Phoenix Suns player Kevin Durant scored 39 points and prevented Utah’s Lauri Markkanen from scoring at the last second on Sunday, leading the Suns to a 140-137 victory over the Jazz in an intense NBA double-overtime game.
Kevin Durant also contributed eight rebounds and 10 assists, while Devin Booker put up 26 points for the Suns. Markkanen led Utah with 38 points and 17 rebounds. In the second overtime, Durant scored eight points, bringing the Suns to a 138-135 lead with 43.2 seconds remaining. Markkanen’s layup narrowed the gap to one, but Booker made two free throws, giving Phoenix a 140-137 lead with less than a second left. Markkanen had one last opportunity, initially believed to have been fouled by Durant on a missed three-point attempt. However, after review, the call was overturned, securing the win for the Suns.
Utah was behind for most of the game until Markkanen’s layup tied the score and forced the first overtime with 20.3 seconds remaining in regulation. Phoenix took a 123-118 lead in the initial overtime, but Utah fought back and Sexton’s putback layup forced a second overtime. Durant extended his streak of scoring 25 or more points in 12 consecutive games, the longest such streak in Suns history.
“I’m just trying to stay prepared on off days and before games, just trying to follow the game plan to execute as much as I can and play with a calm and free spirit,” Durant said.
Los Angeles Lakers 105 Houston Rockets 104
The Los Angeles Lakers, led by a season-high 37 points from superstar LeBron James, managed to hold off the Houston Rockets with a 105-104 victory. Austin Reaves, assisted by James, made a three-point shot to give the Lakers a 103-100 lead with 24.2 seconds remaining. However, Alperen Sengun’s layup tied the game at 104-104 with four seconds left.
James, fouled under the basket, made one of two free throws to secure the win. In addition to his scoring, James also contributed six rebounds and eight assists, while Anthony Davis recorded 27 points and 10 rebounds. Reaves also made a significant impact off the bench with 17 points, which was crucial as Lakers starters Cam Reddish, Taurean Prince, and D’Angelo Russell struggled to score.
Boston Celtics 102 Memphis Grizzlies 100
The Boston Celtics narrowly extended their winning streak to six games with a 102-100 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. The game featured 18 lead changes and came down to the wire, with Kristaps Porzingis making a crucial go-ahead dunk and blocking a last-second shot by Ziaire Williams. Porzingis led the Celtics with 26 points, eight rebounds, and six blocked shots.
Cleveland Cavaliers 121 Denver Nuggets 109
Cleveland Cavaliers surprised the NBA champions Denver Nuggets with a 121-109 victory. The frustrated Nuggets’ standout player, Nikola Jokic, faced foul trouble and had to watch the game’s conclusion from the bench. Darius Garland led Cleveland with 26 points, and rookie Craig Porter Jr. contributed a career-high 21 points, helping the Cavs secure their third consecutive win despite the absence of star guard Donovan Mitchell and key reserve Caris LeVert. Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic, who was carrying a heavy load due to his star teammate Jamal Murray’s absence because of a strained hamstring, finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists.
Philadelphia 76ers 121 Brooklyn Nets 99
The current NBA MVP, Joel Embiid, only played three quarters but managed to score 32 points, grab 12 rebounds, and provide nine assists, leading the Philadelphia 76ers to a 121-99 win over the Nets in Brooklyn. Tyrese Maxey also contributed with 25 points and 10 assists for the Sixers, who were in control with a 61-49 lead at halftime and maintained their advantage throughout the game. Embiid sat out the entire fourth quarter as the victory was secured. Despite missing out on a potential sixth career triple-double, he achieved a season-high of nine assists and was unfazed by the missed opportunity.
“I got told I was three assists away, but that’s not where my head was at,” Embiid said. “We just try to play the right way.”
Toronto Raptors 142 Detroit Pistons 113
In Toronto, the Raptors dominated the Detroit Pistons, leading by a maximum of 40 points and securing a 142-113 win. The Raptors achieved a franchise milestone with 44 assists, contributing to the Pistons’ 11th consecutive loss.
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