Australians in the NBA - Daniels helps Pelicans soar

Australian Dyson Daniels has helped the visiting New Orleans Pelicans score their fourth straight NBA win, a 117-106 victory over the LA Clippers.

Daniels had 10 points, four rebounds and one assist during his 22 minutes of court time in Los Angeles on Thursday (AEDT).

CJ McCollum top-scored for the Pelicans with 25 points, while Zion Williamson added 21 points and 10 assists. 

Brandon Ingram scored 15 points and pulled down eight rebounds as the Pelicans won the first match of a four-game road trip.

James Harden scored 19 points and Norman Powell added 18 as the Clippers saw their four-game winning streak end in their return home from a 6-1 road trip. 

LA started the night in a four-way tie for first place in the Western Conference, but now sit half a game behind Australian Josh Giddey's Oklahoma City, the Timberwolves and the Nuggets.

In other action, Jaden Ivey scored 19 of his career-high 37 points in a brilliant fourth quarter and Marcus Sasser and Alec Burks each hit key three-pointers late as the visiting Detroit Pistons stunned Sacramento 133-120.

Ivey also added seven assists and six rebounds. 

Jalen Duren chipped in with 20 points and 15 rebounds for the Pistons, who won for just the seventh time this season. 

Domantas Sabonis had a team-high 30 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists for Sacramento, who led 101-97 in the first minute of the fourth quarter before Ivey took over. 

The second-year guard scored six straight points to draw the Pistons even at 103-103. He then buried a pair of three-pointers to give Detroit a 114-109 lead with 5:54 to go.

Ivey hit another three-pointer for a 121-113 advantage with 3:14 left. Sasser (25 points) and Burks (18) followed with three-pointers to halt a potential Sacramento rally.

In Miami, Jimmy Butler notched his 16th career triple-double, leading the Heat past San Antonio 116-104.

Butler had 17 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists and added a game-high three steals with no turnovers in 34 minutes. 

Tyler Herro had a game-high 24 points, six rebounds and seven assists for the Heat.

The Spurs, who have now lost five straight games, were led by star rookie Victor Wembanyama who had 18 points, a game-high 13 rebounds, three assists and one block.

In Boston, Kristaps Porzingis made 13 of 19 field-goal attempts and scored a game-high 31 points to lead the Celtics to a 125-117 victory over Atlanta.

Saddiq Bey led the Hawks with 25 points, while Trae Young finished with 20 points and 10 assists.

In Charlotte, RJ Barrett poured in 23 points for Toronto to send the hosting Hornets to their ninth straight loss.

Miles Bridges led the Hornets with 45 points, eclipsing the 40-point mark for the second straight game.

In Washington, Donovan Mitchell scored a game-high 40 points while leading Cleveland past the Wizards 114-106.

Evan Mobley added 22 points for Cleveland, who extended the NBA's longest active winning streak to seven games. 

And in Philadelphia, Andrew Wiggins had 21 points and 10 rebounds to carry Golden State past the 76ers, who have lost seven of their past eight games.

Klay Thompson and Jonathan Kuminga scored 18 points apiece for the Warriors in their 127-104 victory.