Australians in the NBA - Mills helps turn up heat

Australian Patty Mills made a rare appearance to help the  Atlanta Hawks score a thrilling 109-108 NBA win over the Miami Heat.

Mills has had limited game time this season, but scored 11 points, three rebounds and two assists during his 18 minutes on court on Friday night (local time).

Dejounte Murray hit a go-ahead three-pointer with two seconds left to help Atlanta spoil Udonis Haslem's jersey retirement night.

Murray scored 22 points, finishing with his second straight late winner. On Wednesday night at home, he hit a 17-foot jumper as time expired to give Atlanta a 106-104 victory over Orlando.

Bogdan Bogdanovic added 17, Jalen Johnson had 15 and Saddiq Bey 14 for Atlanta, who trailed by four with 35 seconds left. 

Bogdanovic made a pair of free throws, the Hawks got a stop, then Murray connected.

Tyler Herro and Jimmy Butler each scored 25 points for Miami.

In Boston, Jamal Murray scored 35 points and Nikola Jokic had 34 as the Denver Nuggets held on to beat the Celtics 102-100, their first home loss of the season.

Jokic added 12 rebounds and nine assists to help the defending NBA champions end the Celtics' streak at 20 home victories. 

It was the first of two regular-season meetings between teams with sights on representing their respective conferences in the NBA Finals. They play again in Denver on March 7.

For the Celtics, Jayson Tatum finished with 22 points and eight rebounds. 

Derrick White had 24 points and Kristaps Porzingis added 21.

In New Orleans, Devin Booker scored 52 points in 37 minutes on the court - his second straight 50-point game against the home team - as Phoenix beat the Pelicans 123-109 for their fourth consecutive victory.

The last time Booker - who had 25 points in the first quarter - was in the Suns' line-up against New Orleans he scored 58 points in a victory in Phoenix on December 17, 2022.

On Friday, he was 18-of-30 from the field, 6-of-11 on three-pointers, and made 10 free throws without a miss.

Kevin Durant added 26 points and Jusuf Nurkic grabbed 15 rebounds for Phoenix. 

Zion Williamson scored 24 points for the Pelicans.

In Orlando, Joel Embiid scored 36 points and Tyrese Maxey had 32 as Philadelphia beat Orlando 124-109 for their fourth straight victory.

The 76ers won for the ninth straight time on the road with Embiid in the line-up. They are 2-6 away from home without him.

Wendell Carter Jr had 25 points and 11 rebounds for the Magic.

In Charlotte, LaMelo Ball scored 16 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter as the Hornets beat San Antonio 124-120 to end a six-game losing streak.

San Antonio rookie star Victor Wembanyama sat out for the sixth time this season. He sprained an ankle on December 23 at Dallas, and the Spurs have been cautious with him. 

Keldon Johnson led San Antonio with 25 points.

No. 2 overall pick Brandon Miller added 24 points for Charlotte.