06.01.2024
Boston Celtics 126 - 97 Utah Jazz
Jayson Tatum led the Boston Celtics to a 126-97 victory over the Utah Jazz by scoring 30 points and hitting five 3-pointers. The Celtics never trailed and held a lead as large as 36 points in the first half, making 17 3s for the night. This win marked their seventh victory in eight games, with Tatum recording his 14th 30-point game of the season. Utah, coming off a franchise-record tying 154-point game, struggled against Boston's defense and shot season lows of 36% from the field and 18% from beyond the arc. The Celtics capitalized on the Jazz's 18 turnovers, turning them into 26 points. Lauri Markkanen led Utah with 17 points, while Boston's Kristaps Porzingis added 19 points. The loss snapped a three-game win streak for the Jazz, who now face tough matchups against Philadelphia and Milwaukee before returning home to host defending champion Denver.
Indiana Pacers 150 - 116 Atlanta Hawks
The Indiana Pacers set a franchise record with 50 assists in a dominating 150-116 win over the Atlanta Hawks, extending their winning streak to six games. Tyrese Haliburton led the way with 18 assists, while Myles Turner scored 27 points. The Pacers shot 71% in the first half and reached 150 points for the second time this season. Dejounte Murray led the Hawks with 30 points, but Trae Young struggled, shooting just 4-of-18 from the field. The Pacers will look to continue their hot streak against the Boston Celtics next.
Brooklyn Nets 124 - 115 Oklahoma City Thunder
The Nets ended a five-game losing streak with a dominant 124-115 victory over the Thunder, opening up a 32-point lead in the third quarter. Spencer Dinwiddie and Nic Claxton each scored 23 points, while Cam Thomas broke out of a shooting slump with 19 points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 34 points. The Nets snapped their skid and handed the Thunder their second straight loss, with the Thunder set to face Washington next and the Nets hosting Portland.
Golden State Warriors 113 - 109 Detroit Pistons
In a hard-fought victory, the Golden State Warriors held off the Detroit Pistons, 113-109, with Stephen Curry scoring 26 points and hitting key 3-pointers late in the game. Unfortunately, the Warriors learned they will be without Chris Paul for the foreseeable future after he fractured his left hand and will require surgery. Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 30 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome Golden State's balanced scoring effort. The Warriors managed to bounce back from a tough loss the night before, and now they will have to navigate Paul's absence as they face the Raptors next.
New Orleans Pelicans 95 - 111 LA Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 111-95, with Paul George scoring 24 points and Kawhi Leonard adding 19 points and nine rebounds. The Clippers won for the 14th time in 16 games, with James Harden contributing 13 assists. The Pelicans' winning streak was snapped, and both Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson were held to 12 points each. The Clippers played suffocating defense and outscored the Pelicans 30-15 in the second quarter. The Clippers will face the Los Angeles Lakers next, while the Pelicans will play against the Sacramento Kings.
Dallas Mavericks 139 - 103 Portland Trail Blazers
In a game where Luka Doncic was sidelined with a sore ankle, Kyrie Irving stepped up and scored 24 points to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 139-103 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, completing a two-game sweep. Despite missing several key players, the Mavericks dominated from the start, with Irving resting the entire fourth quarter after the team outscored the Blazers 40-16 in the third. Jerami Grant and Scoot Henderson had solid performances for the struggling Blazers, who have lost three straight and are 16 games under .500. The Mavericks had several players step up, with Jalen Hardy and Tim Hardaway Jr. contributing 19 points each. The Blazers finished the game with 41 turnovers, leading to 47 Dallas points. Next up, the Trail Blazers will face the Brooklyn Nets, while the Mavericks will take on the Minnesota Timberwolves in their next game.
Los Angeles Lakers 113 - 127 Memphis Grizzlies
The Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Memphis Grizzlies 127-113, marking their 10th loss in 13 games, prompting a frustrated LeBron James to criticize the team's performance. Despite a solid showing from James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers struggled to contain the Grizzlies, who hit a season-high 23 3-pointers. Coach Darvin Ham expressed confidence in his job security, but James disagreed, calling out the team's recent struggles and lack of championship contention. The Lakers, missing key players, face a tough road ahead as they try to bounce back from their losing streak. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Marcus Smart led the way for the Grizzlies, who secured a crucial win over the Lakers.
Chicago Bulls 104 - 91 Charlotte Hornets
Coby White scored 22 points and had a double-double with 10 rebounds and six assists as the Chicago Bulls defeated the Charlotte Hornets 104-91. Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic returned from injury for the Bulls, with LaVine scoring 15 points and Vucevic adding 11 points. Miles Bridges led the Hornets with 28 points in a losing effort. The Bulls opened the fourth quarter with a 16-4 run to pull away for the win. LaVine had a breakaway dunk and a 3-pointer to give Chicago the lead at halftime, while DeMar DeRozan contributed 17 points. Terry Rozier struggled for the Hornets, shooting just 5-for-17 from the field. Charlotte will look to bounce back when they host the Bulls on Monday night.
Sacramento Kings 135 - 130 Toronto Raptors
Domantas Sabonis recorded another triple-double with 24 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists as the Sacramento Kings held off the Toronto Raptors 135-130. This was Sabonis' second consecutive triple-double and eighth of the season. De'Aaron Fox also scored 24 points for the Kings, while Keegan Murray had 18 points and 12 rebounds. The Raptors mounted a comeback, cutting a 20-point deficit to two in the fourth quarter, but ultimately fell short. Quickley and Barnes led Toronto with 20 points each. The Kings outscored the Raptors 42-15 from beyond the arc. The win snapped Toronto's two-game win streak and the Raptors will face the Golden State Warriors next, while the Kings will host the New Orleans Pelicans.
Denver Nuggets 120 - 122 Orlando Magic
Paolo Banchero recorded his first career triple-double, finishing with 32 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists, as he hit a pair of go-ahead free throws in the final seconds to lead the short-handed Orlando Magic to a thrilling 122-120 comeback win over the Denver Nuggets. Jalen Suggs added a career-high 27 points and the Magic hit 17 3-pointers in a game where they trailed by as many as 18 points. Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 29 points, while Michael Porter Jr. had 22 and Jamal Murray added 20. The Magic's rally was fueled by their resilience and confidence in each other, despite missing multiple key players. The Nuggets, on the other hand, struggled defensively in the third quarter and will look to bounce back against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday.
Phoenix Suns 113 - 97 Miami Heat
Grayson Allen tied a Phoenix record with a career-high 9 3-pointers, scoring 31 points to lead the Suns to a 113-97 victory over the Miami Heat. Allen's sharpshooting was instrumental in the Suns' win, with Bradley Beal adding 25 points and Devin Booker contributing 20 points and 10 assists. Phoenix extended its lead to 94-75 heading into the fourth quarter and maintained a double-digit advantage the rest of the night. Miami's Bam Adebayo had 28 points and 11 rebounds in the losing effort. The Suns have won five of their last six games, while the Heat have dropped three of four.
Houston Rockets 95 - 122 Minnesota Timberwolves
Anthony Edwards scored 24 points as the Western Conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves dominated the Houston Rockets with a final score of 122-95. Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 22 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Jalen Green led Houston with 20 points, but the Rockets struggled to match the physicality and toughness of the Timberwolves. Minnesota outscored Houston in the paint and on the boards, improving their record to 25-9. The Rockets, now 2-4 on a seven-game homestand, will face the Milwaukee Bucks next while the Timberwolves will take on the Dallas Mavericks.
Cleveland Cavaliers 114 - 90 Washington Wizards
The Cleveland Cavaliers dominated the Washington Wizards, with Donovan Mitchell scoring 26 points and Jarrett Allen recording his sixth straight double-double, leading the Cavs to a 114-90 victory. Allen has been on fire lately, averaging 19.6 points and 15.6 rebounds over his last six games. Despite missing key players like Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, the Cavs have managed to go 7-3. The Wizards, on the other hand, continue to struggle as they fell to a dismal 6-28 record. The Cavs will look to keep their momentum going as they face the San Antonio Spurs next, while the Wizards will host the New York Knicks.
Philadelphia 76ers 92 - 128 New York Knicks
Jalen Brunson scored 29 points to lead the New York Knicks to a dominant 128-92 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Former Villanova teammates Brunson and Josh Hart had a strong showing, with Hart recording an impressive plus-46. The Knicks hit 18 3-pointers and made 24 of 25 free throws in the win. Joel Embiid had 30 points and 10 rebounds for the Sixers, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Knicks' strong performance. This victory marks the Knicks' third straight win since acquiring OG Anunoby in a trade with Toronto, showcasing their quick chemistry as a team.