22.12.2023
Memphis Grizzlies 116 - 103 Indiana Pacers
Ja Morant returned from a 25-game suspension with 20 points and eight assists in his first home game, leading the Memphis Grizzlies to a 116-103 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Desmond Bane scored 31 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 21 points for Memphis, while Obi Toppin led Indiana with 22 points. The Grizzlies had 27 assists on the night and seem to have a new energy with Morant back in the lineup. The win marked Memphis' second straight victory and only their second home win of the season. The Pacers will host Orlando next, while the Grizzlies will travel to Atlanta.
Chicago Bulls 114 - 95 San Antonio Spurs
Coby White led the Bulls to a 114-95 victory over the Spurs, scoring 22 points in the game. Victor Wembanyama, the No. 1 NBA draft pick, had a quiet night with just seven points and five rebounds, missing shots and playing limited minutes due to an ankle injury. DeMar DeRozan added 21 points for the Bulls, who won their eighth game in 11 without Zach LaVine. The Spurs lost their third straight game after breaking an 18-game losing streak. The Bulls improved their 3-point shooting in the fourth quarter, hitting 5 of 6. LaVine is making progress in his recovery from a foot injury, while Torrey Craig expects to return sooner than expected from his foot injury. The Spurs play Dallas next, while the Bulls face Cleveland.
Cleveland Cavaliers 104 - 123 New Orleans Pelicans
In a game where Trey Murphy III stepped up in place of the ill Zion Williamson, the New Orleans Pelicans defeated the shorthanded Cleveland Cavaliers 123-104. Murphy scored 28 points, making six 3-pointers, with CJ McCollum adding 18 points and Brandon Ingram contributing 17. The Cavaliers were without their top three scorers - Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley - but Dean Wade had 20 points and Isaac Okoro added 16. Despite missing key players, Cleveland went 3-1 on their recent homestand. The Pelicans closed out the game strong, led by Murphy's hot shooting and a 14-0 run in the third quarter. The Pelicans now look to continue their success as they open a five-game homestand against Houston, while the Cavaliers head to Chicago for their next matchup.
Oklahoma City Thunder 134 - 115 LA Clippers
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points and Chet Holmgren made a highlight dunk off the backboard to himself as the Thunder ended the Clippers' nine-game winning streak with a 134-115 victory. Holmgren's dunk sparked a 13-0 run and Oklahoma City never looked back, shooting 58.6% from the field. Russell Westbrook returned to play against his former team as a reserve for the Clippers before finishing with 15 points and 13 rebounds. The Thunder, who are now second in the Western Conference, have won five of their last six games and will next host the Los Angeles Lakers.
Minnesota Timberwolves 118 - 111 Los Angeles Lakers
The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the LeBron-less Los Angeles Lakers 118-111, handing them their fourth straight loss. Anthony Edwards led the Wolves with 27 points, helping them tie for the NBA's best record at 21-6. Karl-Anthony Towns left the game with a lower-leg injury, but the Wolves' depth and size, led by Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert, helped secure the victory. Despite a strong performance from Anthony Davis, who had 31 points, the Lakers fell to 15-14 overall. The Wolves, with their strong defense, will face the Sacramento Kings next as the Lakers look to break their losing streak against Oklahoma City.
Portland Trail Blazers 117 - 118 Washington Wizards
In a close matchup, the Washington Wizards held off the Portland Trail Blazers 118-117 for their fifth win of the season, fueled by Kyle Kuzma's impressive 32-point performance. Anfernee Simons scored 41 points for the Trail Blazers, with Deandre Ayton contributing 23 points and 10 rebounds. The Wizards forced 15 turnovers leading to 21 points, and ultimately secured the victory with a missed layup by Jerami Grant at the buzzer. Washington improved to 5-22 while Portland dropped to 7-20, with both teams facing the Golden State Warriors in their next matchups.
Milwaukee Bucks 118 - 114 Orlando Magic
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to a 118-114 victory over the Orlando Magic with 37 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists, extending their winning streak to six games - all at home. The Bucks have won 15 straight games at Fiserv Forum, their longest single-season home winning streak since 1991-92. Franz Wagner scored 29 points for the Magic, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Bucks. Milwaukee will now look to continue their momentum on a four-game road trip starting in New York. Cole Anthony added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Magic, who will face the Indiana Pacers next.
Detroit Pistons 111 - 119 Utah Jazz
PISTONS DROP 25TH STRAIGHT TO MOVE WITHIN LOSS OF TYING NBA SINGLE-SEASON RECORD as Detroit falls to Utah 119-111, with Kelly Olynyk scoring 25 points for the Jazz. The Pistons are now one game away from tying the NBA single-season losing streak record of 26 games. Despite leading efforts from Cade Cunningham with 28 points and 10 assists, Detroit struggled to keep up and fans chanted "Sell the team! Sell the team!" at the end. Utah played without four of their top scorers but still managed to secure the win, with Collin Sexton adding 19 points. The Pistons missed key shots in the fourth quarter, including going 1 for 10 on 3-point attempts, leading to their 25th consecutive loss.