Highlighting Wednesday’s nine games in the NBA was the Oklahoma City Thunder getting the best of the Boston Celtics from TD Garden 118-112, Mikal Bridges and Scott Henderson dueling from the Moda Center as the New York Knicks came away with a 114-113 overtime win, and the Minnesota Timberwolves prevailing from Ball Arena 115-95 against the Denver Nuggets.
Tied at 88 entering the fourth quarter, the Thunder outscored the Celtics 30-24 in the fourth quarter on their way to a six-point victory. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points with 7 assists and 5 rebounds (11-for-20, 10-for-11 from the line), while Chet Holmgren (8-for-14) made three of his six three-point attempts for 23 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Cason Wallace was 5-for-6 for 14 points and Lu Dort scored 13 points on 5-for-12 in a game that the Thunder were without all-star Jalen Williams. Isaiah Hartenstein and Isaiah Joe scored 11 off the bench while Kenrich Willliams scored 10.
Jayson Tatum (33 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 12-for-23) was the top performer for the Celtics while Derrick White put up 22 points with 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks and 2 steals (6-for-12 from downtown). Al Horford made six of his 12 three-point attempts for 18 points while grabbing 10 rebounds with 6 assists.
The Celtics, who made 20 triples, shot 63 three-pointers in the game, the third-most all-time. The 2018-19 Houston Rockets attempted 70 on January 16, 2019 and 68 just three days later.
Wednesday was the 54-12 Thunder’s 25th road victory of the season. They lead the Western Conference by 12 games, while the 47-19 Celtics, second in the Eastern Conference, are 8.5 games behind the Cleveland Cavaliers.
From the Moda Center in Portland, the Knicks improved to 42-23 with a 114-113 win over the Trail Blazers.
Mikal Bridges’ 33 points (4 rebounds, 4 assists, 13-for-21) led the Knicks, while OG Anunoby was 8-for-20 for 23 points and 7 rebounds. Karl-Anthony Towns was 8-for-12 for 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists while Miles McBride and Josh Hart both scored 11. Hart also added 11 rebounds and 9 assists.
The Blazers, who outrebounded the Knicks 52-38, got 15 boards (along with 27 points on 8-for-18) from Deni Avdija, and 12 rebounds from Donovan Clingan. Also out of the starting group, Shaedon Sharpe put up 21 points with 9 rebounds on 8-for-18, while Scoot Henderson led all Blazers with 30 points, exploding off the bench. Henderson was 10-for-16 from the field, made all four of his three-point attempts and made six of his 10 free-throw attempts. Henderson scored 18 points in the fourth quarter, including making two free-throws with 3.1 seconds on the clock to send the game into its extra period, where Bridges’ triple from the top won the game for the Knicks. The Blazers, who had won 10 of 11 games from the end of February to the beginning of March, have lost five consecutive games and stand at 28-39.
In Denver, Nikola Jokic scored a game-high 34 points with 8 rebounds (13-for-23), and Russell Westbrook put up 19 points on 8-for-12, but the performances weren’t enough, as the Timberwolves won comfortably 115-95 to improve to 38-29. The Timberwolves led 34-26 after one quarter and won the remaining three quarters, led by Anthony Edwards’ 29 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds (10-for-22, 5-for-12 from deep). Julius Randle scored 25 points on 9-for-12 shooting, and Rudy Gobert scored 11 with 10 rebounds. Donte DiVincenzo scored 10 points off the bench with 6 rebounds and 6 assists.
The Nuggets, who shot just 40 percent and made just 7 of their 30 three-point attempts, are third in the Western Conference at 42-24. The Memphis Grizzlies, with the same record, are currently the second seed.
Around the League
Hawks 123 (32-34)
Hornets 110 (16-49)
Young: 35 PTS, 12 AST, 7 REB (7-for-20 FG, 21-for-21 FT)
LeVert: 15 PTS (4-for-8 3PT)
Bridges: 31 PTS, 11 REB, 5 AST, 4 BLK (11-for-19 FG, 5-for-8 3PT)
Ball: 25 PTS, 9 AST (6-for-21 FG, 3-for-11 3PT)
Raptors 118 (23-43)
76ers 105 (22-43)
Lawson: 28 PTS, 6 REB, 4 AST (10-for-20 FG, 4-for-9 3PT)
Robinson: 25 PTS, 12 REB, 6 AST (9-for-19 FG)
Rhoden: 25 PTS, 12 REB, 5 AST (9-for-19 FG, 4-for-10 3PT)
Grimes: 29 PTS (11-for-23 FG)
Dowtin Jr.: 20 PTS (9-for-14 FG)
Clippers 119 (36-30)
Heat 104 (29-36)
Bogdanovic: 30 PTS, 10 REB (11-for-16 FG)
Zubac: 26 PTS, 14 REB (12-for-16 FG)
Harden: 24 PTS, 11 AST, 8 REB (6-for-20 FG)
Herro: 31 PTS, 7 AST, 6 REB (13-for-23 FG)
Wiggins: 22 PTS, 5 AST, 3 BLK (9-for-17 FG)
Rockets 111 (41-25)
Suns 104 (30-36)
Green: 29 PTS, 7 REB, 4 AST, 3 STL (8-for-16 FG)
Sengun: 20 PTS, 7 AST (7-for-7 FG)
Brooks: 19 PTS (8-for-14 FG)
Beal: 25 PTS (9-for-14 FG)
Durant: 19 PTS, 7 REB (8-for-12 FG)
Booker: 19 PTS, 4 AST, 3 REB (7-for-15 FG)
Grizzlies 122 (42-24)
Jazz 115 (15-51)
Kennard: 30 PTS (11-for-14 FG, 7-for-9 3PT)
Morant: 28 PTS, 7 AST (8-for-17 FG, 4-for-7 3PT, 8-for-11 FT)
Bane: 17 PTS, 9 AST, 5 REB (6-for-14 FG)
Collins: 22 PTS, 7 REB (8-for-12 FG)
Sexton: 22 PTS, 8 REB, 7 AST (9-for-17 FG)
Kessler: 9 PTS, 14 REB, 6 BLK, 5 AST (4-for-5 FG)
Spurs 126 (27-37)
Mavericks 116 (33-34)
Fox: 32 PTS, 11 AST, 9 REB (12-for-25 FG, 6-for-6 FT)
Sochan, Johnson: 18 PTS
Vassell: 16 PTS, 10 REB, 6 AST (6-for-14 FG)
Williams: 19 PTS, 6 AST (6-for-12 FG)
Exum: 17 PTS (6-for-7 FG)
Marshall, Edwards: 15 PTS
LeBron Back in LA
LeBron James, recuperating from a groin strain suffered against the Boston Celtics on March 8, has returned to Los Angeles. The Lakers play the Milwaukee Bucks in Milwaukee and the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on Friday.
The Lakers, 40-23, are a half game up on the Houston Rockets for fourth in the conference. Without James on Monday night, the Lakers lost 111-108 in Brooklyn. Luka Doncic had an off night, just 8-for-26 from the field, despite putting up a triple-double of 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists.
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