The China Mail - Pistons escape Nuggets rally, Thunder roll Pelicans

Detroit, who improved to 34-11 to extend their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference standings, appeared to be cruising towards a comfortable win after opening up an 18-point lead early in the second quarter.

But a Denver line-up missing four key starters, including Nikola Jokic, refused to roll over and gradually chipped away at the Detroit lead, getting to within one point of the Pistons at 107-106 with four seconds remaining in the final quarter.

Denver star Jamal Murray could have forced overtime after being awarded three free throws with one second remaining and Detroit leading 109-106.

However, Murray missed his second and third free throws and the Pistons escaped.

In other games on Tuesday, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander extended his incredible 20-point scoring streak to 118 consecutive games as the Oklahoma City Thunder improved to 38-10 with a 104-95 defeat of the New Orleans Pelicans.

Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 29 points, six rebounds and four assists as he edged closer to Wilt Chamberlain’s mark of 126 straight 20-point performances, a record set between 1961 and 1963.

Chet Holmgren added 20 points and Isaiah Joe bagged 17 off the bench to provide Gilgeous-Alexander with scoring support.

Tempers flared after the final buzzer when a confrontation between the Thunder's Lu Dort and New Orleans' Jeremiah Fears triggered a melee involving multiple players from both teams.

Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said the post-game skirmish was the result of lax officiating.

"Good guys, good crew, but I thought they lost control of the game in the final minutes," Daigneault said.

In Philadelphia, Joel Embiid and Paul George combined for 61 points as the 76ers blew past the Milwaukee Bucks 139-122.

George put on a long-range shooting clinic, bagging nine three-pointers en route to 32 points, while Embiid added 29 and Tyrese Maxey 22. The Sixers improved to 25-21 while Milwaukee fell to 18-27 after their third straight loss.

Embiid, who has struggled with injuries in recent seasons, meanwhile took encouragement from another solid outing which followed a 38-point against the New York Knicks on Saturday.

"Every single time I step on the floor I get emotional because the last few years have been extremely tough, what I've been through," Embiid said.

"I'm just happy, finally being consistent being on the floor -- I don't take it for granted. It's a good feeling."

Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks rolled to their third consecutive win with a 103-87 defeat of the Sacramento Kings.

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks scoring at Madison Square Garden with 28 points as New York finally pulled away with a 31-point final quarter.

"It was an ugly game," Brunson said afterwards. "It wasn't pretty, but we were able to grind it out and find a way to win and I think that's really important for us."

W.Tam--ThChM