The Los Angeles Lakers suffered their third consecutive defeat, losing 110-96 to the Miami Heat. LeBron James had an unusual poor performance, scoring only 12 points and making six out of 18 shots, while Anthony Davis stepped up to lead the Lakers with 29 points.
Miami, on the other hand, consistently held the lead after getting ahead early in the first quarter. They had a well-rounded offensive performance, with eight Heat players scoring in double figures. The Lakers were disappointed by their inability to score from three-point range, only making four out of 30 attempts from beyond the arc.
New Orleans Pelicans 117, Minnesota Timberwolves 106
Zion Williamson and C.J. McCollum scored a total of 51 points to help the New Orleans Pelicans secure a 117-106 victory over the Western Conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA on Wednesday. Williamson led the scoring with 27 points, while McCollum added 24, contributing to the impressive road win for New Orleans. McCollum made four three-pointers, and Brandon Ingram (19 points) and Herbert Jones (16 points) also made valuable contributions. Jones scored 16 points, including four three-pointers from five attempts.
Anthony Edwards led the scoring for Minnesota with 35 points. The defeat for Minnesota came after their New Year’s Day loss to the New York Knicks, marking the first time this season that the Wolves (24-9) have suffered consecutive losses. The Pelicans’ fourth straight win has placed them in fifth place in the Western Conference as they aim to return to the playoffs this year after missing out in 2022-2023.
Indiana Pacers 142, Milwaukee Bucks 130
In Indianapolis, the Indiana Pacers secured a 142-130 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, marking their second consecutive win against the 2021 NBA champions. Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers’ point guard, led the team in scoring with 31 points.
The Pacers had seven players scoring in double digits, and they turned the game around in the third quarter with a 47-point performance after trailing by two points at halftime. Giannis Antetokounmpo was the top scorer for the Bucks with 26 points, followed by Damian Lillard with 23 and Khris Middleton with 19.
Los Angeles Clippers 131, Phoenix Suns 122
In Phoenix, the Los Angeles Clippers secured their fourth consecutive victory with a 131-122 win over the Suns, thanks to a total of 63 points from Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. George scored 33 points and Leonard contributed 30.
Atlanta Hawks 141, Oklahoma City Thunder 138
Meanwhile in Atlanta, Jalen Johnson scored 28 points and Trae Young contributed 24 as the Hawks defeated the in-form Oklahoma City Thunder 141-138. Oklahoma City had arrived in Georgia on the back of five consecutive victories, including a notable home win against the Boston Celtics and a victory over the NBA champion Denver Nuggets. Despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s impressive performance with 33 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists, the Thunder fell just short as Atlanta secured a wire-to-wire victory.
READ ALSO: The history of the NBA: Exploring the NBA’s Remarkable Journey
