Lin lifts Charlotte over Spurs in NBA

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (AP):

Jeremy Lin scored 15 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter as Charlotte overcame a 23-point deficit to snap San Antonio's six-game winning streak, winning 91-88.

Lin was 11 of 18 from the field and hit all four three-point attempts, including three in the fourth quarter.

Courtney Lee had 17 points, Nicolas Batum added 15, and Cody Zeller grabbed 14 rebounds for the Hornets, who bounced back from a disappointing loss to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night.

The Spurs had two chances to tie it at the end of regulation, but Patty Mills and Danny Green both missed three-point attempts.

In Cleveland, LeBron James scored 33 points and had his 41st career triple-double as the Cavaliers clinched their second straight Central Division title with a comfortable 124-91 victory over Denver.

James added 11 rebounds and 11 assists before checking out with 6:02 left to a thunderous ovation. He scored 17 in the first quarter, helping the Cavs build a 19-point lead and erase the memory of an embarrassing loss on Saturday in Miami.

The Nuggets fought back and briefly led before the Cavs regrouped, scored 68 after half-time to notch their 50th win. Will Barton scored 27 for the Nuggets.

Andre Drummond's tip-in with two seconds remaining lifted Detroit over Milwaukee, 92-91.

TIGHT RACE

The Pistons, who are in a tight race for the final play-off spot in the Eastern Conference, came out inexplicably flat and trailed by 17 points in the first half. They were down 13 in the third quarter before chipping away at Milwaukee's lead in the fourth.

Drummond was outplayed badly early on by Greg Monroe, but when Kentavious Caldwell-Pope missed from the perimeter in the final seconds, Drummond was able to tip the ball in.

Draymond Green had 24 points, nine rebounds and six assists to help Golden State narrowly avoid their first two-game skid in nearly a year with a 109-104 victory at Minnesota.

Klay Thompson scored 17 points and hit all five of his three-pointers, and the Warriors (63-7) overcame a second straight poor shooting night from Stephen Curry. He missed 11 of his 17 shots, including seven of his nine three-pointers, but still had 19 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds.