15.01.2024
Miami Heat 104 - 87 Charlotte Hornets
Bam Adebayo led the Miami Heat to a 104-87 victory over the Charlotte Hornets with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. Miami never trailed in the game, with Tyler Herro contributing 21 points and Duncan Robinson adding 19. The Heat's strong defensive effort limited the Hornets to an NBA-low of 31 points in the first half. LaMelo Ball returned for the Hornets with 21 points, but Charlotte has now lost five in a row and 16 of their last 17 games. Miami honored Dwyane Wade during a halftime ceremony, announcing the unveiling of a statue outside the arena next year.
Denver Nuggets 117 - 109 Indiana Pacers
Nikola Jokic led a balanced offensive effort for the Denver Nuggets with 25 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists in a 117-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers. The Nuggets shot a season-high 64.8% from the field, had all five starters in double figures, and improved to 17-4 at home this season. Despite a season-worst 21 turnovers, Denver overcame a competitive Pacers team and a strong performance from Bruce Brown, who had 18 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in his return to Denver. The victory was the Nuggets' 14th in their past 18 games, as they continue to stay competitive in the Western Conference.
Portland Trail Blazers 116 - 127 Phoenix Suns
Devin Booker scored 34 points as the Phoenix Suns held off the short-handed Portland Trail Blazers 127-116, with Bradley Beal adding 23 points and Kevin Durant contributing 21. Rookie Scoot Henderson had a career-high 33 points for the Trail Blazers, who were missing several key players due to illness. The Suns led by as many as 17 points but let Portland narrow the gap to four points midway through the final quarter before pulling away again. Jusuf Nurkic, who was traded from the Blazers to the Suns last summer, finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds. This was the fourth and final meeting between the two teams this season, with the Suns winning three. Portland will host Brooklyn next, while the Suns will host Sacramento.
Minnesota Timberwolves 109 - 105 LA Clippers
T-WOLVES HOLD OFF CLIPPERS 109-105 WITH BIG HELP FROM EDWARDS AND GOBERT as Anthony Edwards scored 33 points and Rudy Gobert had 15 points and 18 rebounds to lead the way. The Clippers made a late surge but fell short, with Karl-Anthony Towns adding 17 points for the Wolves while Paul George and James Harden struggled for the Clippers. Ivica Zubac was a late scratch for the Clippers, and tensions rose between the two teams throughout the game, with Gobert stepping up defensively and Edwards showcasing his offensive skills. The Wolves are now 28-11 and the Clippers drop to 25-14, with the Clippers facing Oklahoma City next and the Timberwolves playing Detroit.
Milwaukee Bucks 143 - 142 Sacramento Kings
The Milwaukee Bucks stunned the Sacramento Kings with Damian Lillard's buzzer-beating 3-pointer in overtime, securing a 143-142 victory. The Kings had a late lead in overtime but Brook Lopez's 3-pointer and Lillard's game-winner sealed the win for the Bucks. Lillard led the Bucks with 29 points, while Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded a triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. The victory marked the Bucks' 15th consecutive win over the Kings, and Lillard's game-winning shot was his 2,500th career 3-pointer. The Kings were led by De'Aaron Fox with 32 points and Domantas Sabonis with a triple-double. Bucks coach Adrian Griffin praised his team's resilience, while Kings coach Mike Brown was ejected for arguing with officials. The Bucks improved to 19-3 at home, with their next game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, while the Kings will face the Phoenix Suns next.