Gilgeous-Alexander scores 30, Thunder earn 5th straight win

Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) looks to shoot over Hornets guard Nick Smith Jr. (8) as Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) watches during the first half Friday in Oklahoma City. NATE BILLINGS — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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OKLAHOMA CITY >> Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder won their fifth in a row, 141-106 over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA’s top scorer at 33.0 points per game, returned to the lineup after sitting out Wednesday night’s lopsided win against Philadelphia. He made 13 of 18 shots to go with six rebounds and nine assists before sitting out the fourth quarter.

Chet Holmgren added 14 points, five rebounds and three blocks for Oklahoma City, which clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference for the second consecutive season when Milwaukee beat the Lakers on Thursday.

Isaiah Hartenstein had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Thunder, who played without injured starters Lu Dort and Jalen Williams. Oklahoma City led 66-49 at halftime after Kenrich Williams banked in a 29-foot shot at the buzzer, and 103-76 after three quarters.

Magic 120, Wizards 105 >> Paolo Banchero scored 30 points and Orlando eased to a victory over Washington.

Orlando began the night in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, 1 1/2 games behind Atlanta and two in front of Chicago in the battle for NBA play-in tournament seeding.

Timberwolves 134, Pelicans 93 >> Julius Randle had 20 points, six rebounds and five assists and Minnesota avoided losing to one of the Western Conference’s worst teams for the second time in three days with a victory over New Orleans.

Jaden McDaniels and Anthony Edwards each scored 17 points, and Rudy Gobert had 13 points and 12 rebounds for Minnesota, which moved back within a game of Golden State for the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference with 10 games left in the regular season.

Spurs 128, 76ers 120 >> Jeremy Sochan had 23 points, Keldon Johnson added 20 points and San Antonio rallied to close on an 11-3 run and beat injury-depleted Philadelphia.

Stephon Castle added 17 points and a season-high 14 assists for San Antonio, which won consecutive games for the first time since Jan. 3.

Rockets 102, Heat 98 >> Fred VanVleet scored 37 points and surging Houston won its ninth straight, beating Miami.

Amen Thompson returned after missing the last six games because of a sprained left ankle and finished with 18 points and seven steals while Dillon Brooks and Jabari Smith each added 11 points for the Rockets.

Mavericks 123, Pistons 117 >> Spencer Dinwiddie scored a season-high 31 points while P.J. Washington Jr. added 27, with a season-high five 3-pointers, as Dallas beat Detroit.

Klay Thompson scored 20 and Naji Marshall had 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Mavericks, who snapped a four-game losing streak and won for only the second time in 11 games as they battle to earn a play-in berth after playing in last year’s NBA Finals.

Celtics 121, Jazz 99 >> Kristaps Porzingis scored 27 points and Jayson Tatum added 26 to lead Boston to a victory over Utah.

Porzingis added 10 rebounds and six assists.