NBA-best Cavaliers look the part in demolition of visiting Knicks

AROUND THE NBA

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The Cleveland Cavaliers’ Evan Mobley dunks for two of his 21 points in Friday night’s rout of the New York Knicks. PHIL LONG — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points, Evan Mobley added 21 and the host Cleveland Cavaliers bullied the New York Knicks from the start Friday night, winning 142-105 in a matchup of two of the Eastern Conference’s top teams.

Only the Cavs looked elite, winning their sixth straight and improving the NBA’s best record to 46-10. Cleveland has won 34 games by double digits.

Jalen Brunson scored 26 points and Karl-Anthony Towns 23 for the Knicks, who beat Chicago in overtime on Thursday in their first game back from the All-Star break.

New York couldn’t use a back-to-back as any excuse as the Cavs won in Brooklyn a night earlier. It was the Knicks’ most-lopsided loss this season.

BUCKS 104, WIZARDS 101 >> Kyle Kuzma scored 19 points in his return to Washington and Milwaukee overcame Giannis Antetokounmpo’s foul trouble to beat the Wizards.

Kuzma was traded from Washington to Milwaukee earlier this month. Khris Middleton went to the Wizards in that deal, and he finally played for his new team for the first time, scoring 12 points. Antetokounmpo scored 18 points before fouling out with 3:36 remaining.

Rookie Alex Sarr scored a career-high 22 points for the Wizards.

HEAT 120, RAPTORS 111, OT >> Tyler Herro scored 10 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, Andrew Wiggins added 25 points and visiting Miami snapped a four-game skid by beating Toronto.

RJ Barrett scored 29 points for the Raptors, Immanuel Quickley had 23 and Scottie Barnes added 13.

GRIZZLIES 105, MAGIC 104 >> Ja Morant scored 10 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter and Jaren Jackson Jr. (16 points) blocked a driving floater by Orlando’s Paolo Banchero in the final second to give visiting Memphis a win over the Magic.

Franz Wagner led the Magic with 25 points. Banchero added 21.

WILLIAMS’ AGENT CRIES FOUL AFTER TRADE TO LAKERS RESCINDED >> The agent for Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams says the Los Angeles Lakers shouldn’t have failed his client’s physical examination, a move that ultimately resulted in the trade being rescinded after the deadline.

The Hornets agreed to send the 7-foot Williams to the Lakers on Feb. 6 in exchange for Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 first-round pick and a 2030 pick swap. However, the Lakers wound up failing Williams’ physical and the players returned to play for their former teams.

“The overwhelming sentiment, after conferring with multiple, nationally recognized doctors, is that the Los Angeles Lakers should not have failed Mark Williams on his physical,” Williams agent Jeff Schwartz said Friday in a statement. “Mark was ready and able to play for them and should have been given that opportunity.”

The Lakers declined comment through a team spokesman.

In his first game back with the Hornets on Wednesday night, Williams played 29 minutes and scored 10 points and grabbed nine rebounds in a 100-97 win over the Lakers.

Williams, who has struggled with back issues during his three-year NBA career, has never played in more than 43 games in a season. He’s averaging 15.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game this season.