Warriors Wake Up Late To Defeat Heat
The Golden State Warriors defeated the Miami Heat, 113-92, at Kaseya Center on Tuesday.
The Warriors (37-34) moved to three games over the .500 barrier and kept their playoff chances alive with a solid road win over the Heat (39-33). Both teams are in a tight race to make the playoffs in their respective Conferences, and the game reflected that, as it was a tight contest, at least in the early stages. The Heat jumped to a 26-24 lead in the first quarter, and that two-point advantage held until the end of the first half after a 29-29 score in the third quarter. However, the Warriors looked dominant in the second half, and Golden State flipped the script with a 32-20 score in the third quarter. The Heat showed a fighting spirit in the final quarter, but it was not enough. The Warriors won the final frame by a 28-17 score, and Golden State cruised to an easy victory. With the win, the Warriors moved to 19-15 on the road, while the Heat fell to 18-17 at home.
Klay Thompson was part of the starting lineup and finished with a team-high 28 points. Thompson also added five rebounds and two assists. Jonathan Kuminga finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Stephen Curry had 17 points and six assists despite going 3-for-10 from three-point range. Andrew Wiggins posted 17 points and seven rebounds. The Warriors shot 55.3 percent from the field and 34.2 percent from three-point range.
Bam Adebayo led the way for the Heat with 24 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Terry Rozier had 15 points, four rebounds and two assists. Jaime Jaquez Jr. ended with 12 points and two rebounds. Nikola Jovic ended with 11 points, six rebounds and four assists. Haywood Highsmith came off the bench and posted 15 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Miami shot 40.2 percent from the field and 24.2 percent from deep.
The Warriors (37-34) moved to three games over the .500 barrier and kept their playoff chances alive with a solid road win over the Heat (39-33). Both teams are in a tight race to make the playoffs in their respective Conferences, and the game reflected that, as it was a tight contest, at least in the early stages. The Heat jumped to a 26-24 lead in the first quarter, and that two-point advantage held until the end of the first half after a 29-29 score in the third quarter. However, the Warriors looked dominant in the second half, and Golden State flipped the script with a 32-20 score in the third quarter. The Heat showed a fighting spirit in the final quarter, but it was not enough. The Warriors won the final frame by a 28-17 score, and Golden State cruised to an easy victory. With the win, the Warriors moved to 19-15 on the road, while the Heat fell to 18-17 at home.
Klay Thompson was part of the starting lineup and finished with a team-high 28 points. Thompson also added five rebounds and two assists. Jonathan Kuminga finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Stephen Curry had 17 points and six assists despite going 3-for-10 from three-point range. Andrew Wiggins posted 17 points and seven rebounds. The Warriors shot 55.3 percent from the field and 34.2 percent from three-point range.
Bam Adebayo led the way for the Heat with 24 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Terry Rozier had 15 points, four rebounds and two assists. Jaime Jaquez Jr. ended with 12 points and two rebounds. Nikola Jovic ended with 11 points, six rebounds and four assists. Haywood Highsmith came off the bench and posted 15 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Miami shot 40.2 percent from the field and 24.2 percent from deep.
Lakers Topple Bucks in double OT, 128-124
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, 128-124, in double overtime at Fiserv Forum on Tuesday night.
The Lakers (40-32) opened the game in about the most ineffective manner possible, already trailing 32-16 after one. The deficit was still at 16 at intermission, and Los Angeles was only able to make a two-point dent in its deficit in the third quarter. However, the entire dynamic of the game would be altered in the fourth quarter, when the visitors enjoyed a 27-13 edge that forced overtime. The two teams matched each other point for point during the first extra period, and a pair of free throws apiece from D'Angelo Russell and Anthony Davis late in the second OT sealed the extremely hard-fought win.
Davis led the Lakers with a 34-point, 23-rebound double-double that included two assists, four blocks and two steals. Austin Reaves generated a 29-point, 14-rebound, 10-assist triple-double that included two blocks. Russell contributed a 29-point, 12-assist double-double that included seven rebounds, two steals and one block. Rui Hachimura furnished 16 points, 14 rebounds and one assist.
Giannis Antetokounmpo paced the Bucks with a 29-point, 21-rebound, 11-assist triple-double that included three blocks and two steals. Damian Lillard delivered 27 points, eight assists, five rebounds and one steal. Malik Beasley supplied 21 points, three rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block. Bobby Portis posted an 18-point, 13-rebound double-double that included one steal and one block. Khris Middleton recorded 12 points, seven assists, six rebounds and one steal.
The Lakers remain on the road and visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night, while the Bucks tangle with the New Orleans Pelicans on the road on Thursday night.
The Lakers (40-32) opened the game in about the most ineffective manner possible, already trailing 32-16 after one. The deficit was still at 16 at intermission, and Los Angeles was only able to make a two-point dent in its deficit in the third quarter. However, the entire dynamic of the game would be altered in the fourth quarter, when the visitors enjoyed a 27-13 edge that forced overtime. The two teams matched each other point for point during the first extra period, and a pair of free throws apiece from D'Angelo Russell and Anthony Davis late in the second OT sealed the extremely hard-fought win.
Davis led the Lakers with a 34-point, 23-rebound double-double that included two assists, four blocks and two steals. Austin Reaves generated a 29-point, 14-rebound, 10-assist triple-double that included two blocks. Russell contributed a 29-point, 12-assist double-double that included seven rebounds, two steals and one block. Rui Hachimura furnished 16 points, 14 rebounds and one assist.
Giannis Antetokounmpo paced the Bucks with a 29-point, 21-rebound, 11-assist triple-double that included three blocks and two steals. Damian Lillard delivered 27 points, eight assists, five rebounds and one steal. Malik Beasley supplied 21 points, three rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block. Bobby Portis posted an 18-point, 13-rebound double-double that included one steal and one block. Khris Middleton recorded 12 points, seven assists, six rebounds and one steal.
The Lakers remain on the road and visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night, while the Bucks tangle with the New Orleans Pelicans on the road on Thursday night.
Thunder Defeat Pelicans, 119-112
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the host New Orleans Pelicans, 119-112, at Smoothie King Center on Tuesday.
There were six ties and six lead changes, with Oklahoma City leading for the majority of this game. They actually blew a 20-point lead, with New Orleans taking a game-high five-point lead in the final three minutes. The Thunder responded by closing the game on a 12-0 run over the final 2:31 to complete their win. Oklahoma City shot 54 percent from the field and 44 percent from three-point range while holding New Orleans to 45 percent from the field and 37 percent from long range. The Thunder also out-rebounded the Pelicans, 45-37.
The Thunder (50-21) were led by Jalen Williams, tallying 26 points, two rebounds and five assists. Josh Giddey generated 25 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander accrued 24 points, five rebounds, eight assists and two steals, while Chet Holmgren had 16 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks. No other player had more than seven points or two assists.
The Pelicans (44-28) were led by Zion Williamson, totaling 29 points, five rebounds, 10 assists and three steals. CJ McCollum compiled 23 points, six rebounds and five assists. Trey Murphy amassed 16 points, six rebounds and two assists, while Herbert Jones had 16 points, two rebounds and four assists. No other player had more than eight points or three assists.
On deck for New Orleans is a home matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday. As for Oklahoma City, they return to action on Friday in a home matchup with the Phoenix Suns.
There were six ties and six lead changes, with Oklahoma City leading for the majority of this game. They actually blew a 20-point lead, with New Orleans taking a game-high five-point lead in the final three minutes. The Thunder responded by closing the game on a 12-0 run over the final 2:31 to complete their win. Oklahoma City shot 54 percent from the field and 44 percent from three-point range while holding New Orleans to 45 percent from the field and 37 percent from long range. The Thunder also out-rebounded the Pelicans, 45-37.
The Thunder (50-21) were led by Jalen Williams, tallying 26 points, two rebounds and five assists. Josh Giddey generated 25 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander accrued 24 points, five rebounds, eight assists and two steals, while Chet Holmgren had 16 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks. No other player had more than seven points or two assists.
The Pelicans (44-28) were led by Zion Williamson, totaling 29 points, five rebounds, 10 assists and three steals. CJ McCollum compiled 23 points, six rebounds and five assists. Trey Murphy amassed 16 points, six rebounds and two assists, while Herbert Jones had 16 points, two rebounds and four assists. No other player had more than eight points or three assists.
On deck for New Orleans is a home matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday. As for Oklahoma City, they return to action on Friday in a home matchup with the Phoenix Suns.
Mavs Dominate Kings
By Dan Bruno
The Dallas Mavericks defeated the host Sacramento Kings, 132-96, at Golden 1 Center on Tuesday evening.
The game got out to a competitive start as the Mavs led, 31-28, after one quarter. The score stayed close through the second, while the visitors maintained the upper hand most of the way and carried a five-point lead into the break. The Kings had no answers in the third, as the visitors added another 15 points to their advantage, to take a 20-point lead into the final frame. The Mavs kept rolling in the fourth and outscored the hosts by 16 points in the quarter to charge to their fifth straight win.
Luka Doncic led the Mavs with 28 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and two steals, in 32 minutes. Kyrie Irving followed up with 24 points, three rebounds, eight assists and two steals, while Tim Hardaway added 22 points, three rebounds, five assists, a steal and a block.
Meanwhile, De'Aaron Fox led the Kings with 18 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals, in 32 minutes. Keegan followed up with 17 points, three rebounds and a steal, while Domantas Sabonis totaled 12 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists and two blocks.
The Mavs (43-29) and Kings (42-30) clash again in Dallas on Friday.
The game got out to a competitive start as the Mavs led, 31-28, after one quarter. The score stayed close through the second, while the visitors maintained the upper hand most of the way and carried a five-point lead into the break. The Kings had no answers in the third, as the visitors added another 15 points to their advantage, to take a 20-point lead into the final frame. The Mavs kept rolling in the fourth and outscored the hosts by 16 points in the quarter to charge to their fifth straight win.
Luka Doncic led the Mavs with 28 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and two steals, in 32 minutes. Kyrie Irving followed up with 24 points, three rebounds, eight assists and two steals, while Tim Hardaway added 22 points, three rebounds, five assists, a steal and a block.
Meanwhile, De'Aaron Fox led the Kings with 18 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals, in 32 minutes. Keegan followed up with 17 points, three rebounds and a steal, while Domantas Sabonis totaled 12 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists and two blocks.
The Mavs (43-29) and Kings (42-30) clash again in Dallas on Friday.