07.12.2023
Atlanta Hawks 113 - 114 Brooklyn Nets
In a thrilling game that featured 43 lead changes and 11 ties, Mikal Bridges scored 32 points, including the game-winning basket, as the Brooklyn Nets narrowly defeated the Atlanta Hawks 114-113. This victory marked Bridges' first win at State Farm Arena after being traded to Brooklyn last year, and Cam Johnson and Spencer Dinwiddie also contributed to the Nets' win. Trae Young led the Hawks with 30 points, but missed a shot at the buzzer that would have given Atlanta the win. The back-and-forth battle showcased intense competition and great performances from both teams.
Cleveland Cavaliers 121 - 111 Orlando Magic
The Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off a 121-111 victory over the Orlando Magic, despite Paolo Banchero's career-high 42 points for the Magic. Donovan Mitchell scored 35 points for the Cavs, while Darius Garland added 26. Banchero's performance made him the second youngest player in Magic history to score 40 points, behind Shaquille O'Neal. The Cavs, who have been inconsistent lately, needed a strong showing and got it with this win. Cleveland's Max Strus had 17 points, six assists, and five rebounds, contributing to the team's success. Despite the loss, Banchero's standout game gives him confidence to continue developing as a young star in the league. Jalen Suggs left the game in the second quarter with an ankle injury for the Magic, who face the Detroit Pistons next, while the Cavaliers play the Miami Heat.
Dallas Mavericks 147 - 97 Utah Jazz
Luka Doncic had the first first-half triple-double of his career in the Dallas Mavericks' dominant 147-97 victory over the Utah Jazz, finishing with 40 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. Doncic's performance moved him past Larry Bird on the all-time triple-double list. The Mavericks shot 55.4% from the floor and hit 22 3-pointers in the game, while the Jazz had one of their worst losses in franchise history. Doncic's impressive night led the Mavericks to their highest-scoring game of the season, just two points short of their all-time high in regulation. The game was added to the schedule last week after both teams were eliminated from the In-Season Tournament, with the Jazz looking to bounce back against the Los Angeles Clippers and the Mavericks facing the Portland Trail Blazers next.
Houston Rockets 110 - 101 Oklahoma City Thunder
The Houston Rockets defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 110-101, breaking a three-game losing streak. Dillon Brooks led the Rockets with 23 points, while Aaron Holiday scored a season-high 22 points off the bench. Houston dominated the boards with a 53-30 rebounding advantage, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 33 points. The Rockets went on a 20-7 run in the fourth quarter to secure the victory. The Thunder will host the Golden State Warriors next, while the Rockets will face the Denver Nuggets.
Washington Wizards 126 - 131 Philadelphia 76ers
In a thrilling matchup, Joel Embiid scored a season-high 50 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 131-126 victory over the Washington Wizards. Embiid's performance included 13 rebounds and 7 assists, as he dominated the game and showcased why he is the reigning NBA MVP. Tyrese Maxey also had a strong game with 26 points and 7 assists for the 76ers. Despite a strong effort from Jordan Poole, who led the Wizards with 23 points, Washington fell short and now holds a 3-17 record. The 76ers will look to build on this win when they host Atlanta next, while the Wizards will face Brooklyn in their next game.
LA Clippers 111 - 102 Denver Nuggets
The Los Angeles Clippers overcame Nikola Jokic's triple-double to beat the Denver Nuggets 111-102 and snap an eight-game losing streak against the defending champions. Paul George scored 25 points, James Harden added 20 points and 11 assists, and Kawhi Leonard contributed 17 points as the Clippers improved to 10-10. Despite Jokic's 22 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists, the Nuggets fell to 5-8 on the road. Jamal Murray returned from injury to score 23 points, but it wasn't enough to stop the Clippers' resurgence under Harden's leadership. The win marked the Clippers' first victory over the Nuggets since January 2022.
Golden State Warriors 110 - 106 Portland Trail Blazers
In a thrilling matchup, the Golden State Warriors rallied to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 110-106 with Stephen Curry scoring 31 points and rookie Jonathan Kuminga stepping up with 13 points off the bench. Kuminga's key steal and dunk in the final minute sealed the victory for the Warriors, who overcame a slow start and struggled with turnovers. Anfernee Simons led the Trail Blazers with 28 points, but Shaedon Sharpe missed a crucial free throw late in the game. The win marked the Warriors' third straight victory over Portland and their sixth consecutive home win against the Blazers.
Chicago Bulls 111 - 100 Charlotte Hornets
DeMar DeRozan led the Bulls to a 111-100 victory over the short-handed Hornets with 29 points, while Nikola Vucevic added 20 points and 11 rebounds. Chicago extended their winning streak to three games after a five-game skid, holding Charlotte to just two field goals in the first six minutes of the second half. Gordon Hayward scored 27 points for the Hornets, who were missing LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams. Zach LaVine is expected to be out for another three to four weeks with a foot injury. The Bulls will face the Spurs next, while the Hornets will host the Raptors.
Toronto Raptors 103 - 112 Miami Heat
In a game marked by strong performances from the Miami Heat's Caleb Martin and Duncan Robinson, Martin had a season-high 24 points and career-high 12 rebounds while Robinson scored 10 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter to help the Heat beat the Toronto Raptors 112-103. Pascal Siakam scored 30 points for the Raptors, but it wasn't enough to overcome Miami's offensive power. The Heat's strong second-half defense, especially in the third quarter where they went on a 16-0 run, sealed the win for Miami. With the victory, the Heat snapped a three-game losing streak against the Raptors. The final score was 112-103 in favor of the Miami Heat.
Detroit Pistons 102 - 116 Memphis Grizzlies
Desmond Bane scored a career-high 49 points, with 32 points in the second half, as the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Detroit Pistons 116-102, handing them their 18th straight loss. Detroit's losing streak is now the longest in one season in franchise history. Bane's performance, along with Jaren Jackson Jr.'s 24 points, led the Grizzlies to their third victory in four games. The Pistons, led by Bojan Bogdanovic's 22 points, were outscored 34-18 in the fourth quarter. Jalen Duren left the game with a left leg injury late in the game. The Grizzlies will host Minnesota next, while the Pistons will play in Orlando. It was also noted that Memphis is playing without star guard Ja Morant who is serving a 25-game suspension.
Minnesota Timberwolves 102 - 94 San Antonio Spurs
The NBA-leading Minnesota Timberwolves held on to beat the San Antonio Spurs 102-94, with Rudy Gobert leading the way with 16 points and 21 rebounds. Victor Wembanyama struggled against Minnesota's height, scoring just 12 points in his first game in Minnesota. Mike Conley added 18 points for the Timberwolves, who have now won five straight games. The Spurs have lost 15 games in a row. Minnesota is still without Jaden McDaniels due to injury, but Gobert expressed gratitude for the crowd's support and the team's hard work.