Aussies Abroad: Green hits season-high

Australian Josh Green has scored a season-high 20 points as his Charlotte Hornets sunk a franchise-record 26 three-pointers to roll past the San Antonio Spurs 145-134 in the NBA.

It had been a quiet month for the shooting guard until Friday, Green playing a significant part in his team's numbers beyond the arc with six of nine shooting.

Teammate and former Illawarra Hawks NBL player LaMelo Ball led allcomers with 27 points and 14 assists while Nick Smith Jr. scored a career-high 26 points and Miles Green added 21.

It was the Hornets' third win from their last four games but they still remain mired in 14th place in the Eastern Conference standings.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills won the battle of the Aussies in Atlanta, as the Los Angeles Clippers beat Dyson Daniels' Hawks 121-98.

James Harden and Kawhi Leonard each scored 25 points, with Harden scoring 13 in a dominant third quarter for LA.

Daniels had six points and six rebounds in his 31 minutes on court while Simmons scored two points in his 17 minutes. 

Veteran Mills had just two minutes court time as the Clippers put a gap on ninth spot in the West to stay well positioned for the finals. The Hawks are seventh in the Eastern Conference.

In Memphis, Evan Mobley had 22 points and 11 rebounds and Darius Garland added 20 points and nine assists as Cleveland recorded a franchise-record 16th straight victory with a 133-124 win over the Grizzlies.

Ja Morant led the home side with a season-high 44 points to go with eight rebounds and seven assists but he was powerless to stop the high-flying Cavaliers who have a firm hold on top spot in the East with 59 wins.

In Miami, Jayson Tatum scored 28 points, Jrue Holiday added 25 and the Boston Celtics pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the freefalling Heat 103-91.

Derrick White added 18 for Boston, who made 19 three-pointers. The Celtics outscored Miami 25-14 in the fourth quarter and their victory, combined with Atlanta's loss to the Clippers, clinched a playoff spot for the defending NBA champions.

Elsewhere, Tari Eason scored a career-high 30 points as the Houston Rockets cruised to a 133-96 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, Anthony Edwards scored 28 points to help the Minnesota Timberwolves rally and beat the Orlando Magic 118-111 and the Indiana Pacers downed the Philadelphia 76ers 112-100.