14.02.2024
Brooklyn Nets 110 - 118 Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum scored 41 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as the Boston Celtics beat the Brooklyn Nets 118-110 for their fifth straight win. Tatum tied a career high by scoring 31 points in the first half alone, but emphasized the importance of teamwork. The Celtics played without Kristaps Porzingis, with Al Horford stepping in and scoring 16 points. The Nets, led by Mikal Bridges with 27 points, lost for the fourth time in five games. Tatum's impressive performance led the Celtics to victory, as they won for the ninth time in the last 10 meetings against the Nets.
Los Angeles Lakers 125 - 111 Detroit Pistons
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Detroit Pistons 125-111, behind 25 points from LeBron James and 20 points from Anthony Davis. Davis also contributed 14 rebounds and six blocked shots, earning praise from James as a potential Defensive Player of the Year candidate. The Lakers' new starting lineup scored a combined 96 points in a dominant offensive performance. Spencer Dinwiddie made his Lakers debut, contributing six points and seven assists off the bench. Detroit was led by Ausar Thompson's 19 points and James Wiseman's 18 points and nine rebounds. The Lakers now have five wins in their last six games as they head into the All-Star break.
Phoenix Suns 130 - 125 Sacramento Kings
In a high-scoring matchup, Kevin Durant led the Phoenix Suns to victory over the Sacramento Kings with 28 points, while Devin Booker added 25. The Suns outlasted the Kings 130-125, despite a triple-double performance from Domantas Sabonis, who had 35 points, 18 rebounds, and 12 assists. Eric Gordon stepped up for Phoenix with 23 points in place of the injured Bradley Beal, who left early with a hamstring injury. Booker surpassed Alvan Adams to become the second-leading scorer in franchise history. The Suns erased an 11-point deficit in the third quarter and held on for the win, improving their record to 13-4 in their last 17 games.
Portland Trail Blazers 109 - 121 Minnesota Timberwolves
Anthony Edwards overcame knee soreness to score 41 points and lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 121-109 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Rudy Gobert added 16 points and 15 rebounds, while Deandre Ayton had 22 points and 16 rebounds for the Blazers. Nickeil Alexander-Walker contributed 18 points off the bench for the Timberwolves. Despite a strong effort, the Blazers lost their fifth straight game and will look to rebound in their rematch against the Timberwolves on Thursday night. Edwards had 18 points in the first quarter as Minnesota built an early lead and never looked back, solidifying their position as the Western Conference leaders.
Orlando Magic 113 - 127 Oklahoma City Thunder
Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder past the Magic with a final score of 127-113, with Williams scoring 33 points and Gilgeous-Alexander adding 32 points and five assists. The Thunder overcame an early 11-point deficit to take command of the game, with Chet Holmgren contributing 13 points, nine rebounds, and five blocks. Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 23 points and 10 assists, but the team struggled from beyond the arc, making only seven of 29 three-point shots. The game was played on the night the Magic retired Shaquille O'Neal's No. 32, adding a playoff-like atmosphere to the matchup. The Thunder will next host the Los Angeles Clippers on Feb. 22, while the Magic will host the New York Knicks on Wednesday night.
Milwaukee Bucks 97 - 123 Miami Heat
Jovic scored a career-high 24 points, Adebayo recorded a triple-double, and the Miami Heat beat the Milwaukee Bucks 123-97 without Butler. Miami never trailed in the game despite missing key players due to injuries, and Jovic's performance helped secure the victory. The Bucks, playing on the second night of a back-to-back, couldn't keep up with the Heat's offense as Miami shot over 50% from the field and 3-point range. Antetokounmpo had 23 points for the Bucks, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Heat's dominant performance.