Basketball

DENVER (AP) — Michael Porter Jr. tied a career high with 39 points on the eve of the trade deadline, Nikola Jokic added 38 and the Denver Nuggets beat the struggling New Orleans Pelicans 144-119 on Wednesday night for their fourth straight win.

ATLANTA (AP) — De'Aaron Fox had a quick description of his first game as the point guard for 7-foot-3 Victor Wembanyama. “He is different,” Fox said. “He is special.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 49 points, including 20 in the third quarter, as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the short-handed Chicago Bulls 127-108 on Wednesday night.

The Washington Wizards have agreed to trade center Jonas Valanciunas to the Sacramento Kings for Sidy Cissoko and second-round draft picks in 2028 and 2029. The Wizards announced the trade Wednesday night.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tyler Herro scored 30 points Wednesday, and Bam Adebayo had 18 points and 13 rebounds as the Miami Heat defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 108-101, on the night the Heat traded Jimmy Butler to Golden State .

TORONTO (AP) — Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 32 points, Ja Morant had 16 of his 26 in the third quarter and the Memphis Grizzlies won their fourth straight game, routing the Toronto Raptors 138-107 on Wednesday night.

DETROIT (AP) — Darius Garland hit a 31-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Cleveland Cavaliers a 118-115 win over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.

NEW YORK (AP) — Jordan Poole scored 19 points to lead the Washington Wizards to a 119-102 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night. Poole was one of six Wizards (9-41) to finish in double-figure scoring as Washington won its third straight game.

ATLANTA (AP) — Victor Wembanyama broke a tie with a free throw with 2.4 seconds left and De'Aaron Fox scored 24 points in his first game for San Antonio, leading the Spurs to a 126-125 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Damian Lillard had 29 points and 12 assists, Bobby Portis had 23 points and 17 rebounds in his first game since Jan.