31.03.2025
Cleveland Cavaliers 127 - 122 LA Clippers
The Cleveland Cavaliers clinched a significant 127-122 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, marking their 60th win of the season for the first time since the 2009-10 season and only the third time in franchise history. Jarrett Allen and Donovan Mitchell each notched double-doubles—Allen with 25 points and Mitchell with 24 points, both hauling in 12 rebounds. Evan Mobley added 22 points, buoyed by an impactful third-quarter performance. Despite the Clippers missing Kawhi Leonard due to knee injury management, Norman Powell scored 34 points, putting up an impressive 24 in the first half. James Harden contributed 24 points. The Clippers launched a late 14-5 run to cut an 18-point fourth-quarter deficit to just three points with 19 seconds left. However, Darius Garland's clutch free throws and a decisive steal by Mitchell sealed the Cleveland win. Additionally, Amir Coffey exited early with a knee issue for the Clippers, who are set to complete their road trip in Orlando.
New York Knicks 110 - 93 Portland Trail Blazers
The New York Knicks surged past the Portland Trail Blazers with a dominant second-half performance, securing a 110-93 victory after trailing by eight points at halftime. Mikal Bridges played a pivotal role, scoring 21 of his 28 points in the latter half as the Knicks outscored the Blazers 60-35. OG Anunoby continued his scoring streak, contributing significantly in Jalen Brunson's absence, averaging over 30 points in recent games. Despite a strong 33-point showing from Deni Avdija, marking his fifth 30-point game this month, the Trail Blazers faltered, managing just 14 baskets in the second half. Josh Hart added a well-rounded performance for the Knicks with 14 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds, while Karl-Anthony Towns struggled with his shooting but still contributed a double-double. The Knicks' defensive resilience and scoring efficiency in the final two quarters proved decisive in their victory.
Milwaukee Bucks 124 - 145 Atlanta Hawks
Zaccharie Risacher achieved a career-high 36 points, leading the Atlanta Hawks to a commanding 145-124 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. Dyson Daniels contributed 22 points and set a new franchise record with 213 steals in a single season, surpassing Mookie Blaylock's previous record. Trae Young added a double-double with 19 points and 19 assists, while Georges Niang chipped in 17 points, helping the Hawks break their two-game losing streak. Despite an impressive start from the Bucks, with Giannis Antetokounmpo scoring 31 points and Kyle Kuzma making all six of his initial shots, the Hawks surged in the third quarter, outscoring Milwaukee 36-17 to secure a strong lead. The win highlighted the Hawks' resilience and offensive prowess, as they converted turnovers into crucial points and rebounded after Milwaukee's early shooting accuracy.
Minnesota Timberwolves 123 - 104 Detroit Pistons
The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Detroit Pistons 123-104 in a heated game in Minneapolis, highlighted by a second-quarter altercation that led to the ejections of five players and two coaches. The incident erupted after a foul on Timberwolves' Naz Reid, resulting in Reid and teammate Donte DiVincenzo, along with Pistons' Isaiah Stewart, Ron Holland II, Marcus Sasser, and Detroit's head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, being ejected. Minnesota's Rudy Gobert posted an impressive double-double with 19 points and 25 rebounds, contributing to the Wolves' third victory in four games. Malik Beasley topped the scoring for Detroit with 27 points. The Pistons suffered from the loss of three key rotation players, which depleted their depth against a persistent Timberwolves squad. Despite trailing by 16 points in the first quarter, Minnesota mounted a comeback, with Anthony Edwards hitting a pivotal 3-pointer in the third quarter to give them the lead they maintained for the remainder of the game. Minnesota's strong third quarter, outscoring Detroit 38-23, was pivotal to their victory.
New Orleans Pelicans 98 - 94 Charlotte Hornets
The New Orleans Pelicans narrowly defeated the Charlotte Hornets 98-94, with Jose Alvarado delivering a crucial go-ahead three-point play in the final 31 seconds. Alvarado's reverse layup, coupled with a foul on DaQuan Jeffries, helped the Pelicans regain the lead after Nick Smith Jr.'s three-pointer had put the Hornets ahead. Keion Brooks Jr. helped seal the victory with a late layup, leading the Pelicans' scoring with 17 points. The Hornets, who shot only 35.2% from the field, have now lost five consecutive games and were without LaMelo Ball due to injuries. Meanwhile, New Orleans played without Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum, both nursing injuries. Miles Bridges led Charlotte with 20 points as both teams prepare for their next matchups—Charlotte hosting Utah and New Orleans visiting the Los Angeles Clippers.
San Antonio Spurs 106 - 148 Golden State Warriors
In a dominant performance, the Golden State Warriors crushed the San Antonio Spurs 148-106, marking their highest scoring game of the season while handing the Spurs their most significant defensive lapse. Key contributions included Brandin Podziemski's 27 points, with Moses Moody and Buddy Hield adding 20 and 19 points respectively. Draymond Green chipped in 14, and Stephen Curry contributed 13 points before sitting out the fourth quarter as the Warriors led by as much as 47 points. San Antonio struggled, with Keldon Johnson scoring 19 points and Sandro Mamukelashvili adding 14. Spurs acting head coach Mitch Johnson drew his first technical foul amid a poor start, witnessing his team commit four early turnovers. Notably, the Spurs played without a player over 6-foot-9 since Victor Wembanyama's season-ending injury, before Charles Bassey returned, albeit scoreless. The Warriors improved to 18-5 with Jimmy Butler contributing 13 points in 23 minutes. San Antonio's loss marked its fourth consecutive defeat, while Golden State secured its position as sixth in the Western Conference standings.
Philadelphia 76ers 109 - 127 Toronto Raptors
R.J. Barrett's stellar 31-point performance propelled the Toronto Raptors to a decisive 127-109 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, extending Philadelphia's losing streak to eight games. Key contributions came from Ja’Kobe Walter, who scored 17 points with impressive 3-point shooting, and the Raptors maintained their lead from early in the second quarter onward. Despite strong showings from Philadelphia's Lonnie Walker IV and Jalen Hood-Schifino, the Raptors' halftime lead and dominance continued through the second half. The 76ers struggle defensively, having allowed at least 110 points in their last 19 games, and their poor 3-point shooting exacerbated their woes. The Raptors now look ahead to face the Bulls in Chicago, while the 76ers aim to break their slump against the Knicks in New York.
Phoenix Suns 109 - 148 Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets delivered a commanding performance, defeating the Phoenix Suns 148-109, fueled by Jalen Green's 33-point effort. During the third quarter, Phoenix's Kevin Durant sustained an ankle injury after stepping on Rockets' Jabari Smith Jr.'s foot, leading to his early exit with just 11 points. Durant is set to undergo an MRI and will not join the Suns in their upcoming game against Milwaukee. The Rockets, boasting a 49-26 record and sitting second in the Western Conference, dominated with strong contributions from Alperen Sengun and rookie Amen Thompson, who nearly achieved a triple-double. Despite Devin Booker's 28 points for Phoenix, the Suns, grappling with their third consecutive loss, now trail two games behind Dallas for the final play-in spot. The game also saw Dillon Brooks of the Rockets ejected in the second quarter following an altercation with Durant, after which Houston further extended their lead. The Suns face a challenging schedule ahead, with five of their remaining six games against playoff-bound teams.