04.12.2025
Cleveland Cavaliers 110 - 122 Portland Trail Blazers
In a thrilling matchup, the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 122-110, ending their three-game losing streak. Deni Avdija led the Blazers with 27 points, while Caleb Love and Shaedon Sharpe each contributed 20 points off the bench. Despite Donovan Mitchell’s strong performance, scoring 33 points, and Evan Mobley’s double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds, the Cavaliers suffered their first loss of the season to a team with a losing record. The Trail Blazers excelled at the free-throw line, making 34 of 39 attempts, with Avdija going 16 of 17. Notably, Toumani Camara scored 10 consecutive points during a decisive 14-6 run, extending Portland's lead in the fourth quarter. Cleveland, missing key players Jarrett Allen, Larry Nance Jr., and Sam Merrill, mounted a late comeback but fell short as Avdija sealed the win with a key jumper. Mitchell posted his 13th 30-point game, positioning him fourth in the league for scoring, averaging 30.7 points per game.
Indiana Pacers 120 - 135 Denver Nuggets
In a thrilling matchup, Jamal Murray dazzled with a season-high 52 points, shooting an impressive 10 of 11 from three-point range, to propel the Denver Nuggets to a 135-120 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis. Despite being questionable due to a sprained right ankle, Murray fell just three points shy of his career high. Nikola Jokic contributed significantly with 24 points, 13 assists, and eight rebounds, narrowly missing a triple-double, while showcasing his prowess in front of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. The Nuggets dominated early, including a decisive 13-0 run in the first quarter and a 22-3 run to close the half, establishing a lead that the injury-hit Pacers couldn't overcome, despite Pascal Siakam's leading 23-point effort for Indiana. Denver's victory marked their third win in five games as they continue to exhibit offensive firepower, finishing with their second-highest point total of the season. Both teams now look ahead to their next matchups with Denver visiting Atlanta and Indiana heading to Chicago.
Orlando Magic 112 - 114 San Antonio Spurs
In an exciting finish, the San Antonio Spurs narrowly defeated the Orlando Magic 114-112, thanks to Luke Kornet's crucial block on Franz Wagner's last-second layup attempt. De’Aaron Fox was instrumental for the Spurs, scoring their final 10 points and sealing the win with two free throws after being fouled by Orlando's Jonathan Isaac with 1.4 seconds to go. Despite playing without Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs have impressively won seven of their last nine games. Orlando's Franz Wagner led his team with 25 points, while Jalen Suggs contributed 24 points and three steals before fouling out late in the game. Desmond Bane, who previously had consecutive 37-point games, added 14 points and six assists for Orlando. For the Spurs, Dylan Harper provided a solid performance off the bench with 16 points, five rebounds, and five assists. The game marked Orlando's third loss in 10 games following Paolo Banchero's groin injury.
Atlanta Hawks 92 - 115 LA Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers snapped a five-game losing streak with a decisive 115-92 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, propelled by James Harden's 27 points and nine assists. This game marked the Clippers' first without veteran Chris Paul, who was sent home earlier in the day, signaling the end of his celebrated 21-year NBA career. Alongside Harden's strong performance, Kawhi Leonard contributed 21 points for the Clippers, while Ivica Zubac dominated the boards with 14 points and 17 rebounds. The Hawks struggled offensively, missing key players like Jalen Johnson and Kristaps Porzingis, and finished the first half shooting just 38% from the floor with 11 turnovers. Nickeil Alexander-Walker led Atlanta with 21 points, but the team could never close the gap, trailing by as many as 19 points in the second half. Interestingly, Harden, who typically excels at drawing fouls, had no free throw attempts, an uncommon occurrence for him. The Hawks will next face the Denver Nuggets, while the Clippers continue their road trip against the Memphis Grizzlies.
New York Knicks 119 - 104 Charlotte Hornets
Karl-Anthony Towns delivered a standout performance with 35 points, 18 rebounds, and five assists, leading the New York Knicks to a 119-104 victory over the Charlotte Hornets at Madison Square Garden. Jalen Brunson added 26 points, including a crucial buzzer-beater to end the first half, and led a pivotal run in the second half that helped seal the Knicks' win. New York improved their home record to an impressive 11-1, even without center Mitchell Robinson, while the Hornets continued their road struggles, falling to 1-10 away from home. Despite a strong effort from LaMelo Ball, who had 34 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds, Charlotte couldn't overcome their first-quarter deficit where they scored only 12 points. Key performances from Knicks players like Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart also contributed to the win, as the Knicks controlled the game with defensive prowess and timely scoring.
Chicago Bulls 103 - 113 Brooklyn Nets
Michael Porter Jr. led the Brooklyn Nets to a 113-103 victory over the Chicago Bulls with an impressive 33 points and 10 rebounds, marking the first time this season that the Nets have won consecutive games and improving their record to 5-16. Noah Clowney contributed significantly with 18 of his 20 points coming in the second half. Nic Claxton was also pivotal, nearly achieving a triple-double with 14 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds. Despite Chicago's Josh Giddey achieving his fifth triple-double of the season with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists, the Bulls suffered their fifth consecutive loss, falling to a 9-12 record. Chicago struggled without seven injured players, including rookie Noa Essengue, who is out for the season due to shoulder surgery. The Bulls were held to 42.2% shooting and committed 16 turnovers, while Porter played a crucial role, especially in the second half, helping the Nets fend off a comeback attempt by the Bulls. Brooklyn's win was a follow-up to Porter's season-high 35-point performance against Charlotte earlier in the week.
Houston Rockets 121 - 95 Sacramento Kings
In a commanding performance, Alperen Sengun and Kevin Durant combined for 52 points to lead the Houston Rockets to a 121-95 victory over the Sacramento Kings. Sengun not only posted 28 points and 10 rebounds but also contributed four steals, while Durant added 24 points and eight assists. The Rockets saw an impressive outing from Amen Thompson, who recorded 20 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists, shooting perfectly from the free-throw line. Despite Sacramento holding a slight lead of 52-51 at halftime, the Rockets surged ahead with a 10-0 run in the third quarter, fueled by Sengun's 20 points in the second half. Standout performances for the Kings included Maxime Raynaud's 25 points and Malik Monk's 25 points and five assists, but ultimately the Rockets' dominant shooting of 52.7% and overwhelming rebounding advantage of 62-32 sealed their victory.
Milwaukee Bucks 113 - 109 Detroit Pistons
The Milwaukee Bucks staged a remarkable comeback to defeat the Detroit Pistons 113-109, despite losing Giannis Antetokounmpo to a right calf strain three minutes into the game. Kevin Porter Jr. led the Bucks with 26 points, while Ryan Rollins added 22 and AJ Green contributed 19. Jericho Sims had a standout performance with a career-high 15 points and 14 rebounds. The Bucks, who secured only their second win in ten games, managed to rally from an 18-point deficit in the first quarter. A crucial late-game three-point play by Sims and free throws by Rollins and Green helped seal the victory. Bobby Portis and Isaiah Stewart were involved in a heated exchange in the third quarter, resulting in Stewart's ejection due to a double technical foul. Despite Detroit taking an early lead and holding an advantage at the end of the third quarter, the Bucks managed to overtake them in a thrilling finish.
Dallas Mavericks 118 - 108 Miami Heat
Cooper Flagg led the Dallas Mavericks with 22 points, aided by Anthony Davis' double-double of 17 points and 17 rebounds, as they notched a 118-108 win over the Miami Heat, extending their winning streak to three games. Notably, undrafted rookie Ryan Nembhard contributed significantly with 15 points and a season-high 13 assists; he previously posted a career-high of 28 points against Denver. Klay Thompson effectively played off the bench, adding 17 points. Miami's Kel’el Ware achieved a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Tyler Herro added 20 points but was silent after halftime following his recovery from surgery. The Heat were missing leading scorer Norman Powell due to an ankle injury. Dallas was also dealing with injuries, as Daniel Gafford left the game with an ankle injury. The Mavericks' Flagg and Davis were crucial in the final minutes, securing the win with a combined eight points, overcoming Miami's late attempt to close a significant deficit. Ryan Nembhard's hot hand from beyond the arc in the second quarter helped the Mavericks secure a lasting lead, as they finished 16 of 32 from three-point range.