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Bulls beat LeBron-less Cavaliers in NBA

Dwyane Wade scored 20 points and Jimmy Butler recorded a triple-double, leading the Chicago Bulls to a 117-99 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, who played without an ill LeBron James.

James missed the game on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) with strep throat and coach Tyronn Lue said he wasn't sure how long the Cavaliers would be without the four-time league MVP. Cleveland are 0-4 this season without James.

Kyrie Irving led Cleveland with 34 points, hitting 13 of 25 from the field.

Hassan Whiteside scored 22 points and grabbed 17 rebounds and red-hot Miami pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat Indiana 113-95.

The Pacers played most of the second half without All-Star forward Paul George, who was ejected after two technical fouls on separate plays early in the third quarter.

The win was the surging Heat's 16th from 18 as they topped 100 points for the 16th consecutive game, extending their franchise record.

In Oklahoma City, Stephen Curry scored 27 points on a night Kevin Durant missed his first game of the season with a hand injury, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Brooklyn Nets 112-95 to clinch a playoff berth.

Klay Thompson added 24 points. Curry converted a four-point play just before halftime to put his team up 62-51 at the break. The two-time reigning MVP had five three-pointers and five assists.

This is just a first step for these star-studded, NBA-best Warriors (49-9): They want the No. 1 seed in the West. Oh, and a championship.

Durant sat out with a bruised left hand. He injured his pinkie in the first quarter of a 123-113 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night, and X-rays were negative. He practiced on Friday with his left hand heavily taped and still had some discomfort on Saturday.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson scored 16 points in the Nets' 16th straight defeat.

In New York, Carmelo Anthony made a jumper with 0.3 seconds left to give New York a 110-109 victory over Philadelphia 76ers.

The Knicks blew a 17-point lead and fell behind by one when Jahlil Okafor scored with 9 seconds remaining but Anthony dribbled left after a timeout, pulling up over Robert Covington to cap his 37-point performance.

The Knicks then intercepted the 76ers' inbounds pass to hold on and snap their two-game losing streak.

In Dallas, Harrison Barnes scored 19 points and Dirk Nowitzki had 18 points and nine rebounds as the Mavericks ended a three-game losing streak by beating New Orleans 96-83.

The Pelicans fell to 0-2 since trading for DeMarcus Cousins and pairing him with Anthony Davis.

Davis had 39 points and 14 rebounds but scored only 12 in the second half. Cousins finished with 12 points and 15 rebounds.

Elsewhere, Orlando beat Atlanta 105-86, Charlotte ended a five-game losing streak by beating Sacramento 99-85, and James Harden had 24 points and 10 assists to lead the Houston Rockets to a 142-130 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves as both teams set season scoring highs.