There were 10 games on Monday’s NBA slate, with guards Trae Young, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Brunson all turning in stellar performances for their respective teams while Deandre Ayton put together a monster performance for the surging (yes, surging) Portland Trail Blazers.
In Detroit, the biggest of Young’s 34 points (9 assists, 9-for-16, 4-for-8 from deep) came in the final seconds as he netted a contested fadeaway from just inside the 3-point line with 1.6 seconds remaining to silence the home crowd. The Pistons on their final possession attempted a back door lob to Tobias Harris that was mishandled.
De’Andre Hunter added 20 points (7-for-14) for the Hawks while Dyson Daniels put together a complete effort with 19 points (6-for-10), 7 assists, 6 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 blocks.
Cade Cunningham was outstanding for the home side (30 points, 14 assists, 6 rebounds) despite shooting just 8-for-23. Harris added 22 points on 8-for-13 shooting, and Jalen Duren posted 18 points and 9 rebounds. Malik Beasley added 18 off the bench.
The Hawks improved to 23-27 (9th in the conference) with the victory while the Pistons (25-25) are 7th in the Eastern Conference.
The Oklahoma City Thunder (39-9) crushed a Milwaukee Bucks team, 125-96, that was severely shorthanded without Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee), Damian Lillard (groin), Brook Lopez (back), Khris Middleton (ankle injury management and Bobby Portis (personal). Leading the way for the Thunder was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was 15-for-19 from the field in 22 minutes of action with 34 points and 6 assists. Isaiah Hartenstein registered 12 rebounds and 2 blocks while seldom-used Ousmane Dieng scored 21 points and had 8 rebounds and 5 assists on 9-for-13 shooting off the bench. Isaiah Joe also off the bench was 5-for-8 from downtown for 18 points.
The Bucks, 26-22, were led by Ryan Rollins’ 16 points.
The New York Knicks got a 124-118 win over the Houston Rockets at Madison Square Garden, thanks to 42 points and 10 assists from Brunson as the Knicks rallied and outscored the Rockets 46-29 in the fourth quarter.
With his performance, Brunson broke a tie with Carmelo Anthony for third on the all-time Knick 40-point game list (his 18th). Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges each scored 22 points while Josh Hart put up 18 points and 9 rebounds.
The Rockets’ Amen Thompson registered a triple-double of 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists (9-for-17) while Jalen Green added 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists on 9-for-22 shooting. Cam Whitmore scored 18 points on 7-for-14 off the bench.
The 33-17 Knicks are 3rd in the East while the Rockets (32-17) are 1.5 games back of the Memphis Grizzlies for 2nd in the West.
In Portland, the Trail Blazers (21-29) got their 4th consecutive win with a 121-119 overtime victory against the Phoenix Suns (25-24).
The Blazers, who were down six points at halftime, outscored the Suns 37-25 in the third quarter.
Ayton (25 points, 20 rebounds) turned in a dominant performance against his former team, while Deni Avdija added 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. Scoot Henderson was 4-for-9 off the bench with 15 points and 6 assists. Henderson has six games of 20 or more points since the new year.
Devin Booker’s 34 points on 9-for-18 shooting in 47 minutes led the Suns, while Kevin Durant put up 27 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists on 10-for-21 shooting in 46 minutes. Bradley Beal put up 25 off the bench on 8-for-17 shooting. The Suns are currently in 10th place, tied in the win and loss column with the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors.
The Blazers have been red hot as of late, having won 8 of their last 9, including back-to-back wins over the Suns (127-108 on February 1).
Around the League
Wizards 124 (8-41)
Hornets 114 (12-35)
Coulibaly: 26 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST (9-for-16 FG)
Kispert: 25 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST (9-for-13 FG)
Kuzma: 22 PTS (8-for-21 FG)
Bridges: 24 PTS, 10 REB, 10 AST (9-for-21 FG)
Nick Smith Jr: 24 PTS (9-for-16 FG)
Mark Williams: 23 PTS, 14 REB (7-for-12 FG)
Kings 116 (25-24)
Timberwolves 114 (27-23)
DeRozan; 33 PTS, 7 AST, 5 REB (14-for-25 FG)
Monk: 26 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST (10-for-23 FG)
Reid: 30 PTS, 5 REB (12-for-19 FG)
McDaniels: 22 PTS, 7 REB (8-for-17 FG)
Grizzlies 128 (34-16)
Spurs 109 (21-26)
Jackson Jr.: 31 PTS, 6 REB (10-for-21 FG)
GG Jackson: 27 PTS (11-for-20 FG)
Morant: 25 PTS, 11 AST (9-for-18 FG)
Wembanyama: 27 PTS, 10 REB, 5 AST (10-for-20 FG)
Castle: 21 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST (9-for-17 FG)
Nuggets 125 (31-19)
Pelicans 113 (12-38)
Porter Jr.: 36 PTS, 7 REB (7-for-12 3PT)
Jokic: 27 PTS, 14 REB, 10 AST (9-for-13 FG)
Murphy III: 41 PTS (13-for-21 FG, 8-for-12 3PT)
McCollum: 30 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST (10-for-22 FG, 5-for-9 3PT)
Pacers 112 (28-20)
Jazz 111 (11-37)
Siakam: 22 PTS, 6 REB, 4 AST (8-for-14 FG)
Haliburton: 18 PTS, 6 AST (6-for-15 FG)
Collins: 21 PTS, 12 REB (9-for-18 FG)
Clarkson: 21 PTS (8-for-17 FG)
Warriors 104 (25-24)
Magic 99 (24-27)
Wiggins: 25 PTS (7-for-14 FG)
Curry: 24 PTS, 5 AST (7-for-21 FG)
Anthony: 26 PTS (11-for-21 FG)
Wagner: 21 PTS (9-for-19 FG)
Banchero: 18 PTS, 6 REB (9-for-24 FG)
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