03.11.2024
Charlotte Hornets 103 - 113 Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics secured a second consecutive victory over the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center, winning 113-103 on Saturday. Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 29 points despite struggling from beyond the arc, while Payton Pritchard added 22 points, making six 3-pointers. Derrick White contributed with 18 points and eight rebounds, filling in effectively as Jaylen Brown sat out due to a hip flexor strain. Charlotte's LaMelo Ball shone with 36 points but fouled out for the second game in a row, impacting the Hornets' performance. Despite Brandon Miller's return with 16 points, Charlotte struggled without key centers Mark Williams and Nick Richards, losing the rebounding battle 44-34. A strong Celtics defense and timely 3-pointer from Jrue Holiday helped maintain their lead, while Boston improved to a 6-1 record. The game featured less drama compared to the previous night, notably missing any incidents similar to Grant Williams’ flagrant-two foul. The Celtics will next face the Atlanta Hawks, and the Hornets will visit the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Philadelphia 76ers 107 - 124 Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies secured a 124-107 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, driven by Jaren Jackson Jr.'s 27 points. Supporting Jackson, Jay Huff and Ja Morant contributed 20 and 18 points, respectively, helping the Grizzlies clinch their second consecutive road win and advancing their record to 4-3. The absence of Philadelphia's star player, Joel Embiid, was evident as the Grizzlies dominated the paint with a 70-34 margin and outrebounded the 76ers 52-33. Tyrese Maxey, leading the 76ers with 23 points, couldn't prevent their fourth loss in five games, dropping their home record to 0-3. Memphis excelled especially during the middle quarters, outscoring Philadelphia 68-47 and shooting 56.5%, while holding the 76ers to 34.9% from the field. The Grizzlies continue their road trip against Brooklyn, whereas Philadelphia looks to turn their fortunes around on a three-game West Coast run, starting with Phoenix.
Toronto Raptors 131 - 128 Sacramento Kings
The Toronto Raptors emerged victorious over the Sacramento Kings with a 131-128 win in overtime, ending their four-game losing streak. RJ Barrett led the Raptors with 31 points, while Chris Boucher added a season-high 24 points. Despite Domantas Sabonis achieving his 60th career triple-double with 17 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists, it wasn't enough to maintain the Kings' three-game win streak. Former Raptors star DeMar DeRozan, now with Sacramento, scored 33 points but missed crucial 3-pointers in the final moments of overtime. The Raptors also retired Vince Carter's No. 15 jersey at halftime. Notably, Toronto hit a season-high 17 three-pointers and secured their first win since losing Scottie Barnes to injury. Meanwhile, De’Aaron Fox scored 24 points, with 14 coming in a crucial fourth quarter before going scoreless in overtime. The game was a tightly contested showdown marked by missed opportunities and exciting late-game drama.
Houston Rockets 121 - 127 Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors secured a 127-121 overtime victory against the Houston Rockets, extending their regular-season winning streak against Houston to 14 games and marking their eighth consecutive victory in Houston. Despite leading by 31 points in the first half, the Warriors allowed the Rockets to tie the game, driven by an 18-2 opening run in the fourth quarter. Golden State managed to clinch the win by scoring the first six points in overtime, improving to 5-1 this season without the injured Steph Curry. Buddy Hield led the Warriors with 27 points, while Andrew Wiggins returned from a back strain, adding 15 points. Rookie Tari Eason notably scored a career-high 27 points for the Rockets, who struggled in overtime, making only 1 of 12 shots. The Warriors will face the Washington Wizards next, while the Rockets prepare to host the New York Knicks.
Milwaukee Bucks 113 - 114 Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers remained undefeated and improved to 7-0 with a thrilling 114-113 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, thanks to Donovan Mitchell's 30-point performance, including a last-second jumper. This win puts Cleveland just one game away from matching their franchise-best start of eight consecutive wins set in the 1976-77 season. Despite the Bucks losing their fifth straight game after an opening win, Damian Lillard's standout performance with 41 points and 10-of-15 shooting from three-point range wasn't enough to secure a victory. Giannis Antetokounmpo contributed 34 points, 16 rebounds, and nine assists, but the Bucks were hindered by Khris Middleton's absence due to ankle surgery recovery. The Cavaliers showed resilience, securing a win without Caris LeVert, who was sidelined with a sore knee. Although the Bucks had a strong start from beyond the arc, their efforts faltered as Lillard and Antetokounmpo lacked additional support, notably from Gary Trent Jr., who scored only three points in 34 minutes. The teams will face off again on Monday in Cleveland.
San Antonio Spurs 113 - 103 Minnesota Timberwolves
In a surprising victory, the San Antonio Spurs triumphed over the Minnesota Timberwolves 113-103 despite the absence of their coach Gregg Popovich due to illness. Keldon Johnson led the Spurs with 25 points, while Chris Paul showcased his veteran skills with 15 points and 13 assists, marking his second consecutive game with at least 10 assists, making him the second-oldest in NBA history after John Stockton to do so. San Antonio’s rising talent, Victor Wembanyama, added 17 points and crucial defensive stops, including blocking Rudy Gobert twice in a defensive showcase that helped the Spurs maintain a slim lead just before halftime. The Timberwolves, coming off a late-night win over Denver, saw Julius Randle and Anthony Edwards score 21 and 18 points respectively but struggled against the fresh Spurs defense, committing crucial turnovers that San Antonio capitalized on. San Antonio, having tightened up its game with a notable reduction in turnovers from earlier in the season, now looks forward to facing the Los Angeles Clippers, while Minnesota prepares to host the Charlotte Hornets.
Washington Wizards 98 - 118 Miami Heat
In a standout performance in Mexico City, Bam Adebayo led the Miami Heat to a 118-98 victory over the Washington Wizards, scoring 32 points and securing 14 rebounds. Adebayo's dominant first half contributed significantly as the Heat improved to a 3-2 record. Supported by contributions from Jimmy Butler with 18 points and Tyler Herro's second-quarter surge, the Heat took a commanding lead and never looked back, outrebounding the Wizards 65-44. Notably, Jaime Jaquez Jr. made his debut in his father's homeland, scoring eight points, while Washington's Bilal Coulibaly continued his scoring streak with 22 points. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced plans for more games in Mexico, highlighting the league's expansion efforts. As the teams prepare for their next matchups, Adebayo is nearing an impressive personal milestone, just 11 double-doubles away from tying Alonzo Mourning for the second-most in Miami's franchise history.
Denver Nuggets 129 - 103 Utah Jazz
The Denver Nuggets secured their first home win of the season with a commanding 129-103 victory over the Utah Jazz, led by Nikola Jokic's 27 points, 16 rebounds, and nine assists. Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points, with significant contributions from Julian Strawther and Christian Braun, scoring 19 and 17 points respectively. Despite an injury to Jamal Murray, who is in concussion protocol, Russell Westbrook stepped up in his place. The Jazz, still searching for their first win of the season, struggled with injuries themselves, missing key players Lauri Markkanen and Taylor Hendricks. They committed 24 turnovers which the Nuggets exploited, turning them into 39 points. Utah showed resilience by recovering from an early deficit to tie the game in the second quarter, but Denver took control with a pivotal 14-0 run before halftime and extended their lead in the third quarter, outscoring the Jazz 34-19. The Jazz now face the Chicago Bulls next while the Nuggets prepare to face the Toronto Raptors.
Phoenix Suns 103 - 97 Portland Trail Blazers
In an exciting matchup, the Phoenix Suns extended their winning streak to four with a 103-97 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Devin Booker delivered a near triple-double with 28 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists, while Kevin Durant added 21 points. The Suns dominated the third quarter, scoring 44 points and erasing a halftime deficit to build a 22-point lead, thanks to a turnover-free period and improved shooting efficiency of 61%, including 50% from beyond the arc. Grayson Allen contributed 18 points off the bench, including four 3-pointers. Despite trailing significantly, Portland rallied in the final quarter, narrowing the gap to two points in the last minute, but Booker and Tyus Jones secured the win with crucial free throws. Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant led Portland with 20 points each, while former Sun Deandre Ayton had a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Bradley Beal, returning from injury, played a significant role with 15 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. The Suns will face the 76ers next, while the Trail Blazers head to New Orleans.
LA Clippers 92 - 105 Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder maintained their perfect start to the season with a 105-92 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in Inglewood, Calif., marking their best beginning to a season since relocating from Seattle in 2008. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led with 25 points, while all Thunder starters scored in double figures. Despite Norman Powell's 24 points and James Harden's 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Clippers, Los Angeles remains winless in their new arena, having blown double-digit leads in each game. The Clippers excelled in the first quarter with eight three-pointers but faltered to just a 3 for 16 performance for the rest of the match. Gilgeous-Alexander was particularly impressive, scoring 23 points across the second and third quarters, possibly staking his claim in an MVP race. As they head into their next games, the Thunder will host Orlando, and the Clippers will face San Antonio.