Ja Morant put up 31 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. contributed 19 points, with four of them coming in overtime, as Memphis Grizzlies won their fourth consecutive game since Morant’s comeback by beating New Orleans on the road.
Desmond Bane scored 27 points to help the Grizzlies secure their second victory over the Pelicans in the span of eight days. The first win occurred during Ja Morant’s season debut after a 25-game suspension. Brandon Ingram contributed 24 points, while Zion Williamson recorded 23 points and 11 rebounds for New Orleans. The game was tied at 109 before Jackson made back-to-back driving layups, giving Memphis a four-point lead with 51 seconds remaining in overtime. From that point on, Ja Morant and the Grizzlies maintained their lead and never relinquished it.
Brooklyn Nets 118, Detroit Pistons 112
Cameron Johnson scored 24 points to help the Brooklyn Nets secure a 118-112 victory over the Pistons on Tuesday night. This win came as the Pistons set a new NBA record for the longest losing streak in a single season, with 27 consecutive losses. This surpasses the previous records held by the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers and the 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers, both of which had 26 straight losses. The 76ers still hold the all-time record for the longest losing streak, spanning over two seasons, with 28 consecutive losses between the end of the 2014-15 season and the beginning of the 2015-16 campaign. The Pistons will have the opportunity to match this record when they face the Boston Celtics on Thursday. Mikal Bridges contributed 21 points and Cam Thomas added 17 for Brooklyn, while Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 41 points, 37 of which came in the second half, and Bojan Bogdanovic scored 23 points.
Bulls 118, Hawks 113
Andre Drummond scored 24 points and grabbed 25 rebounds to contribute to Chicago’s victory over Atlanta. This performance made him one of only six players to achieve a 20-20 game in the current NBA season. DeMar DeRozan also contributed 25 points to the Bulls’ win, marking their fourth victory in five games. Bogdan Bogdanovic led Atlanta’s scoring with 22 points, and Trae Young added 21 points and 13 assists. Young aimed to break Oscar Robertson’s record of seven consecutive 30-point, 10-assist games but was unable to do so.
Magic 127, Wizards 119
Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero led Orlando to a victory over Washington, with Wagner scoring 28 points and Banchero adding 24. Rookie Anthony Black also had a standout performance with a career-high 23 points. Orlando, who had previously lost four games in a row, secured their second consecutive win. Wagner also contributed significantly in assists with nine and rebounds with eight. On the other side, Jordan Poole scored 30 points for the Wizards, who suffered their second consecutive loss. Tyus Jones contributed 22 points, and Daniel Gafford recorded a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
Pacers 123, Rockets 117
Tyrese Haliburton scored 33 points and dished out 10 assists to lead the Indiana Pacers to a victory over the Houston Rockets in a closely contested game. The Pacers had lost six of their last seven games but managed to have eight players score in double figures, with Myles Turner contributing 18 points. Indiana shot an impressive 52.4% from the field. On the other hand, Alperen Sengun recorded 30 points and 16 rebounds for the Rockets, who suffered their fourth loss in six games. Fred VanVleet also added 18 points and nine assists for the Rockets.
Jazz 130, Spurs 118
Lauri Markkanen scored 31 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, including four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, to help Utah secure a victory over struggling San Antonio. The Jazz had a 12-point lead in the third quarter, but the Spurs closed the gap to 100-93. However, the Spurs couldn’t get any closer than six points, as Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson extended Utah’s lead to 112-99. Clarkson contributed 24 points for the Jazz, while Keldon Johnson scored 26 points for the Spurs, who have lost 23 of their last 24 games.
Thunder 129, Timberwolves 106
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City to a victory over Minnesota by scoring 34 points. He made 14 of 19 field goals and also contributed nine assists and six rebounds. Additionally, three other Thunder players scored at least 20 points – Jalen Williams with 21, and Luguentz Dort and Chet Holmgren with 20 each. This win marked the 14th victory in the last 19 games for the Thunder, while the Timberwolves suffered their third loss in 14 games. Anthony Edwards was the top scorer for Minnesota with 25 points.
Trail Blazers 130, Kings 113
Anfernee Simons led the way with 29 points, while rookie reserve Duop Reath had a career-best performance with 25 points and nine rebounds to help Portland secure a victory over Sacramento. The Blazers set a season high for points scored and won only their second game out of 11. They shot 50 percent from the field, including 40 percent from three-point range. De’Aaron Fox matched his season-high with 43 points and made a career-best seven 3-pointers for the Kings. Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis also had a strong showing with a season-best 34 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists, but the team lost their second consecutive game and their third in four contests.
Clippers 113, Hornets 104
Los Angeles secured a win over Charlotte, breaking a two-game losing streak without Kawhi Leonard. James Harden scored 29 points and Paul George added 25, while Ivica Zubac contributed 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Clippers. Leonard was sidelined with a left hip contusion. The Clippers shot 41.2% from three-point range, while the Hornets struggled, shooting only 20.7% from distance. Miles Bridges recorded 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Hornets, who lost their eighth consecutive game. P.J. Washington and Terry Rozier each scored 18 points as Charlotte remained winless since December 8th.
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