29.10.2024
Orlando Magic 119 - 115 Indiana Pacers
In a thrilling NBA matchup, Paolo Banchero delivered a career-best performance, scoring 50 points to lead the Orlando Magic to a 119-115 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Banchero's night was highlighted by his 13 rebounds and nine assists, and he remarkably tied a franchise record by scoring 37 points in the first half, a feat last achieved by Tracy McGrady in 2003. Jalen Suggs contributed 25 points and seven assists, while Mo Wagner added 14 points off the bench for Orlando. Despite the Pacers' spirited effort, led by Pascal Siakam's 26 points and Tyrese Haliburton's near triple-double, they faltered in the final minutes. A pivotal moment occurred when Banchero's backcourt steal and subsequent assist to Mo Wagner for a dunk narrowed the Pacers’ lead, reigniting Orlando's momentum. Notably, the Pacers, who attempted 30 free throws but converted only 20, did not shoot any free throws in the decisive fourth quarter. As each team looks towards their next games, the Magic aim to build on this victory as they start a five-game road trip against Chicago.
Atlanta Hawks 119 - 121 Washington Wizards
In a closely contested game, the Washington Wizards secured their first win of the season by defeating the Atlanta Hawks 121-119. Kyle Kuzma played a pivotal role with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists, while Jordan Poole contributed with 26 points. Corey Kispert added 21 points off the bench. The Wizards overcame early mistakes, including 13 first-half turnovers, by hitting a season-high 21 3-pointers and delivering a cleaner performance in the second half. Despite Jalen Johnson leading the Hawks with 29 points and Trae Young's 14-point, 13-assist effort, Young's missed 3-pointer at the buzzer sealed the Hawks' fate. The game was marked by injuries for Atlanta, with De'Andre Hunter, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kobe Bufkin, and Onyeka Okongwu sidelined and Vit Krejci injuring his adductor mid-game. The match also featured the first face-off between 2023 draft picks Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher, with Sarr garnering more attention from the crowd due to pre-draft issues but ultimately posting a better performance. Both teams will meet again in Washington on Wednesday.
Boston Celtics 119 - 108 Milwaukee Bucks
In a thrilling matchup, the Boston Celtics secured a 119-108 victory against the Milwaukee Bucks, propelled by a standout performance from Payton Pritchard who came off the bench to drain eight 3-pointers and score 28 points. Jaylen Brown led the team with 30 points while Jayson Tatum, the reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week, contributed 15 points and eight rebounds. Despite strong efforts from the Bucks’ Damian Lillard, who scored 33 points, and Giannis Antetokounmpo with a 30-point double-double, Milwaukee could not prevent their third consecutive loss. The game turned in Boston’s favor late in the third quarter when Pritchard’s crucial 3-pointer with just 0.4 seconds left pushed the Celtics ahead, sparking an 18-2 run that continued into the fourth quarter. The Celtics' impressive performance from beyond the arc, going 18 for 47, continued their trend after matching the NBA record for 3-pointers in their season opener. Looking ahead, the Bucks hope to regain form as they visit Memphis on Thursday, while the Celtics take on Indiana on Wednesday.
Miami Heat 106 - 98 Detroit Pistons
The Miami Heat secured a 106-98 victory over the Detroit Pistons, with Jimmy Butler leading the way with 23 points and seven assists. Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo contributed 19 points and a double-double, respectively, while Terry Rozier added 20 points. Despite Cade Cunningham's strong start, scoring 24 points for the Pistons, Detroit failed to clinch a win, marking their third 0-4 start in five seasons. Cunningham's early seven-shot streak ended with a 2-for-11 slump, contributing to Detroit finishing at 38% field goal efficiency. The game also included a halftime tribute to Dwyane Wade, commemorating the 21st anniversary of his debut and coinciding with the unveiling of his statue outside the arena. Miami's improvement was evident as they overcame previous third-quarter struggles, capitalizing on a fourth-quarter burst to maintain their lead. Both teams will have another matchup on Wednesday with Detroit visiting Philadelphia and Miami hosting New York.
New York Knicks 104 - 110 Cleveland Cavaliers
Darius Garland led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 110-104 victory over the New York Knicks, scoring a season-high 34 points, including 15 in the decisive fourth quarter. This win extends the Cavaliers' best start since their 2016 NBA championship defense, bringing them to a 4-0 record. Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen also made significant contributions, with Allen securing a double-double of 15 points and 15 rebounds. Despite a strong performance from Jalen Brunson and support from Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart, the Knicks couldn't maintain their 13-point second-half lead, partly due to Brunson's ankle issue and inefficiency. The game featured an impressive, albeit non-counting, full-court shot by Mitchell post-buzzer. Garland's critical fourth-quarter threes erased the Knicks' last lead and secured the Cavaliers' win, setting the stage for their upcoming match against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. Meanwhile, the Knicks embark on a four-game road trip starting in Miami.
Toronto Raptors 125 - 127 Denver Nuggets
In an intense overtime showdown, the Denver Nuggets triumphed over the Toronto Raptors 127-125, overcoming a 15-point deficit. Nikola Jokic shone with 40 points and 10 rebounds, scoring seven points in overtime. Jamal Murray's reverse layup with less than a second remaining forced the game into overtime. Aaron Gordon contributed with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Raptors' Scottie Barnes delivered a standout performance with 21 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists before being sidelined late in the game due to an elbow injury. RJ Barrett marked his season debut with 20 points for Toronto but missed a crucial 3-point attempt in the final moments of overtime. The game also saw tensions flare as Barnes was involved in a confrontation with Russell Westbrook and Aaron Gordon, resulting in a flagrant foul and technicals. The victory marked Denver's first win in three games this season as they look ahead to facing Brooklyn, while Toronto prepares to meet Charlotte.
Memphis Grizzlies 123 - 126 Chicago Bulls
Zach LaVine's 30-point performance, including a crucial 11 points in the final quarter, sparked a Chicago Bulls comeback to secure a 126-123 victory against the Memphis Grizzlies. Nikola Vucevic contributed 22 points, while Coby White added 20 for Chicago. Josh Giddey played a significant role with 12 points, eight assists, and 13 rebounds, capturing a key offensive rebound in the closing seconds. Despite leading at various points, Memphis's Desmond Bane scored 30, but his potential game-tying 3-pointer missed its mark. The Grizzlies, who led by 15 points at one point, have struggled to maintain leads, especially in the third quarter. Chicago's fourth-quarter surge, fueled by LaVine and Vucevic's return, allowed them to outscore Memphis 33-23 and secure the win. Both teams showed improvement in ball control, each committing minimal turnovers, and will face their next opponents, Orlando and Brooklyn, respectively, on Wednesday.
San Antonio Spurs 101 - 106 Houston Rockets
In a closely contested game, Jalen Green led the Houston Rockets with 34 points to secure a 106-101 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, making sure the team never trailed throughout the match. This win was significant for the Rockets as they avenged a narrow 109-106 loss to the Spurs on Saturday in their two-game series in San Antonio. Jabari Smith and Alperen Sengun contributed significantly, with Sengun recording a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds. San Antonio's rookie sensation, Victor Wembanyama, managed 12 points and an impressive 18 rebounds, while Jeremy Sochan scored 22 points for the Spurs. The game saw Houston allowing the Spurs to close in with a six-point streak before veteran Fred VanVleet hit a crucial three-pointer in the final seconds, finishing with 11 points despite struggling with his shooting earlier. The Spurs experienced a tough shooting night, notably missing five consecutive shots in a single possession during the third quarter. They fell behind early, shooting just 32% in the first quarter compared to their 60% from the previous game. The Rockets will next travel to Dallas, and the Spurs are set to play at Oklahoma City.
Dallas Mavericks 110 - 102 Utah Jazz
The Dallas Mavericks secured a 110-102 victory over the Utah Jazz, with Kyrie Irving scoring 23 points and Klay Thompson adding 18. A significant moment of the game was the injury of Jazz forward Taylor Hendricks, who suffered a broken leg and dislocated ankle and had to be taken off on a stretcher. Luka Doncic struggled with his shooting, tallying 15 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, managing only one 3-pointer late in the game. Collin Sexton led the Jazz with 23 points, and Lauri Markkanen and Keonte George each contributed 17 points. The Jazz's shooting woes continued as they shot just 37% from the field, compounded by the fact that this is their worst season start since 2015-16. Meanwhile, the Mavericks rebounded with effective plays during crucial moments, including a significant block by Washington, and will face the Minnesota Timberwolves next.
Phoenix Suns 109 - 105 Los Angeles Lakers
In a thrilling game, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant led the Phoenix Suns to a comeback victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, securing a 109-105 win. Despite the Lakers' dominant start with a 26-8 lead in the first quarter thanks to a strong performance by Anthony Davis, who ended with 29 points and 15 rebounds, the Suns persevered. Booker scored 33 points and Durant added 30, with Durant sinking critical consecutive jumpers late in the fourth quarter to put the Suns ahead. LeBron James, who struggled with his shooting, managed to extend his record streak of games scoring at least 10 points to 1,226, with 11 points on the night. The match featured six ties and 14 lead changes, with Royce O'Neale's clutch shot sealing the Suns' win. Notably, Jusuf Nurkic had an off-night, contributing only two points in 15 minutes for the Suns. The Lakers will face Cleveland next, while the Suns head to Los Angeles to play the Clippers.
Sacramento Kings 111 - 98 Portland Trail Blazers
The Sacramento Kings secured their first win of the season by defeating the Portland Trail Blazers 111-98 in Sacramento. De’Aaron Fox stood out, scoring 24 points and surpassing 10,000 career points, becoming the fifth player in Kings' history to reach this milestone with a key 3-pointer in the third quarter. The Kings never trailed in the matchup, stretching a slim 60-58 lead into a commanding 26-point advantage in the fourth quarter. DeMar DeRozan contributed 23 points, with 19 at the half, while Domantas Sabonis added 16 points and 13 rebounds. Despite DeAndre Ayton's 20 points and 11 rebounds for Portland, becoming only the second in franchise history to start a season with four consecutive double-doubles, the Blazers struggled with their shooting, going just 4 of 22 from the 3-point line. The Kings, despite starting the season 0-2 by a narrow margin, showcased resilience, particularly with a decisive 29-13 third-quarter run, and displayed strong free-throw accuracy, connecting on 23 of 25 attempts.