Miles Bridges hit on a corner three with 1.1 seconds remaining to give the Charlotte Hornets a home win against the San Antonio Spurs, Devin Booker poured in a season-high 47 points in an overtime win against the Utah Jazz, and the Atlanta Hawks came back from being down 18 points at halftime to defeat the Milwaukee Bucks in three of Friday’s marquee performances.
At home, the Hornets (13-36) staved off a late charge by the visiting Spurs (22-27) as LaMelo Ball (24 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds, 9-for-26 shooting) drove and dished to the corner to an open Bridges (25 points, 7 rebounds, 10-for-18) who promptly nailed the go ahead shot. On the final play of the game, De’Aaron Fox, one of the league’s top clutch performers, hit a three that appeared to give the Spurs a 119-117 win. Instant replay showed however that the ball was still in Fox’s hands as time expired.
Rookie Stephon Castle’s 33 points (10-for-15) in 31 minutes off the bench led the Spurs, while Fox was 9-for-17 with 22 points and 6 assists. Victor Wembanyama was just 7-for-20 (1-for-9 from downtown), and finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 blocks.
The Spurs trailed 92-81 after three quarters but outscored the Hornets 35-25 in the final frame, making a late push and nearly getting the victory.
Playing without Kevin Durant (ankle) and Bradley Beal (toe), the Suns were led by Booker’s 47 points, 11 assists, and 6 rebounds (18-for-33 shooting) in 49 minutes in their 135-127 win. He was the only Sun to play more than 40 minutes in the contest. Grayson Allen, who forced overtime with a buzzer-beating triple, scored 21 points with 7 rebounds and 6 assists on 7-for-19 shooting (7-for-14 from downtown). Nick Richards added 12 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 blocks. The Suns (26-25) shot 56 triples, making 22.
In defeat, John Collins led the Jazz (12-38) with 21 points and 6 rebounds (7-for-18) while Lauri Markkanen put up 20 points and 7 rebounds on 7-for-16 shooting. Walker Kessler registered 19 points and 22 rebounds, while Isaiah Collier scored 15 and dished out 13 assists. Keyonte George (6-for-16) scored 18 points off the bench.
Trae Young (24 points, 7 assists, 9-for-22) led the Hawks while Bobby Portis’ 26 points, 15 rebounds and 6 assists (10-for-20, 4-for-8 3PT) led a Bucks team that was playing with superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo who was out with a calf injury. Damian Lillard (7-for-19, 4-for-13) scored 23 points and had 10 assists and 9 rebounds. Gary Trent Jr. (5-for-8 from downtown) scored 19 points off the bench. Kyle Kuzma was 4-for-13 in 24 minutes off the bench with 12 points and 7 rebounds in his Buck debut.
Young was aided by Dyson Daniels’ 15 points, 10 assists, and 6 rebounds on 5-for-12 shooting, and Mouhamed Gueye’s 15 points and 12 assists (6-for-11 from the field). Onyeka Okongwu put up 14 points and 12 rebounds (6-for-12) while rookie Zaccharie Risacher was 6-for-10 for 13 points.
The Bucks, 27-23, are 5th in the eastern conference, while the Hawks are 9th with a 24-28 mark.
Around the League
Cavaliers 134 (42-10)
Wizards 124 (9-42)
Mitchell: 33 PTS, 5 AST (12-for-26 FG, 4-for-11 3PT)
Mobley: 27 PTS, 7 REB (10-for-16 FG)
Garland: 23 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST (8-for-15 FG)
CLE: Scored 40 points in 4th quarter
Poole: 45 PTS, 5 AST, 4 REB (16-for-32 FG, 4-for-17 3PT)
Kyshawn George: 17 PTS, 5 REB (6-for-11 FG)
Coulibaly: 16 PTS, 6 REB (6-for-12 FG)
Nets 102 (18-34)
Heat 86 (25-25)
Cam Johnson: 18 PTS, 6 REB (6-for-12 FG)
Russell: 17 PTS (5-for-15 FG)
BKN: Outscored MIA 31-9 in 4th quarter
Rozier: 20 PTS (6-for-15 FG)
Adebayo: 18 PTS, 8 REB (7-for-14 FG)
Pistons 125 (26-26)
76ers 112 (20-31)
Beasley: 36 PTS (13-for-23 FG, 9-for-19 3PT)
Harris: 22 PTS, 9 REB (8-for-16 FG)
Maxey: 27 PTS, 7 AST (9-for-20 FG)
Embiid: 23 PTS, 7 REB, 6 AST (7-for-18 FG)
Thunder 121 (41-9)
Raptors 109 (16-36)
Williams: 27 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST (9-for-19 FG)
Gilgeous-Alexander: 25 PTS, 6 AST, 4 REB (14-for-14 FG)
Holmgren: 4 PTS, 5 REB (22 mins; 1st game since Nov. 10)
Barnes: 21 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST (8-for-20 FG, 4-for-6 3PT)
Dick: 17 PTS, 7 REB (5-for-9 FG)
Anthony Davis will make his Dallas Mavericks' debut on Saturday afternoon when the Mavs host the Houston Rockets at 3 p.m. The Mavericks (27-25, 8th in west), defeated the Boston Celtics in Boston on Thursday by a score of 127-120, led by Klay Thompson's 25 points. Davis is averaging 25.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks on 53 percent shooting this season in 42 games.
The Rockets have been sliding off late, losers of five consecutive games. At 32-19, they are a half game back of the Denver Nuggets for 3rd in the west.
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