10.11.2024
San Antonio Spurs 110 - 111 Utah Jazz
Collin Sexton led the Utah Jazz with 23 points, while Lauri Markkanen added 20, helping their team edge out the San Antonio Spurs 111-110. Markkanen notably played through the pain after a hard fall late in the game, displaying resilience despite hobbling through the final minutes. The Jazz improved to 2-7, with pivotal contributions from Jordan Clarkson and John Collins. Meanwhile, the Spurs' Victor Wembanyama made an impressive impact with 24 points, 16 rebounds, and seven blocks, and shot 6 for 9 on 3-pointers. San Antonio rookie Stephon Castle shone in his third NBA start, scoring a career-high 23 points. Devin Vassell returned triumphantly for the Spurs, scoring 18 points in his season debut following a lengthy injury absence. Despite Wembanyama's foul in the final seconds, Utah maintained a substantial 54-34 advantage in the paint, securing the narrow victory.
Atlanta Hawks 113 - 125 Chicago Bulls
In an impressive comeback victory, the Chicago Bulls overcame an 18-point deficit to defeat the Atlanta Hawks 125-113, ending their four-game losing streak. Despite being outscored 37-24 in the first quarter, the Bulls surged in the second half, particularly with a 14-3 run at the start of the fourth quarter, and ultimately took the lead with Jalen Smith’s dunk with 8:04 left on the clock. Ayo Dosunmu led Chicago with 19 points, while Nikola Vucevic added a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Zack LaVine and Coby White also contributed 18 points each. For the Hawks, Trae Young achieved a double-double of 14 points and 16 assists, but Atlanta couldn't hold off Chicago's rally, despite leading scorers Clint Capela and Jalen Johnson each putting up 20 points. Chicago shot 50% from the field in contrast to Atlanta's 46.1%, and notably performed better in the decisive fourth quarter. The win marked the end of a challenging period for the Bulls, who had previously managed to pull off comebacks in their wins against Memphis and Orlando.
Cleveland Cavaliers 105 - 100 Brooklyn Nets
The Cleveland Cavaliers rallied to a thrilling 105-100 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, improving their record to an impressive 11-0 and becoming the 12th team in NBA history to achieve such a strong start. Evan Mobley led the charge with 23 points and 16 rebounds, while Donovan Mitchell added 22 points. Darius Garland also played a critical role, scoring eight of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, including the go-ahead free throws to secure the win. Despite trailing by 15 in the second quarter and being held to a season-low of 13 points in the third, the Cavaliers' league-leading offense dominated in the fourth quarter, making 14 of 18 shots. The game marked a significant personal victory for new coach Kenny Atkinson, who was facing the Nets for the first time since his 2020 firing. For Brooklyn, Cam Johnson scored 23 points, with Dennis Schroder and Cam Thomas contributing 22 each. The Cavaliers are now just two wins away from matching their longest winning streak in franchise history, previously achieved with LeBron James on the roster. The Nets will conclude their three-game trip on Monday in New Orleans, while the Cavaliers will visit Chicago.
LA Clippers 103 - 102 Toronto Raptors
In a matchup against his former team, Norman Powell shined as the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Toronto Raptors 107-98 in Inglewood. Filling the scoring void left by the absent Kawhi Leonard and the departed Paul George, Powell has averaged a career-best 25.7 points per game this season, scoring 31 points against the Sacramento Kings on Friday to extend the Clippers' winning streak to three games. The Raptors, dealing with absences of several key players including Scottie Barnes and Kelly Olynyk, had led the Kings after three quarters in their prior game before collapsing in the fourth. Playing without standout newcomers RJ Barrett and Jonathan Mogbo, Toronto has faced early struggles on their road trip. Meanwhile, the Clippers have begun turning their New Arena into a stronghold, recovering from an initial losing streak with back-to-back wins over the Spurs and 76ers.