21.01.2024
Detroit Pistons 135 - 141 Milwaukee Bucks
Damian Lillard's 45 points and 11 assists led the Milwaukee Bucks to a 141-135 victory over the Detroit Pistons. Lillard made history as the first Bucks player with at least 40 points, 10 assists, and five 3-pointers in a game. Giannis Antetokounmpo added 31 points and nearly a triple-double, while Alec Burks and Ausur Thompson combined for 55 points for the Pistons. Despite Detroit's effort, Milwaukee's free throw shooting and strong defense secured the win, as they now prepare for a rematch on Monday.
Charlotte Hornets 89 - 97 Philadelphia 76ers
In a game where Joel Embiid scored 33 points to extend his franchise-record run of 30 or more to 20 games, the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Charlotte Hornets 97-89 for their fifth straight victory. Embiid also had 10 rebounds and led the 76ers as they outscored the Hornets in the fourth quarter, holding them to just 16 points. Tobias Harris added 21 points and Tyrese Maxey had 16 points and eight assists to help Philadelphia improve to 28-13. Miles Bridges had 25 points and 11 rebounds for Charlotte, who played without top centers Mark Williams and Nick Richards. The Hornets were forced to double team Embiid most of the game, but he proved to be too much for them. The 76ers are in the midst of a successful road trip, with seven of eight games on the road and currently holding a 2-0 record.
Washington Wizards 127 - 131 San Antonio Spurs
In a thrilling matchup, Victor Wembanyama returned to score 24 points and lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 131-127 comeback victory over the Washington Wizards. Tre Jones added 11 points, 12 assists, and eight rebounds, while Jeremy Sochan scored 23 points and Devin Vassell had 21 in the win. Wembanyama, who sat out the previous game due to rest, played a crucial role in the fourth quarter to help the Spurs erase a 12-point deficit. Bilal Coulibaly and Delon Wright contributed 14 and 16 points, respectively, for the Wizards. Marvin Bagley III led Washington with 21 points and 12 rebounds. The Spurs will visit Philadelphia next, while the Wizards will host Denver in their next game.
Houston Rockets 127 - 126 Utah Jazz
Alperen Sengun's career-high 37 points and 14 rebounds led the Houston Rockets to a thrilling 127-126 overtime victory over the Utah Jazz. The Rockets snapped a three-game losing streak with the win, as Sengun and his teammates fought hard to secure the victory at home. Jordan Clarkson led the Jazz with 33 points off the bench, but it was Amen Thompson's crucial block in overtime that sealed the win for Houston. The Rockets, now 16-6 at home, showed resilience in a back-and-forth game that ultimately ended in their favor, marking their first overtime win since December 2022.
Minnesota Timberwolves 97 - 102 Oklahoma City Thunder
In a showdown between two of the top teams in the Western Conference, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 102-97 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Thunder rallied in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Timberwolves 24-10 down the stretch, despite shooting just 39.5% from the field. Minnesota's turnover issues, with 21 turnovers leading to 28 points for Oklahoma City, proved to be costly. The win pulled the Thunder within a game of the Timberwolves in the standings, with the final matchup of the regular season scheduled for January 29th. Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns each scored 19 points for Minnesota in the losing effort.
Atlanta Hawks 95 - 116 Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers extended the NBA's longest win streak to seven games with a 116-95 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Donovan Mitchell led the balanced Cavs attack with 18 points and eight assists, while Jarrett Allen had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. The Cavs held the Hawks to a season-low in points and never trailed, leading by as much as 25 points in the fourth quarter. Trae Young left the game early with an injury, and Dejounte Murray led the Hawks with 24 points. The win snapped a three-game winning streak for Atlanta, who were coming off a late-night return from a road game in Miami.
New York Knicks 126 - 100 Toronto Raptors
RANDLE'S TRIPLE-DOUBLE LEADS KNICKS OVER RAPTORS 126-100 as former teammates Barrett and Quickley returned to MSG after a trade last month. Randle finished with 18 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists for his 14th career triple-double, while RJ Barrett scored 20 points and Quickley had 12 points and 11 assists in a losing effort. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 38 points, while Precious Achiuwa and Donte DiVincenzo also made significant contributions as New York outrebounded Toronto 61-31. The Knicks have now won three consecutive games and improved to 9-2 since the trade with the Raptors.
Chicago Bulls 125 - 96 Memphis Grizzlies
Dosunmu and DeRozan led the Chicago Bulls to a resounding 125-96 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, with Dosunmu scoring 20 points and DeRozan adding 18. The Bulls went on a 17-0 run in the third quarter to pull away for their sixth win in eight games. Despite missing Zach LaVine due to a sprained ankle, the Bulls had seven players score in double figures and dished out 32 assists. Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 26 points, but Memphis lost for the fourth time in five games. The Grizzlies have been struggling with injuries, and are 9-24 without Ja Morant, who is out for the season. Chicago will face Phoenix next, while Memphis will take on Toronto.