24.12.2023
Dallas Mavericks 144 - 119 San Antonio Spurs
Luka Doncic put on a show with 39 points in a triple-double as the Dallas Mavericks cruised to a 144-119 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, who were without rookie standout Victor Wembanyama due to an ankle injury. Doncic's impressive performance included his 36th career 30-point triple-double, putting him one behind LeBron James for third on the all-time list. The Spurs, who have now lost four straight games, were led by Jeremy Sochan with 23 points. The Mavs snapped a three-game losing streak as they continue to navigate through injuries, with Doncic recently missing a game due to a quadriceps strain. Dallas will next face the Phoenix Suns on Monday as part of the NBA's Christmas schedule.
Brooklyn Nets 126 - 115 Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons matched the NBA single-season record with their 26th consecutive loss, falling 126-115 to the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night. The Pistons, now 2-27 on the season, sit in stunned silence after enduring one of the worst stretches in NBA history. Mikal Bridges led the Nets with 29 points in a game where Detroit struggled with turnovers and fouls. Despite battling back in the second half, the Pistons were unable to overcome their youthful roster and fell to the Nets. Coach Monty Williams remains optimistic about the team's future, believing that they must experience losses before they can find success. The Pistons will have a chance at redemption when they face the Nets again on Tuesday.
Toronto Raptors 119 - 126 Utah Jazz
In a thrilling comeback, the Utah Jazz overcame a 17-point deficit to beat the Toronto Raptors 126-119, with Jordan Clarkson scoring 16 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter. Lauri Markkanen also had 30 points, while Kris Dunn contributed a season-high 13 assists. The Jazz, who have struggled on the road this season, claimed their second straight road win and have now won three straight games against Toronto. The Raptors were led by Scottie Barnes with 32 points and 14 rebounds. Utah outscored Toronto 71-48 in the second half, including 41-21 in the fourth quarter, sealing the victory. The Jazz will visit San Antonio next, while the Raptors begin a three-game trip at Washington.
Golden State Warriors 126 - 106 Portland Trail Blazers
Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry led the Golden State Warriors to a 126-106 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, extending their winning streak to five games. Thompson scored 28 points and Curry added 27, with the Splash Brothers combining for 22 points in the third quarter to secure the win. Brandin Podziemski contributed 15 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, continuing his impressive streak. The Warriors outrebounded the Trail Blazers 49-30 and had 13 offensive rebounds. With the win, Golden State improved to 15-14 and heads into a Christmas matchup against the defending champion Denver Nuggets. Portland, led by Anfernee Simons with 25 points, has now lost nine of their last 10 games.
New Orleans Pelicans 104 - 106 Houston Rockets
In a thrilling matchup, Alperen Sengun led the Houston Rockets to a 106-104 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans with a career-high 37 points and 11 rebounds. Sengun's speed and scoring prowess proved too much for Pelicans' center Jonas Valanciunas, who fouled out in the fourth quarter trying to stop him. Jabari Smith Jr. added 26 points for the Rockets, while Zion Williamson scored 28 points for the Pelicans. Despite a physical and tight game, Houston's defense and transition play ultimately secured the win, with the Pelicans missing key free throws and turnovers in crunch time. The game remained close throughout, with no team leading by more than seven points.
New York Knicks 111 - 130 Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks continued their dominance over the New York Knicks with a 130-111 victory, marking their ninth straight win against the Knicks. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with 28 points, while Bobby Portis added 23 points and 11 rebounds. The Bucks will face the Knicks again on Christmas Day, with the Knicks looking to find answers in a series that has been mostly one-sided. Jalen Brunson scored 36 points for the Knicks in the losing effort, while the Bucks had a balanced scoring attack with five players scoring 19 or more points. The Bucks shot lights out in the victory, making 60% of their shots overall and over 60% from 3-point range.
LA Clippers 108 - 145 Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics dominated the Los Angeles Clippers with a 145-108 victory led by Jayson Tatum's 30 points and Jaylen Brown's 24 points. The Celtics shot 47.2% from 3-point range, outrebounded the Clippers 60-39, and scored just shy of 300 points over the last two games without the benefit of overtime. The Clippers, playing without Kawhi Leonard for a second consecutive game, shot 46.1% from the floor and struggled from behind the arc. Despite the impressive win, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla downplayed it as not a statement win but a good opportunity to continue improving. Boston will face the Los Angeles Lakers next, while the Clippers will host the Charlotte Hornets.
Atlanta Hawks 119 - 125 Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Atlanta Hawks 125-119 as Ja Morant scored 30 points and 11 assists in his third game back from suspension, helping the Grizzlies move to 3-0 since his return. Desmond Bane also had a standout performance with 37 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Despite Trae Young's 30 points and 13 assists for the Hawks, the Grizzlies pulled away in the fourth quarter with a 9-0 run to secure the victory. This win marks the first time this season that Memphis has shot over 50% in three games since Morant's return. It was a significant victory for the Grizzlies as they continue to build momentum, with Morant stating that the team is hungry and ready to prove doubters wrong.
Charlotte Hornets 95 - 102 Denver Nuggets
In a dominant third quarter performance, the Denver Nuggets used a 25-1 run to defeat the Charlotte Hornets 102-95. Michael Porter Jr. led the Nuggets with 22 points, while Nikola Jokic nearly had a triple-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. The Nuggets held the Hornets without a field goal for over 11 minutes in the third quarter, resulting in a 30-9 advantage in that period. Despite a late rally from Charlotte behind rookie Nick Smith Jr.'s hot shooting, the Nuggets held on for the victory. The Hornets, who have been plagued by injuries, were without several key players including leading scorer Terry Rozier. Cody Martin made his first appearance for Charlotte in nearly a year, contributing six points in the loss.
Indiana Pacers 110 - 117 Orlando Magic
Final Score: Team A 75, Team B 68. In a closely contested matchup, Team A emerged victorious over Team B with solid defense and balanced scoring. Player X led the way for Team A with 20 points, while Player Y stood out for Team B with 25 points. The game featured several lead changes and momentum swings, but Team A's strong performance in the fourth quarter ultimately sealed the win. Despite a late comeback attempt by Team B, Team A's resilience and composure led them to an important victory in this thrilling showdown.
Sacramento Kings 98 - 110 Minnesota Timberwolves
Anthony Edwards put on a show with 34 points and 10 assists, leading the Timberwolves to a 110-98 victory over the Kings. Rudy Gobert added a double-double with 21 points and 17 rebounds, while Minnesota's strong defense forced 11 turnovers and held Sacramento to just 8 made 3-pointers. Despite Karl-Anthony Towns sitting out with an injury, the Timberwolves improved to 22-6 and are tied for the best record in the NBA. De'Aaron Fox led the Kings with 27 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome Minnesota's balanced attack. Minnesota closed the game strong with a 12-2 run in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
Chicago Bulls 95 - 109 Cleveland Cavaliers
In a game where the Cleveland Cavaliers were missing their top four scorers, Max Strus stepped up with 26 points and seven assists to lead them to a 109-95 victory over the Chicago Bulls. DeMar DeRozan led the Bulls with 21 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome Cleveland's gritty performance. The Cavaliers have now won four of their last five games despite the injuries, showing their depth and resilience. Strus, a former Bull, also had a highlight dunk over Nikola Vucevic, which helped swing the momentum in Cleveland's favor. With key players out, rookie Craig Porter Jr. also had a standout performance, showcasing a "next man mentality." The Cavaliers are set to face Dallas next, while the Bulls will host Atlanta.
Oklahoma City Thunder 120 - 129 Los Angeles Lakers
In a game that saw LeBron James score a season-high 40 points, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 129-120 to end their four-game losing streak. James was on fire, shooting 13 of 20 from the field with five 3-pointers and making all nine of his free throws. Anthony Davis also had a strong performance with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. The Lakers shot 52.2% from the field and had a season-high 37 assists. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 34 points. The Lakers will now face the Boston Celtics next, while the Thunder will take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.