DPA/Los Angeles

Dion Waiters doesn’t start for the Cleveland Cavaliers anymore but he knows how to finish. Waiters netted 13 of his 21 points in the final quarter and the Cavaliers beat the short-handed Memphis Grizzlies 105-91.
A starter early this season, Waiters has struggled and is now coming off the bench. He seems to be settling into his new role and he found his form Sunday against the Western Conference powerhouse.   
“He’s a young guy and learning every day,” said LeBron James, who led the Cavs with 25 points and 11 assists. “We needed a spark and he gave us a big lift off the bench. He was aggressive, decisive and played a great game.”
Brazil’s Anderson Varejao scored 18 points, Kyrie Irving had 17 with 12 assists, and Cleveland (16-10) shot a season-best 61 per cent from the field in the wire-to-wire win. “The way Dion played tonight was amazing,” Varejao said. “When we play like we did tonight we’re a pretty good team.”
Spanish centre Marc Gasol had 23 points with 11 rebounds for Memphis (21-6), which lost its second in a row after a six-game run without starting forward Zach Randolph (swollen right knee) and top reserve Tony Allen (scratched right eye).
“We play who we have,” Gasol said. “Whoever’s not here is not here.  Trust me, we have enough talent in this locker room not just to win tonight, but to win the same amount of games we’ve won so far.”
Without their top rebounder and best defender, Gasol carried the load, especially in the third quarter with 13 points to trim an 11-point halftime deficit to 77-70.  
The Grizzlies drew to within 79-74 with a minute gone in the fourth quarter before Waiters led the Cavs on a game-breaking 21-9 blitz.
During the spree, Waiters hit a couple of triples and converted a three-point play. He added a nifty layup, a corner jumper and sent a lob pass over to the soaring James for a ferocious dunk, as Cleveland opened up a 100-83 cushion with just under five minutes left en route to its 11th win in the last 13 games. “When I come back in I have to be mentally locked in,” Waiters said.  “When you’re on a roll they keep feeding you. I just made shots, we rode the wave and got the win.”
Elsewhere...
New Orleans Pelicans 101, Oklahoma City Thunder 99: Anthony Davis had 38 points with 12 rebounds, and the visiting Pelicans (14-13) escaped the short-handed Thunder when Russell Westbrook missed a potential game-winning three-pointer with two seconds left. Westbrook finished with 28 for Oklahoma City (13-15), which was playing its second straight game without league MVP Kevin Durant because of a right ankle sprain.
Phoenix Suns 104, Washington Wizards 92: Eric Bledsoe scored seven of his 17 points in a game-sealing 9-0 run in the final 2:40, Markieff Morris also had 17, and the Suns (15-4) snapped the Wizards’ (19-7) six-game winning streak.
Philadelphia 76ers 96, Orlando Magic 88: Michael Carter-Williams scored 21 points, and the league-worst Sixers (3-23) rallied past the Magic (10-20), which wasted a 19-point, 17-rebound effort from Nic Vucevic.  
Brooklyn Nets 110, Detroit Pistons 105: Mason Plumlee had 21 points with 12 rebounds, Joe Johnson made four free throws in the final 12 seconds, and the Nets (11-15) sent the visiting Pistons (5-23) to their 17th loss in the last 19 games despite Andre Drummond’s 18-point, 20-rebound effort.
Toronto Raptors 118, New York Knicks 108: Kyle Lowry and Lou Williams tossed in 22 points apiece, and the East-best Raptors (22-6) rolled to their sixth straight victory, while sending the reeling Knicks (5-25) to their 15th loss in the last 16 games despite Carmelo Anthony’s game-high 28 points.
Miami Heat 100, Boston Celtics 84: Luol Deng scored 23 points, James Ennis added 10 of his 16 in the final quarter, and the Heat (13-15), without starters Dwyane Wade (bruised right knee) and Chris Bosh (left calf strain), stopped a five-game slide after bouncing the visiting Celtics (10-15).
Sacramento Kings 108, LA Lakers 101: DeMarcus Cousins had 29 points with 14 rebounds, Rudy Gay netted 24, and the Kings (12-15) went on a decisive 18-2 fourth-quarter run to end a five-game slide after beating the visiting Lakers. Nick Young had 26 points and Kobe Bryant added 25 for the Lakers (8-19), losers of three in a row.
Indiana Pacers 100, Minnesota Timberwolves 94: CJ Miles scored nine of his season-high 28 points in the final 3:15, and Pacers (9-19) trimmed the T-Wolves to stop a seven-game road slide. Mo Williams had 24 points and 10 assists for Minnesota (5-21), which lost for the 11 time in the last 12 games.