22.03.2024
Orlando Magic 121 - 106 New Orleans Pelicans
Paolo Banchero's second career triple-double led the Orlando Magic to a 121-106 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, securing their second winning season in 12 years. Despite a slow start with missed shots, Banchero finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. Jalen Suggs added 22 points for the Magic, while Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans with 21 points. Brandon Ingram left the game early with a left knee injury, and the Pelicans struggled with turnovers and missed 3-point shots. The Magic dominated the third quarter to secure the win, with the Pelicans shooting 54.5% overall. Orlando will host Sacramento next, while New Orleans faces Miami on Friday night.
Washington Wizards 109 - 102 Sacramento Kings
Kuzma scored 31 points to lead the Washington Wizards to a 109-102 victory over the Sacramento Kings, snapping a five-game losing streak. Deni Avdija added 17 points and Corey Kispert contributed 15 points, while Richaun Holmes grabbed 16 rebounds. The Kings, led by De’Aaron Fox with 25 points and Malik Monk with 20 points, struggled from 3-point range, hitting just 11 of 39. Despite a late rally by Sacramento, the Wizards were able to close out the game with strong defense for their 12th win of the season.
Houston Rockets 127 - 117 Chicago Bulls
In a game where Jalen Green scored 26 points and Dillon Brooks was ejected after a scrum, the Rockets won their seventh straight game by beating the Bulls 127-117. The Rockets have gone 9-1 in March and are now just 2 1/2 games behind the final play-in spot in the Western Conference. With strong performances from their bench players, Houston outplayed the Bulls and secured a crucial win. Ayo Dosunmu led the way for Chicago with 35 points, but it was not enough to overcome the Rockets' momentum.
Milwaukee Bucks 115 - 108 Brooklyn Nets
Damian Lillard shined with 30 points and 12 assists as the Milwaukee Bucks capitalized on Giannis Antetokounmpo's return to beat the Brooklyn Nets 115-108. Lillard made two crucial steals in the final minutes to secure the victory, while Antetokounmpo added 21 points in his return from injury. Despite the Nets overcoming a 20-point deficit to take the lead, the Bucks managed to hold on for the win. The Nets were led by Mikal Bridges with 24 points, Nic Claxton with 22, and Cam Thomas with 21. This victory marked the fifth straight loss for Brooklyn. The Bucks will now host Oklahoma City, while the Nets will face New York.
Dallas Mavericks 113 - 97 Utah Jazz
Luka Doncic led the Mavericks to a 113-97 victory over the Jazz, securing their sixth-place position in the Western Conference. Doncic finished with 34 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, while Daniel Gafford contributed 24 points on 10 of 11 shooting. The Mavericks had 33 assists in the game, just four shy of their season-high. Utah struggled shooting, going 4 of 30 from 3-point range, with Lauri Markkanen leading the team with 21 points. The Jazz have now lost four straight games and 15 of their last 18. The Mavericks will face the Jazz again on Monday as they begin a five-game road trip.
Denver Nuggets 113 - 100 New York Knicks
Michael Porter Jr. led the way for the Nuggets with 31 points, breaking the team's single-season 3-point record, while Nikola Jokic recorded his 22nd triple-double of the season with 30 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists as Denver defeated the Knicks 113-100. The Nuggets improved to 13-2 since the All-Star break, climbing within percentage points of first place in the Western Conference. Despite a strong effort from Jalen Brunson and Isaiah Hartenstein, the Knicks saw their four-game winning streak come to an end. Jamal Murray added 23 points for Denver before leaving the game with an ankle injury, but the Nuggets were able to hold off a late comeback attempt by New York. DiVincenzo and Fournier made impressive performances from beyond the arc for the Knicks, but it was not enough to overcome the firepower of Porter and Jokic.
Phoenix Suns 128 - 115 Atlanta Hawks
Devin Booker led the Phoenix Suns to a 128-115 victory over the Atlanta Hawks with 30 points, while Eric Gordon added 21 points off the bench. The Suns dominated from beyond the arc, hitting 22 of 41 3-pointers. Kevin Durant contributed 19 points for the Suns, helping them improve to 41-29 for the season. Despite facing adversity with foul trouble and injuries, Phoenix's bench stepped up with a season-best performance. The Hawks, missing Trae Young, couldn't keep up with the Suns' hot shooting. Durant also reached a milestone with his 2,000th 3-pointer. Phoenix aims to secure a top-six seed in the Western Conference to avoid the play-in tournament, while Atlanta looks to bounce back against Charlotte next.