Amen Thompson’s clutch drive with 1.3 seconds remaining secured the Houston Rockets a hard-fought 114-112 win over the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics on Monday.
After two victories over Eastern Conference leaders Cleveland final week, the Rockets held on to topple one other Eastern energy, surrendering an early 11-point benefit however clawing again after the Celtics took a 12-point lead early within the fourth quarter.
Dillon Brooks scored 36 factors and Thompson added a career-high 33 factors with 10 rebounds, 4 assists, one steal and a key late block for the Rockets.
A 3-pointer from Brooks ignited a 13-0 Rockets run capped by two baskets from Thompson that put Houston up 102-101.
Jaylen Brown scored 28 factors to guide the Celtics. Jayson Tatum scored all 19 of his within the second half however his late surge could not get Boston over the hump.
After 4 extra lead adjustments, the Celtics had tied it 112-112 on Tatum’s layup with 5.3 seconds left. But Thompson, the fourth total choose within the 2023 draft, bought unfastened on an inbounds play and drove for the game-winner.
“That felt great,” Thompson stated. “That’s my first game-winner. I feel like Kobe (Bryant)!”
Elsewhere, the Cavaliers snapped their first three-game dropping streak of the season with a 110-91 house victory over Detroit whereas the Los Angeles Lakers – fueled by a monster recreation from Anthony Davis – notched a fourth straight victory 112-107 over the Charlotte Hornets.
Davis scored 42 factors and pulled down 23 rebounds and the Lakers led by as many as 23 factors on the way in which to victory.
Davis set the tone early, scoring 21 factors with 11 rebounds within the first quarter alone, when he related on 9 of his 12 makes an attempt from the sector.
“Teammates did their job setting me up,” Davis stated. “It’s the entire team, not just me I think. It’s the way we’ve been playing, moving the basketball, playing for each other, not caring who scores as long as we score – things have just been able to open up for me.”
LeBron James added 22 factors, seven rebounds and eight assists and Austin Reaves chipped in 17 factors for the Lakers.
Miles Bridges scored 26 factors to tempo the Hornets, however Charlotte noticed star guard LaMelo Ball exit within the first half with an ankle harm.
Knicks high Grizzlies
In Miami, the Heat shook off the most recent drama surrounding star Jimmy Butler to beat the Orlando Magic 125-119 in double extra time.
Tyler Herro scored 30 factors and handed out 12 assists, Bam Adebayo added 26 factors and 6 Heat gamers scored in double figures.
Hours earlier Butler – reportedly miffed to be instructed he could be coming off the bench – walked out of the morning shoot-around and was suspended by the workforce for the third time this month.
The New York Knicks introduced the Memphis Grizzlies’ six-game profitable streak to an emphatic finish with a 143-106 triumph at Madison Square Garden.
Mikal Bridges scored 28 factors to guide seven Knicks gamers in double figures and New York held Memphis star Ja Morant to 10 factors on the way in which to their fourth straight win.
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 24 factors and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Knicks, who put up 143 factors for the second straight recreation.
The Chicago Bulls withstood a 33-point triple-double from Denver’s NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic to beat the Nuggets 129-121.
Zach LaVine scored 21 factors and Nikola Vucevic added 20 factors, 10 rebounds and 6 assists for the Bulls, who related on 24 of 53 3-point makes an attempt.
Denver led by one going into the fourth quarter, however Chicago opened the interval on a 13-0 scoring run to grab management for good.
Source: www.dailysabah.com