12.04.2024
Detroit Pistons 105 - 127 Chicago Bulls
DeMar DeRozan scored 39 points as the Chicago Bulls defeated the Detroit Pistons 127-105, sending the Pistons to their franchise-record 67th loss of the season. The Bulls secured home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference play-in game against Atlanta, with Nikola Vucevic contributing 27 points and 11 rebounds. Detroit, without Cade Cunningham, lost their sixth straight game. Despite the Pistons' effort to keep high spirits, turnovers led to Chicago's victory, as the Bulls dominated in transition. The Bulls will face Washington next, while the Pistons will take on Dallas.
Boston Celtics 109 - 118 New York Knicks
Jalen Brunson scored 39 points in three quarters as the New York Knicks beat the Boston Celtics 118-109, keeping up their push for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks are now one game behind the Milwaukee Bucks with two games remaining. New York dominated the game, out-rebounding the Celtics 52-36 and getting 22 second-chance points. Despite having already clinched home-court advantage, the Celtics played their top eight players but fell short. Boston coach Joe Mazzulla used an all-reserve lineup in the fourth quarter as the Knicks denied the Celtics a season sweep. Jayson Tatum led Boston with 18 points while Payton Pritchard had 16 off the bench. The Knicks' victory sets up a crucial game against the Brooklyn Nets, while the Celtics will face the Charlotte Hornets next.
Utah Jazz 124 - 121 Houston Rockets
Luka Samanic scored 22 points to lead the Utah Jazz to a 124-121 victory over the Houston Rockets, snapping a 13-game losing streak. Fred VanVleet had a season-high 42 points for the Rockets, knocking down nine 3-pointers. The Jazz opened the third quarter strong and took the lead late in the game with a 6-0 run. Houston shot 62% from the perimeter in the first quarter, but Utah erased a deficit with a 13-0 run in the second quarter. The win marked the end of Utah's losing streak, with Keyonte George contributing 20 points to secure the victory.
Portland Trail Blazers 92 - 100 Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are pushing to improve their playoff positioning and move up from the No. 10 spot in the Western Conference. Despite being one game behind the eighth-place Kings, the Warriors are on a hot streak, winning eight of their last nine games, including a crucial victory over the Lakers. The Splash Brothers, along with Draymond Green, were on fire from long range in their win. Portland, on the other hand, has struggled, losing 12 of their past 14 games. Rookie Scoot Henderson had a record-breaking performance with 15 assists, but also committed eight turnovers. The Trail Blazers have lost all three games against the Warriors this season, with the most recent defeat being by 20 points.
Sacramento Kings 123 - 135 New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans are battling to secure their spot in the crowded Western Conference as they face off against the Sacramento Kings. Despite missing Brandon Ingram, the Pelicans have managed to climb to sixth place in the standings, but face competition from the Kings who have a more favorable schedule moving forward. CJ McCollum is confident in the team's ability to secure a playoff spot and enjoy some rest, while the Kings are dealing with injuries but still remain a threat with their recent performances.