23.11.2024
Philadelphia 76ers 113 - 98 Brooklyn Nets
In a thrilling NBA Cup game, Jared McCain and Tyrese Maxey led the Philadelphia 76ers to a 113-98 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, ending a five-game losing streak. Despite missing key players Joel Embiid and Paul George due to knee injuries, the 76ers' young guards took command in the fourth quarter. McCain, a promising rookie from Duke, scored 30 points, and Maxey added 26, helping Philadelphia overturn a nine-point deficit. Philadelphia's 19-point fourth-quarter surge was pivotal, allowing them to secure their first regulation win of the season. Kelly Oubre Jr. contributed 11 points and nine rebounds. Meanwhile, Brooklyn's Cameron Johnson notched 37 points, but the Nets' 19 turnovers gave the 76ers extra opportunities to capitalize. With this win, Philadelphia improved their record to 3-12, while McCain has impressively scored 20 or more points in seven consecutive games. Both teams face new challenges on Sunday, with the Nets visiting Sacramento and the 76ers hosting the LA Clippers.
Washington Wizards 96 - 108 Boston Celtics
In a competitive NBA Cup match, the Boston Celtics secured a 108-96 victory over the Washington Wizards, despite an off night from Jayson Tatum, who missed all ten of his three-point attempts but managed to score 16 points, extending his streak to 55 games with at least 15 points. The Celtics, now 2-1 in East Group C, were led by Jaylen Brown's 31 points, as Washington, who has lost their last 10 games, trailed by only five in the final minute before Brown's key jumper. With notable absences including Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet stepped up for Boston with a perfect shooting performance. The Wizards, spurred by Jordan Poole's 23 points, outscored the Celtics in the paint but missed crucial opportunities, such as Kyle Kuzma's missed shot in the fourth quarter. The game, witnessed by figures like Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, highlighted Boston's shooting woes as they shot only 11 of 46 from beyond the arc, while both teams struggled from three-point range overall.
Milwaukee Bucks 129 - 117 Indiana Pacers
In a commanding performance, Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded a triple-double with 37 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds, guiding the Milwaukee Bucks to a 129-117 victory over the Indiana Pacers. This marked Antetokounmpo's second triple-double in his last four games. Damian Lillard contributed significantly with 24 points and 12 assists, while Gary Trent Jr. and Bobby Portis added 18 and 17 points respectively. Despite a late surge that cut the Bucks' lead from 20 points to 108-102, the Pacers couldn't overturn the deficit, with Antetokounmpo making pivotal plays, including a critical block and a subsequent dunk. This win gave Milwaukee an impressive 2-0 record in the NBA Cup, while Indiana, last season's tournament runner-up, fell to 0-2. Notably, this game highlighted a shift from last season when the Pacers triumphed in the majority of their encounters against the Bucks, including a playoff series win. The victory continued the Bucks' strong start to the season, winning five of their last six games.
Chicago Bulls 136 - 122 Atlanta Hawks
In an NBA Cup game, the Chicago Bulls defeated the Atlanta Hawks 136-122, marking their second win in two meetings this season. Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 26 points, while Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White contributed 20 each. Nikola Vucevic added 18 points and 13 rebounds, his 11th double-double of the season, as Chicago shot a season-high 57% from the field. Josh Giddey also scored 18, as seven Bulls players reached double figures. Despite the loss, Trae Young had a standout performance for Atlanta with 25 points and 13 assists, and Jalen Johnson and Clint Capela each achieved double-doubles. Bogdan Bogdanovic provided a lift from the bench with 16 points for the Hawks. The game saw Chicago improve to 1-1 in NBA Cup play after failing last season. They played without forward Patrick Williams, who is nursing inflammation in his left foot. Jalen Smith stood out in the match by hitting three consecutive 3-pointers, contributing to Chicago's push in the fourth quarter.
Houston Rockets 116 - 88 Portland Trail Blazers
The Houston Rockets showcased their defensive prowess in a 130-113 victory over the Indiana Pacers, solidifying their status as a defensive force with a defensive rating of 104.8 points allowed per 100 possessions. The Rockets excel at forcing turnovers, converting 23 Pacers turnovers into 30 points and scoring 23 fastbreak points. Their success in transition is underscored by being fourth in the league for points off turnovers and ranking highly in fastbreak points. Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with a season-high 31 points and 12 rebounds, contributing to their offensive resilience. Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers saw their three-game winning streak snapped with a 109-99 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder, struggling without key scorers Anfernee Simons and Deandre Ayton. Toumani Camara stepped up for Portland, scoring 14 points and collecting nine rebounds. Rockets coach Ime Udoka highlighted his team's focus on offensive rebounds and turnovers, which were pivotal in the win.
New Orleans Pelicans 108 - 112 Golden State Warriors
Andrew Wiggins led the Golden State Warriors with 30 points in a 112-108 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, securing a spot in the NBA Cup's knockout round. The Warriors, now 3-0 in West Group C, benefited from Stephen Curry's 19 points and Buddy Hield's crucial free throws in the final seconds. New Orleans' Trey Murphy III had a chance to lead with a late three-pointer but missed after Brandon Boston Jr. stole an inbound pass. Draymond Green sealed the win by hitting free throws after grabbing Murphy's miss. Despite strong performances from Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Brandon Ingram, and Boston, the Pelicans suffered their 10th loss in 11 games. The injury-battered team debuted its 12th starting lineup of the season, missing Yves Missi due to a shoulder injury. Notably, Golden State outrebounded New Orleans 52-42 in this tightly contested match.
Denver Nuggets 120 - 123 Dallas Mavericks
In a tight NBA Cup group stage clash, the Dallas Mavericks will face the Denver Nuggets, who might see the return of their superstar, Nikola Jokic, after missing games due to personal reasons. However, the Mavericks are confirmed to be without Luka Doncic, sidelined by a right wrist injury, presenting a significant challenge as both teams vie for survival in the competition. Dallas, currently reliant on Kyrie Irving—who recently scored 43 points against Denver—aims to secure a fourth straight win despite lacking depth previously evident when they narrowly lost to the Nuggets. Meanwhile, Denver triumphed recently over Memphis with Russell Westbrook's historic 200th triple-double, although the victory was dampened by losing Vlatko Cancar to injury, adding to their roster challenges alongside the uncertain status of Jokic. Coach Michael Malone may look further down his bench for depth, with players like Trey Alexander and Dario Saric stepping up amid the ongoing player absences.
LA Clippers 104 - 88 Sacramento Kings
The Los Angeles Clippers are set to host the Sacramento Kings at their new arena in Inglewood, California, as they look to extend their six-game home winning streak in NBA Cup group play. Despite missing leading scorer Norman Powell, the Clippers recently snapped the Orlando Magic's six-game winning streak with a 104-93 victory, marking the first time the Magic allowed over 100 points in two weeks. Amir Coffey stepped up in Powell's absence, scoring 18 points, while James Harden contributed 24 points but also led the team in turnovers, which Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue cited as an area for improvement. Meanwhile, the Kings, who narrowly lost 109-108 to the Atlanta Hawks, will see the return of key players DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis, but will remain without Malik Monk. Previously, the Clippers defeated the Kings 107-98, with Powell and De'Aaron Fox both scoring 31 points.