12.12.2023
Milwaukee Bucks 133 - 129 Chicago Bulls
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to a 133-129 victory over the Chicago Bulls in overtime with 32 points and 12 rebounds. DeMar DeRozan had an impressive 41 points and 11 assists for the Bulls, becoming only the second player in team history to achieve at least 40 points and 10 assists in a game. The Bucks were coming off a loss in the In-Season Tournament, but bounced back with key plays down the stretch to secure the win. The game was a close battle throughout, with both teams fighting back and forth until Milwaukee ultimately came out on top.
New Orleans Pelicans 121 - 107 Minnesota Timberwolves
Zion Williamson scored a season-high 36 points to lead the New Orleans Pelicans to a 121-107 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, bouncing back from a previous blowout loss to the Lakers. Williamson was aggressive and made tough finishes over the league's best shot-blockers, while CJ McCollum added nine crucial points in the fourth quarter. The Pelicans responded well to criticism and earned their first win against the Timberwolves this season. Karl-Anthony Towns led Minnesota with 17 points and 12 rebounds, but fouled out late in the game. The Pelicans will next face the Washington Wizards, while the Timberwolves will take on the Dallas Mavericks.
Atlanta Hawks 122 - 129 Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets ended their three-game losing streak with a 129-122 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, as Jamal Murray scored 29 points and Nikola Jokic added 25 points. Bogdan Bogdanovic had a career-high 40 points for the Hawks, making 10 3-pointers in a losing effort. Jokic praised Bogdanovic for his performance and the two-time MVP himself shot 9 of 13 from the field. Rookie Julian Strawther also had a standout game for Denver with 22 points and five steals. Trae Young was ejected for the Hawks after picking up two technical fouls and the injured Jalen Johnson and De'Andre Hunter were missed. The Nuggets will face the Bulls next, while the Hawks will take on the Raptors.
New York Knicks 136 - 130 Toronto Raptors
In a high-scoring game, the New York Knicks beat the Toronto Raptors 136-130 behind a balanced effort despite missing starting center Mitchell Robinson, who will be out for at least eight weeks due to injury. Julius Randle led the Knicks with 34 points, Quentin Grimes had a season-high 19 points, and RJ Barrett added 27 points. The Knicks' bench also stepped up, with Josh Hart scoring 16 points. The Raptors, led by OG Anunoby's season-high 29 points, dropped their fourth straight game. The Knicks play their next five games on the road, starting with a matchup against the Utah Jazz.
LA Clippers 132 - 127 Portland Trail Blazers
The Los Angeles Clippers held off the short-handed Portland Trail Blazers 132-127 for their fourth straight win, with Kawhi Leonard scoring 34 points and Paul George adding 20 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. Despite a strong performance from Anfernee Simons, who had a season-high 38 points for the Blazers, they fell to 0-8 against the West on the road. The Clippers closed a high-scoring third quarter on a 12-5 run and maintained control in the fourth to secure the victory. Harden's one-handed dunk in the third quarter was a highlight for the Clippers, who improved to 9-3 since a six-game skid earlier in the season.
Orlando Magic 104 - 94 Cleveland Cavaliers
In a game where Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic held the Cleveland Cavaliers to just 15 points in the third quarter, the Magic came out on top with a 104-94 victory. Banchero finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Franz Wagner added 19 points. Darius Garland led the Cavaliers with 36 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the poor third quarter performance. The Cavaliers shot just 35.3% overall and had a season low in scoring. The win was revenge for the Magic after a recent loss to the Cavaliers, and they proved they are a competitive team in the league.
Houston Rockets 93 - 82 San Antonio Spurs
The Houston Rockets beat the San Antonio Spurs 93-82 in a game where the Spurs set a franchise-record 17th straight loss. Rookie Victor Wembanyama had an impressive performance with 15 points, 18 rebounds, and five blocks, but it wasn't enough for the Spurs to secure a win. Tari Eason shined for the Rockets with a season-high 18 points and 14 rebounds off the bench. San Antonio struggled from 3-point range, shooting 5 of 41. The Rockets won their 10th straight home game and third in a row overall. The Spurs will look to end their losing streak when they host the Lakers next, while the Rockets will host the Memphis Grizzlies.
Memphis Grizzlies 113 - 120 Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 120-113 with Luka Doncic leading the way with 35 points, while Jaden Hardy added 19 points off the bench. The win marked the Mavericks' third straight victory despite missing several key players due to injuries. Jaren Jackson Jr. scored a season-high 41 points for the Grizzlies, but it wasn't enough as they continue to struggle offensively and drop to 1-10 at home. Dallas controlled the boards with Dereck Lively II grabbing 16 rebounds, helping secure the win. Doncic also hit his 1,000th career 3-pointer in the game. The Mavericks will host the Los Angeles Lakers next, while the Grizzlies will face the Houston Rockets.
Philadelphia 76ers 146 - 101 Washington Wizards
Joel Embiid scored 34 points and Tyrese Maxey added 24 as the 76ers dominated the Wizards in a 146-101 beatdown. The game was decided early on with a 14-0 run in the first two minutes, and the Sixers shot 20 3-pointers overall. Embiid, who continues to impress with eight straight games of scoring 30 or more points, checked out of the game in the third quarter with Philadelphia up 105-65. The Wizards, who fell to 3-19 on the season, were unable to keep up with the Sixers' offensive onslaught. The win was the third straight for Philadelphia, who will look to continue their success against Detroit and Charlotte this week.
Oklahoma City Thunder 134 - 120 Utah Jazz
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way for the Oklahoma City Thunder with 30 points in just three quarters as they defeated the Utah Jazz 134-120. Gilgeous-Alexander also had seven assists, while Josh Giddey added 12 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists in just 24 minutes. Keyonte George scored a season-best 30 points for the Jazz, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Thunder's dominant performance. With the win, Oklahoma City strengthened their hold on second place in the Western Conference standings.
Charlotte Hornets 114 - 116 Miami Heat
Duncan Robinson led the Miami Heat to a 116-114 victory over the Charlotte Hornets with 24 points and five 3-pointers, while Kevin Love added a season-high 19 points off the bench. Terry Rozier scored 34 points for the Hornets, but his halfcourt heave at the buzzer fell short. Miami held off a late rally from Charlotte and the teams will meet again on Wednesday in Miami.
Detroit Pistons 123 - 131 Indiana Pacers
Bennedict Mathurin scored 30 points and Tyrese Haliburton had 14 points and 16 assists as the Indiana Pacers defeated the Detroit Pistons 131-123, handing them their 20th straight loss. The Pistons' losing streak is now the longest single-season slide in franchise history, and they have lost 44 of their last 48 games dating back to last season. Indiana led 98-93 at the start of the fourth quarter and was able to secure the win with strong play down the stretch. The victory comes after the Pacers lost in the NBA In-Season Tournament final to the Los Angeles Lakers. Detroit will look to end their losing streak when they host the Philadelphia 76ers next, while the Pacers will face the Milwaukee Bucks in their next game.
Sacramento Kings 131 - 118 Brooklyn Nets
The Sacramento Kings set a franchise record for 3-pointers with 25 in a 131-118 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, with DeAaron Fox leading the way with 28 points and nine assists. Domantas Sabonis added 15 points, 16 rebounds, and nine assists, while Keegan Murray scored 24 and Malik Monk had 21 points and nine assists. The Kings had three players with seven assists or more and a team season-high of 38 assists overall. The Nets' Mikal Bridges led his team with 22 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Kings' sharp shooting. Sacramento shot 55.6% from beyond the arc, led by Fox and Trey Lyles with five 3s each. The Kings have now won three straight games against the Nets, establishing themselves as a strong offensive force.