DeMar DeRozan scored 37 points while extending an NBA-record streak, and the Eastern Conference-leading Chicago Bulls squeezed by the Atlanta Hawks 112-108.

The Los Angeles Lakers held off the Atlanta Hawks 134-118 for their first four-game winning streak of the season.

The Phoenix Suns got a tough draw in their return to the NBA playoffs for the first time in 11 years.

Nikola Jokic had 26 points, 14 assists and 13 rebounds, and the Denver Nuggets held off the San Antonio Spurs for a 121-119 win when DeMar DeRozan’s shot attempt at the buzzer rolled out.

James played within the offense for the first three quarters, then became more aggressive to start the fourth, scoring the Lakers first 10 points of the period. Montrezl Harrell added 16 points and nine rebounds to help the Lakers win their third straight. Kyle Anderson led Memphis with 18 points, and Jonas Valanciunas had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Grizzlies: Due to local COVID-19 restrictions, the game was played with no general tickets sold. …Rookie Xavier Tillman playing in his first game, scored his first NBA points in the opening quarter.

The trade fizzled as the NBA announced it was investigating whether the move had been agreed upon earlier than league rules allow. Bogdanovic, a restricted free agent, ended up signing with Atlanta when Sacramento chose to not match the Hawks’ four-year, $72 million offer sheet. Ilyasova was waived, but DiVincenzo and Wilson remain with the Bucks. NBA officials said they took into account several factors in the decision: the Bucks’ cooperation with the investigation; the Bucks ultimately not signing Bogdanovic; and the lack of evidence of an impermissible early agreement on contract terms. "We were fully cooperative with the league and we look forward to our season beginning on Wednesday,” the Bucks said Monday in a statement.

The Minnesota Timberwolves center is a seven-year NBA veteran who signed a four-year $64 million contract extension with the team in 2016. With the help of Minnesota-based global health nonprofit MATTER he set up the Gorgui Dieng Foundation in 2015. In recognition of his work, Dieng became the third player to receive the Offseason NBA Cares Community Assist Award. "There a lot who are fighting with malnutrition in some areas of Senegal," Dieng told CNN. Tennis great Serena Williams, the 23-time grand slam champion, has long had ties to charity work.