04.03.2025
Charlotte Hornets 101 - 119 Golden State Warriors
In a dynamic clash in Charlotte, Stephen Curry contributed 21 points and 10 assists in his homecoming game, leading the Golden State Warriors to a 119-101 victory over the Hornets. Despite the Hornets' focus on Curry with double-teams, he expertly opened up opportunities for his teammates, resulting in nine assists by halftime. Buddy Hield added 22 points and Brandin Podziemski recorded a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Draymond Green also shone with 16 points and 13 rebounds. The game saw intense moments, including a collision that sidelined Gary Payton II with a head injury and subsequent technical fouls against Warriors coach Steve Kerr and Draymond Green. The Charlotte Hornets, struggling with injuries and a depleted bench, saw their woes continue with a seventh straight loss. Miles Bridges and LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with 35 and 25 points, respectively. Notably, Curry's streak of 29 consecutive free throws ended in this matchup. The Warriors, bouncing back from a prior defeat, set their sights on facing the New York Knicks next, while the Hornets prepare to host Minnesota.
Philadelphia 76ers 102 - 119 Portland Trail Blazers
In a commanding second-half performance, the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 119-102, largely thanks to Anfernee Simons, who scored 21 of his 34 points after halftime, and made 6 of 11 three-point attempts. Shaedon Sharpe also contributed significantly with 20 points, a career-high 11 rebounds, and five assists. Despite Andre Drummond's impressive 25 points and 18 rebounds, the 76ers couldn't maintain their halftime lead of 61-56. Portland outscored Philadelphia by 22 points in the latter half, with a crucial 11-2 run late in the third quarter, helping them maintain a double-digit lead throughout the fourth. This victory marked the Blazers' fourth win in their seven-game road trip, while the 76ers suffered their ninth loss in ten games. The game highlighted Portland's rebounding prowess, with the team outrebounding Philadelphia 61 to 43.
Miami Heat 106 - 90 Washington Wizards
The Miami Heat secured a 106-90 victory over the Washington Wizards, with Bam Adebayo leading the charge with 19 points and 15 rebounds, setting a new franchise record for double-doubles with his 222nd, surpassing Rony Seikaly. Adebayo achieved the milestone in the second quarter, and his performance was complemented by Duncan Robinson's 17 points and contributions from Tyler Herro and Pelle Larsson, both scoring 16. The Heat, aiming for a guaranteed playoff spot, dominated the game, executing a 14-3 run sparked by Herro’s 3-pointer, which helped establish a lead that remained unchallenged. Despite a moderate 47.6% shooting performance, they effectively restricted the Wizards to 36.9% shooting. The Wizards, with Khris Middleton leading at 16 points, encountered a setback as rookie Kyshawn George exited in the fourth quarter due to a jaw injury from an inadvertent elbow by Adebayo. The Wizards aim to recover as they prepare to host Utah, while the Heat will face Cleveland next.
Memphis Grizzlies 130 - 132 Atlanta Hawks
Caris LeVert's last-second layup secured a thrilling 132-130 victory for the Atlanta Hawks over the Memphis Grizzlies in Memphis, as LeVert finished with 25 points, including 16 in the final quarter. Desmond Bane achieved his first career triple-double for Memphis with a season-high 35 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, yet it was Dyson Daniels' crucial steal from Bane with just 3.8 seconds left that set up LeVert's game-winning play, confirmed by an official review. Atlanta's Zaccharie Risacher contributed 27 points, while Onyeka Okongwu recorded 16 points and 12 rebounds and Trae Young managed 12 points and 15 assists. Despite the Grizzlies' strong performance, missing key players like Santi Aldama, Ja Morant, and losing Jaren Jackson Jr. to a left ankle injury early on, they extended their losing streak to six of the last eight games, with the last three decided by last-second scores. Meanwhile, the Hawks, currently ninth in the Eastern Conference, scored a season-high 82 points in the paint and look ahead to hosting the Milwaukee Bucks, whereas the Grizzlies will conclude a five-game homestand against Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City Thunder 137 - 128 Houston Rockets
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a standout performance by scoring 51 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder secured a 137-128 victory over the Houston Rockets, marking their 50th win of the season. This game saw Gilgeous-Alexander hit the 50-point mark for the fourth time within seven weeks, showcasing his scoring prowess as the NBA’s leading scorer for the season. He efficiently shot 18 of 30 from the field, including 5 of 9 from beyond the arc, and converted all 10 of his free throws. Jalen Williams contributed 24 points for the Thunder, while Cam Whitmore and Reed Sheppard set career-highs with 27 and 25 points, respectively, for the undermanned Rockets, who played without several key players due to injuries. Despite Houston's early lead and a late push, Oklahoma City took control in the second half, with decisive plays from Lu Dort and Gilgeous-Alexander solidifying their advantage, eventually leading to their victory. The Thunder's depth and aggressive playstyle, highlighted by successful free throw shooting and key defensive plays, proved too much for Houston, who lacked the manpower to keep up.
Dallas Mavericks 98 - 122 Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings defeated the Dallas Mavericks 122-98, extending their winning streak to four games while the Mavericks have now lost four of their last five games. Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 22 and 20 points, respectively, both resting during the fourth quarter as Sacramento managed without Domantas Sabonis due to his hamstring injury. Jonas Valanciunas filled in effectively with 14 points and nine rebounds. The Mavericks suffered a significant setback when Kyrie Irving left with a left knee sprain early in the game after scoring just five points. In his absence, Kai Jones, newly signed on a two-way contract, scored a career-high 21 points. Dallas was further hindered when Jaden Hardy exited with a right ankle sprain during the third quarter. The Kings clinched the three-game season series against the Mavericks and are now tied for eighth place in the Western Conference, ahead of Dallas. Both teams face road games on Wednesday.
Utah Jazz 106 - 134 Detroit Pistons
Cade Cunningham led the Detroit Pistons to a commanding 134-106 victory over the Utah Jazz, scoring 29 points, dishing out nine assists, and making four steals. This victory marked the Pistons' tenth win in their last 11 games, a feat they haven't achieved since the 2007-08 season. Detroit's offensive prowess was on full display, as Ausar Thompson went a perfect 7 for 7 from the field, contributing 17 points, and Jalen Duren added 16 points and 12 rebounds without missing a shot. Despite Kyle Filipowski's career-high 25 points for the Jazz and Collin Sexton's 16 points with three steals, Utah lagged behind with a shooting percentage of just 42.7%. The Pistons dominated early with a 21-6 run to end the first quarter and maintained their advantage with consistent scoring each quarter, eventually pulling away with a 14-2 run in the fourth. The game marked another setback for Utah, now 3-7 in their last 10 games, as they prepare for a five-game road trip starting in Washington, while the Pistons head to Los Angeles to face the Clippers.