There were three notable results on Tuesday night in the NBA, in what was the first stage of group play for the 2024 NBA Cup.
In an emotional return to San Francisco for Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry drilled a three-pointer with 27.1 seconds left and hit two free-throws with seconds to go give the Golden State Warriors (9-2) a 120-117 win over the Dallas Mavericks (5-6).
After Curry’s triple gave the Warriors a 118-114 lead, Maverick guard Quentin Grimes responded with a three of his own, getting the deficit to one. Two free-throws by Curry put the Warriors up three, and Luka Doncic misfired badly from downtown as the clock wound down to zeroes.
Thompson was 7-for-17 (6-for-12 from deep) for 22 points in his return to Chase Center, while Doncic (31 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists) was just 2-for-10 from distance. Kyrie Irving was 8-for-13 from the field for 21 points.
Curry’s last minute triple was part of his 37-point night (he also had 9 assists and 6 rebounds) on 14-for-27 from the field and 5-for-12 on threes. Jonathan Kuminga (16 points) and Buddy Hield (14 points) put together quality efforts off the bench. The Warriors maintained a 10 rebound advantage (50-40).
Former New Orleans Pelican Dyson Daniels was awesome at TD Garden, scoring 28 points with 7 assists and 6 steals (12-for-21 shooting) in 41 minutes as the Atlanta Hawks (5-7) prevailed over the Boston Celtics (9-3) 117-116.
The game came down to the final seconds, Daniels missing a short turn around that was put back by Onyeka Okongwu. On the next possession, Jayson Tatum mishandled a Jaylen Brown entry pass, but the Celtics knocked the ball off the Hawks after the Hawks inbounded on the ensuing possession. Brown then missed a jump shot from just inside the left elbow for a game-winning attempt.
Daniels, averaging 6.3 steals over his last three games, is the youngest player in NBA history (21 years old) to have 6-plus steals in three consecutive games, per StatMamba. His 36 steals in 10 games is the most since Allen Iverson in the 2003-2004 season, who also had 36 thefts in his first 10 games.
Brown (37 points, 14-for-22) led the Celtics, while Derrick White put up 31 points. The Celtics made 18 triples to the Hawks’ 10 but were outrebounded 45-34.
Tyler Herro poured in 18 fourth quarter points (all threes) to lead the Miami Heat back from a 14-point deficit with seven minutes to go to send their road game at Detroit into overtime, but the Pistons were able to fend off the Heat in the extra frame and take the contest 123-121.
Herro made a short jumper off the glass with 1.1 seconds on the clock in overtime, but an inbound alley-oop from Cade Cunningham to Jalen Duren tied the game at 121. Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra called timeout, but his team did not have any left, resulting in a technical foul and possession for the Pistons. The Heat dropped to 4-6 with the loss while the Pistons got to 5-7.
Herro’s 40 points (14-for-27, 10-for-17 from downtown) were a game high, while the Pistons received 21 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds from Cunningham, 11 rebounds from Duren, and 21 points off the bench from Malik Beasley, whose late free-throws iced the game. Jaden Ivey put up 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists while veteran Tobias Harris added 18 points. Tim Hardaway Jr. left the game after taking an elbow and then hitting his head on the court, but per insider Chris Haynes, the results of his CAT scan were negative.
Around the League
Knicks 111 (5-5)
76ers 99 (2-8)
Towns: 21 PTS, 13 REB, 6 AST
Anunoby: 24 PTS (11-for-16)
George: 29 PTS, 10 REB (10-for-19, 7-for-11 3PT)
Embiid: 13 PTS, 5 AST, 3 REB (2-for-11, 26 minutes)
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Magic 114 (6-6)
Hornets 98 (4-7)
Wagner: 32 PTS, 8 REBS, 5 AST (14-for-25)
Ball: 35 PTS, 7 AST, 6 REB (13-for-27)
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Bucks 99 (3-8)
Raptors 85 (2-10)
Antetokounmpo: 23 PTS, 7 AST, 4 REB
Dick: 32 PTS
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Suns 120 (9-2)
Jazz 112 (2-8)
Booker: 31 PTS (11-for-20, 5-for-9 3PT)
Beal: 24 PTS
Plumlee: 15 PTS, 14 REB
Collins: 29 PTS, 10 REB (12-for-19)
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Trail Blazers 122 (4-8)
Timberwolves 108 (6-5)
Grant: 21 PTS, 8 AST
Robert Williams: 19 PTS, 9 REB (9-for-10, 25 minutes)
Sharpe: 17 PTS
Reid: 28 PTS
Edwards: 26 PTS (4-for-10 3PT)
The Trail Blazers responded well after getting blown out 134-89 at home on Sunday by the Memphis Grizzlies. Head coach Chauncey Billups said following that contest that he was happy with the efforts of Dalano Banton, Jabari Walker, and Rayan Rupert but that no one on the team should sleep well following that loss. Tuesday was a nice rebound, and it was refreshing that Robert Williams played so well in just his third game back.
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