AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — The rim kept getting bigger and bigger for Anthony Davis on Sunday afternoon. He felt like he couldn’t miss, which led to a rare feat for the New Orleans Pelicans’ All-Star power forward.
Davis poured in a career-high 59 points, the NBA’s highest-scoring outing this season, to carry the New Orleans Pelicans to a 111-106 victory over the slumping Detroit Pistons at The Palace.
The All-Star shot 24-for-34 from the field and made 9-of-10 free throw attempts. He also grabbed a season-high 20 rebounds.
Shaquille O’Neal and Chris Webber are the only other players in the past 30 seasons to have a 50-point, 20-rebound performance. He’s the second-youngest player in NBA history to have a 50-20 game.
Davis’ previous career high was 43 points. Sacramento’s DeMarcus Cousins had the previous NBA high this season with 56 points.
Davis set franchise records for points, field goals made and field goals attempted, as well as the single-game scoring record at The Palace, which opened during the 1988-89 season.
Reggie Jackson’s 34 points led the Pistons, who have lost a season-high five straight.
Celtics 121, Nuggets 101
DENVER — Isaiah Thomas had 22 points and 12 assists, and Boston beat Denver to win 11 of its last 14 games.
Jared Sullinger had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Celtics, who had a 48-36 edge in rebounding despite being undersized against the Nuggets. Avery Bradley added 20 points for the Celtics.
Nikola Jokic had 23 points and 13 rebounds and Danilo Gallinari scored 17 for Denver, which has lost its first two games out of the All-Star break.
D.J. Augustin, acquired from Oklahoma City in a trade for Randy Foye on Thursday, had 13 points and four assists in his home debut for Denver.
Spurs 118, Suns 111
PHOENIX — Tony Parker scored 22 points and Patty Mills added 21 as San Antonio struggled but beat Phoenix.
LaMarcus Aldridge added 19 points and 10 rebounds and Rasual Butler had 12 points for the Spurs, who won for the eighth time in the last nine games to improve to 47-9, the best 56-game start in franchise history.
Alex Len had 23 points and 13 rebounds for the Suns.
Cavaliers 115, Thunder 92
OKLAHOMA CITY — Kevin Love scored 29 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Cleveland, which also got 25 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds from LeBron James in a win vs. Oklahoma City.
Kevin Durant scored 26 points to lead the Thunder, and Russell Westbrook added 20 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds.
Kyrie Irving left the game early in the second quarter with flu-like symptoms.