With the Milwaukee Bucks and New Orleans Pelicans contest postponed due to snow in New Orleans, there were eight games on Wednesday's NBA schedule. Highlights included a career night for Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander against the Utah Jazz, the Houston Rockets taking a thriller by one point against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Boston Celtics emerging in a tight contest at Intuit Dome against the Los Angeles Clippers.
From Paycom Center, the smooth-shooting, stealthily-moving Gilgeous-Alexander poured in 54 in 37 minutes to lead the top-seeded Thunder (36-7) past the Jazz (10-32) by a 123-114 score. Gilgeous-Alexander also grabbed a team-high 8 rebounds, with 5 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. Though he was 3-for-10 from beyond the arc, the MVP candidate (32.0 points/6.1 assists/5.4 rebounds/53% FG) shot 17-for-35 from the field while making 17 of 18 free-throws. Jalen Williams (9-for-18, 6-for-7 from the line) added 25 points. The Thunder outscored the Jazz 38-34 in the third quarter.
All five Jazz starters finished in double-figures, led by John Collins' 22 points and 12 rebounds (9-for-13). Collin Sexton put up 18 points and 9 assists on 7-for-15, while Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler each scored 17 points (Kessler pulled in 15 rebounds). Keyonte George was just 3-for-11 but was 7-for-8 from the line for 15 points, 10 assists, and 5 rebounds.
In Houston, Cavaliers' guard Darius Garland missed two of three free-throws and the Rockets dug in defensively on the final possession to take the game 109-108 despite being outscored 25-15 in the fourth quarter.
Down 109-107, Garland was fouled by Tari Eason on a three-point attempt from the wing with 2.8 seconds remaining, and the refs deemed the contact worthy of a flagrant one as Eason's foot was in Garland's landing area. Knocking down all three free-throws would have given the Cavaliers a 110-109 lead and forced the Rockets to make one final miraculous shot to win the game. However, Garland missed on his first two before making his last, and Donovan Mitchell, who missed a step-back three moments earlier that would have given the Cavaliers a three-point lead, was forced into a tough corner triple over Amen Thompson, who put together a tremendous effort with 16 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals on 7-for-15. As Mitchell's shot barely drew rim, Garland retrieved the ball and was blocked by Eason on an attempt that would not have counted had it gone in.
Fred VanVleet (26 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds) was 8-for-15 from the field and 7-for-12 from downtown to lead the Rockets, while Alperen Sengun (7-for-13) finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Cam Whitmore was 6-for-12 for 16 points off the bench, while Jalen Green made just 4-for-16 shots for 10 points. The Rockets are 29-14, the win moving them a half game ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies for second in the Western Conference.
Garland led the Cavaliers with 26 points on 10-for-21 shooting, while Mitchell had an off night going 7-for-21 for 19 points. Jarrett Allen, without his front court mate Evan Mobley, put up 17 points and 13 rebounds on 7-for-11 from the field. The 36-7 Cavaliers are 5.5 games ahead of the Celtics for first in the Eastern Conference.
The shorthanded Clippers, playing without James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and Ivica Zubac, received quality outputs from Derrick Jones Jr. (29 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals on 12-for-20 shooting), Kevin Porter Jr. (26 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals on 12-for-21), and Amir Coffey (24 points, 9-for-15) in taking the visiting Celtics, who were without Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, to overtime. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 25 points and 6 assists on 8-for-15 from the field, with Jayson Tatum (9-for-22, 4-for-13 from deep), registered 24 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds. The Celtics improved to 31-13 with the win (16-5 on the road), while the Clippers (24-19, 15-8 at home) stand at sixth in the Western Conference.
Around the League
Pistons 114 (23-21)
Hawks 104 (22-21)
Cunningham: 29 PTS, 11 AST, 6 REB (12-for-19 FG)
Beasley: 19 PTS (5-for-11 3PT)
Duren: 14 PTS, 12 REB
Daniels: 20 PTS, 10 REB (10-for-21 FG)
Jalen Johnson: 17 PTS, 9 REB, 6 STL, 4 AST (8-for-21 FG)
Capela: 16 PTS, 10 REB
ATL: Trailed 97-75 after three quarters
Suns 108 (22-21)
Nets 84 (14-31)
Booker: 32 PTS, 6 AST (14-for-24 FG)
Durant: 24 PTS, 8 REB (8-for-15 FG, 4-for-7 3PT)
Keon Johnson: 20 PTS, 7 REB (9-for-16 FG)
Jalen Wilson: 15 PTS (5-for-12 FG)
BKN: 5th straight loss
Timberwolves 115 (23-21)
Mavericks 114 (23-21)
McDaniels: 27 PTS, 8 REB, 4 STL, 3 BLK (10-for-18 FG)
Edwards: 21 PTS, 7 AST, 5 REB (6-for-19 FG)
Randle: 16 PTS, 6 REB (4-for-13 FG, 7-for-8 FT)
Irving: 36 PTS, 9 AST, 4 REB (12-for-21 FG, 4-for-11 3PT, 8-for-8 FT)
Washington: 30 PTS, 7 REB (12-for-22 FG, 5-for-7 FT)
Doncic: Hasn't played since December 25 (calf strain)
Lively II: DNP (out four weeks with right ankle stress fracture)
Grizzlies 132 (29-15)
Hornets 120 (11-29)
Bane: 24 PTS, 8 AST (10-for-15 FG, 4-for-7 3PT)
Jackson Jr.: 22 PTS, 6 REB (9-for-18 FG)
Morant: 16 PTS, 13 AST (5-for-9 FG)
Mark Williams: 38 PTS, 9 REB, 5 AST (14-for-18 FG, 10-for-13 FT)
Ball: 22 PTS, 8 REB, 6 AST (7-for-20 FG)
Bridges: 17 PTS, 6 AST, 5 REB (5-for-14 FG)
Kings 123 (23-20)
Warriors 117 (21-22)
DeRozan: 32 PTS, 5 REB (12-for-21 FG)
Sabonis: 26 PTS, 18 REB (8-for-12 FG)
Monk: 20 PTS, 9 AST (7-for-15 FG)
Wiggins: 25 PTS, 6 REB (8-for-20 FG, 5-for-11 3PT)
Hield: 17 PTS (6-for-12 FG, 5-for-9 3PT)
Curry: 14 PTS, 12 AST (6-for-11 FG)
Comments