13.03.2025
Atlanta Hawks 123 - 110 Charlotte Hornets
Trae Young delivered an exceptional performance by making all 21 of his free throw attempts, contributing 35 points and 12 assists in the Atlanta Hawks' 123-110 victory over the Charlotte Hornets, marking their fourth consecutive win. Despite a challenging shooting night from the field, Young became the sixth player in NBA history to achieve this free throw milestone without a miss. With this win, the Hawks are seventh in the Eastern Conference, inching closer to sixth-place Detroit. Miles Bridges and LaMelo Ball were notable for the Hornets, scoring 31 and 25 points respectively. Atlanta's bench was also pivotal, significantly outscoring Charlotte's reserves 57-18. The game saw significant contributions from players like Caris LeVert and Georges Niang for the Hawks, who now prepare to host the Los Angeles Clippers next.
Boston Celtics 112 - 118 Oklahoma City Thunder
In a thrilling potential NBA Finals preview, the Oklahoma City Thunder secured a playoff spot by defeating the Boston Celtics 118-112 in Boston. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shone with 34 points, while Chet Holmgren contributed 23 points and 15 rebounds, as the Western Conference-leading Thunder overcame a Celtics' franchise-record 63 three-point attempts. Oklahoma City swept the defending champions in their season series, extending their impressive run to 17 wins in their last 18 games. Despite Jayson Tatum’s 33-point effort, Boston’s rally fell short as the Thunder pulled away with an eight-point run in the fourth quarter, capitalizing on Jaylen Brown’s off night, with him missing all five of his three-point attempts and scoring only 10 points. Boston’s barrage of three-point shooting set a record with 36 attempts in the first half, but they ultimately tied the third most attempts in NBA history, converting just 20. The Celtics, who had won 15 of their last 18 games, will now face Miami on Friday, while the Thunder head to Detroit on Saturday.
Toronto Raptors 118 - 105 Philadelphia 76ers
In a matchup of short-handed teams, the Toronto Raptors defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 118-105, highlighted by strong performances from AJ Lawson with 28 points and Jared Rhoden who set career highs with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Orlando Robinson also contributed significantly, matching his career high with 12 rebounds and scoring a career-high 25 points, helping Toronto claim their fifth win in six games. Despite Andre Drummond's return, the 76ers struggled without key players like Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, leading to their eighth consecutive road loss. Quentin Grimes led Philadelphia with 29 points, but the team fell short after a 3-point shooting slump, going 7 for 35 from beyond the arc. Notably, Lonnie Walker IV played only briefly before exiting after a hard fall in the first quarter, while Toronto's Colin Castleton impressed with a career-high 14 rebounds in his NBA starting debut. Both teams face next opponents on Friday, with Philadelphia hosting Indiana and Toronto beginning a four-game trip against Utah.
Miami Heat 104 - 119 LA Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers secured a decisive 119-104 victory over the Miami Heat, fueled by Bogdan Bogdanovic's season-high 30 points and Ivica Zubac's impressive 26 points and 14 rebounds. James Harden contributed with 24 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds, aiding the Clippers in winning their fourth game out of the last five and narrowing the gap to 1.5 games behind Golden State for the final guaranteed playoff spot in the Western Conference. With coach Tyronn Lue sidelined due to back pain, assistant coach Brian Shaw took the lead. Notably absent was Kawhi Leonard, who has been pivotal in his teams' 15-game regular-season winning streak against Miami, a streak dating back to 2013 excluding NBA Finals. Miami continues to struggle, now facing a five-game losing streak and sitting 2.5 games behind Atlanta for the No. 7 play-in spot. A pivotal moment came during a 13-4 run late in the fourth quarter, consolidating the Clippers' lead and ensuring their win. Zubac's performance marked his tenth consecutive double-double, placing him among elite company this season. Both teams will hit the court again on Friday, with the Clippers facing Atlanta and the Heat hosting Boston.
Houston Rockets 111 - 104 Phoenix Suns
The Houston Rockets secured a 111-104 win over the Phoenix Suns, propelled by Jalen Green's 29-point performance and a critical 9-2 run in the fourth quarter. This victory, which marked Houston's fourth consecutive win, also saw contributions from Alperen Sengun with 20 points and Dillon Brooks with 19. The game was marked by a first-half altercation that led to the ejections of Houston’s Steven Adams and Phoenix’s Mason Plumlee. Despite 25 points from Bradley Beal and 19 each from Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, the Suns, who were sluggish from beyond the arc with only 10 three-pointers, struggled to keep up and suffered their third loss in four games. Fred VanVleet returned for the Rockets, adding 10 points after missing significant time due to an ankle injury. Both teams are set to face new opponents on Friday, with the Suns hosting Sacramento and the Rockets welcoming Dallas.
Memphis Grizzlies 122 - 115 Utah Jazz
The Memphis Grizzlies secured a 122-115 victory over the Utah Jazz, with standout performances from Luke Kennard, who scored 30 points and hit 7 of 9 from 3-point range, and Ja Morant, who contributed 28 points. Desmond Bane added 17 points to help Memphis achieve their fourth consecutive win. Despite Utah's Collin Sexton scoring 22 points along with eight rebounds and seven assists, and John Collins adding another 22 points, the Jazz fell short, marking their seventh straight loss. In the dramatic final moments, Kennard's critical 3-pointer and Morant's late 3 sealed the win for the Grizzlies. An interesting twist occurred when referee Scott Twardoski was unable to continue due to an injury, leaving only two referees to manage the game. Utah struggled with their shooting, hitting just 12 of 34 from beyond the arc, while Memphis excelled with 20 of 44. Despite being outrebounded 60-39 by the Jazz, the Grizzlies are maintaining their push for home-court advantage in the postseason. Both teams are back in action on Friday, with Utah hosting the Raptors and Memphis hosting the Cavaliers.
San Antonio Spurs 126 - 116 Dallas Mavericks
De'Aaron Fox delivered an impressive performance with 32 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds, leading the San Antonio Spurs to a 126-116 victory over the injury-stricken Dallas Mavericks and ending their three-game losing streak. Despite Dallas maintaining their position in the Western Conference play-in tournament at 10th place, Fox's standout game marked his highest scoring since joining the Spurs from Sacramento. San Antonio's Keldon Johnson and Jeremy Sochan contributed 18 points each off the bench, while Dallas, without key players like Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, relied on Brandon Williams’ 19 points in his return from injury. The game saw San Antonio overcome an early deficit, sparked by an 8-0 run in the third quarter led by Fox. Additionally, Chris Paul made history by surpassing Hall of Famer Gary Payton for 17th in all-time games played. Both teams look forward to Friday’s matches, with the Mavericks set to face the Houston Rockets and the Spurs hosting the Charlotte Hornets.
Denver Nuggets 95 - 115 Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves extended their winning streak to six games with a commanding 115-95 victory over the Denver Nuggets, led by Anthony Edwards' 29 points and Julius Randle's 25. Rudy Gobert contributed a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, helping Minnesota improve to 3-0 against the Nuggets this season. Even though Denver's Nikola Jokic shone with 34 points and a standout fast-break dunk, his efforts weren't enough to overcome the Timberwolves' solid defense, which limited the Nuggets' usually high league-leading averages. Denver struggled offensively, shooting just 40.4% and trailing throughout the game, even after a strong previous performance against Oklahoma City. The Timberwolves' bench outperformed Denver's reserves, providing a significant boost to secure their longest winning streak of the season.
Portland Trail Blazers 113 - 114 New York Knicks
The New York Knicks snapped their three-game losing streak with a dominant 133-104 victory over the Sacramento Kings, buoyed by hot 3-point shooting and robust defense. Despite missing All-Star guard Jalen Brunson due to an ankle injury, the Knicks excelled with a collective effort as Karl-Anthony Towns led with 26 points and nine rebounds, and OG Anunoby contributed significantly with 24 points, eight assists, and five steals. Miles McBride, stepping up in Brunson's absence, notched 21 points with efficient shooting, while Josh Hart added 18 points. The Knicks capitalized on defense, converting it into offense, a strategy likely adopted in the upcoming game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Meanwhile, Portland struggles, having lost four straight games, with their recent 130-120 loss to the Golden State Warriors despite Deni Avdija's impressive performance of 34 points and 16 rebounds. Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups acknowledged the impact of turnovers, as the team committed 19, contributing to their defeat. Portland, shaky in playoff contention, faces a critical seven-game homestand beginning with this matchup against New York, who has won the last three encounters with the Blazers.