15.02.2024
Golden State Warriors 125 - 130 LA Clippers
In a thrilling comeback, the Los Angeles Clippers, led by Paul George and Norman Powell, rallied from 12 down in the fourth quarter to beat the Golden State Warriors 130-125. Powell scored 21 points, including four crucial 3-pointers, to outduel Stephen Curry, who scored 41 points. Kawhi Leonard was sidelined with a leg injury, but James Harden contributed 26 points for the Clippers. The game got heated with a hard foul by Mason Plumlee and ejections for Tyronn Lue and technicals for others. The Warriors squandered a double-digit lead to snap a five-game winning streak, while the Clippers earned a much-needed victory going into the break. Chris Paul is expected to return after the All-Star break for the Warriors as they look to bounce back against Utah.
Dallas Mavericks 116 - 93 San Antonio Spurs
The Mavericks, led by Kyrie Irving's 34 points and Luka Doncic's 27 before leaving with a neck injury, overcame an early 15-point deficit to beat the Spurs 116-93. Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama had an impressive 26 points in his delayed Dallas debut, but it wasn't enough to stop the Mavericks' season-best sixth straight win. Dallas outscored San Antonio 15-1 at the end of the first half and started the third quarter with a 26-7 run, ultimately leading by 29 points. The Spurs struggled to shoot, going 6 of 30 on 3-pointers after a strong first quarter. Irving had 17 points in the second quarter, including a memorable shot over Wembanyama, leading Spurs coach Gregg Popovich to praise both Irving and Doncic as playing like Hall of Fame players. The Mavericks' Dereck Lively II returned to the lineup after missing seven games and had eight points and five rebounds, while Daniel Gafford had his second consecutive double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
New Orleans Pelicans 133 - 126 Washington Wizards
Zion Williamson led the Pelicans to a 133-126 victory over the Wizards, despite Deni Avdija's career-high 43 points for Washington. Avdija's impressive performance kept the game close, but Williamson's 36 points and CJ McCollum's 26 points secured the win for New Orleans. The Pelicans head into the All-Star break with their best record since 2007-08, while the Wizards suffer their eighth straight loss. Both teams will resume play after the break, with the Wizards facing Denver and the Pelicans hosting Houston.
Utah Jazz 122 - 138 Los Angeles Lakers
Davis and Hachimura led the Lakers to a 138-122 victory over the Jazz, with Davis scoring 37 points and 15 rebounds and Hachimura adding a career-high 36 points. The Lakers won their fourth straight road game, with Hachimura making a career-best six 3-pointers. LeBron James rested with an ankle injury, and Collin Sexton surpassed 6,000 career points for the Jazz. The Lakers shot 57% and Davis scored 10 straight points during a crucial surge in the game. The win marked the first time since 2003 that two Lakers teammates each scored over 35 points in a game, showcasing the team's strong offensive performance.
Memphis Grizzlies 121 - 113 Houston Rockets
In a much-needed win, GG Jackson scored 20 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 18 as the Memphis Grizzlies snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 121-113 victory over the Houston Rockets. Luke Kennard also contributed with 19 points, helping the Grizzlies secure the win. The Rockets, who have struggled recently, saw Dillon Brooks, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, and Aaron Holiday all score 19 points in the losing effort. Memphis had a 23-point lead in the first half, but the Rockets fought back to make it a close game. The win for the Grizzlies was a relief as they head into the All-Star break, while the Rockets look to make adjustments before their next game against New Orleans on February 22nd.
Charlotte Hornets 122 - 99 Atlanta Hawks
The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Atlanta Hawks 122-99 behind Brandon Miller's 26 points and Tre Mann's 21 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. The Hornets, who are 3-0 since adding multiple players at the trade deadline, saw key contributions from Grant Williams and Vasilije Micic. The win marked the first double-digit win of the season for Charlotte, with fans chanting "Let’s go Hornets!" as the team continues to impress. De’Andre Hunter led the Hawks with 21 points off the bench, while Trae Young was limited to 12 points after being fined by the NBA earlier in the day. The Hornets controlled the game from the beginning, making 15 3s and shooting 49.4% from the field while limiting the Hawks to 40.4%. The Hornets will face the Utah Jazz next, while the Hawks will host the Toronto Raptors.
Toronto Raptors 125 - 127 Indiana Pacers
In a thrilling matchup, the Indiana Pacers defeated the Toronto Raptors 127-125 with Pascal Siakam scoring 23 points against his former team. Tyrese Haliburton recorded a double-double with 21 points and 12 assists for the Pacers, while Scottie Barnes had 29 points and 12 rebounds for the Raptors. The game came down to the wire, with Siakam hitting a crucial shot in the final seconds to secure the win for Indiana. The Raptors set season highs in points in the paint and fast-break points, but ultimately fell short in their third consecutive loss. Siakam was honored with a video tribute from the Raptors and received a warm reception from the fans in his first game back in Toronto since being traded to the Pacers.
Orlando Magic 118 - 100 New York Knicks
Banchero scored 36 points and led the Orlando Magic to a 118-100 victory over the injury-riddled New York Knicks, shooting 63% from the field against a shorthanded Knicks team. Jalen Brunson had 33 points for the Knicks, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Magic's hot shooting. The Knicks head into the All-Star break with a 33-22 record while the Magic, with a 30-25 record, have already surpassed their win total from the previous season. Orlando dominated the game after a strong second quarter, with Franz Wagner and Jonathan Isaac playing key roles in shutting down the Knicks' offense.
Cleveland Cavaliers 108 - 105 Chicago Bulls
The Cleveland Cavaliers rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat the Chicago Bulls 108-105, with Donovan Mitchell scoring 30 points, including the go-ahead free throw. Isaac Okoro added 16 points and Jarrett Allen had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. The Bulls were led by Coby White's 32 points and DeMar DeRozan's 24 points. Chicago scored the first eight points of the game but Cleveland came back with a strong fourth quarter, scoring 37 points to seal the victory. The Cavaliers have won 18 of their last 20 games and are 10-1 at home since January. Bulls forward Patrick Williams missed his ninth game in a row, while Cavaliers forwards Sam Merrill and Dean Wade sat out due to illness.
Boston Celtics 136 - 86 Brooklyn Nets
The Boston Celtics cruised past the Brooklyn Nets 136-86 to give head coach Joe Mazzulla his 100th win. Payton Pritchard led the way with 28 points, while Derrick White added 27 points and Jayson Tatum contributed 20 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds. The Celtics have now won six straight games and have the best record in the NBA at 43-12. The Nets suffered their second-worst loss in franchise history, trailing by as many as 56 points in the fourth quarter. Despite missing All-Stars Jaylen Brown and Al Horford, Boston dominated from start to finish, shooting over 64% in the first quarter and hitting 22-of-44 three-pointers for the game. The Nets, who have lost five of their last six games, will face the Raptors next, while the Celtics will take on the Bulls after the All-Star break.
Philadelphia 76ers 104 - 109 Miami Heat
Bam Adebayo dominated with 23 points and 14 rebounds as the Miami Heat secured a 109-104 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, marking their second win in two nights. Adebayo's thunderous dunk in the fourth quarter helped seal the win for Miami, while Tyler Herro added 23 points and Duncan Robinson had 20. Despite a strong performance from Tyrese Maxey with 30 points for the 76ers, Miami's defense held strong in the final minutes to secure the win. The game featured 21 lead changes and 15 ties, making for an exciting matchup before both teams head into the All-Star break.
Phoenix Suns 116 - 100 Detroit Pistons
The Phoenix Suns overcame Devin Booker's early ejection to beat the Detroit Pistons 116-100, with Kevin Durant leading the way with 25 points. Pistons coach Monty Williams returned to Phoenix for the first time since being fired by the Suns and received a warm welcome. The game was marred by a pregame altercation between Isaiah Stewart and Drew Eubanks, which led to Stewart's arrest for assault. The Suns controlled the game after Booker's ejection and built a 35-point lead at one point. Every player on both teams got playing time in their final game before the All-Star break. Durant praised the Suns' young players and emphasized the importance of keeping the game first amidst the off-court drama.
Denver Nuggets 98 - 102 Sacramento Kings
De’Aaron Fox led the Sacramento Kings to a 102-98 victory over the Denver Nuggets, scoring 30 points and sparking a comeback from a 16-point deficit. The win marked the Kings’ second consecutive victory over the Nuggets, with Domantas Sabonis also contributing 20 points and 13 rebounds. Despite missing key players due to injury, the Nuggets struggled to contain Fox and the Kings, with Aaron Gordon leading Denver with 25 points and 15 rebounds. The win gives the Kings momentum heading into the NBA All-Star break, while the Nuggets look to regroup for their upcoming game against the Washington Wizards.