The Wizards and Bucks further muddled the packed Eastern Conference Wednesday by each earning their fourth straight win.
John Wall scored 27 points, and Bradley Beal added 26 points to lead the Wizards (9-5) past the Heat 102-93. Washington outscored Miami 30-19 in the first quarter, and then iced the game with a 31-19 fourth quarter.
The Bucks earned their fourth straight win by upending the equally red-hot Pistons, 99-95. All five Bucks starters scored double-figures, with MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo finishing with 21 points and six rebounds.
Washington, currently second in the Eastern Conference in scoring, averaging 110.7 points per game, feature five players averaging at least 11 points per game.
The Celtics remain the class of the East, but the Bucks and Wizards are both capable of making noise in the playoffs this year with the Cavaliers struggling and the Celtics unproven with this group.
Studs of the Night
Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns scored 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting and 16 rebounds in a 98-86 win over the Spurs. Towns now has four straight double-doubles, while leading Minnesota (9-5) to seven wins in their last nine games.
Sixers big man Joel Embiid had a monster game in a win over the Lakers. Embiid finished with a career-high 46 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and a career-best seven blocks.
Duds of the Night
The Kings: Falling to 1-8 on the road this season, Sacramento was defeated 126-80 Wednesday night by the Hawks. Zach Randolph scored 16 points to lead the Kings, but they shot just 35.2 percent from the field and 21.6 percent from 3-point range. The Kings have now lost 10 of their last 12 games.
The Bulls: No, the box score didn't have a typo, Chicago scored just seven points in the first quarter, leading to an ugly 92-79 loss to the Thunder. The Bulls shot just 34.7 percent from the field, falling to 2-10.
Highlight
LeBron James with a steal and an emphatic slam:
Interception and SLAM by LeBron James!@cavs looking to close out on ESPN. pic.twitter.com/6TVpxFQwm4
— NBA (@NBA) November 16, 2017
James scored 31 points with eight assists and six rebounds leading the Cavaliers (8-7) to a 115-107 win over the Hornets (5-8).
What's Next
Warriors (11-3) at Celtics (13-2) 8:00 p.m. ET — Boston, the Eastern Conference leaders, host the Warriors, the leaders out West, trying to protect its 13-game winning streak. Injuries have plagued the Celtics, but stifling defense has helped them win close games. The Warriors have won seven straight games themselves after a rocky start to the season.
