Giannis Antetokounmpo scored the game-winning points by tipping in Bobby Portis’ missed shot with 18.1 seconds left, as the Milwaukee Bucks came from behind to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 108-102 on Sunday. This game marked Damian Lillard’s first matchup against his former team.
Nets 118, Bulls 109
Spencer Dinwiddie led the Brooklyn team with 24 points in a game against Chicago, where the Nets made a season-high 25 3-pointers and came back from a 21-point deficit to win. The Nets initially fell behind, trailing 30-9 with 4:37 left in the first quarter, but then outscored the Bulls 109-79 for the rest of the game and 99-73 over the final three quarters. Brooklyn fell just short of their team record for 3-pointers set in February 2021 and set a new record for 3-pointers in a home game.
Royce O’Neale and Lonnie Walker IV also contributed 20 points each, with the Nets making 20 of their 3-pointers after the first quarter. DeMar DeRozan was the top scorer with 27 points for the Bulls, who lost their fourth game in a row and seventh in eight games. Coby White added 23 points, and Patrick Williams and Zach LaVine each contributed 20 points as the Bulls made 13 of their first 21 shots and eight 3-pointers in the opening quarter, finishing at 48.2 percent overall.
Celtics 113, Hawks 103
Jayson Tatum’s impressive 34-point and nine-rebound performance led Boston to a 7-0 home record as they defeated Atlanta. Tatum didn’t score in the third quarter but made a comeback with 13 points in the fourth. Throughout the final 12 minutes, the Celtics maintained a lead of at least eight points.
Al Horford contributed 15 rebounds, while Derrick White provided 15 points and 11 assists. Jaylen Brown scored 21 points, and Neemias Queta secured 10 rebounds. Despite Trae Young’s 33-point effort, along with five rebounds and seven assists, Atlanta fell short. De’Andre Hunter added 24 points, and Bogdan Bogdanovic finished with 23, making 7 of his 10 3-point attempts.
Suns 116, Knicks 113
Devin Booker made a crucial 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds remaining to break the tie for Phoenix, who had let go of a 15-point lead before narrowly defeating New York. Booker contributed 20 points in the second half and achieved a double-double with 28 points and 11 assists for the Suns, who have secured seven consecutive victories, including the last two games without Kevin Durant.
Despite warming up, the 13-time All-Star missed his second consecutive game due to a sore right foot. Eric Gordon scored 25 points, and Jordan Goodwin (14) and Nassir Little (11) also reached double figures coming off the bench. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 35 points, eight assists, and six rebounds, but the team has lost two of their last three games. Julius Randle scored 28 points, and Immanuel Quickley added 18 points as a reserve.
Magic 130, Hornets 117
Franz Wagner and Cole Anthony each scored 30 points to help Orlando secure their seventh consecutive victory by defeating Charlotte. Paolo Banchero contributed 23 points, Jalen Suggs scored 12, and Goga Bitadze added 11 points and seven rebounds for Orlando. This winning streak marks the first time since the 2010-11 season that Orlando has achieved seven consecutive wins. Moritz Wagner also contributed 11 points and seven rebounds.
Franz Wagner and Anthony achieved their highest point totals of the season for Orlando, which had a 54 percent shooting accuracy from the field and a 37 percent success rate from 3-point range (10 of 27). Miles Bridges led Charlotte with 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Terry Rozier scored 22 points and provided nine assists. Brandon Miller contributed 20 points, P.J. Washington scored 13, and Mark Williams added 12. Hornets’ point guard LaMelo Ball scored seven points before leaving the game in the second quarter due to a right ankle strain after colliding with Banchero near the basket. Ball had to be assisted to the locker room following the incident.
Timberwolves 119, Grizzlies 97
Anthony Edwards scored 24 points for Minnesota, and they limited Memphis to a 38.6 percent shooting from the field, resulting in the Grizzlies’ fourth consecutive loss. Every Minnesota player who played scored, with five reaching double-digit points. Mike Conley made 6-of-9 shots from 3-point range, contributing to the Wolves’ 15-of-34 shooting (44.1 percent) from beyond the arc, and finished with 18 points. Conley also led the game with 10 assists. Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis with 18 points and three blocks, Desmond Bane scored 13, and Santi Aldama had 14 points along with a team-high seven rebounds.
Nuggets 132, Spurs 120
Nikola Jokic scored a season-high 39 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and dished out nine assists as Denver defeated San Antonio. Michael Porter Jr. also contributed with 25 points. Denver was missing Aaron Gordon due to a right heel strain, and Jamal Murray has been sidelined since early November, leaving the team without two starters. San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama had an impressive performance with 22 points, 11 rebounds, six steals, and four blocks, but the Spurs still suffered their 12th consecutive loss.
Cavaliers 105, Raptors 102
Darius Garland led Cleveland to a victory over Toronto with 24 points. Max Strus contributed 20 points in the third quarter for the Cavaliers, who had lost their previous two games. Donovan Mitchell scored 10 points for Cleveland, while Evan Mobley recorded 12 points and 14 rebounds, and Jarrett Allen added 18 points. Pascal Siakam and Jakob Poeltl each scored 18 points for Toronto, with Poeltl also grabbing 13 rebounds. Scottie Barnes had 15 points for the Raptors, who had won their two previous games. Dennis Schroder scored 15 points, Gary Trent Jr. had 13 points, and OG Anunoby added 11 for Toronto.
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