10.04.2024
Charlotte Hornets 104 - 130 Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic led the Dallas Mavericks to a 130-104 victory over the Charlotte Hornets with a 39-point triple-double, securing a playoff spot and their 15th win in 17 games. Doncic set a franchise record for points in a season, tying for eighth all-time in triple-doubles. The Hornets struggled to contain him, with Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller scoring 22 and 21 points respectively. The win all but assures the Mavericks will avoid the play-in tournament, with Doncic praising their defensive effort. Coach Steve Clifford was honored before the game and will step down after the season.
Philadelphia 76ers 120 - 102 Detroit Pistons
Joel Embiid led the Philadelphia 76ers to their sixth straight victory with 37 points and 11 rebounds, as they defeated the Detroit Pistons 120-102. Buddy Hield and Kelly Oubre Jr. also contributed with 18 and 17 points respectively. The win keeps the 76ers in contention for the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs as they aim to avoid the Play-In Tournament. Jaden Ivey and Evan Fournier scored 25 and 21 points for the Pistons, who fell to 13-66. Despite a scare with Embiid appearing to hyperextend his knee, he reassured everyone he was fine after the game. Tobias Harris returned to the lineup for the 76ers, scoring 15 points, and De'Anthony Melton also returned to the rotation. Philadelphia plays Orlando next, while Detroit hosts Chicago.
Toronto Raptors 123 - 140 Indiana Pacers
Tyrese Haliburton's 30-point performance and Pascal Siakam's 16 points in his return to Toronto powered the Pacers to a 140-123 victory over the Raptors. The win, the Pacers' third in a row, keeps them in sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings as they aim to avoid the Play-In Tournament. Siakam, who has been a key player for Indiana since being traded from Toronto, emphasized the importance of playing meaningful basketball at this stage of the season. Despite missing several key players, including Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl, the Raptors put up a fight before ultimately falling to the Pacers after a third-quarter surge.
Atlanta Hawks 111 - 117 Miami Heat
Tyler Herro scored 33 points, with four coming in the second overtime, to lead the Miami Heat to a 117-111 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Jimmy Butler added 25 points and Nikola Jovic had 23 as Miami won their fifth game in seven. Dejounte Murray had a triple-double for the Hawks with 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists. Despite missing key players, both teams fought hard in a close contest that saw the Heat ultimately prevail, keeping them in the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference.
Milwaukee Bucks 104 - 91 Boston Celtics
The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Boston Celtics 104-91 despite Giannis Antetokounmpo suffering a left calf strain in the third quarter, undergoing an MRI post-game. This game had a record-low two free throw attempts, with the Celtics being the first team in NBA history to not shoot any. Patrick Beverley led the Bucks with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Jayson Tatum scored 22 points for the Celtics. Despite being without Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis, the Celtics have clinched the best regular-season record. The Bucks will face the Orlando Magic next, while the Celtics will host the New York Knicks.
Chicago Bulls 117 - 128 New York Knicks
Jalen Brunson scored 45 points in his second consecutive 40-point game, leading the New York Knicks to a 128-117 victory over the Chicago Bulls. This marked Brunson's 10th 40-point game of the season, with him hitting seven 3-pointers. The Knicks also got contributions from OG Anunoby and Donte DiVincenzo, while the Bulls were led by DeMar DeRozan and Coby White, who set a franchise single-season record for 3-pointers. A comical missed alley-oop attempt and some wild back-and-forth scoring in the first half added to the entertaining game, with the Knicks pulling away in the second half for the win. Coach Billy Donovan dismissed rumors of potentially coaching at Kentucky, reaffirming his commitment to the Bulls.
Houston Rockets 118 - 106 Orlando Magic
Fred VanVleet scored a season-high 37 points to lead the Houston Rockets to a 118-106 victory over the Orlando Magic, snapping a five-game losing streak for the Rockets. The Magic fell into a tie for fourth place in the Eastern Conference, missing a chance to clinch the Southeast Division title. Markelle Fultz added 18 points for the Magic, while Jabari Smith Jr. scored 23 points for the Rockets. Houston avenged an early-season loss to Orlando with this win, as VanVleet made six 3-pointers and had eight rebounds and six assists in the game.
Memphis Grizzlies 87 - 102 San Antonio Spurs
Victor Wembanyama dominated the game with 18 points, seven blocks, seven rebounds, and six assists, leading the Spurs to a 102-87 victory over the Grizzlies. San Antonio broke a 13-game losing streak to Memphis, with Sandro Mamukelashvili adding a career-best 16 rebounds and 11 points. The Spurs outscored the Grizzlies in the third quarter with a 25-9 run, ultimately pushing their lead to 20 points in the fourth. Despite injuries plaguing both teams, Wembanyama's standout performance and the Spurs' defensive efforts proved too much for Memphis, as they struggled to find a response. Both teams are looking ahead to the draft lottery with optimism for next season.
Minnesota Timberwolves 130 - 121 Washington Wizards
Anthony Edwards scored a career-high 51 points to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 130-121 victory over the Washington Wizards after rallying from a 21-point deficit. Edwards had 30 points in the second half, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 23 points and Rudy Gobert contributed 19 points and 16 rebounds. This win helped the Timberwolves secure a top-three seed in the Western Conference with a crucial game against Denver on the horizon. Karl-Anthony Towns has been cleared for a return, potentially as soon as Friday. Despite the Wizards' strong start, the short-handed team led by Corey Kispert's 25 points couldn't hold off Edwards and the Timberwolves.
Oklahoma City Thunder 112 - 105 Sacramento Kings
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returned from injury to score 40 points, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 112-105 comeback win over the Sacramento Kings. Domantas Sabonis saw his double-double streak end at 61 games, as he scored 8 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. The Thunder rallied from a 20-point deficit at halftime, with Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 17 points in the third quarter to shift the momentum. The win was crucial for Oklahoma City in their push for the top spot in the Western Conference, while the Kings are fighting to secure a playoff spot. Sacramento will host the New Orleans Pelicans next, while the Thunder will face the San Antonio Spurs.
Utah Jazz 95 - 111 Denver Nuggets
Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic each scored 28 points as the Denver Nuggets defeated the shorthanded Utah Jazz 111-95, with Murray making a strong comeback after missing seven games due to a knee injury. Murray had a career-high five dunks in the first half and hit three straight 3s in the fourth quarter. The Nuggets are focused on securing the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs, while the Jazz have lost 13 straight and are focusing on developing their younger players. Utah coach Will Hardy praised his team's effort despite the loss, as both teams look ahead to their next games against Minnesota and Houston, respectively.
Los Angeles Lakers 120 - 134 Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors made 26 3-pointers to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 134-120 with key players like Klay Thompson scoring 27 points and Stephen Curry adding 23. Lakers' Anthony Davis was absent due to injury, leading to the most 3-pointers ever allowed by the Lakers in a game. Despite missing Davis, the Lakers couldn't defend effectively, causing them to miss the opportunity to move into eighth place. LeBron James had 33 points and 11 assists for the Lakers, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Warriors' hot shooting. The win puts the Warriors in a good position for a potential postseason play-in game.
Phoenix Suns 92 - 105 LA Clippers
The Clippers dominated the Suns, building a massive 31-point lead in the first quarter before holding on for a 105-92 victory. Russell Westbrook recorded his first triple-double of the season with 16 points, 15 rebounds, and 15 assists, while the Clippers were without All-Stars James Harden and Kawhi Leonard. The Suns struggled to score early, shooting just 2 of 19 from the field in the opening quarter, and despite a late rally, they couldn't overcome the deficit. Paul George led the Clippers with 23 points, while Ivica Zubac added 17 points and 13 rebounds. Phoenix, missing center Jusuf Nurkic, dropped their second straight game and will finish the regular season with three road games.
Portland Trail Blazers 100 - 110 New Orleans Pelicans
Trey Murphy III led the New Orleans Pelicans to a 110-100 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers with 31 points and eight rebounds, while C.J. McCollum added 29 points, including five 3-pointers against his former team. Deandre Ayton led the Trail Blazers with 30 points and 13 rebounds, while Scoot Henderson had 19 points and 15 assists, setting a franchise record for assists by a rookie. Henderson also became the first rookie since Lonzo Ball in 2017 to have 10 points and 10 assists in a half. The Pelicans moved into sixth place in the Western Conference with the win, while Portland is set to host Golden State next, and New Orleans will visit Sacramento.