26.01.2024
Brooklyn Nets 94 - 96 Minnesota Timberwolves
In a close game, the Minnesota Timberwolves managed to hold on for a 96-94 win over the Brooklyn Nets, with Karl-Anthony Towns scoring 27 points and Anthony Edwards adding 24. The Timberwolves led by as many as 17 points in the third quarter, but the Nets fought back to tie the game late in the fourth. Rudy Gobert's alley-oop from Towns put Minnesota back in front, and the Nets missed a chance to tie the score in the final seconds. The Timberwolves now sit atop the Western Conference, while the Nets have lost three straight and 12 of their last 14 games. Cam Thomas led the Nets with 25 points, and Mikal Bridges added 21.
Los Angeles Lakers 141 - 132 Chicago Bulls
In a high-scoring game, LeBron James and D’Angelo Russell led the Lakers to a 141-132 victory over the Bulls. James, who was named to his record 20th NBA All-Star team earlier in the day, had an impressive showing with 25 points and 12 assists. Russell scored 29 points, including eight 3-pointers, while the Lakers made 60.9% of their shots. The Bulls, led by DeMar DeRozan's 32 points, couldn't overcome the Lakers' offensive prowess. The Lakers will now embark on a six-game road trip as they continue their season.
Golden State Warriors 133 - 134 Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings held on to beat the Golden State Warriors 134-133 in a thrilling game where Harrison Barnes scored a career-high 39 points and made a crucial block against Jonathan Kuminga. Domantas Sabonis made a go-ahead dunk with 22 seconds left, while Stephen Curry lost the ball in the final seconds as the Warriors fell short. Kuminga had a career-high 31 points, and Curry scored 33 points with six 3-pointers. The Kings split the season series with the Warriors, with the game coming down to the wire in a back-and-forth battle between the Northern California rivals. This emotional game came just a day after the Warriors honored assistant coach Dejan Milojević, who passed away. Barnes' hot hand and Sabonis' late-game heroics secured the win for Sacramento, who will next face the Mavericks, while the Warriors will take on the Lakers.
Washington Wizards 108 - 123 Utah Jazz
In a game where the Wizards fell 123-108 to the Jazz, Lauri Markkanen led Utah with 29 points, while John Collins contributed 22 points and 16 rebounds to snap a three-game losing streak. The game marked Brian Keefe's debut as the interim coach for Washington after Wes Unseld Jr. was moved to the front office. Despite the coaching change, the Wizards dropped to 7-37 and have lost six in a row. Kyle Kuzma led Washington with 26 points, but it was not enough to overcome Utah's strong performance. Next, the Jazz will face Charlotte, while the Wizards will take on Detroit.
New York Knicks 122 - 84 Denver Nuggets
In a dominant performance, the New York Knicks crushed the Denver Nuggets with a final score of 122-84, handing the defending NBA champions their worst loss of the season. OG Anunoby led the Knicks with 26 points, followed by Jalen Brunson with 21 points. The Knicks have now won five straight games and 11 of their last 13 since acquiring Anunoby from Toronto. Nikola Jokic had 31 points and 11 rebounds for the Nuggets, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Knicks' impressive shooting performance, as they shot 52.9% from the field and 39.5% from 3-point range. The Nuggets struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 19.2%. The Knicks never trailed in the game and had a double-digit lead for most of the contest. The Nuggets will look to bounce back as they host Philadelphia next, while the Knicks will take on Miami in their next game.
Indiana Pacers 134 - 122 Philadelphia 76ers
The Indiana Pacers ended the Philadelphia 76ers' six-game winning streak with a 134-122 victory, fueled by Pascal Siakam's first triple-double in 15 months. Siakam finished with 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists, while Tyrese Haliburton was announced as an All-Star starter. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Pacers and marked Siakam's first win since being traded to Indiana. Joel Embiid had 31 points for the 76ers, who were missing two starters and never recovered from Indiana's early lead. Indiana improved to 8-4 against the Eastern Conference's top three teams and honored Haliburton before the game with a standing ovation from fans. The 76ers will face Denver next, while the Pacers will host Phoenix.
Miami Heat 110 - 143 Boston Celtics
Final Score: Team A 105, Team B 98. Team A took control of the game early on, leading by double digits throughout the first half. However, Team B made a fierce comeback in the second half, cutting the deficit to just three points in the final minutes. Despite their efforts, Team A was able to hold on for the win thanks to their strong defense and clutch free throw shooting in the closing moments. Player X led all scorers with 30 points, while Player Y recorded a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds. The game featured several lead changes and exciting plays, keeping fans on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer.