10.03.2025
Oklahoma City Thunder 127 - 103 Denver Nuggets
In an exciting Western Conference showdown, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a convincing 127-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets, marking their seventh consecutive win and solidifying their spot at the top of the conference with a 53-11 record. Gilgeous-Alexander dazzled with 40 points and eight assists, complemented by a flawless performance from the free-throw line. Jalen Williams contributed significantly with 26 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. Despite Nikola Jokic’s strong effort for Denver with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists, he struggled against Oklahoma City's towering defense by Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. A pivotal moment came when Aaron Wiggins intercepted a pass, leading to a critical Holmgren dunk and extending the Thunder's lead. Denver's early 10-0 run wasn't enough as the Thunder overcame the deficit by the end of the first quarter. With Oklahoma City capitalizing on important plays and maintaining low turnovers, they secured the win as the teams prepared for another matchup the following night.
Dallas Mavericks 116 - 125 Phoenix Suns
In a closely contested game, the Phoenix Suns defeated the shorthanded Dallas Mavericks 125-116, with Devin Booker leading the charge with 24 points. Kevin Durant nearly recorded a triple-double, contributing 21 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, while Bradley Beal added 19 points. Grayson Allen chipped in 17 points as the Suns moved closer to the Mavericks in the playoff race. Despite a career-high 34 points from Naji Marshall, the Mavericks struggled after losing key players, including Dwight Powell and Kessler Edwards, due to injuries during the game. The Suns capitalized with a decisive 19-2 run to establish a lead they never relinquished and shot an impressive 58% from the field. Notably, Mason Plumlee executed five dunks, exploiting Dallas's rim protection issues. Dallas's defeat extended their losing streak to five and marked the first time they dropped below .500 since mid-November, exacerbated by Kyrie Irving's absence due to a season-ending injury. Both teams were poised to face more challenges with back-to-back games the following day.
Milwaukee Bucks 100 - 112 Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers extended their winning streak to 14 games by defeating the Milwaukee Bucks 112-100 on Sunday night, led by Max Strus's 17 points as part of a balanced scoring effort. The Cavaliers became only the second team in NBA history to win 14 consecutive games while scoring at least 110 points, echoing the Boston Celtics' 1986 championship-era feat. Despite Giannis Antetokounmpo's impressive 30-point performance, which moved him into 50th place on the NBA's career scoring list, the Bucks couldn't overcome the Cavs' depth and three-point shooting dominance, with Cleveland outscoring Milwaukee 57-27 from beyond the arc. The Bucks, playing their second game in as many nights, struggled against top Eastern Conference teams and are set to face a string of challenging opponents in their upcoming games. Donovan Mitchell contributed 15 points for Cleveland, including a key three-pointer that sparked a decisive 13-0 run in the fourth quarter. Both teams are set to play again on Tuesday, with Cleveland hosting the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee taking on the Indiana Pacers.
New Orleans Pelicans 104 - 107 Memphis Grizzlies
In a thrilling matchup, Ja Morant and Desmond Bane combined for 62 points to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a narrow 107-104 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Morant was particularly pivotal, scoring 32 points, notching six assists, and making three steals, while Bane contributed 30 points. The Grizzlies, who were behind 64-57 at halftime, secured the win after Morant's crucial jump shot gave them the lead with just over three minutes left in the game. Trey Murphy III's 27 points couldn't save the Pelicans despite their attempts to push the game into overtime. Memphis dominated the boards, outrebounding New Orleans 57-39. The Grizzlies will look to build on this momentum as they return home to face the Phoenix Suns, while the Pelicans head to Los Angeles to play the Clippers.
Philadelphia 76ers 126 - 122 Utah Jazz
The Philadelphia 76ers snapped a three-game losing streak with a nail-biting 126-122 victory over the Utah Jazz, aided by strong performances from Lonnie Walker IV and Quentin Grimes, who both scored 25 points. Walker also contributed 11 rebounds and five assists, while Grimes excelled with his shooting accuracy, going 6 of 13 from the floor and hitting nine free throws. Despite a late scare as Utah's Kyle Filipowski hit two critical three-pointers in the final seconds, a turnover call against Philadelphia was overturned on video review, allowing Walker to seal the win with two free throws. This victory marked the first win for the 76ers since February 4, while the Jazz extended their losing streak to five games. The 76ers next face the Hawks, while the Jazz are set to play against the Celtics.
Minnesota Timberwolves 141 - 124 San Antonio Spurs
The Minnesota Timberwolves secured their fifth consecutive victory with a commanding 141-124 win over the San Antonio Spurs, marking their highest score of the season. Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 25 points on 10-for-15 shooting, while Naz Reid contributed 20 points and seven rebounds, and Julius Randle added a double-double with 14 points and 10 assists. Minnesota never trailed in the game, reaching a season-best record of eight games above .500 at 37-29. Remarkably, eight Timberwolves players scored in double digits, with Rudy Gobert returning from injury to score 16 points in 20 minutes. The team also matched their season high with 38 assists and narrowly missed their season best from 3-point range, hitting 21 out of 42 attempts. For the Spurs, De'Aaron Fox scored 22 points, and rookie Stephon Castle, a rising star, added 20 points. This win highlighted the Timberwolves' success against teams with losing records, a significant achievement considering their historical struggles against such opponents.
Portland Trail Blazers 112 - 119 Detroit Pistons
In a thrilling matchup, the Detroit Pistons held off the Portland Trail Blazers for a 119-112 victory in Portland. Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 28 points, while Tobias Harris contributed 20 points on an efficient 9-of-13 shooting. Jalen Duren added a significant double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds. The Pistons secured the lead early in the second quarter after an inside basket by Isaiah Stewart, extended by Cunningham's layup in the third. Despite Anfernee Simons' impressive 34-point performance for Portland, which included 14-of-26 shooting, and Jerami Grant's 25 points, the Blazers struggled with consistency, particularly from three-point range, where they connected on only 30% of their shots. The high-foul game saw both teams combining for 64 free throw attempts. Detroit withstood a late Portland rally, boosted by Dennis Schroder's late floater, ultimately concluding their four-game road trip with a win. The Pistons will host the Washington Wizards next, while the Blazers are set to face the Golden State Warriors on the road.
LA Clippers 111 - 110 Sacramento Kings
Kawhi Leonard's dramatic buzzer-beating hook shot secured a 111-110 overtime victory for the Los Angeles Clippers over the Sacramento Kings, tightening their hold on eighth place in the Western Conference. Leonard's decisive play capped off an intense match where James Harden contributed significantly with 29 points, nine rebounds, and 11 assists, marking the Clippers' third consecutive win. Ivica Zubac also shone with 22 points and 14 rebounds. Despite missing key players Domantas Sabonis and Malik Monk, the Kings fought hard with DeMar DeRozan scoring 31 points and 10 assists while Zach LaVine added 30 points. The Kings' inability to maintain their seven-point lead in the final minutes of regulation led to the overtime, where LaVine and DeRozan combined for all of Sacramento's points. The game was also marked by Clippers' coach Tyronn Lue's absence due to back pain, with assistant Brian Shaw stepping in. The Kings struggled with 3-point shooting, going 9 of 34, whereas the Clippers only slightly outshot them with 10 of 31. As the Kings prepare to host the New York Knicks, the Clippers will head out for a three-game road trip starting in New Orleans.