Kevin Durant scored 30 points to help the Suns secure a 104-97 win against the defending NBA champions Nuggets, keeping the competition tight at the upper echelons of the Western Conference.
Kevin Durant emphasized the importance of focusing on details during a crucial playoff push rather than trying to make a statement. The Suns dominated the game against the Nuggets, making 16 three-pointers and maintaining the lead after the first quarter. Grayson Allen scored 13 points, while Bradley Beal and Eric Gordon each contributed 10 points for the Suns.
Despite Nikola Jokic’s impressive performance with 22 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists, the Nuggets struggled in the absence of Jamal Murray, who was sidelined with an ankle injury. This loss was only the third for Denver in their last 18 games since the All-Star break, leaving them just half a game ahead of Oklahoma City and Minnesota in the Western Conference standings. Kevin Durant had 14 points and seven rebounds in the first half, helping the Suns build an 11-point lead. Although the Nuggets narrowed the gap to two points late in the second quarter, Phoenix finished strong to enter halftime with a 59-52 lead.
The Houston Rockets extended their winning streak to 10 games by defeating Oklahoma City 132-126 in overtime. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was absent due to a right quadriceps contusion, and Josh Giddey stepped up in his place, scoring 31 points. However, Jalen Green of the Rockets was the top scorer with 37 points, leading his team to outscore the Thunder 20-14 in overtime for the victory. Houston stayed one game behind the Golden State Warriors for the 10th spot and the final play-in position in the Western Conference.
The Warriors defeated the Magic 101-93 in Orlando with the help of 23 points from Andrew Wiggins and late baskets from Stephen Curry, despite Draymond Green being ejected just over three minutes into the game. Curry expressed frustration when Green was thrown out for arguing a foul call, receiving two technical fouls. This was Green’s fourth ejection of the season, as he had previously missed 16 games due to a suspension in December for hitting Suns center Jusuf Nurkic.
The Los Angeles Lakers‘ LeBron James made a triumphant return after missing one game, recording a triple-double with 23 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists in a 136-124 win against the Memphis Grizzlies. James had sat out the previous game due to a sore left ankle, while Anthony Davis was out with a hyperextended left knee. Despite their absence, Rui Hachimura stepped up by scoring 32 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, hitting seven out of eight three-point attempts to contribute significantly to the Lakers’ fifth consecutive victory.
The Clippers narrowly defeated the 76ers 108-107, but it was later acknowledged by officials that they missed a crucial call in the final moments that could have given the home team a chance to win with free throws. Clippers player Kawhi Leonard made two important three-point plays in the last minute and also had a key block on Kelly Oubre Jr. with 5.1 seconds left. Despite being down by one point, the Sixers had a final opportunity after a jump ball, but coach Nick Nurse was upset that no foul was called on Paul George during Oubre’s last shot attempt.
Nurse and Oubre both expressed their frustration with the non-call. Referee Kevin Scott later admitted that upon reviewing post-game footage, they noticed George had slightly drifted to the left and a foul should have been called. On a positive note for the Sixers, Nurse mentioned before the game that he was optimistic about NBA MVP Joel Embiid returning before the playoffs. Embiid has been out of action since January 30 due to a knee injury that required surgery.
