10.01.2024
Los Angeles Lakers 132 - 131 Toronto Raptors
The Los Angeles Lakers narrowly defeated the Toronto Raptors 132-131, with Anthony Davis scoring 41 points and hitting 11 free throws in the fourth quarter, leading to a furious tirade from Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic against the officials. Rajakovic slammed the disparity in free throws between the two teams, with the Lakers shooting 23 in the final quarter compared to just two for the Raptors. The game also saw RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley making their debut for Toronto after being acquired from New York, while LeBron James contributed 22 points and 12 assists for the Lakers. Despite a late surge from the Raptors, the Lakers held on for their second consecutive victory, improving to .500 on the season at 19-19.
New York Knicks 112 - 84 Portland Trail Blazers
ANUNOBY SCORES 23, KNICKS IMPROVE TO 5-0 WITH THE FORWARD BY ROUTING TRAIL BLAZERS with a final score of 112-84. OG Anunoby had his best game since joining the Knicks, scoring 23 points and helping the team to their fifth consecutive win. Julius Randle added 20 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds, while Quentin Grimes and Miles McBride provided a boost off the bench with 17 and 16 points respectively. The Knicks outscored the Blazers 25-11 in fast-break points and were dominant throughout the game, maintaining a big lead that allowed the starters to rest in the second half. Portland's Jerami Grant scored 21 points in the losing effort. With the win, the Knicks now sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 22-15.
Dallas Mavericks 103 - 120 Memphis Grizzlies
Desmond Bane scored 32 points to lead the injury-riddled Memphis Grizzlies to a 120-103 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Despite missing key players like Ja Morant and Marcus Smart, the Grizzlies dominated the Mavericks on the boards, outrebounding them 54-33. Luka Doncic, who was dealing with an ankle injury, scored 31 points for the Mavericks, but it wasn't enough to overcome Bane's stellar performance. The win marked the Grizzlies' second consecutive victory since Morant's season-ending injury and improved their record to 14-23.
Detroit Pistons 110 - 131 Sacramento Kings
Domantas Sabonis' impressive performance with 37 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds led the Sacramento Kings to a wild 131-110 victory over the Detroit Pistons. The Kings overcame a 20-point deficit in the first quarter, led by 15 in the third, and eventually pulled away in the fourth. Keegan Murray added 32 points and De'Aaron Fox scored 26 for the Kings. Bojan Bogdanovic led the Pistons with 26 points, while Detroit's Cade Cunningham was sidelined with a knee sprain. The Pistons have now lost five straight games. Sacramento's strong defense in the second half, holding Detroit to just 45 points, was key to their victory.
Orlando Magic 92 - 113 Minnesota Timberwolves
Karl-Anthony Towns led the Minnesota Timberwolves to a dominant 113-92 victory over the Orlando Magic with 28 points, including five three-pointers, in the first half. Rudy Gobert added 21 points and 12 rebounds while Anthony Edwards struggled with only six points. The Timberwolves jumped out to an 11-0 lead and never looked back, holding the Magic to just 35% shooting for the game. Despite missing multiple key players, Orlando couldn't overcome Minnesota's strong start. Towns and Gobert's performances highlighted the Timberwolves' Western Conference-leading record of 26-10, while Orlando's Moritz Wagner led with 21 points in a losing effort. Edwards, the leading scorer, had a quiet game with three fouls early on and was held to single-digit scoring for the first time all season. Minnesota will face Boston next, while Orlando will take on Miami.