, used a 20-3 run early in the third period to break open a tight contest. Timberwolves 111, Suns 109: The Minnesota Timberwolves got 28 points from guard Kevin Martin in a 111-109 win over the Phoenix Suns, who lost for the sixth time in seven games. The lead changed hands 10 times in the final period as the Timberwolves won for the fourth time in six games, though they still have the worst record in the Western Conference. Mavericks 111, Rockets 100: The Dallas Mavericks finally solved the Houston riddle, beating the Rockets for the first time this season. Backup point guard Devin Harris scored 17 points and dished out seven assists to pace a balanced team effort for the Mavericks, who had lost the two previous meetings with Houston. Magic 95, Pelicans 84: Second-year guard Victor Oladipo scored 22 points in leading the Orlando Magic to a 95-84 victory over the slumping New Orleans Pelicans, who lost their fourth consecutive game as they struggle to stay in the Western Conference playoff race. All-Star forward Anthony Davis, who had scored at least 20 points in each of his previous 13 games, had only 13 points and 11 rebounds. He had missed the previous two games with shoulder bruise. Heat 111, Knicks 87: The Miami Heat used just nine players, eight of whom scored in double figures, in a 111-87 win over the New York Knicks. The Heat (23-30) did not have guards Goran and Zoran Dragic, acquired from the Phoenix Suns Thursday, and they were also without starting center Chris Bosh (ill). Pacers 106, 76ers 95: Indiana guard Rodney Stuckey scored 30 points off the bench, guard C.J. Miles added 17 points and the Pacers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 106-95. The Pacers, who have won their last four road games, led for all but 13 seconds of the first quarter. Jazz 92, Trail Blazers 76: Forward Gordon Hayward scored 20 points and guard Trey Burke added 19 points off the bench to help the Utah Jazz beat the Portland Trail Blazers 92-76. Forward Derrick Favors added 16 points and nine rebounds for Utah (20-34), which had lost its past five clashes with Portland. Bucks 89, Nuggets 81: Shooting guard Khris Middleton scored 15 points and center John Henson had 14 as the Milwaukee Bucks extended their winning streak to four games with an 89-81 victory over the Denver Nuggets. — Agencies
