Kevin Durant powered the Suns to victory with 37 points against Mavericks and Paul George posted 42 points against a hugely depleted Grizzlies team.
New York Knicks 131 – 129 Boston Celtics
Immanuel Quickley scored a career-high 38 points in 55 minutes as he made the most of his opportunity replacing injured starter Jalen Brunson in the starting lineup as the New York Knicks outwitted the Boston Celtics 131-129 in double overtime to earn their season-high ninth straight victory.
While reacting to the victory, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “It was a huge performance by him, I was going to give him rest at the start of the fourth, but then he knocked down a couple of shots and I thought the game was in the balance right there.”
Julius Randle also added 31 points and nine rebounds, and RJ Barrett finished with 29 points and 11 boards for the Knicks.
For the Celtics, Jayson Tatum posted 40 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, Jaylen Brown scored 29 points and Horford finished with 20 points and 14 rebounds.
Boston Celtics had the NBA’s best record for much of the season, but has now dropped three of their four games and is a 1½ games behind Milwaukee for the Eastern Conference’s top spot.
Phoenix Suns 130 – 126 Dallas Mavericks
Kevin Durant scored 37 points which included the tiebreaking jumper with 11 seconds to go, to power the Phoenix Suns to a 130-126 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in a thriller tagged the superstars showcase for both franchises.
This was the first meeting between Phoenix’ Durant and Dallas’ Kyrie Irving since they were both traded by Brooklyn before the deadline last month.
In another interesting moment of the game, both Doncic and Devin Booker, who scored 36 points, ended up with a seeming nose-to-nose clash and both were issued technical fouls before Durant hit two free throws to clinch the victory.
Irving scored 30 points for the Mavericks exactly four years to the day since the last time he faced Durant, when his Boston Celtics blew out Durant and his Golden State Warriors 128-95.
Memphis Grizzlies 129 – 135 Los Angeles Clippers
Paul George spearheaded a fourth-quarter comeback by scoring 42 points to help the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Memphis Grizzlies 135-129 on Sunday night, and as a result, ending a five-game skid, their first win since the All-Star break.
Kawhi Leonard added 34 points and 10 rebounds.
Desmond Bane scored 30 points, Tyus Jones added 25 and Jaren Jackson Jr. had 24 points for the Grizzlies.
Remember, they are still without their star guard Ja Morant as he’s away from the team indefinitely while the NBA investigates his social media post last week when he appears to be holding a gun.
Milwaukee Bucks 117 – 111 Washington Wizards
Giannis Antetokounmpo “The freak freak” scored 23 points, got a season-high 13 assists and rebounded a shot he intentionally missed with a second left to record his fourth-triple double of the season as the NBA-leading Milwaukee Bucks beat the Washington Wizards 117-111
Jevon Carter also added 20 points shooting 6 of 10 from beyond the arc, with Jrue Holiday also scoring 19 points for the Bucks.
Remember, they lost at home loss to the 76ers in their last game, and that ended their 16-game winning streak.
In 49 attempts beyond the arc, the Bucks made 22 shots – the most allowed by the Wizards this season. The victory also took them 1½ games in front of Boston Celtics for first in the Eastern Conference.
For the Wizards, Bradley Beal scored 33 points and Kristaps Porzingis added 24 points . Their team remain 10th in the East and in line for the final play-in tournament spot.
Utah Jazz 119 – 129 Oklahoma City Thunder
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 38 points, seven rebounds as he returned from a five-game absence for the Thunders as they defeated the Utah Jazz 129-119.
Rookie Jalen Williams added a career-high 32 points on 12-of-15 shooting and Josh Giddey ended the game with 24 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, a rebound and an assist shy of a triple double for Oklahoma City.
The victory for the Thunders over the Jazz is their second in three days. Remember the Thunder also won them in blowout fashion on Friday, 130-103.
For the Utah Jazz, Jordan Clarkson posted 18 points while missing out all five of his 3-point attempts. The Jazz were without their All-Star Finish forward, Lauri Markkanen, who missed out with what the team said was a low-back strain.
San Antonio Spurs 110 – 142 Houston Rockets
Jalen Green scored 31 points for the Houston Rockets as they got a 142-110 victory over San Antonio, their second straight night victory over them in a matchup dubbed to be the Western Conference’s worst teams affairs.
Kevin Porter Jr. added 19 points with a season-high 13 assists for the Rockets in his third game back after missing 20 with a bruised toe. To cap it off, everyone in Houston Rockets’ starting lineup had double digits in points, scoring at least 10 points.
Remember, the Rockets ended their 11-game skid with a 122-110 win Saturday night away in San Antonio and consolidated on that victory with another one – this time, an home win.
Keita Bates-Diop led the Spurs with 17 points and Keldon Johnson had eight points and five assists in his return after missing two games with a sprained left foot.
Portland Trail Blazers 122 – 119 Orlando Magic
Damian Lillard posted 41 points, with 8 of those coming from the foul line in the final three minutes to the lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 122-119 win over the Orlando Magic.
Jerami Grant added 20 points, six rebounds and seven assists for the Blazers, as he also broke a tie with a 3-pointer for the game’s final field goal with 35 seconds left.
As it stands, the Blazers are one game behind the Lakers, Utah Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans for the final spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament.
Paolo Banchero for the Orlando Magic posted 26 points. Franz Wagner added 24 points, and Markelle Fultz finished with 15 points, eight assists and four steals.
Charlotte Hornets 86 – 102 Brooklyn Nets
Mikal Bridges scored 33 points which included a 9 for 9 in a 19-point first quarter, to lead the Brooklyn Nets to a 102-86 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.
This victory is coming off that wonderful game the Nets had against the Boston Celtics after coming from 28 down to defeat them in the biggest comeback in the NBA this season.
Spencer Dinwiddie also added 24 points, Cam Johnson with 11 points and Joe Harris ended the game with 12 points.
For the Hornets, Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 17 points and Mark Williams put in 10 points and 14 rebounds as they lost their third consecutive game.
Golden State Warriors 105 – 113 Los Angeles Lakers
Anthony Davis scored 39 points, which included 12 in the fourth quarter, as the Lakers defeated the Golden State Warriors 113-105 .
For the third time this season, Anthony Davis had at least 39 after scoring 38 in a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves two days ago.
Stephen Curry’s return was dampened with the loss as the Lakers ended their 5 games winning streak.
Remember, Curry missed 11 games due to a left leg injury, bur had 19 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter as he returned back to the court.
The victory means the Lakers are now within half a game of the New Orleans Pelicans for 10th place in the Western Conference and the final play-in spot.
Indiana Pacers 125 – 122 Chicago Bulls
Tyrese Haliburton was clutch as he scored 29 points, including a game ending 3-pointer with just 2.7 seconds left, to give the Indiana Pacers a 125-122 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
Haliburton’s game-winning shot came after Zach LaVine had missed a free throw which would have given the Bulls the lead with 22.6 seconds left.
LaVine who scored 42 points, was fouled by Bennedict Mathurin on a 3-point attempt and converted the first two free throw attempts.
DeRozan scored 23 for the Bulls.
Whereas Mathurin added 17 points for the Pacers, who lost despite shooting 60.8% (45 for 74) from the field.
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