04.01.2025
Detroit Pistons 98 - 94 Charlotte Hornets
Tobias Harris led the Detroit Pistons to a hard-fought 98-94 victory over the Charlotte Hornets, recording 24 points and 10 rebounds, while Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren contributed significantly with 18 points and 14 rebounds, respectively. Despite Charlotte's Miles Bridges scoring 20 points and Mark Williams adding 18, the Hornets faced their ninth consecutive defeat. The Pistons capitalized on Charlotte's poor shooting in the fourth quarter, where the Hornets made only 4 of 19 attempts and struggled with free throws, missing 11 of 30. Detroit overcame a halftime deficit of 65-52 by dominating the third quarter with a 32-17 run. Although the Pistons continued their fouling issues, committing 27 fouls to the Hornets' 10, Charlotte's inability to convert free throws was pivotal. This win marked Detroit's fifth in six games, as they adapted to Jaden Ivey's absence due to a broken leg, with Malik Beasley stepping up to score 12 points in extended minutes. As the Hornets continue their road trip against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Pistons prepare to host the Timberwolves in a back-to-back series.
Toronto Raptors 97 - 106 Orlando Magic
In an impressive performance, Tristan da Silva scored a career-high 25 points, leading the Orlando Magic to a 106-97 victory over the Toronto Raptors. Despite losing guard Jalen Suggs to back spasms, the Magic excelled in three-point shooting, tying their franchise record by making 9 of 14 attempts in the first quarter. Cole Anthony matched a career high with 11 assists, while Goga Bitadze contributed 11 points and 13 rebounds. The Raptors, who recently ended an 11-game losing streak, struggled to maintain momentum, with Jakob Poeltl scoring 25 points and Scottie Barnes adding 20. This win marks Orlando's fourth in ten games, showcasing their dependence on strong perimeter shooting, as they improve to an 18-6 record when making ten or more threes.
Houston Rockets 86 - 109 Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics dominated the Houston Rockets in a decisive 109-86 victory on the road, led by Derrick White's 23 points, while Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard contributed 20 points each. A pivotal moment came at the start of the fourth quarter when the Celtics scored the first 11 points, spearheaded by three-pointers from White, Kristaps Porzingis, and Pritchard, extending their lead to 93-72. Porzingis, returning from a four-game absence due to a sprained ankle, added 11 points and five rebounds. Despite playing without Jaylen Brown, the Celtics secured their third consecutive win, while the Rockets, led by Jalen Green's 27 points, suffered their third loss in four games. Notably, Houston's Jeff Green made his first start of the season at age 38, filling in for the injured Jabari Smith Jr., with rookie Amen Thompson set to step in following a suspension. The Celtics managed their dominant performance as Houston struggled with shooting, emphasizing Boston's strength even with lineup adjustments.
New Orleans Pelicans 132 - 120 Washington Wizards
CJ McCollum scored a career high-tying 50 points, highlighted by 10 three-pointers, leading the New Orleans Pelicans to a 132-120 victory over the Washington Wizards and ending their 11-game losing streak. Despite having the NBA’s worst record at 6-29 and sharing the league's fewest victories with Washington, the Pelicans celebrated this rare win, their second in 22 games. Playing at home for the first time since a New Year’s Day tragedy, the Pelicans observed a moment of silence before tipoff. Trey Murphy added 17 points, while rookie center Yves Missi contributed a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Jordan Poole led Washington with 24 points but struggled after a fall, resulting in lower back soreness. In contrast, New Orleans benefitted from the return of Jose Alvarado from injury. The game saw New Orleans tying a season high with 18 made threes, though McCollum's potential record-setting 11th three-pointer was reduced to a two after a review. The Wizards outscored New Orleans in the paint yet suffered from poor perimeter shooting and defense.
Oklahoma City Thunder 117 - 107 New York Knicks
The Oklahoma City Thunder extended their impressive winning streak to 14 games by defeating the New York Knicks 117-107, thanks in part to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 33-point performance. Jalen Williams contributed 20 points, and Aaron Wiggins delivered a crucial 15 points in the fourth quarter, turning an 88-80 deficit into a decisive 37-19 advantage in the final period. Despite Isaiah Hartenstein's impactful 14 rebounds and seven assists against his former team, the Thunder prevailed by outshooting the Knicks from three-point range, connecting on 14 of their 27 attempts compared to the Knicks' 9 of 32. This game marked only the fourth instance in NBA history of two teams with nine-game or more winning streaks facing off. Mikal Bridges led the Knicks with 24 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns impressively grabbed 22 rebounds. The Thunder's comeback—its third consecutive—illustrated their persistent resilience as they look forward to hosting Boston, while the Knicks head to Chicago after their winning streak was snapped.
Dallas Mavericks 122 - 134 Cleveland Cavaliers
In an impressive display, Evan Mobley led the Cleveland Cavaliers with 34 points and 10 rebounds, propelling them to a 134-122 victory over the depleted Dallas Mavericks, stretching their winning streak to nine games. The Cavaliers, boasting a 30-4 record, dominated their Western Conference road trip with all wins by double digits and remain undefeated in 10 encounters against Western teams. The Mavericks, missing All-Stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, struggled, with Quentin Grimes leading with 26 points, and have now lost four consecutive games. Notably, the Cavaliers erased an early deficit with a commanding 20-point run and maintained control, closing the first half strong with a 69-53 lead. Cleveland capitalized on turnovers, outscoring Dallas 18-0 in first-half turnover points. The Cavaliers will next face the Charlotte Hornets, while the Mavericks are set to visit the Memphis Grizzlies.
Denver Nuggets 110 - 113 San Antonio Spurs
In a thrilling matchup, the San Antonio Spurs narrowly defeated the Denver Nuggets 113-110 as Victor Wembanyama outshone Nikola Jokic. Wembanyama tallied an impressive 35 points and 18 rebounds, countering Jokic’s standout performance of 41 points, 18 rebounds, and nine assists. The game’s climax came when Wembanyama intercepted Jokic’s pass with just seconds remaining, leading to a decisive dunk by Devin Vassell. Despite Michael Porter Jr.’s 34-foot attempt to force overtime, it missed, ending Denver's three-game winning streak. Amid the battle, Wembanyama faced foul trouble but remained pivotal, with key deep 3-pointers shifting the momentum in San Antonio's favor. Although Wembanyama was dominant, he also recorded eight turnovers, nearly achieving an unwanted triple-double. Both teams showcased their shooting prowess with a 3-pointer flurry in the third quarter, scoring 15 combined points in just over a minute. Meanwhile, Denver struggled in the first leg of a back-to-back, where they now hold a 2-5 record, ahead of their rematch in San Antonio.
Sacramento Kings 138 - 133 Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies, boasting a strong track record with 15 wins in their last 19 games, faced the Sacramento Kings on Friday night. The Grizzlies recently overcame the Phoenix Suns 117-112 despite missing star guard Ja Morant due to a sprained shoulder, with Scotty Pippen Jr. and Cam Spencer filling in at point guard. Memphis showed resilience on the road, winning five of their last seven away games, and anticipated the return of rookie Zach Edey from a concussion against the Kings. Meanwhile, the Kings secured a morale-boosting 113-107 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, aided by a standout performance from Domantas Sabonis, who delivered 17 points, 21 rebounds, and seven assists. Following the firing of coach Mike Brown, interim coach Doug Christie has been instilling pride in defending their home court, leading to a two-game winning streak. De'Aaron Fox has stepped up with impressive scoring, contributing 33 and 35 points in recent games.
Los Angeles Lakers 119 - 102 Atlanta Hawks
In a thrilling matchup, the Los Angeles Lakers are set to host the Atlanta Hawks, concluding LeBron James' first back-to-back games since he turned 40. James showcased his remarkable form with a 38-point performance, equalling Michael Jordan's record of 562 career 30-point games, during a 114-106 victory against the Portland Trail Blazers despite missing star teammate Anthony Davis, who is sidelined with a sprained ankle. Max Christie emerged as a key contributor, scoring a career-high 28 points and effectively stepping into the gap left by Davis, while Austin Reaves continued to adapt to his enhanced offensive role with 15 points and 11 assists. As Atlanta looks to bounce back from a 139-120 defeat to the Denver Nuggets, Trae Young, averaging 22.3 points per game, remains a focal point despite injuries to Bogdan Bogdanovic and Jalen Johnson hurting their depth and transition defense. The game also serves as a rematch from December, where the Lakers claimed a 134-132 overtime victory in Atlanta, highlighted by James' impressive triple-double performance.