The NBA is approaching its money-making stages – and at this time the stars are flourishing. Tonight (Friday-Saturday) Joel Ambide led Philadelphia to 101: 111 over Dallas thanks to 32 points, while in Brooklyn it was Kevin Durant who fired with 36 of his own in a 123: 128 over Portland. LeBron James also scored 36 points in the Lakers’ dramatic 123: 128 after overtime over Toronto.
Phoenix (14:56) – Chicago (28:41) 102: 129
The fiery Suns did not struggle and defeated on the way to a fourth straight victory. Devin Booker was the host man with 28 points, while Diandra Eyton scored 20 and also recorded 12 rebounds. Damar Drusen, on the other hand, was the Bulls’ leading scorer with 19 points. From the start it was clear where the game was going: after 27:30 in the first quarter, Phoenix was already down to the break with a double-digit gap thanks to 48:61. The gap grew in the third quarter thanks to a 24:34 run and the last quarter also belonged to the locals (30:34) on the way to the celebration.
Philadelphia (26:43) – Dallas (27:43) 101: 111
A play by Joel Ambide with 32 points, while James Harden added 24 points and another 12 assists en route to victory. Jaylen Branson, on the other hand, scored 24 points for the Mavericks. After 26:27 to Dallas in the first quarter, Philly woke up in the second and went down to the break with a 53:58 lead. The gap increased in the third quarter and at the entrance to the decisive one, the advantage was 8 points to the credit of the host. The Mavericks failed to recover in the final quarter and turn the bowl around, with Philadelphia completing the task with a 25:27 run that closed out a story.
Brooklyn (34:37) – Portland (43:26) 123: 128
The Hunts’ great comeback helped them erase an 18-point deficit, with Kevin Durant blazing with 36 points, joining another 27 by Seth Kerry. On the other hand, 25 points from Josh Hart and another 24 from Brandon Williams were not enough for the visitors. After 33:34 to Brooklyn in the first quarter, the Trail Blazers woke up and recorded a 28:42 that set up a turnaround and 62:75 at the break. The Nets as mentioned knew how to come back well in the lead of Durant and completed a 26:39 run in the third quarter. The latter also belonged to the host who completed 22:27 on the way to the home celebration.
Cleveland (39:31) – Denver (29:42) 116: 119 (after overtime)
After a dramatic overtime, the Cavalix came out on top thanks to 31 points and another 10 rebounds by Laurie Markanen and another 27 points and 11 rebounds by Owen Mobley. Nikola Jukic on the other hand finished with 32 points and another 10 rebounds. Denver went down to the break with a 52:63 lead, but the second half belonged mostly to the host who recorded 24:26 and 20:29 in the next two quarters, with Jukic’s basket 43 seconds to go set a 107 tie and overtime. In the next five minutes Cleveland completed the task with 9:12 left.
Atlanta (35:35) – Memphis (23:48) 105: 120
Bogdan Bogdanovic led the Hawks with 30 points, while on the other hand Ja Morant was the leading scorer in the Grizzlies with 29 of his own. After 27:36 to Atlanta in the first quarter, she went down to the break with a convincing 48:67. From that it was hard for Memphis to come back and in fact only the final quarter she finished with her hand on top (29:33), but it was too little and too late for her.
Toronto (31:39) – Los Angeles Lakers (40:30) 128: 123 (after overtime)
A big drama occurred in Toronto, when in a 113: 116 situation to the credit of the host, Russell Westbrook recorded a steal and a big three-pointer that set a tie and sent the tackle to dramatic overtime – and the Lakers eventually recorded the turnaround with 5 points from Avery Bradley in overtime (7:12). LeBron James starred above them all as usual with 36 points of his own, while Westbrook scored 22 points and added 10 assists and 10 rebounds en route to a triple-double. Scotty Barnes, on the other hand, led the Raptors with 31 points.
Miami (24:47) – Oklahoma (50:20) 108: 120
Tyler Hiro led the hit with 26 points, added to another 19 by Bam Adbaio and Duncan Robinson. On the other hand, Shay Jilgos-Alexander scored 26 points for the loser. After 26:27 in the first quarter to win Miami, she went down to the half with 54:69. The gap grew in the third quarter thanks to a 25:34 run and from that the Thunder were unable to come back despite recording a 17:29 run in the final quarter.
Houston (53:17) – Indiana (47:24) 121: 118
Malcolm Brogdon led the Pacers with 25 points, while Chris Wood was the leading scorer in tackling 32 points and another 13 rebounds, but that was not enough for the win for the Rockets, who led 28:32 in the first quarter but went down to the break 61:56 behind. Houston managed to wake up again and recorded 22:39 in the third quarter which set up a 12-point gap at the entrance to the decisive one, however in which it absorbed 38:23 from the visitors.
San Antonio (44:27) – New Orleans (41:29) 124: 91
A celebration of one group on the parquet. CJ McCollum led the Pelicans with 20 points, while Jonas Valencionas scored 16 points and recorded 12 rebounds. On the other hand, 18 points from Devin Wassel were not enough for the Spurs. New Orleans came on to explode and recorded a formidable first quarter which it finished with a resounding 10:35. At the break, the gap was already 31 points for the visitors and in fact the second half was a real Garbage Time, where the Pelicans recorded 24:31 in the third quarter and 34:29 in the last.
Utah (26:44) – Los Angeles Clippers (37:36) 92: 121
Jared Butler (21 points) and Jordan Clarkson (20) led the Jazz to a great win, while Robert Covington was the Clippers’ leading scorer with 18. The other half was just crazy for Utah, where it recorded a 14-run run. 41 (!) Which actually took all the air out of the team from LA, which recorded 26:34 in the final quarter but it was too little.
Sacramento (47:25) – Boston (28:43) 126: 97
A celebration of the Celtics, who enjoyed their two stars: 32 points from Jason Taitum and another 30 from Jaylen Brown left no chance for the Kings, where Dennis Savonis was the leading scorer with 30 points. After 26:32 in the first quarter, Boston went down to the break with 48:67. The visitors did absorb 31:25 in the third quarter, but cruised in the last quarter with a resounding 18:34.