02.11.2024
Charlotte Hornets 109 - 124 Boston Celtics
In a heated matchup, the Boston Celtics pulled away late to defeat the Charlotte Hornets 124-109, thanks to standout performances from Jayson Tatum with 32 points and 11 rebounds, and Jaylen Brown with 25 points. The game saw tensions rise in the fourth quarter, leading to the ejection of two Hornets players, including LaMelo Ball, who had an impressive 31 points before fouling out. Grant Williams was also ejected for a flagrant foul after a collision with Tatum. Rookie Tidjane Salaun made an impression for the Hornets with three 3-pointers. The Celtics showcased their poise amid the chaos, benefiting from 26 Hornets fouls to their own 13. The absence of Hornets' starting center Mark Williams, alongside Nick Richards' early exit due to shoulder soreness, forced Charlotte to adapt with small ball. The teams are set for a rematch on the same court Saturday night.
Cleveland Cavaliers 120 - 109 Orlando Magic
The Cleveland Cavaliers maintained their unbeaten streak, improving to 6-0 with a 120-109 victory over the Orlando Magic, who were playing without their injured All-Star Paolo Banchero. Darius Garland led the Cavs with 25 points while Donovan Mitchell added 22, marking the Cavs as the sole undefeated team in the Eastern Conference. This start is reminiscent of Cleveland's 6-0 opening in 2016 when LeBron James was on the team, with their best-ever start being 8-0 in 1976. Without Banchero, who was averaging 29 points before his injury, the Magic leaned on Jalen Suggs, who scored a career-high 28 points. Cleveland, under first-year coach Kenny Atkinson, has embraced a faster pace, with reserves like Caris LeVert, Sam Merrill, and Georges Niang extending their lead in the third quarter. Rookie Luke Travers made his NBA debut, scoring four points. The Magic's matchup was a replay of last season's playoff series, where the Cavs claimed victory in seven games. The Magic are set to play Dallas next, while Cleveland faces Milwaukee in the coming days.
Detroit Pistons 98 - 128 New York Knicks
In a commanding performance, the New York Knicks defeated the Detroit Pistons 128-98, marking their 16th consecutive win over Detroit. Jalen Brunson was pivotal, scoring 15 of his total 36 points in the first quarter alone, helping the Knicks establish a dominant 39-13 lead early on. The team maintained a lead of at least 20 points for the majority of the game, with Karl-Anthony Towns adding 21 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. OG Anunoby also contributed 21 points as the Knicks' starters collectively scored 106 points. In contrast, the Pistons struggled, with Cade Cunningham scoring 22 points but facing high turnovers, as Detroit committed 22 errors that led to 30 Knicks points. The Pistons' challenges were evidenced by their poor shooting percentage and turnover rate in the first quarter, underscoring their ongoing difficulties since the 2018-19 season. The Knicks capitalized on these weaknesses, maintaining control throughout the game.
Atlanta Hawks 115 - 123 Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings secured their third consecutive win by defeating the short-handed Atlanta Hawks 123-115, driven by De'Aaron Fox's season-high 31 points. DeMar DeRozan contributed significantly with 27 points, continuing his streak of scoring over 20 in each of his five games since joining the team. Despite Domantas Sabonis fouling out, he managed 15 points and 14 rebounds, marking his fourth double-double in five games. The Hawks, missing several key players due to injury, saw Trae Young lead with 25 points and 12 assists, while Garrison Mathews stood out by hitting a career-high seven 3-pointers to tally 23 points, which might earn him a starting role. Although the Kings led for most of the game, the Hawks managed to tie it up before a crucial 6-0 run put Sacramento back on top. Overall, the Kings demonstrated their dominance by outrebounding the Hawks 50-41 and never trailing for nearly the entire match.
Brooklyn Nets 120 - 112 Chicago Bulls
In a thrilling contest at the Barclays Center, Cam Thomas showcased his clutch scoring ability by netting 10 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter, leading the Brooklyn Nets to a 120-112 victory over the Chicago Bulls. Thomas scored eight consecutive points late in the game to secure the win, reinforcing his status as the NBA’s leading fourth-quarter scorer. Teammates Cam Johnson, Nic Claxton, and Keon Johnson contributed significantly to the victory, while Ben Simmons demonstrated his playmaking prowess with 11 assists and eight rebounds. On the Bulls’ side, Nikola Vucevic delivered an impressive performance with 28 points, hitting his first 10 shots from the field, and Zach LaVine and Coby White each added 21 points, with White excelling from beyond the arc. Despite a strong third-quarter comeback led by Vucevic, the Bulls couldn't capitalize in the final moments, with Brooklyn effectively controlling the paint and the game's closing minutes.
Toronto Raptors 125 - 131 Los Angeles Lakers
In a thrilling matchup, the Los Angeles Lakers secured a 131-125 victory over the Toronto Raptors, with Anthony Davis leading the charge by scoring a season-high 38 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. LeBron James contributed significantly with 27 points and 10 assists as the Lakers held a lead throughout the game, reaching as much as 26 points. Despite a valiant effort from the Raptors, which included RJ Barrett's season-high 33 points and career-high 12 assists, Toronto faced their fourth consecutive defeat. Gradey Dick also shined for the Raptors with a career-high 31 points. In a notable moment for the Lakers, rookie Bronny James made a brief appearance in the final seconds. The victory marked the Lakers' first road win of the season after previous losses. Meanwhile, the Raptors welcomed rookie guard Ja’Kobe Walter for his season debut after a shoulder injury, where he scored his first points. The Lakers significantly outperformed Toronto at the free-throw line, making 36 of 41 attempts compared to the Raptors’ 11 of 13. The Raptors are set to honor Vince Carter by retiring his jersey in a ceremony during their next game against Sacramento.
New Orleans Pelicans 125 - 118 Indiana Pacers
In a thrilling comeback, the New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Indiana Pacers 125-118, ending their three-game losing streak. Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with an impressive 34 points and 10 assists, while Brandon Ingram added 26 points. Jordan Hawkins contributed 23 points, and reserve Brandon Boston Jr. scored 14. The Pacers had a 13-point lead in the first half but were hampered by injuries, losing Aaron Nesmith to an ankle sprain and Isaiah Jackson to a right leg injury. Ben Sheppard was a standout for Indiana, hitting six 3-pointers for 20 points. Despite Bennedict Mathurin's 19 points and Tyrese Haliburton's double-double with 11 points and 11 assists, the Pacers struggled to maintain momentum in the fourth quarter. New Orleans capitalized on Indiana's 14 turnovers, turning them into 21 points and converting 15 offensive rebounds into an additional 14 points. Highlighting the game was rookie Yves Missi's powerful dunk over Myles Turner, contributing to New Orleans's strong finish. The Pelicans will face the Atlanta Hawks next, while the Pacers prepare to visit Dallas.
Minnesota Timberwolves 119 - 116 Denver Nuggets
In a thrilling matchup, the Minnesota Timberwolves emerged victorious over the Denver Nuggets 119-116, thanks to a clutch go-ahead floater by Anthony Edwards with 25.7 seconds remaining and two crucial free throws from Rudy Gobert. Edwards led the Timberwolves with 29 points, while Gobert contributed a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Despite a substantial comeback run by the Nuggets, who were spearheaded by Nikola Jokic's near triple-double, the Timberwolves managed to hold on for the win. Denver's Aaron Gordon scored 31 points, including 11 rebounds, in what was the teams' first meeting since last season's Western Conference semifinal. A notable incident saw Christian Braun dunking over Gobert, resulting in a heated exchange and technical fouls for both players. The absence of depth hurt the Nuggets, who also lost Jamal Murray to the concussion protocol in the third quarter. As the Timberwolves move to face the Spurs, the Nuggets are set to host the Jazz in their next games.
Portland Trail Blazers 114 - 137 Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder continued their unbeaten start to the season with a convincing 137-114 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way for the Thunder with 30 points in just 28 minutes, while Jalen Williams added 22 points. Oklahoma City showcased their depth with Cason Wallace and Aaron Wiggins contributing 13 points each off the bench. Despite a quiet night from Chet Holmgren, who played only 18 minutes due to foul trouble, the Thunder capitalized on Portland's turnovers, especially in the third quarter where they outscored the Blazers 38-17. Jerami Grant led Portland with 17 points, and Rayan Rupert impressed off the bench with 14 points, including a career-high four 3-pointers. Both teams have away games on Saturday, with the Thunder facing the Los Angeles Clippers and the Blazers playing the Phoenix Suns.