Luka Doncic scored 31 of his 45 factors within the first half of his extremely anticipated Dallas homecoming because the visiting Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Mavericks 112-97 on Wednesday.
LeBron James posted 27 factors and 7 boards, and Rui Hachimura added 15 factors because the Lakers bolstered their grip on the third spot within the Western Convention.
Naji Marshall contributed 23 factors and eight assists for the Mavericks. Anthony Davis — in his first sport for Dallas in opposition to his outdated facet — completed with 13 factors, 11 rebounds and 6 assists. The Mavericks secured a Western Convention play-in spot later Wednesday night time when the Phoenix Suns misplaced to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
Doncic, traded from Dallas to Los Angeles for Davis as a part of a blockbuster deal on February 2, turned emotional throughout a pregame video tribute. He then acquired deafening applause when his identify was referred to as through the beginning lineup bulletins.
Nuggets 124, Kings 116
A day faraway from the shock firing of coach Michael Malone, Denver pulled out of a four-game dropping streak with a highway win over Sacramento.
Denver, enjoying its first sport underneath interim coach David Adelman, led virtually the whole method in a sport essential for the Nuggets’ postseason positioning. The Nuggets have the identical file because the Clippers however Denver is fourth and Los Angeles is fifth as a consequence of a tiebreaker.
Nikola Jokic furthered his pursuit of changing into simply the third participant ever to common a triple-double for a season, posting 20 factors, 12 rebounds and 11 assists vs. the Kings. Zach LaVine scored a game-high 27 factors for Sacramento.
Thunder 125, Suns 112
Jalen Williams scored 33 factors to steer Oklahoma Metropolis to a highway win over Phoenix.
With their spot as the highest seed within the Western Convention lengthy secured, and enjoying the second night time of a back-to-back, the Thunder gave an evening off to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Isaiah Hartenstein, Luguentz Dort and Cason Wallace.
Jalen Williams #8 of the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder reacts after a three-point shot in opposition to the Phoenix Suns through the second half of the NBA sport at PHX Area
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Jalen Williams #8 of the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder reacts after a three-point shot in opposition to the Phoenix Suns through the second half of the NBA sport at PHX Area
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The Suns took their eighth consecutive loss and have been eradicated from competition for the Western Convention play-in event. Bradley Beal led Phoenix with 25 factors whereas Devin Booker added 20 factors and 14 assists.
Clippers 134, Rockets 117
James Harden scored 35 factors and Ivica Zubac added 20 in his first profession triple-double as Los Angeles topped Houston in Inglewood, Calif.
Kawhi Leonard scored 22 factors and grabbed 10 rebounds and Nicolas Batum had 15 factors for the Clippers earlier than departing at halftime with proper groin soreness. Zubac added 11 rebounds and a career-high 10 assists whereas Harden had 10 assists.
Reed Sheppard scored 20 factors and Jeff Inexperienced added 19 for the short-handed Rockets, who rested a number of starters a day after clinching the No. 2 spot within the West.
Raptors 126, Hornets 96
Rookie Jonathan Mogbo recorded his first profession triple-double as Toronto accomplished its house schedule with a victory over Charlotte.
Mogbo completed with 17 factors, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, and reserve Jared Rhoden added 23 factors for the Raptors, who received their second sport in a row. Toronto’s Scottie Barnes had 17 factors and 11 rebounds, A.J. Lawson scored 14 factors, RJ Barrett contributed 11 factors, Jamison Battle put up 10 factors and Orlando Robinson had 9 factors and 12 rebounds.
Nick Smith Jr. had 28 factors and 10 assists for the Hornets, who’ve misplaced 10 of 11. Jusuf Nurkic added 26 factors and 9 rebounds. Charlotte reserve Taj Gibson performed in his 1,000th NBA sport and had two factors, 5 rebounds and two blocked photographs in 18 minutes.
Magic 96, Celtics 76
Franz Wagner scored 23 factors and Cole Anthony completed with 18 as Orlando prolonged its profitable streak to 4 video games by incomes a house victory in opposition to undermanned Boston.
Wagner has scored at the very least 20 factors in every of his final 12 video games. Anthony and Wagner every collected eight rebounds within the win. Paolo Banchero added 15 factors for the Magic. The victory allowed Orlando to clinch the No. 7 seed for the play-in event. Orlando shall be at house in opposition to the No. 8 seed Tuesday night time. The winner will open the Jap Convention playoffs in opposition to Boston, which is locked into the No. 2 seed.
The Celtics used a makeshift lineup and rested starters Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Vacation, Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White. Al Horford didn’t go well with up both because the Celtics have been enjoying their second sport in as many nights. Baylor Scheierman and Payton Pritchard every tossed in a team-high 15 factors for the Celtics, who have been held to their lowest level whole of the season.
76ers 122, Wizards 103
Jeff Dowtin Jr. scored a career-high 30 factors and Lonnie Walker IV added 24 to assist visiting Philadelphia snap a 12-game dropping streak with a victory over Washington.
Quentin Grimes overcame a brutal begin to end with 17 factors, 11 rebounds and 7 assists for the 76ers. Rookie Adem Bona collected 17 factors and 9 rebounds.
Tristan Vukcevic scored a career-high 24 factors off the bench and Justin Champagnie contributed 14 factors and 12 rebounds because the Wizards took their fourth loss in a row.
Bulls 119, Warmth 111
Josh Giddey completed with 28 factors, 16 rebounds and 11 assists for his seventh triple-double of the season and Nikola Vucevic had 20 factors and 11 boards to spice up Chicago to a win over visiting Miami.
Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Warmth drives in opposition to Kevin Huerter #13 of the Chicago Bulls through the first quarter on the United Heart in Chicago, Illinois.
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Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Warmth drives in opposition to Kevin Huerter #13 of the Chicago Bulls through the first quarter on the United Heart in Chicago, Illinois.
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The Bulls pulled a sport forward of the Warmth for the ninth seed within the Jap Convention with subsequent week’s play-in event looming. A flurry halfway by way of the third quarter helped Chicago lead by as many as 14 factors earlier than holding on. The Bulls overcame 16 turnovers. Kevin Huerter added 22 factors for the Bulls.
Tyler Herro scored 30 factors to tempo Miami, whereas Bam Adebayo added 18 factors.
Jazz 133, Path Blazers 126 (OT)
Rookie Kyle Filipowski set profession highs with 30 factors and 18 rebounds to steer Utah to a additional time victory in opposition to Portland in Salt Lake Metropolis.
Filipowski hit 13 of 17 photographs, together with a game-tying dunk with 2.8 seconds left in regulation, and completed with 5 assists and three steals because the Jazz snapped a nine-game dropping streak. Utah’s Brice Sensabaugh added 22 factors.
Shaedon Sharpe scored a season-high 37 factors and sank a season-best six 3-pointers however didn’t play within the additional time session for the Blazers. Seven Portland gamers scored in double figures, together with Rayan Rupert, who logged a career-best 19 factors.
Spurs 114, Warriors 111
Harrison Barnes buried a buzzer-beating 3-pointer and San Antonio broken Golden State’s bid for a top-four end within the Western Convention with a victory in San Francisco.
With simply two video games remaining, Golden State dropped into the seventh spot — a play-in place — within the West, solely a half-game forward of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who didn’t play Wednesday. Stephen Curry had a game-high 30 factors and Jimmy Butler III 28 for the Warriors.
Barnes, who had all however two of his 20 factors on 3-pointers, went 6-for-9 from deep for the Spurs. Stephon Citadel and Keldon Johnson paced San Antonio with 21 factors apiece.