Luka Doncic delivered a stunning performance this Tuesday, overwhelming the Denver Nuggets with a triple-double of 38 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. The NBA day also saw Keyonte George erupt for 43 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Houston Rockets secure a thrilling comeback victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
The Slovenian guard achieved his fifth triple-double of the season, spearheading the Los Angeles Lakers’ comeback in Denver (115-107). The Lakers, who had trailed by as many as 16 points in the third period, overcame the absence of Nikola Jokic, who was sidelined for the Nuggets due to a knee problem.
Doncic’s heroics rescued the Lakers, who had previously endured a difficult stretch, losing five of their last six games. The Angelenos managed to survive a dominant first half from Jamal Murray, who scored 26 of his 28 total points before halftime, even capping it off with a spectacular buzzer-beating shot from mid-court.
Keyonte George’s Breakout Performance
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Keyonte George, the Utah Jazz’s 16th overall pick in the 2023 draft, made a significant impact, scoring 43 points in a victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. George shot 15-for-28 from the field and 6-for-13 from beyond the arc, leading the Jazz to snap a four-game losing streak and handing the Timberwolves their third consecutive defeat.
Anthony Edwards, fresh off a 55-point performance in his team’s previous loss to the Spurs, contributed 38 points for Minnesota, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the setback.
The Jazz currently hold the second-to-last position in the Western Conference, ahead of the Sacramento Kings, who fell to the Miami Heat on Tuesday (130-117), fueled by 25 points from Bam Adebayo and 22 from Norman Powell.
Warriors Stumble Without Butler
The Golden State Warriors suffered a defeat at the Chase Center in San Francisco against the Toronto Raptors (145-127) as they continue to play without Jimmy Butler, who is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to a serious cruciate ligament injury sustained on Monday.
Immanuel Quickley led the Raptors with 40 points, while Scottie Barnes added 26. Toronto shot an impressive 59% from the field and 61% from three-point range (21-for-34) on the night.
Steph Curry was limited to 16 points for the Warriors. Amidst speculation about his potential departure from the team, Jonathan Kuminga scored 20 points off the bench, and Buddy Hield added 25 points with a perfect 6-for-6 shooting performance from beyond the arc.
Rockets Complete Dramatic Comeback
The Houston Rockets overcame a 16-point deficit to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 111-106 in the Texas derby. The Rockets, fourth in the West with a 26-15 record, outscored the Spurs 29-14 in the fourth quarter.
The Spurs (30-14) had led 83-67 in the third period, but Houston rallied behind a strong performance from rookie Reed Sheppard, who scored 12 of his 21 points in the final quarter, including four crucial three-pointers.
Kevin Durant contributed 18 points and seven assists for the Rockets, while San Antonio was led by Julian Champagnie’s 27 points (8-for-16). Victor Wembanyama finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Bulls Dominate Clippers
At the United Center in Chicago, the Bulls defeated the Clippers 138-110, with seven players scoring in double figures. Coby White led the way with 27 points, while Matas Buzelis added 21 and Nikola Vucevic contributed 18. James Harden scored 23 points for the Clippers, who were without Kawhi Leonard.
With three wins in their last four games and a 21-22 record, the Bulls are vying for a direct spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Currently, the sixth place, which guarantees direct playoff access, is shared by the Orlando Magic and the Philadelphia 76ers, who lost at home on Tuesday to the Phoenix Suns (116-110).
The Sixers, playing without Joel Embiid and Paul George, were unable to contain Devin Booker, who scored 27 points for Phoenix. VJ Edgecombe led Philadelphia with 25 points.
