Basketball

TORONTO — As the Toronto Raptors veer toward the end of the season with a playoff berth out of sight, the team’s focus has turned toward development.

Nikola Jokic had 27 points and 14 rebounds before sitting the fourth quarter and the Denver Nuggets beat the Utah Jazz 129-93 on Friday night to pad their lead in the fight for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Stephen Curry scored 23 points in his return from a two-game absence and the Golden State Warriors beat the New Orleans Pelicans 111-95 on Friday night.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — OG Anunoby scored 20 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter and the New York Knicks defeated Milwaukee 116-107 on Friday night to hand the Bucks their third consecutive loss.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Julius Randle scored 25 points, Anthony Edwards finished with 20 after missing the second quarter due to injury and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Phoenix Suns 124-109 on Friday night.

TORONTO (AP) — Jakob Poeltl had 24 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Toronto Raptors to their third straight win, a 108-97 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night.

NEW YORK (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points and the Los Angeles Clippers overwhelmed the Brooklyn Nets 132-100 on Friday night for their second straight victory and 10th in 12 games as they fight to hold on to sixth place in the Western Conference

TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors ran their winning streak to three games with an 108-97 victory over the lowly Charlotte Hornets on Friday.

DETROIT (AP) — Tim Hardaway Jr. scored a season-high 32 points and the Detroit Pistons beat the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers 133-122 on Friday night to guarantee their first winning season since 2016.

The Memphis Grizzlies fired Taylor Jenkins, their winningest coach, on Friday with the team struggling down the stretch and at risk of losing home-court advantage for the postseason. Still sitting at No.