03.03.2024
Los Angeles Lakers 114 - 124 Denver Nuggets
In a thrilling matchup, LeBron James reached the milestone of 40,000 points, but Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets used a late surge to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 124-114. Jokic had 35 points and 10 rebounds, while Aaron Gordon's 3-pointer put Denver ahead late in the game. Michael Porter Jr. made all 10 of his shots for 25 points, and Jamal Murray added 24 points and 11 assists. Despite James' achievement, the Lakers couldn't secure their third straight win. The Nuggets swept the season series, with James acknowledging that Denver seems to have their number. The game concluded with James receiving a standing ovation and congratulations for his record-breaking accomplishment.
Memphis Grizzlies 100 - 107 Portland Trail Blazers
Anfernee Simons led the Portland Trail Blazers to a 107-100 overtime victory against the Memphis Grizzlies, scoring 30 points with 20 of them coming in the second half and OT. Portland overcame a 13-point deficit in the final nine minutes, with Jabari Walker adding 18 points and 12 rebounds. Despite Memphis being more competitive after a 30-point loss on Friday, they were unable to hold onto their lead as Simons and the Trail Blazers made a comeback. The Grizzlies have now lost five straight games, while Portland gears up to face Minnesota next and Memphis will take on Brooklyn.
Miami Heat 126 - 120 Utah Jazz
The Miami Heat defeated the Utah Jazz 126-120, with Jimmy Butler scoring a season-high 37 points and Bam Adebayo adding 23. Miami has now won their seventh consecutive home game against the Jazz, with their last 10 victories in 13 games. The game featured 11 ties, 21 lead changes, and a close contest throughout, with Caleb Martin contributing 18 points for the Heat. Keyonte George led the Jazz with 31 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Heat's strong performance. Tyler Herro and Kevin Love were absent for Miami, while Utah was missing Walker Kessler and Jordan Clarkson. The Heat will face the Detroit Pistons next, while the Jazz will host the Washington Wizards.
Brooklyn Nets 114 - 102 Atlanta Hawks
BRIDGES SCORES 38 POINTS, NETS BEAT HAWKS 114-102 FOR SWEEP OF TWO-GAME SERIES as Mikal Bridges led the Brooklyn Nets to victory with 38 points against the Atlanta Hawks, securing their third win in their last four games under interim coach Kevin Ollie. Cam Johnson added 23 points for the Nets, who are now just two games behind the Hawks for the final spot in the play-in tournament. Despite Dejounte Murray's 20 points for the Hawks, they lost for the fifth time in their last seven games and fell to the Nets for the seventh consecutive season. Brooklyn's dominant second half limited Atlanta's offense, leading to the sweep of the two-game series.
Phoenix Suns 109 - 118 Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets defeated the Phoenix Suns 118-109 with Jalen Green scoring 34 points and Fred VanVleet adding 24. Phoenix's star player, Devin Booker, left the game with a sprained ankle after colliding with a teammate, while Bradley Beal was ejected in his return from injury. The Rockets led for most of the game, with Green hitting six 3-pointers and Alperen Sengun adding 21 points and 10 rebounds. The Suns struggled with turnovers and shooting, but Kevin Durant led them with 30 points. The Rockets now split the two-game series with the Suns, who will host Oklahoma City next while the Rockets prepare to host San Antonio.