Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 26-point efficiency led Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City to a slender 103-101 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, whereas Denver snapped Houston’s nine-game successful run.
Gilgeous-Alexander endured a tricky capturing evening however linked on all 11 of his free throws, together with two within the ultimate second that sealed the victory.
After letting an early 12-point lead get away, the Clippers rallied from a nine-point third-quarter deficit, taking a 3-point lead on back-to-back baskets by Kawhi Leonard with 4:47 remaining.
But Alex Caruso drilled a 3-pointer with 1:54 left to place Oklahoma City up 100-99 and the Thunder, already assured of the highest seed within the West, escaped with the win.
Leonard completed with 25 factors and 10 rebounds for the Clippers and James Harden added 17 factors within the defeat that set again the Clippers’ bid to tug themselves out of the play-in event.
In different Western Conference motion, the Nuggets moved inside one recreation of the Rockets for third place with a 116-111 victory in Houston.
The Nuggets, with NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic sidelined for a fourth straight recreation with an ankle damage, out-scored the Rockets 39-22 within the third quarter and led by 19 with eight seconds left within the interval.
The Rockets roared again, slicing the deficit to 3 factors on Alperen Şengün’s reverse layup with 21.9 seconds left.
But Houston could not recover from the hump, the Nuggets sealing it on the free-throw line.
Jamal Murray scored 39 factors to steer six Nuggets gamers in double figures. Michael Porter Jr. added 17 and DeAndre Jordan had 11 factors and 15 rebounds.
Jalen Green scored 30 factors for the Rockets and Sengun had a triple-double of 17 factors, 14 rebounds and 10 assists.
“It can’t always be pretty,” Murray stated. “We really locked in when we needed to.”
Cavs, Heat snap skids
Jarrett Allen scored 18 factors and Donovan Mitchell added 16 to steer six Cavaliers in double figures whereas Evan Mobley added 11 factors and 11 rebounds for Cleveland.
“It’s a long season. We’re going to go through some ups and downs, we’re not going to play our best,” Mitchell stated.
“If this streak had happened in November I don’t think everybody would be tripping as much,” Mitchell added. “This is all part of the season. It’s all part of getting better.”
The Cavs improved to 57-14 – the second-best file within the league behind Oklahoma City – and maintained a five-game lead atop the East over defending champions Boston, who beat the Trail Blazers 129-116 in Portland.
Jayson Tatum scored 30 factors with 9 rebounds and 9 assists because the Celtics cruised to their fifth straight win regardless of the absence of Jaylen Brown, who missed a second straight recreation with a proper knee damage.
Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday additionally sat out, however six Celtics gamers scored in double figures.
Boston made 23 3-pointers and by no means trailed within the second half, pulling away after the Blazers reduce an 18-point deficit to eight late within the third quarter.
The Miami Heat snapped their 10-game dropping streak, beating the Charlotte Hornets 122-105 behind 42 factors from Andrew Wiggins – who arrived final month within the commerce that despatched Jimmy Butler to Golden State.
“We played connected, we played together,” Wiggins stated after the Heat gained for the primary time in virtually three weeks.
Miami remained in tenth place within the East within the combine for the play-in event.
In Detroit, U.S. teen rookie ahead Ronald Holland scored 26 factors off the bench to steer the Pistons over New Orleans 136-130.
Jalen Duren added 22 factors and 12 rebounds for the Pistons, who withstood a 40-point efficiency from New Orleans’ CJ McCollum.
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