08.01.2024
Cleveland Cavaliers 117 - 115 San Antonio Spurs
Jarrett Allen had a monster game with 29 points and 16 rebounds, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 117-115 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. Top rookie Victor Wembanyama had an impressive performance with 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs. Despite a late rally by San Antonio, Cleveland held on for their third straight win. The game featured exciting blocks from both Allen and Wembanyama in a close fourth quarter. Devin Vassell led the Spurs with 22 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Cavaliers. Cleveland will now head to Paris to face the Brooklyn Nets.
Sacramento Kings 100 - 133 New Orleans Pelicans
Led by CJ McCollum's 30 points and seven 3-pointers, the New Orleans Pelicans dominated the Sacramento Kings with a 133-100 win. The Pelicans led by 50 at one point in the game, winning their fourth matchup this season against the Kings. Despite missing Zion Williamson, New Orleans had strong contributions from Jonas Valanciunas and Brandon Ingram. The Pelicans, who have won six straight on the road, outrebounded Sacramento 51-25 and held them to under 40% shooting. De’Aaron Fox struggled for the Kings, scoring just three points on 1-of-10 shooting. The Pelicans will face the Golden State Warriors next, while the Kings will take on the Detroit Pistons.
Dallas Mavericks 115 - 108 Minnesota Timberwolves
Kyrie Irving led the Dallas Mavericks to a 115-108 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves with 35 points, including crucial 3-pointers to secure the win. Luka Doncic added 34 points as the Mavs improved to 12-5 in clutch games. Anthony Edwards led all scorers with 36 points for the Timberwolves, who had won the first two meetings this season with the Mavs. The win moves Dallas to seventh in the Western Conference, while Minnesota remains the top team in the West. Irving's defensive efforts with eight blocks and seven steals were also key in the victory.
Denver Nuggets 131 - 114 Detroit Pistons
Jamal Murray scored 37 points and Nikola Jokic dished out 16 assists as the Denver Nuggets easily defeated the Detroit Pistons 131-114, handing the Pistons their 18th straight road loss. Jokic had an unusual stat line with only four points but tied a career high with five blocked shots. The Pistons were led by Jalen Duren with 20 points, while Cade Cunningham left the game in the second quarter with a knee injury. Denver outscored Detroit by 15 points in the third quarter to take control of the game. The Nuggets are now 18-0 this season against teams below .500, while the Pistons fell to 0-19 against teams above .500.
Phoenix Suns 115 - 121 Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies rallied with a big fourth quarter to beat the Phoenix Suns 121-115, despite playing without Ja Morant, who was sidelined with shoulder soreness. Jaren Jackson Jr. had 28 points and 10 rebounds, Marcus Smart added 25 points, and Desmond Bane hit a go-ahead 3-pointer. The Grizzlies started the final quarter on a 14-1 run and outscored the Suns 35-18 in the fourth. Kevin Durant returned for the Suns with 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Devin Booker led Phoenix with 24 points. The win improved the Grizzlies to 7-4 since Morant's return and extended Phoenix's home stand to 4-2.
Brooklyn Nets 127 - 134 Portland Trail Blazers
Anfernee Simons had a career-high 38 points and 11 assists, leading the Trail Blazers to a thrilling 134-127 overtime victory against the Nets. The Blazers snapped a four-game losing streak and won for the first time in eight road games thanks to Malcolm Brogdon's clutch scoring in overtime. Mikal Bridges scored 42 points for the Nets, who have lost 11 of their last 14 games. Portland did not lead until the fourth quarter but pulled out the win in a hard-fought battle. The victory was much-needed for the young Blazers team, who are looking to build momentum moving forward.
Golden State Warriors 118 - 133 Toronto Raptors
In a game where RJ Barrett scored a season-high 37 points, Steph Curry struggled from the field, finishing with just nine points as the Toronto Raptors beat the Golden State Warriors 133-118. Barrett, who was acquired from the Knicks in December, had a strong Raptors debut with six assists and six rebounds, while former Warrior Chris Boucher added 17 points and nine rebounds off the bench. Klay Thompson scored 25 points for the Warriors, but they couldn't overcome a huge first-half deficit, shooting just 39.2% from the field. The win marked the Raptors' first victory in Golden State in the last four meetings.
Los Angeles Lakers 106 - 103 LA Clippers
In a highly anticipated matchup between crosstown rivals, LeBron James led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 106-103 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, snapping a four-game losing streak. James scored 25 points, while Anthony Davis added 22 points and 10 rebounds. Taurean Prince hit a crucial 3-pointer late in the game to secure the win. The Clippers, led by Paul George's 22 points, saw their five-game winning streak come to an end. The victory marked a significant milestone for the Lakers as they played their final game against the Clippers as the "visiting" team in their own arena, Staples Center.
Orlando Magic 117 - 110 Atlanta Hawks
In a thrilling overtime victory, the Orlando Magic defeated the Atlanta Hawks 117-110, with Paolo Banchero leading the way with 35 points, including eight in overtime, while Caleb Houstan added a career-high 25 points. Despite Trae Young's 31 points and nine assists for the Hawks, missed free throws and lack of rebounding hurt their chances. Markelle Fultz returned for the Magic after a long injury absence, and two crucial replay reversals helped Orlando secure the win. The Magic will host Minnesota next while the Hawks will face Philadelphia in their next game.