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Giannis Antetokounmpo was the difference maker for the Milwaukee Bucks en route to their victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday. The Greek Freak posted an all around stat line including 18 points, nine rebounds, four assists, three blocks and one steal on 7 - of - 11 shooting across 31 minutes. While both the Bucks and the Magic were equal in terms of assists (24), one key to the game came from the rebounding battle. Milwaukee out - rebounded Orlando 53 - 46, which is in part due to the depth of the Bucks bench compared to that of the Magic, who only went three players deep. Greg Monroe and Michael Beasley combined for 13 boards off the bench, which was enough to counteract the freak performance from Nikola Vucevic, who totaled 16 rebounds across 30 minutes in the loss for the Magic.

["TeamStat(G,'Magic') has 24 Number of team assists ,has 24 Points in 4th quarter ,has 46 Rebounds ." "TeamStat(G,'Bucks') has 24 Number of team assists ,has 53 Points in 4th quarter ." "PlayerStat(G,'Nikola Vucevic') has 30 Minutes played ,has 16 Total rebounds ."]

The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Chicago Bulls, 95 - 69, at United Center on Friday. Fresh off a double - digit home victory over the Bulls (13 - 13) on Thursday night, the Bucks (13 - 12) bounced back with an even more dominating effort Friday. Chicago's offense had no answer for a stifling Milwaukee defense that held them to a season - low scoring total, while also limiting them to a 30 percent success rate from the field. Giannis Antetokounmpo once again proved to be a thorn in the side of the visitors, leading the way with a 22 - point, 11 - assist double - double that also included seven boards, three steals and a block. Jabari Parker could n't come close to his 26 - point effort from Thursday, but he managed 12 points, seven rebounds, an assist and a steal. John Henson and Tony Snell posted a pair of 10 - point efforts, supplemented by four rebounds, a steal and a pair of blocks by Henson, to go along with five rebounds and a pair of dimes from Snell. Greg Monroe came off the bench to tally a 14 - point, 12 - rebound double - double over 23 minutes, while Mirza Teletovic compiled 13 points for the second straight night in a reserve role, and also hauled in eight boards. A nightmarish outing for the Bulls saw Dwyane Wade pace them in scoring with a modest 12 points, which he complemented with five boards, an assist and a steal. Taj Gibson and Robin Lopez posted a pair of eight - point efforts on a combined 7 - of - 20 shooting, although they at least managed 11 boards between them. Jimmy Butler and Rajon Rondo had matching seven - point contributions as well, with the former also supplying seven boards, six assists and a steal, and the latter dishing out four dimes and recording four rebounds. Bobby Portis actually served as the second - leading scorer on the team despite coming off the bench, posting 10 points and eight rebounds in 19 minutes. The Bucks are now off until Tuesday night, when the Cleveland Cavaliers will come calling to the Bradley Center. The Bulls are home again Monday night, when the Detroit Pistons come to town.

["TeamStat(G,'Bulls') has 30 Percentage of field goals ,has 13 Losses ,has 69 Total points ,has 13 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Bucks') has 12 Percentage of field goals ,has 95 Losses ,has 13 Total points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Giannis Antetokounmpo') has 11 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 22 Minutes played ,has 7 Points ,has 3 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jabari Parker') has 1 Assists ,has 12 Blocks ,has 7 Minutes played ,has 1 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'John Henson') has 2 Assists ,has 10 Blocks ,has 4 Minutes played ,has 1 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Tony Snell') has 10 Assists ,has 5 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Mirza Teletovic') has 13 Assists ,has 8 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Greg Monroe') has 23 Assists ,has 14 Blocks ,has 12 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jimmy Butler') has 6 Assists ,has 7 Blocks ,has 7 Minutes played ,has 1 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Taj Gibson') has 8 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Robin Lopez') has 8 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Dwyane Wade') has 1 Assists ,has 12 Blocks ,has 5 Minutes played ,has 1 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Rajon Rondo') has 4 Assists ,has 7 Blocks ,has 4 Minutes played ,has 1 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Bobby Portis') has 19 Assists ,has 10 Blocks ,has 8 Minutes played ."]

The Cleveland Cavaliers (9 - 3) beat the Milwaukee Bucks (5 - 7) 115 - 100 on Thursday. After a grueling 108 - 105 double overtime loss to the Bucks last Saturday in Milwaukee, Cleveland unleashed an offensive barrage Thursday while also dominating on the glass. The Cavs put up a robust 24 shots from beyond the arc, draining 11 of them. They also shot a superb 56 percent from the field overall while nearly doubling up the Bucks on rebounds, 43 to 22. After building a dominating 63 - 48 halftime lead, the Cavs withstood a particularly strong third period from the Bucks and pulled away late to seal the victory. Milwaukee's Giannis Antetotkoumpo is apparently one of the few players in the NBA who does n't necessarily mind a dose of LeBron James defense. The Greek Freak had posted a 16 - point, 12 - rebound double - double in last Saturday's double - overtime showdown, and poured in a season - high 33 points on eye - popping 80 percent shooting from the field (12 - for - 15) Thursday. The Bucks also received double - digit performances from all but one of the rest of their starting five, as point guard Michael Carter-Williams finished with a nine - point tally on the night. Jabari Parker had a solid return from a foot injury with 14 points, three rebounds, and an assist, while Greg Monroe (17 points) and Khris Middleton (15 points) made significant contributions of their own. The Bucks fell to 5 - 7 and now reside in last place in the Eastern Conference's Central Division. They head to Indiana for a matchup versus the Pacers on Saturday. LeBron James and Kevin Love, as they have on several occasions already this season, led the way for the Cavs. James stuffed the stat sheet with 27 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, while Love enjoyed his matchup versus the Bucks' worst - ranked defense in points surrendered to power forwards, posting a huge double - double. Love amassed 24 points, hauled in 15 boards, and collected an assist, a steal, and a block. J.R. Smith managed a season - high 18 points, while Matthew Delladedova filled in admirably for late scratch Mo Williams (leg) by pitching in 13 assists to go along with seven points. Tristan Thompson paced the Cleveland bench with an efficient double - double of his own in 26 minutes, pouring in 12 points and collecting 11 rebounds. The Cavs improved to 9 - 3 and remain atop the Eastern Conference's Central Division. They remain home for a showdown on Saturday night versus the Hawks.

["TeamStat(G,'Cavaliers') has 56 Number of team assists ,has 3 Percentage of field goals ,has 115 Losses ,has 43 Total points ,has 9 Rebounds ." "TeamStat(G,'Bucks') has 22 Number of team assists ,has 7 Percentage of field goals ,has 100 Losses ,has 22 Total points ,has 11 Rebounds ,has 5 Turnovers ." "PlayerStat(G,'Giannis Antetokounmpo') has 1 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jabari Parker') has 1 Assists ,has 14 Blocks ,has 3 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Greg Monroe') has 1 Assists ,has 17 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Khris Middleton') has 15 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Michael Carter-Williams') has 5 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 1 3-pointers attempted ,has 5 3-pointers made ,has 9 Free throws made ,has 1 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'LeBron James') has 6 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 1 3-pointers attempted ,has 27 3-pointers made ,has 9 Free throws made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kevin Love') has 1 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 15 3-pointers attempted ,has 1 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'JR Smith') has 18 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Matthew Dellavedova') has 13 Assists ,has 7 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Tristan Thompson') has 26 Assists ,has 12 Blocks ,has 11 3-pointers attempted ."]

The Houston Rockets defeated the visiting New Orleans Pelicans, 117 - 107, at Toyota Center on Friday evening. The Pelicans (30 - 42) started out strong, leading 33 - 28 after one quarter, and managed to stay on top, with a one - point lead at halftime. The game remained close through the third quarter, while the Rockets (50 - 22) managed to grab a one - point lead heading into the final frame. The Rockets came out with intensity in the fourth, and closed out strong, as they out - scored the Pelicans 37 - 38 in the quarter to seal their 50th win of the season. This marks Houston's third straight win, while the Pelicans' three game winning streak was put to rest. James Harden led the way for the Rockets with 38 points, 17 assists and seven rebounds, while managing to restrict himself to only three turnovers, in 38 minutes. Patrick Beverley went 4 - of - 7 from long range, on his way to 17 points, to go along with six rebounds and two assists, in 31 minutes. Eric Gordon chipped in 14 points on 5 - of - 10 shooting, in 33 minutes off the bench, while Clint Capela double - doubled with 10 points and 14 rebounds. The Rockets now look ahead to Sunday, when they play host to the Thunder. Meanwhile, Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins combined for 62 points, as they came up just short of what would have been a very impressive win, had they been able to hold on. Davis finished with 33 points and 16 rebounds, while Cousins followed up with 29 points, six rebounds four assists and four blocked shots. Jrue Holiday chipped in 18 points and dished nine assists, while the only other player to score in double digits for New Orleans was Jordan Crawford, who finished with 12. The Pelicans playoff hopes are dwindling, but they will look to continue the push, as they visit Denver to take on the Nuggets on Sunday.

["TeamStat(G,'Rockets') has 22 Losses ,has 117 Total points ,has 28 Points in 1st quarter ,has 50 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Pelicans') has 42 Losses ,has 107 Total points ,has 33 Points in 1st quarter ,has 30 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Anthony Davis') has 33 Assists ,has 16 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'DeMarcus Cousins') has 4 Assists ,has 4 Blocks ,has 29 3-pointers attempted ,has 6 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jrue Holiday') has 9 Assists ,has 12 Blocks ,has 18 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jordan Crawford') has 12 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Clint Capela') has 10 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Patrick Beverley') has 2 Assists ,has 7 Blocks ,has 4 3-pointers attempted ,has 31 3-pointers made ,has 17 Field goals attempted ,has 6 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'James Harden') has 17 Assists ,has 38 Blocks ,has 38 3-pointers attempted ,has 7 3-pointers made ,has 3 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Eric Gordon') has 10 Assists ,has 5 Blocks ,has 33 3-pointers attempted ,has 14 3-pointers made ."]

The Dallas Mavericks (28 - 22) used a strong defensive effort to defeat the Phoenix Suns (14 - 35) Sunday night at American Airlines Center, 91 - 78. Dallas held the Suns to just 37 percent shooting, including a rough 5 - 23 (22 percent) from three. The Mavericks really clamped down in the fourth quarter, as Phoenix mustered just nine points in the final period, as Markief Morris was the only Suns player to score in the quarter. The defensive effort allowed the Mavericks to record the win despite star Dirk Nowitzki resting as Dallas is keeping him out of back - to - back games. Mavericks point guard Deron Williams turned in a vintage performance, as he dropped a game - high 27 points on 10 - 19 shooting and dished four assists. Chandler Parsons scored 15 points on 5 - 14 shooting and Zaza Pachulia grabbed a game - high 15 rebounds (four offensive). It was a slog for Dallas, as they shot just 40 percent and made just 8 of 29 three - pointers (28 percent). Devin Booker led the suns with 19 points and filled up the box score with seven rebounds, four assists and a blocked shot. Tyson Chandler was efficient with 12 points on 6 - 8 shooting and 13 rebounds (five offensive), and Markieff Morris scored 13 points and added four assists, four rebounds and four steals off the bench. The Suns committed 19 turnovers and recorded just 13 assists as their offense struggled to get in gear. The Mavericks head on the road for a Monday matchup with Atlanta. Phoenix will return home to face Toronto on Tuesday.

["TeamStat(G,'Mavericks') has 28 Number of team assists ,has 40 Percentage of 3 points ,has 22 Percentage of field goals ,has 91 Losses ,has 28 Total points ." "TeamStat(G,'Suns') has 13 Number of team assists ,has 22 Percentage of 3 points ,has 37 Percentage of field goals ,has 35 Losses ,has 78 Total points ,has 9 Points in 4th quarter ,has 19 Turnovers ,has 14 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Tyson Chandler') has 5 Assists ,has 12 Blocks ,has 13 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Devin Booker') has 4 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 19 Field goals made ,has 7 Free throws attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Markieff Morris') has 4 Assists ,has 5 Blocks ,has 13 Field goals made ,has 4 Free throws attempted ,has 4 Offensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Chandler Parsons') has 4 Assists ,has 15 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Zaza Pachulia') has 4 Assists ,has 4 Blocks ,has 15 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Deron Williams') has 4 Assists ,has 27 Blocks ."]

Jamal Crawford was the high - point man for the Clippers, with 22 points on 6 - of - 11 shooting, including 5 - of - 8 from long range, in 27 minutes off the bench. Blake Griffin followed up with 20 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and one block, in 35 minutes, while Austin Rivers chipped in 18 points on 7 - of - 12 shooting, including 4 - of - 6 from downtown. The only other player to score in double digits for Los Angeles was J.J. Redick, who added 10 points on 3 - of - 11 shooting. Meanwhile, Kemba Walker struggled form the field, as he went 4 - of - 18, including 1 - of - 9 from long range, finishing with only 10 points. Nicolas Batum was the high - point man for the Hornets, as he poured in 25, to go along with eight assists, six rebounds and one block, in 37 minutes. Frank Kaminsky added 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two blocks and one steal, in 36 minutes.

["PlayerStat(G,'Blake Griffin') has 8 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 35 3-pointers attempted ,has 20 3-pointers made ,has 12 3-pointer percentage ." "PlayerStat(G,'JJ Redick') has 1 Assists ,has 25 Blocks ,has 11 3-pointers attempted ,has 3 3-pointers made ,has 10 3-pointer percentage ." "PlayerStat(G,'Austin Rivers') has 6 Assists ,has 4 Blocks ,has 12 3-pointers attempted ,has 7 3-pointers made ,has 18 3-pointer percentage ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jamal Crawford') has 8 Assists ,has 5 Blocks ,has 11 3-pointers attempted ,has 6 3-pointers made ,has 27 3-pointer percentage ,has 22 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Frank Kaminsky') has 5 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ,has 36 3-pointers attempted ,has 20 3-pointers made ,has 8 3-pointer percentage ,has 1 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Nicolas Batum') has 8 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 37 3-pointers attempted ,has 25 3-pointers made ,has 6 3-pointer percentage ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kemba Walker') has 1 Assists ,has 9 Blocks ,has 1 3-pointers attempted ,has 10 3-pointers made ."]

The Los Angeles Clippers (33 - 15) defeated the San Antonio Spurs (30 - 18) 105 - 85 Saturday at the AT & T Center. Los Angeles finished its back - to - back set with a strong road victory against a rested San Antonio club. Blake Griffin had a huge game with 31 points and 13 rebounds while DeAndre Jordan had eight points and 19 rebounds. San Antonio had its three - game win streak snapped Saturday and currently holds the seventh seed in the Western Conference. The Clippers bounced back nicely after losing to a Pelicans team Friday that was without super star Anthony Davis. Austin Rivers saw 18 minutes of playing time and contributed 11 points and two rebounds. The Clippers are now 3 games behind the Grizzlies for the second seed in the West. Los Angeles will return to action Monday in Brooklyn. San Antonio came into this game on two days rest, but was unable to withstand a barrage from Los Angeles. Tiago Splitter moved into the starting lineup for Matt Bonner, but only had eight points and one rebound over 17 minutes. Kawhi Leonard hit four three - pointers on his was to a team - high 24 points. The Spurs are idle until Wednesday when they host the Magic.

["TeamStat(G,'Spurs') has 18 Losses ,has 85 Total points ,has 30 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Clippers') has 15 Losses ,has 105 Total points ,has 33 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Blake Griffin') has 31 3-pointers made ,has 13 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'DeAndre Jordan') has 8 3-pointers made ,has 19 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Austin Rivers') has 18 3-pointers made ,has 11 Minutes played ,has 2 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kawhi Leonard') has 4 3-pointers made ,has 24 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Tiago Splitter') has 17 3-pointers made ,has 8 Minutes played ,has 1 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Matt Bonner') has 1 3-pointers made ."]

The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder, 123 - 112, at Spectrum Center on Wednesday. The Hornets (20 - 16) came in to Wednesday looking to cut a short two - game losing streak off at the pass, but faced the high hurdle known as Russell Westbrook in their attempt to do so. However, the dynamic duo of Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum stepped up as they have so many times already this season, combining for 48 points to help offset a 33 - point, 15 - rebound, eight - assist effort from Westbrook that also included two steals and a block. The Hornets were also able to outperform the Thunder (21 - 14) shooting - wise, with their respective 46 and 38 percent tallies from the field and three - point range outpacing the corresponding 44 and 30 percent figures from the visitors on those categories. Charlotte was at its best in the fourth quarter, which they entered with a slight 88 - 87 deficit, outscoring OKC by a 36 - 24 margin over the final 12 minutes. Victor Oladipo and Steven Adams were next behind Westbrook with matching 18 - point efforts, with the former supplementing his scoring with five assists, three rebounds and a steal, and the latter also providing 12 boards, three assists, a steal and a block. Andre Roberson and Domantas Sabonis only contributed two points apiece, but Enes Kanter made up for some of the scoring void from the bench, registering 22 points and eight rebounds in just 20 minutes. Batum led the Hornets with 28 points, four assists, three rebounds and a block. Walker had a near double - double with 20 points, nine assists, four rebounds and two steals. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist posted a 14 - point, 11 - rebound double - double that also included a block. Marvin Williams provided a solid stat line of eight points, eight rebounds, an assist and three blocks. Frank Kaminsky III totaled 17 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block while leading the bench, while Ramon Sessions and Jeremy Lamb stepped up with a pair of nine efforts in reserve roles as well. With Cody Zeller out with a concussion and Roy Hibbert largely ineffective as a starter, even Spencer Hawes got into the act Wednesday, compiling eight points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks in 24 minutes off the bench. The Thunder next visit the Houston Rockets on Thursday night, while the Hornets head to Motown to face off with the Detroit Pistons on Thursday evening as well.

["TeamStat(G,'Hornets') has 38 Percentage of 3 points ,has 46 Percentage of field goals ,has 16 Losses ,has 123 Total points ,has 33 Points in 2nd quarter ,has 36 Points in 3rd quarter ,has 20 Points in 4th quarter ." "TeamStat(G,'Thunder') has 30 Percentage of 3 points ,has 44 Percentage of field goals ,has 112 Losses ,has 33 Total points ,has 33 Points in 2nd quarter ,has 24 Points in 3rd quarter ." "PlayerStat(G,'Andre Roberson') has 2 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Domantas Sabonis') has 2 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Steven Adams') has 3 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 18 3-pointers made ,has 12 Minutes played ,has 1 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Victor Oladipo') has 5 Assists ,has 18 Blocks ,has 3 3-pointers made ,has 1 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Russell Westbrook') has 8 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 2 3-pointers made ,has 33 Minutes played ,has 15 Points ,has 2 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Enes Kanter') has 20 Assists ,has 22 Blocks ,has 8 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Michael Kidd-Gilchrist') has 1 Assists ,has 14 Blocks ,has 11 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Marvin Williams') has 1 Assists ,has 3 Blocks ,has 8 3-pointers made ,has 8 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Roy Hibbert') has 2 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Nicolas Batum') has 4 Assists ,has 28 Blocks ,has 3 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kemba Walker') has 9 Assists ,has 20 Blocks ,has 4 3-pointers made ,has 2 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jeremy Lamb') has 1 Assists ,has 9 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Frank Kaminsky') has 2 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 17 3-pointers made ,has 6 Minutes played ,has 2 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Spencer Hawes') has 2 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ,has 24 3-pointers made ,has 8 Minutes played ,has 4 Points ,has 2 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Ramon Sessions') has 9 Assists ."]

The Milwaukee Bucks (23 - 33) snapped a six - game road losing streak as they defeated the host Atlanta Hawks (31 - 26) 117 - 109 on Saturday at Phillips Arena. Both the Hawks and the Bucks came into this game after suffering losses on Friday night but neither team showed any signs of fatigue as they went back and forth viciously for four quarters and two overtime periods. Michael Carter-Williams took over in the second overtime period and put the game out of reach by scoring three straight, unanswered buckets to begin the period. Carter-Williams tallied 17 points (6 - 14 FG, 0 - 3 3Pt, 5 - 8 FT), nine rebounds, three assists and two assists, in 38 minutes off the bench. Nine of Carter-Williams' points came in overtime, as he came through clutch. Jabari Parker had a career night as he tallied a double - double with a career - high 28 points (11 - 21 FG, 6 - 7 FT) and a season - high 13 rebounds, in 51 minutes. Parker's career night comes just after he tied his previous career - high in points, with 23 on Friday night versus Charlotte, which along with this night's performance marks the first time Parker has tallied 20 points and 10 rebounds in back to back games. Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 19 points, 12 boards, three assists and two blocks, while Greg Monroe tallied a double - double as well, with 24 points and 12 rebounds, in 36 minutes off the bench. This marks the fourth game in a row that Monroe has come off the bench. Paul Millsap led the Hawks in scoring with 27 points (10 - 24 FG, 2 - 7 3Pt, 5 - 8 FT), along with 11 rebounds, six assists, two blocks and one steal, in 46 minutes. Dennis Schroder was huge as he finished a nice lay - up at the end of regulation to send the game to overtime and added nine points in the extra time. He tallied 25 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds, one steal and one block, in 40 minutes off the bench. Al Horford finished with 17 points (8 - 14 FG, 1 - 4 3Pt), nine rebounds, three blocked shots and two assists. The Hawks have now lost four of their last five and their last two in a row. Atlanta will look to avoid a third straight loss when the Hawks host the Golden State Warriors on Monday. The Bucks host the Lakers on Monday.

["TeamStat(G,'Hawks') has 26 Losses ,has 109 Total points ,has 31 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Bucks') has 33 Losses ,has 117 Total points ,has 23 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Giannis Antetokounmpo') has 3 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ,has 19 3-pointers attempted ,has 12 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jabari Parker') has 21 Assists ,has 11 Blocks ,has 7 3-pointers attempted ,has 6 3-pointers made ,has 51 Field goals attempted ,has 28 Field goals made ,has 13 Free throws attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Michael Carter-Williams') has 2 Assists ,has 3 Blocks ,has 3 3-pointers attempted ,has 0 3-pointers made ,has 14 Field goals attempted ,has 6 Field goals made ,has 8 Free throws attempted ,has 5 Free throws made ,has 38 Minutes played ,has 17 Points ,has 9 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Greg Monroe') has 36 Assists ,has 24 Blocks ,has 12 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Paul Millsap') has 6 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ,has 7 3-pointers attempted ,has 2 3-pointers made ,has 24 Field goals attempted ,has 10 Field goals made ,has 8 Free throws attempted ,has 5 Free throws made ,has 46 Minutes played ,has 27 Points ,has 11 Total rebounds ,has 1 Steals ." "PlayerStat(G,'Al Horford') has 2 Assists ,has 3 Blocks ,has 4 3-pointers attempted ,has 1 3-pointers made ,has 14 Field goals attempted ,has 8 Field goals made ,has 17 Free throws attempted ,has 9 Free throws made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Dennis Schroder') has 10 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 40 3-pointers attempted ,has 25 3-pointers made ,has 8 Field goals attempted ,has 1 Field goals made ."]

The San Antonio Spurs (45 - 8) defeated the Orlando Magic (23 - 29) 98 - 96 on Wednesday. It appeared to be business as usual for the Spurs through the game's first 12 minutes, as they held a 29 - 23 lead over the underdog Magic after one period. Things turned quickly in the middle portion of the game however, as Orlando surprisingly outscored San Antonio 56 - 38 over the second and third quarter. The visitors finally snapped back to life on both sides of the ball early in the fourth period, after falling behind by a margin of 81 - 67 with only 10:22 left in the game. The Spurs crawled their way back through the efforts of Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Patty Mills and LaMarcus Aldridge, with the foursome scoring the team's final 31 points. With San Antonio finally holding a 96 - 93 lead with with 15 seconds left, Evan Fournier drained a clutch three - point shot for Orlando to knot the game up at 96, their first points since the 3:9 mark of the fourth quarter. However, Leonard insured the valiant comeback was n't in vain, draining a 19 - foot shot with 1 seconds left to give his team the 98 - 96 advantage. One very anxious moment remained, as Evan Fournier alertly found Elfrid Payton roaming free downcourt on the subsequent inbound pass. Payton attempted a desperation layup that banked too hard off the backboard and fell harmlessly to the floor, sending the Spurs home winners. San Antonio was led by Leonard's 29 points, to which he added seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. Aldridge was next with 21 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Green contributed 12 points, five rebounds, two assists and a block. Tim Duncan notably returned from a multi - game absence and pitched in with five points, seven rebounds, five assists and three blocks. Mills was outstanding in pacing the reserves with 17 points, seven assists, six rebounds, two steals and a block. It was rare stat - sheet - stuffing performance for the normally scoring - dependent point guard. The Spurs remain comfortably atop the Western Conference's Southwest Division. They're back in action after the All-Star break on Thursday, February 18th in Los Angeles against the Clippers. Orlando's attack was spearheaded by Fournier's 28 - point explosion, which was complemented with five assists and a pair of rebounds. Nikola Vucevic managed an impressive double - double against one of the toughest frontcourts in the league, tallying 20 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, a steal and a pair of blocks. Victor Oladipo collected 14 points, three rebounds, an assist and a pair of steals. Payton had a solid game other than his untimely miss, posting 13 points, seven assists, six rebounds and two steals. Aaron Gordon was the only member of the starting five with single - digit scoring (four points), but hauled in 14 rebounds, dished out three assists, recorded a steal and posted two blocks. Rookie Mario Hezonja had another strong game in a reserve role, pacing the bench with 12 points, an assist and a steal. The Magic remain in last place in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division. They resume play after the All-Star break on Friday, February 19th at home against the Dallas Mavericks.

["TeamStat(G,'Magic') has 29 Losses ,has 96 Total points ,has 23 Points in 1st quarter ,has 28 Points in 2nd quarter ,has 28 Points in 3rd quarter ,has 15 Points in 4th quarter ,has 23 Turnovers ." "TeamStat(G,'Spurs') has 8 Losses ,has 98 Total points ,has 29 Points in 1st quarter ,has 31 Points in 2nd quarter ,has 45 Points in 3rd quarter ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kawhi Leonard') has 2 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 19 Field goals attempted ,has 1 Offensive rebounds ,has 29 Points ,has 7 Total rebounds ,has 2 Steals ." "PlayerStat(G,'LaMarcus Aldridge') has 2 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ,has 21 Field goals attempted ,has 7 Offensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Tim Duncan') has 5 Assists ,has 3 Blocks ,has 5 Field goals attempted ,has 7 Offensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Danny Green') has 2 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 12 Field goals attempted ,has 5 Offensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Patty Mills') has 7 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 17 Field goals attempted ,has 6 Offensive rebounds ,has 2 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Evan Fournier') has 5 Assists ,has 28 Blocks ,has 2 Field goals attempted ,has 1 Offensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Aaron Gordon') has 3 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ,has 4 Field goals attempted ,has 14 Offensive rebounds ,has 1 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Nikola Vucevic') has 5 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ,has 20 Field goals attempted ,has 13 Offensive rebounds ,has 1 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Victor Oladipo') has 1 Assists ,has 14 Blocks ,has 3 Field goals attempted ,has 2 Offensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Elfrid Payton') has 7 Assists ,has 13 Blocks ,has 6 Field goals attempted ,has 2 Offensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Mario Hezonja') has 1 Assists ,has 12 Blocks ,has 1 Field goals attempted ."]

Four of five Pacers starters notched double digits in the scoring column and posted 50 and 46 percent success rates from the field and three - point range, respectively. Jeff Teague and Paul George led Indiana with matching 19 - point tallies, Thaddeus Young registered a near double - double with 16 points and nine rebounds, and Myles Turner posted a 13 - point, 10 - rebound double - double with two assists. C.J. Miles (15 points, four rebounds, two steals) and Al Jefferson (14 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a steal) were highly productive in reserve roles. Carmelo Anthony and Justin Holiday's 17 - point efforts led the Knicks. Kristaps Porzingis went for 16 points and Derrick Rose, who'd endured a tough shooting night against the Bucks on Friday, bounced back with 14 points. The emerging Mindauguas Kuzminskas supplied 13 points in just 15 minutes off the bench.

["TeamStat(G,'Pacers') has 46 Percentage of 3 points ,has 50 Percentage of field goals ." "PlayerStat(G,'Carmelo Anthony') has 17 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kristaps Porzingis') has 16 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Derrick Rose') has 14 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Mindaugas Kuzminskas') has 15 Assists ,has 13 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Paul George') has 19 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Thaddeus Young') has 2 Assists ,has 16 Minutes played ,has 9 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Myles Turner') has 2 Assists ,has 13 Minutes played ,has 10 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jeff Teague') has 19 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Al Jefferson') has 2 Assists ,has 14 Minutes played ,has 7 Points ,has 1 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'CJ Miles') has 15 Assists ,has 4 Minutes played ,has 2 Points ."]

The Golden State Warriors (40) stayed undefeated with a 121 - 104 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers (3 - 2) on Wednesday at Oracle Arena in Oakland. With the victory Wednesday, the Warriors will now have a coveted matchup of undefeated teams Saturday against the 50 Rockets. There was no slowing the Warriors down as they shot 58 percent from the field and an unheard of 60 percent from beyond the three - point line. They were able to outscore the Clippers 65 - 42 in the first half, allowing them to coast to a victory in the second half. David Lee returned to the court Wednesday, but was going to be used in a limited bench role, as he just came off a hamstring injury. After playing in just seven minutes of time, he aggravated the hamstring and was held out of the rest of the game. Draymond Green continued to take Lee's spot in the starting lineup and went off for a season - high 24 points (8 - 13 FG, 4 - 8 3Pt, 4 - 4 FT) and eight rebounds. Steph Curry led all scorers in this matchup, going for 28 points and seven assists, while shooting 9 - for - 18 from the field and 4 - for - 8 for beyond the three - point line. Klay Thompson went off for 29 points Sunday but came down to earth slightly in this one and recorded 19 points (7 - 13 FG, 3 - 4 3Pt). The Warriors went a combined 20 - for - 20 from the free - throw line. The Clippers received a big boost from the bench with Jamal Crawford shooting 8 - for - 13 from the field and 3 - for - 6 from the three - point line to finish with 24 points on the night. DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul both finished with double - doubles as Paul went for 15 points and 12 assists, and Jordan scored 17 points with 13 rebounds. This production comes a game after Paul's triple - double on Monday against the Jazz. Blake Griffin did n't have as much impact as usual, as he only recorded one rebound, but he still was able to add 14 points. J.J. Redick was the only other Clipper to score in double digits, as he had 12 points in 23 minutes. The Warriors' next game will be on the road against the Houston Rockets on Saturday, while the Clippers will be at home against the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday.

["TeamStat(G,'Warriors') has 60 Percentage of 3 points ,has 58 Percentage of field goals ,has 121 Losses ." "TeamStat(G,'Clippers') has 2 Percentage of 3 points ,has 104 Percentage of field goals ,has 3 Losses ." "PlayerStat(G,'Blake Griffin') has 14 Assists ,has 1 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'DeAndre Jordan') has 17 Assists ,has 13 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'JJ Redick') has 23 Assists ,has 12 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Chris Paul') has 12 Assists ,has 15 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jamal Crawford') has 6 Assists ,has 3 Defensive rebounds ,has 13 3-pointers attempted ,has 8 3-pointers made ,has 24 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Draymond Green') has 8 Assists ,has 4 Defensive rebounds ,has 13 3-pointers attempted ,has 8 3-pointers made ,has 4 Field goals attempted ,has 4 Field goals made ,has 24 Free throws attempted ,has 8 Free throws made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Klay Thompson') has 1 Assists ,has 1 Defensive rebounds ,has 4 3-pointers attempted ,has 3 3-pointers made ,has 13 Field goals attempted ,has 7 Field goals made ,has 19 Free throws attempted ,has 1 Free throws made ,has 1 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Stephen Curry') has 7 Assists ,has 8 Defensive rebounds ,has 4 3-pointers attempted ,has 18 3-pointers made ,has 9 Field goals attempted ,has 28 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'David Lee') has 7 Assists ."]

The Houston Rockets (34 - 33) obliterated the Memphis Grizzlies (39 - 28) 130 - 81 on Monday. The talent on paper in this matchup was a huge discrepancy and that paper game played out on the floor. Houston won all four quarters by at least eight points and took a 41 - point lead into the fourth. Their defense was key for once, as they held Memphis to 30 percent shooting and forced them to commit 19 turnovers. The Rockets were lights out from long distance, as they finished the game going 16 - for - 33 in their win. The injuries are finally catching up to the Grizzlies and a game like this was expected at some point. They played this game without Mike Conley, Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol, Mario Chalmers and Lance Stephenson and that's simply too hard to overcome. Alex Stepheson was signed to a 10 - day contract earlier in the week and was the only bright spot n this blowout, as he double - doubled in a 12 - point, 15 - rebounds performance off the bench. Jarell Martin led the team with 17 points and also snatched down eight rebounds. Memphis will look to bounce back on Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. This type of win shows just how good the Rockets can be and this may be their final push at a playoff run. James Harden flirted with a triple - double in just three quarters of play, as he accumulated 15 points, seven rebounds and eight assists in the victory. Dwight Howard also played only three quarters and beasted down low, by finishing with seven points, 13 rebounds and five blocks in the win Donatas Montiejunas led the team with 18 points, which is a great sign coming off his recent injury. Up next for Houston is a matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.

["TeamStat(G,'Rockets') has 33 Percentage of field goals ,has 130 Losses ,has 34 Total points ." "TeamStat(G,'Grizzlies') has 30 Percentage of field goals ,has 28 Losses ,has 81 Total points ,has 19 Turnovers ,has 39 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jarell Martin') has 17 Assists ,has 8 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Alex Stepheson') has 12 Assists ,has 15 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Donatas Motiejunas') has 3 Assists ,has 18 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Dwight Howard') has 3 Assists ,has 5 Blocks ,has 3 Field goals made ,has 3 Free throws made ,has 7 Offensive rebounds ,has 13 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'James Harden') has 8 Assists ,has 3 Blocks ,has 3 Field goals made ,has 15 Free throws made ,has 7 Offensive rebounds ."]

The Nuggets saw seven players post double - digit scoring and they collectively shoot an outstanding 56 percent from the floor and 43 percent from three - point range. Chicago's cause was significantly undermined by an atypically poor shooting night from Jimmy Butler, who posted only eight points on a 3 - of - 13 tally from the floor. Danilo Gallinari led the Nuggets with 22 points, and Wilson Chandler followed closely with 20 points. Nikola Jokic posted a 19 - point, 16 - rebound, 10 - assist triple - double. Gary Harris went for 15 points, and Will Barton matched Harris' point total while leading the second unit. Jameer Nelson managed 12 points, while Jamal Murray tallied 14 points over 18 efficient minutes off the bench. Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo paced the Bulls with matching 19 - point efforts. Bobby Portis stepped up with 12 points, while Robin Lopez supplied 10 points.

["TeamStat(G,'Nuggets') has 43 Percentage of 3 points ,has 56 Percentage of field goals ,has 22 Points in 1st quarter ." "PlayerStat(G,'Danilo Gallinari') has 22 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Wilson Chandler') has 20 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Nikola Jokic') has 10 Assists ,has 19 Field goals attempted ,has 16 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Gary Harris') has 15 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jameer Nelson') has 12 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Will Barton') has 15 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jamal Murray') has 18 Assists ,has 14 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jimmy Butler') has 13 Assists ,has 3 Field goals attempted ,has 8 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Bobby Portis') has 12 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Robin Lopez') has 10 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Dwyane Wade') has 19 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Rajon Rondo') has 19 Assists ."]

The San Antonio Spurs (12 - 4) defeated the Boston Celtics (4 - 10) 111 - 89 on Sunday. San Antonio had five players score in double digits, including Danny Green, who paced the team with 18 points in 35 minutes. Tiago Splitter missed his 14th straight game. Despite Splitter's absence, the Spurs have strung together a seven - game win streak. They'll continue their road trip in Philadelphia on Monday against the Sixers. Boston has dropped four straight and seven of their last eight games. Coach Brad Stevens opted for a change at center to try and mix things up. Kelly Olynyk was moved to a bench role in favor of starting Tyler Zeller. It's unknown if this change is merely to get a point across to Olynyk or if Stevens is considering using Zeller there for the foreseeable future. Zeller put up seven points and 10 rebounds in 23 minutes, while Olynyk put up three points and three rebounds in 25 minutes. The Celtics' next game is on the road in Atlanta on Tuesday against the Hawks.

["TeamStat(G,'Celtics') has 10 Losses ,has 89 Total points ,has 4 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Spurs') has 4 Losses ,has 111 Total points ,has 12 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Danny Green') has 5 Defensive rebounds ,has 35 Minutes played ,has 18 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Tyler Zeller') has 23 Defensive rebounds ,has 7 Minutes played ,has 10 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kelly Olynyk') has 25 Defensive rebounds ,has 3 Minutes played ,has 3 Points ."]

The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 102 - 101, at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday. The Cavaliers (60) looked fully in control following a 34 - point outburst in the first quarter, which gave them a seemingly comfortable 15 - point lead. However, the winless Sixers (0 - 5) impressively chipped away, outscoring Cleveland by a 61 - 48 margin over the second and third periods. That set up a photo finish in the final 12 minutes, one that saw an Iman Shumpert steal of Gerald Henderson save the day for the visitors as time expired. Prior to that, a clutch three - pointer by Channing Frye with 1:5 remaining gave Cleveland the 102 - 101 lead. Neither team was able to find the basket after that point, setting the stage for Shumpert's heroics. LeBron James led the Cavs with 25 points, 14 assists, eight rebounds and two steals. Kevin Love was next with a double - double of his own, tallying 20 points, 11 boards, an assist and a block. Tristan Thompson provided a typically modest point total of seven points but added 13 rebounds and recorded a pair of stuffs. J.R. Smith totaled 11 points, a rebound, an assist, three steals and a block. Frye paced the bench with 12 points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal. Joel Embiid continued his stretch of excellent early - season play, posting a season - high 22 points and adding six rebounds, two assists, four blocks and a steal over 25 minutes. Henderson was the only other Philadelphia player to manage double - digit scoring, compiling 11 points, two rebounds, an assist and two steals. Sergio Rodriguez managed only seven points but did dish out 11 assists, brought down six boards and recorded a pair of steals. Ersan Ilyasova paced the bench with 21 points and four rebounds, a tally that included 4 - of - 6 shooting from behind the arc. The Cavaliers return home to face off with the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, while the Sixers remain home to tangle with the Utah Jazz on Monday.

["TeamStat(G,'76ers') has 101 Total points ,has 34 Points in 1st quarter ." "TeamStat(G,'Cavaliers') has 102 Total points ,has 34 Points in 1st quarter ." "PlayerStat(G,'LeBron James') has 14 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 25 3-pointers attempted ,has 8 3-pointers made ,has 2 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kevin Love') has 1 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 20 3-pointers attempted ,has 11 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Tristan Thompson') has 7 Assists ,has 13 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'JR Smith') has 1 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 11 3-pointers attempted ,has 1 3-pointers made ,has 3 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Iman Shumpert') has 1 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 1 3-pointers attempted ,has 1 3-pointers made ,has 1 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Channing Frye') has 2 Assists ,has 12 Blocks ,has 2 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Joel Embiid') has 2 Assists ,has 4 Blocks ,has 25 3-pointers attempted ,has 22 3-pointers made ,has 6 Minutes played ,has 1 Offensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Gerald Henderson') has 1 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 11 3-pointers attempted ,has 2 3-pointers made ,has 2 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Sergio Rodriguez') has 11 Assists ,has 7 Blocks ,has 6 3-pointers attempted ,has 2 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Ersan Ilyasova') has 6 Assists ,has 4 Blocks ,has 21 3-pointers attempted ,has 4 3-pointers made ."]

The Portland Trail Blazers (21 - 6) defeated the San Antonio Spurs (17 - 10) in triple - overtime 129 - 119 on Friday. Portland has won four straight games. Damian Lillard led the way with a game - high 43 points in 53 minutes. LaMarcus Aldridge had a dominant double - double of 32 points and 16 rebounds in 52 minutes. With Robin Lopez out for the next 1 - 2 months with a broken right hand, the Trail Blazers appear as though they'll use a match - up based approach to determing who they start in Lopez's absence from game to game. They started Thomas Robinson in Wednesday's 104 - 97 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, but Joel Freeland was moved into the starting lineup Friday. Freeland put up eight points and six rebounds in 21 minutes. Thomas Robinson played 27 minutes off the bench but only provided two points and six rebounds. Nicolas Batum (wrist/knee) sat out the game. Allen Crabbe earned the start in Batum's absence but played just 13 mintues, while Dorell Wright put up 12 points and eight rebounds in 33 minutes off the bench. Portland will continue their road trip against the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday. San Antonio has dropped three straight games, with their last two games both going to triple - overtime. Tony Parker (hamstring) and Kawhi Leonard (hand) sat out, giving Cory Joseph and Kyle Anderson another game in the starting lineup. Tim Duncan scored a team - high 32 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in 43 minutes. Danny Green pitched in a double - double of 27 points and 10 rebounds in 44 minutes. The Spurs will look to turn around their fortunes when they go on the road to face the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday.

["TeamStat(G,'Spurs') has 10 Losses ,has 119 Total points ,has 17 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Trail Blazers') has 6 Losses ,has 129 Total points ,has 21 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Allen Crabbe') has 13 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'LaMarcus Aldridge') has 52 Minutes played ,has 32 Points ,has 16 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Joel Freeland') has 21 Minutes played ,has 8 Points ,has 6 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Damian Lillard') has 53 Minutes played ,has 43 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Dorell Wright') has 33 Minutes played ,has 12 Points ,has 8 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Thomas Robinson') has 27 Minutes played ,has 2 Points ,has 6 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Tim Duncan') has 43 Minutes played ,has 32 Points ,has 10 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Danny Green') has 44 Minutes played ,has 27 Points ,has 10 Total rebounds ."]

The Memphis Grizzlies (18 - 4) defeated the Charlotte Hornets (6 - 16) 113 - 107 in double overtime Friday. Memphis has a three - game winning streak going. They held the Hornets to just 42 percent shooting from the field Friday, but the Grizzlies also turned the ball over 20 times, giving up 22 easy points off those turnovers, which allowed the Hornets to stay in the game and push the contest to two extra periods. Zach Randolph scored a team - high 20 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for a double - double. Memphis should have an easier night Saturday when they take on the experience - challenged Philadelphia 76ers on the road. Charlotte had their two - game win streak snapped with the loss Friday, but the fact that they've started to compete on a nightly basis is a positive for the Hornets after their prolonged struggle to start the season. Kemba Walker scored a game - high 28 points and was aided by Gary Neal's 25 points off the bench. Al Jefferson nearly recorded a double - double, putting up 16 points and nine rebounds. The Hornets will have a lighter opponent Saturday when they host the Brooklyn Nets, but it'll be interesting to see if they'll have their legs after playing the extra minutes Friday.

["TeamStat(G,'Grizzlies') has 4 Percentage of field goals ,has 113 Losses ,has 22 Total points ,has 20 Points in 3rd quarter ,has 18 Points in 4th quarter ." "TeamStat(G,'Hornets') has 42 Percentage of field goals ,has 16 Losses ,has 107 Total points ,has 20 Points in 3rd quarter ,has 6 Points in 4th quarter ." "PlayerStat(G,'Al Jefferson') has 16 Points ,has 9 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kemba Walker') has 28 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Gary Neal') has 25 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Zach Randolph') has 20 Points ,has 11 Total rebounds ."]

The Los Angeles Clippers (44 - 27) defeated the Portland Trail Blazers (37 - 36) 96 - 94 at Staples Center on Thursday. J.J. Redick capped off a wild fourth quarter with a fading buzzer beater from just inside the three point line. Chris Paul inbounded the ball with a pretty between the legs pass, as Redick came off a DeAndre Jordan screen, which sent Staples Center into a frenzy. The fourth quarter was a roller coaster for Los Angeles, as they went from letting the game slip away, to rallying behind an inspired Jamal Crawford. Prior to Redick’s bucket, Damian Lillard, in typical late game fashion, buried a contested step - back three to take a three point lead, but Crawford answered right back with a deep, high arcing trey to tie the game. Los Angeles looked gassed during most of the second half, and Portland had them playing ugly basketball, which they took advantage of throughout the third quarter. Jamal Crawford was pivotal down the stretch, and finished with 25 points on 3 - of - 6 shooting from deep in 33 minutes off the bench. Reddick added a 11 points in his starting role, but his lone three pointer came at the most needed moment of the game. Paul added 25 points, five rebounds and seven assists, but his biggest play of the game came on the possession before the game winner, where Paul played tremendous defense disallowing Lillard to get the ball when the Blazers needed him most. DeAndre Jordan completed a double - double with 12 points and 13 rebounds, while Paul Pierce went scoreless on five shots in his 14 minutes of action. Lillard lives for the fourth quarter, and almost sucked the life out of the Clippers when he hit the game tying three, but leading up to that point, he came close to shooting his team out of contention. The Portland point guard finished with 18 points on 4 - of - 16 shooting. The absence of Meyers Leonard (shoulder), who received season ending shoulder surgery, proved to be troubling for coach Terry Stotts, as he had to heavily rely on his other bigs in moments where Leonard was growing accustomed to playing. Mason Plumlee saw increased playing time, and added 11 points and six rebounds, while C.J. McCollum scored 17 points on 6 - of - 12 shooting. The Blazers will host the Philadelphia 76ers (9 - 63) on Saturday, while the Clippers will welcome the Denver Nuggets (30 - 42) on Sunday.

["TeamStat(G,'Clippers') has 27 Losses ,has 96 Total points ,has 44 Points in 2nd quarter ." "TeamStat(G,'Trail Blazers') has 36 Losses ,has 94 Total points ,has 18 Points in 2nd quarter ,has 37 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Mason Plumlee') has 11 Assists ,has 6 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'CJ McCollum') has 12 Assists ,has 6 Defensive rebounds ,has 17 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Damian Lillard') has 3 Assists ,has 3 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Paul Pierce') has 3 Assists ,has 3 Defensive rebounds ,has 5 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'DeAndre Jordan') has 3 Assists ,has 3 Defensive rebounds ,has 5 3-pointers attempted ,has 5 3-pointers made ,has 12 Field goals attempted ,has 13 Field goals made ,has 3 Minutes played ,has 5 Offensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Chris Paul') has 7 Assists ,has 25 Defensive rebounds ,has 5 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jamal Crawford') has 6 Assists ,has 3 Defensive rebounds ,has 33 3-pointers attempted ,has 25 3-pointers made ."]

The Houston Rockets defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, 142 - 130, at Toyota Center on Saturday. Three-point shooting has become customary in this new style of NBA, but the Rockets continue to fire at an unbelievable pace. In this game, Houston went 22 - of - 58 from three - point range, while the Timberwolves went just 9 - of - 26. Minnesota dominated the rebounding though, winning that battle, 58 - 31. Houston abused the assist - to - turnover ratio, recording four more assists and 10 less turnovers than Minnesota. This was a wire - to - wire win for the Rockets, as they led by at least seven points for the final 20 minutes. The Timberwolves (23 - 36) had beat two playoff contenders in their last two games, but this was a tough task against a potent Houston offense. Karl-Anthony Towns was a beast in the loss, as he led the team with 37 points and 22 rebounds on 16 - of - 24 from the field. Andrew Wiggins was n't far behind, as he tallied 30 points and three steals. Gorgui Dieng finished third on the team, totaling 16 points, 13 rebounds and three steals on 7 - of - 10 shooting. Ricky Rubio accrued 14 points and 11 assists, but did commit six turnovers. The Rockets (42 - 18) have now won six of their last seven games, as they continue to fire up three's at will. James Harden led the way for Houston, as he accumulated 24 points, five rebounds and 10 assists. Ryan Anderson was second among starters, finishing with 18 points, two rebounds and three assists. Clint Capela started and amassed 16 points and nine rebounds on 7 - of - 9 shooting. All five starters scored at least 15 points. Eric Gordon and Lou Williams came off the bench to combine for 31 points, six assists and five steals. Both teams return to action on Monday, as the Rockets host the Indiana Pacers and the Minnesota Timberwolves play the Sacramento Kings on the road.

["TeamStat(G,'Rockets') has 18 Losses ,has 142 Total points ,has 42 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Timberwolves') has 36 Losses ,has 130 Total points ,has 23 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Andrew Wiggins') has 30 Assists ,has 3 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Gorgui Dieng') has 10 Assists ,has 7 Field goals attempted ,has 16 Field goals made ,has 13 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Karl-Anthony Towns') has 24 Assists ,has 16 Field goals attempted ,has 37 Field goals made ,has 22 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Ricky Rubio') has 11 Assists ,has 14 Field goals attempted ,has 6 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Ryan Anderson') has 3 Assists ,has 18 Field goals attempted ,has 2 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Clint Capela') has 9 Assists ,has 7 Field goals attempted ,has 16 Field goals made ,has 9 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'James Harden') has 10 Assists ,has 24 Field goals attempted ,has 5 Field goals made ."]

In a defensive battle, both New Orleans and Memphis struggled to find their shot from the floor. The Grizzlies hit just 35 percent of their shots from the field, while the Pelicans hit only 37 percent. It was a particularly poor shooting night for the game's more high - profile players. Anthony Davis scored just 10 points on 3 - of - 13 from the floor, while Marc Gasol scored only eight on 3 - of - 18. Meanwhile, Memphis's Tony Allen hit just 1 - of - 8 and forward Zach Randolph hit just 5 - of - 18. The tough shooting night extended to the line, as both teams hit just 75 percent of their shots from the line. Memphis struggled to get things going from beyond the arc as well, hitting just 29 percent of their shots after an impressive 15 - three performance earlier in the week.

["TeamStat(G,'Grizzlies') has 35 Percentage of field goals ." "TeamStat(G,'Pelicans') has 37 Percentage of field goals ." "PlayerStat(G,'Anthony Davis') has 13 Field goals attempted ,has 3 Field goals made ,has 10 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Marc Gasol') has 18 Field goals attempted ,has 3 Field goals made ,has 8 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Tony Allen') has 8 Field goals attempted ,has 1 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Zach Randolph') has 18 Field goals attempted ,has 5 Field goals made ."]

While all eyes were on Joel Embiid making his regular - season debut with the 76ers, there was another rookie making his first appearance in a 76ers uniform Wednesday night in a loss to the Thunder. Dario Saric, the 22 - year - old rookie who was drafted by the 76ers in 2014, finally made his way over to the NBA this season. His debut, however, was rather underwhelming, as he managed just five points on 2 - of - 12 shooting form the field and went 0 - for - 4 form behind the arc. This performance comes after a preseason where Saric averaged 10 points while shooting 45 percent from the field and 31 percent from long range. For the Thunder, Russell Westbrook made a debut of sorts himself, playing in his first game without Kevin Durant. He did not disappoint as the undisputed leader of the team, recording 32 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in 36 minutes. He recorded those totals just once all last season, and it did n't come until Game 5 of their first - round playoff series with the Mavericks, when he recorded 36 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in 38 minutes.

["TeamStat(G,'76ers') has 22 Points in 4th quarter ." "PlayerStat(G,'Russell Westbrook') has 9 Assists ,has 36 3-pointers attempted ,has 32 3-pointers made ,has 12 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Dario Saric') has 4 Assists ,has 0 3-pointers attempted ,has 12 3-pointers made ,has 2 Field goals attempted ,has 5 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Joel Embiid') has 22 Assists ."]

The Orlando Magic defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 103 - 101, at Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday. A 28 - point second quarter allowed the Sixers (0 - 3) to take a 57 - 43 lead into intermission, with their strong first half having been spearheaded by third - year players Dario Saric and Joel Embiid. Coming in to Tuesday, the latter had been primed for a bump in playing time, as fellow center Jahlil Okafor was given the night off to rest. However, Orlando (1 - 3) came roaring out of the locker room in the third quarter, tallying 41 points during the next 12 minutes. Despite the Magic regaining the advantage, it was a nip - and - tuck defensive struggle in the fourth quarter, with the two teams combining for just 33 points. Overtime looked very probable until T.J. McConnell was charged with a flagrant - one foul on Serge Ibaka, and the latter converted both of his free - throw opportunities into points to seal the first win of the season for the Magic. Nikola Vucevic and Embiid waged an entertaining battle throughout the night, and Orlando's big man held his own with 24 points, 14 boards, four assists, a steal and a block. Vucevic notably went to the charity stripe only three times, with the bulk of his scoring coming from his strong 11 - for - 16 tally from the field. Ibaka was right behind him with his first 20 - point - plus performance in a Magic uniform, supplying 21 points, four rebounds and two blocks. Elfrid Payton joined Vucevic on the team's double - double club from the night, posting 18 points, 10 assists, three rebounds, two steals and a block. Evan Fournier continued his strong start to the season with 17 points, five rebounds, five assists and a steal. Saric paced the Sixers with 21 points and complemented them with three rebounds, an assist and a steal. Embiid was next with an 18 - point, 10 - rebound double - double that also included three assists and four blocks. Veteran Gerald Henderson registered 18 points, four rebounds, an assist and a steal. Sergio Rodriguez continued to surprise with 12 points, 11 assists and five rebounds while manning the point. Robert Covington was notably scoreless over 28 minutes, the second straight game in which he's notched a zero in the scoring column. However, Hollis Thompson came off the bench to supply 22 points, along with seven rebounds, an assist and a block. The Magic return home to face off with the Sacramento Kings on Thursday, while the Sixers hit the road to Charlotte for a Wednesday night date with the Hornets.

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The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the New York Knicks, 105 - 102, at Wells Fargo Center on Friday evening. The two teams engaged in a rollercoaster affair, one that saw each of them dominate a quarter apiece and the Sixers make a modest comeback in the final minute to seal the win. The Sixers (23 - 38) decisively erased a 35 - 29 first - quarter deficit by exploding for 34 points of their own in the second period and limiting the Knicks (25 - 37) to 18 overall. New York turned the tables coming out of intermission, winning the third period by a 28 - 16 margin. That set up a nip - and - tuck fourth quarter that was decided in the final minute. The Knicks had a 102 - 100 lead at the one - minute mark after two Derrick Rose free throws but would n't score again, with Dario Saric sinking three of four free throws and Justin Anderson draining a six - foot jumper over the final 48 seconds to seal the win. Lance Thomas led the way for New York with 21 points, which he supplemented with seven rebounds and two steals. Rose was right behind him with 20 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals. Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis supplied matching 18 - point efforts, with the former adding six rebounds, two assists, three steals and one block, and the latter providing seven rebounds, one assist and one steal. Courtney Lee tallied 16 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Saric bounced back from a subpar effort against the Miami Heat on Wednesday to pace Philadelphia with a 21 - point, 10 - rebound double - double that also included four assists. Anderson turned in his best game since joining the Sixers, leading the second unit with 19 points, five rebounds, two assists and one block. Robert Covington registered 16 points, four rebounds, three assists, five blocks and one steal. Jahlil Okafor compiled 12 points, eight boards, one assist and one block. T.J. McConnell submitted 11 points, four rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block. Richaun Holmes and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot were productive as reserves as well with matching 10 - point tallies. The Knicks head back home to tangle with the Golden State Warriors on Sunday afternoon, while the Sixers remain home to face the Detroit Pistons on Saturday evening.

["TeamStat(G,'76ers') has 38 Losses ,has 105 Total points ,has 29 Points in 1st quarter ,has 34 Points in 2nd quarter ,has 16 Points in 3rd quarter ,has 23 Points in 4th quarter ." "TeamStat(G,'Knicks') has 37 Losses ,has 102 Total points ,has 35 Points in 1st quarter ,has 18 Points in 2nd quarter ,has 28 Points in 3rd quarter ,has 21 Points in 4th quarter ,has 25 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Carmelo Anthony') has 2 Assists ,has 18 Blocks ,has 6 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Lance Thomas') has 21 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kristaps Porzingis') has 1 Assists ,has 18 Blocks ,has 1 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Courtney Lee') has 3 Assists ,has 16 Blocks ,has 2 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Derrick Rose') has 5 Assists ,has 20 Blocks ,has 4 Defensive rebounds ,has 2 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Robert Covington') has 3 Assists ,has 5 Blocks ,has 16 Defensive rebounds ,has 4 3-pointers attempted ,has 1 Free throws made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Dario Saric') has 4 Assists ,has 6 Blocks ,has 21 Defensive rebounds ,has 10 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jahlil Okafor') has 1 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 12 Defensive rebounds ,has 8 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'T.J. McConnell') has 4 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 11 Defensive rebounds ,has 4 3-pointers attempted ,has 1 Free throws made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Richaun Holmes') has 10 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot') has 10 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Justin Anderson') has 2 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 2 Defensive rebounds ,has 6 3-pointers attempted ,has 2 Free throws made ,has 19 Personal fouls ,has 5 Points ."]

Nicolas Batum, Kemba Walker and Cody Zeller ripped off a trio of 20 - point efforts to spearhead the hard - fought division win, helping the Hornets overcome a collective 41 percent field - goal percentage. Batum's 24 points led the way, while Zeller was outstanding in compiling a season - high 23 points on a 9 - of - 10 shooting tally. Walker totaled 21 points and Marvin Williams hauled in 11 rebounds. The Hawks posted a superior 46 percent success rate from the field, but did also turn the ball over 16 times, five more than the Hornets. Dwight Howard returned from a one - game absence to post a 10 - point, 18 - rebound double - double, but it was Paul Millsap's 22 - point, 13 - rebound performance that paced Atlanta. Kent Bazemore and Dennis Schroder combined for 30 points, while Mike Muscala (11 points) led the reserves in his return to the second unit.

["TeamStat(G,'Hornets') has 41 Percentage of field goals ." "TeamStat(G,'Hawks') has 46 Percentage of field goals ,has 16 Points in 4th quarter ,has 16 Turnovers ." "PlayerStat(G,'Paul Millsap') has 1 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 1 3-pointers made ,has 22 Field goals attempted ,has 13 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Dwight Howard') has 10 Assists ,has 18 Blocks ,has 1 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Dennis Schroder') has 11 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Mike Muscala') has 11 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Marvin Williams') has 11 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Cody Zeller') has 10 Assists ,has 9 Blocks ,has 23 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Nicolas Batum') has 24 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kemba Walker') has 21 Assists ."]

The Boston Celtics (22 - 19) defeated the Washington Wizards (19 - 20) 119 - 117 on Saturday. With backcourt mate Bradley Beal taking the night off to rest, John Wall predictably exploded across the stat sheet, managing 36 points, 13 assists, seven rebounds, seven steals and a block. It was the All-Star point guard's third straight double - double when Beal has been out of the lineup. However, the game's final play turned the night into a bittersweet one for both Wall and the team. Following a Jae Crowder basket with just under three seconds left and the Celtics up by two, Wall ran the length of the court and appeared to have a game - tying gim me layup in his sights. However, the 25 - year - old put a bit too much mustard on the ball and it bounced out as time expired, sending Boston home winners. The Celtics were led by Isaiah Thomas, who in conjunction with Wall, put on a terrific show. Thomas managed 32 points, five assists, four rebounds and a steal, but did commit seven turnovers. Crowder was outstanding in support, collecting 22 points, eight rebounds and six assists, including the game - winning basket. Jared Sullinger came just a rebound short of a double - double, tallying 14 points and hauling in nine boards. Marcus Smart and Kelly Olynyk paced the Boston reserves with 13 and 11 points, respectively. No other Wizards player came close to Wall's oustanding scoring total, but Marcin Gortat did return from a knee infection to post a solid 18 points, 11 rebounds, an assist, a steal and a pair of blocks. The big man encouragingly played 36 minutes and did not appear to show any ill effects from his recent injury. Jared Dudley was next with 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists and a steal, while Garrett Temple turned in another serviceable performance in Beal's stead, collecting 12 points, three rebounds, three assists and a block. Kelly Oubre filled in productively for Otto Porter, Jr., registering 10 points, six rebounds and two steals. Gary Neal paced the Washington reserves with 10 points, three rebounds and a steal. The Celtics head to Dallas for a Monday matchup against the Mavericks, while the Wizards remain home and await the Portland Trail Blazers.

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The host Toronto Raptors defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 113 - 80, at Air Canada Center on Friday. The Raptors came into this game as a sizable favorite and they left no doubt with this result. In fact, Toronto pulled out the rare wire - to - wire win, as they dominated from start to finish. The second quarter is when it really fell apart for Los Angeles, as they allowed Toronto to drop 41 points, as they trailed by 21 headed into the half. The assist - to - turnover ratio was a huge difference, with Toronto recording 25 assists to 10 turnovers, while Los Angeles matched their turnovers and assists at 16 a piece. The Raptors shot 54 percent from the field, while the Lakers shot just 34 percent. Los Angeles (10 - 11) has been regressing over recent weeks and this was a tough task north of the border. The bench was the only thing keeping them around, as Jordan Clarkson and Lou Williams both scored in double figures yet again. They did struggle shooting though, as Williams went 4 - of - 14 on his way to 13 points and Clarkson went 4 - of - 15 for 14 points. Brandon Ingram was the lone starter in double figures, as he totaled 17 points and six rebounds in the defeat. Julius Randle finished with eight points and eight rebounds in just 22 minutes. The Lakers will have to play again on Saturday, as they face the Memphis Grizzlies on the road. Toronto (13 - 6) has now won five - straight games and are scoring at will. In fact, they are averaging just shy of 120 points a game in that span. The Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan duo once again carried the load. Lowry tallied 24 points, four rebounds and seven assists, while DeRozan finished with 16 points, four rebounds and six assists. Norman Powell started for DeMarre Carroll and accrued 16 points and seven rebounds as a nice fill - in small forward. Cory Joseph and Lucas Nogueira combined for 27 points on 12 - of - 15 shooting off the bench. Toronto will remain at home, as they host the struggling Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.

["TeamStat(G,'Raptors') has 25 Number of team assists ,has 54 Percentage of field goals ,has 6 Losses ,has 113 Total points ,has 41 Points in 2nd quarter ,has 10 Points in 3rd quarter ,has 13 Turnovers ." "TeamStat(G,'Lakers') has 16 Number of team assists ,has 34 Percentage of field goals ,has 11 Losses ,has 80 Total points ,has 14 Points in 2nd quarter ,has 16 Points in 3rd quarter ,has 10 Turnovers ." "PlayerStat(G,'Julius Randle') has 22 Assists ,has 8 Field goals attempted ,has 8 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Brandon Ingram') has 17 Assists ,has 6 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jordan Clarkson') has 15 Assists ,has 4 Field goals attempted ,has 14 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Lou Williams') has 14 Assists ,has 4 Field goals attempted ,has 13 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Norman Powell') has 16 Assists ,has 7 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'DeMar DeRozan') has 6 Assists ,has 16 Field goals attempted ,has 4 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kyle Lowry') has 7 Assists ,has 24 Field goals attempted ,has 4 Field goals made ."]

The Miami Heat defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, 96 - 73, at American Airlines Arena on Thursday. The length of the Bucks (5 - 6) caused some issues early on for the Heat (3 - 8), but the Heat pushed through it and turned to their big man Hassan Whiteside on both ends of the court to finish the job at home. It was only the third win of the season for Miami, but the starters rounded out the scoring sheet, as only Derrick Williams finished below double figures. Goran Dragic (ankle) started the game after successfully going through practice and shootaround, while sophomore Justice Winslow (wrist) was ruled out. The neck - and - neck game was close all the way up until the fourth quarter, but the Bucks simply ran out of steam and had a handful of bad breaks, even after an all - around performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks, while Jabari Parker struggled to string together another solid contest after finishing with 11 points and eight rebounds on 5 - of - 20 shooting. Whiteside dominated the offensive and defensive ends of the floor after putting up 12 points, 17 rebounds and seven blocks, to go along with two steals on 5 - of - 12 shooting. Dion Waiters had the hot hand on the scoring front after contributing 23 points on 10 - of - 22 shooting. Both teams play on Saturday, as the Heat take on the Wizards in Washington, while the Bucks host the Warriors.

["TeamStat(G,'Heat') has 8 Losses ,has 96 Total points ,has 3 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Bucks') has 6 Losses ,has 73 Total points ,has 5 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jabari Parker') has 20 Field goals attempted ,has 5 Field goals made ,has 11 Points ,has 8 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Hassan Whiteside') has 12 Field goals attempted ,has 5 Field goals made ,has 12 Points ,has 17 Total rebounds ,has 2 Steals ." "PlayerStat(G,'Dion Waiters') has 22 Field goals attempted ,has 10 Field goals made ,has 23 Points ."]

The Miami Heat defeated the Dallas Mavericks 99 - 95 Thursday at AmericanAirlines Arena. While the Heat (13 - 30) managed to open up a seven - point lead at the end of the first quarter, but a brutal second quarter, which they lost by 16 points, put their chances of winning against the red - hot Mavericks (14 - 28), who came in as winners of three straight games, in serious doubt. But Miami managed to gain back the lead and pull away in the second half on the back of yet another great performance from starting point guard Goran Dragic. Dragic finished with a game - high 32 points on 11 - of - 15 shooting from the field, which included hitting all four of his shots from behind the arc. Tyler Johnson also added yet another solid performance off the bench, scoring an efficient 23 points in 28 minutes as a reserve. For Dallas, they came just short of extending their win streak to four games despite having a solid all - around team effort. Dirk Nowitzki continues his return to form, as he led the way for the Mavericks with 19 points, while Wesley Matthews added 18 points of his own. Harrison Barnes and Seth Curry each added 15 points, while J.J. Barea added 13 points off the bench, but the other four Mavericks that played Thursday combined to score just 15 points. Up next, the Heat will look to extend their win streak to three games against the Bucks on Saturday, while the Mavericks will play again Friday against the Jazz.

["TeamStat(G,'Heat') has 30 Losses ,has 99 Total points ,has 13 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Mavericks') has 28 Losses ,has 95 Total points ,has 14 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Wesley Matthews') has 18 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Harrison Barnes') has 15 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Dirk Nowitzki') has 19 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Seth Curry') has 15 Defensive rebounds ,has 4 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'J.J. Barea') has 13 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Goran Dragic') has 4 Defensive rebounds ,has 4 3-pointers attempted ,has 4 3-pointers made ,has 15 Field goals attempted ,has 11 Field goals made ,has 32 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Tyler Johnson') has 28 Defensive rebounds ,has 23 3-pointers attempted ."]

While there were only six ties and four lead changes in total, this game was close with neither team leading by more than 11 points. The Pelicans offense was very efficient, as they shot 53 percent from the field. Transition defense was important for New Orleans as well, as they held the Mavericks to no fastbreak points, while scoring seven of their own. The Pelicans dominated the boards, winning the rebounding battle, 41 - 32. Deron Williams was Dallas' best player, as he tallied 24 points and nine assists in the defeat. Seth Curry was the Mavericks only bench player in double figures, as he totaled 16 points and seven assists. Anthony Davis was the player of the game, as he accumulated 28 points, 16 rebounds and four assists in the win. Langston Galloway and E'Twaun Moore were huge off the bench, combining for 33 points on 13 - of - 18 shooting.

["TeamStat(G,'Pelicans') has 53 Percentage of field goals ,has 41 Points in 3rd quarter ." "TeamStat(G,'Mavericks') has 24 Percentage of field goals ,has 32 Points in 3rd quarter ." "PlayerStat(G,'Deron Williams') has 9 Assists ,has 24 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Seth Curry') has 7 Assists ,has 16 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Anthony Davis') has 4 Assists ,has 28 Points ,has 16 Total rebounds ."]

The host New Orleans Pelicans blew out the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves, 117 - 96, at Smoothie King Center on Wednesday. New Orleans (6 - 10) has now won five of its last six contests, turning things around completely after starting the season with eight straight losses. The win comes on the second half of a back - to - back after the Pelicans blew out the Atlanta Hawks, largely without star big man Anthony Davis on the floor. Davis was back in full force on Wednesday, however, contributing 45 points and 10 rebounds while holding opposing big man Karl-Anthony Towns to just nine points. Davis is now one of only two players in the NBA averaging over 30 points per game, and he edged closer to league leader Russell Westbrook with Tuesday's scoring outburst. The return of former All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday has also energized the Pelicans on their win streak. Holiday scored only seven points in Tuesday's win, but led the offense effectively, dishing out eight assists. Minnesota (4 - 10), meanwhile, has now lost three contests in a row. After receiving offseason hype, the Timberwolves have turned out a fairly slow start to the 2016 - 17 campaign. Although the team has struggled, youngsters Zach LaVine, Andrew Wiggins, and Towns have shown signs of progress. LaVine demonstrated that progress by leading the Wolves with 26 points in New Orleans. Wiggins and Towns, meanwhile, had off nights, posting 13 and nine respectively. The Pelicans will play in Portland on Friday, while the Timberwolves will travel to Oracle Arena on Saturday to face the surging Golden State Warriors.

["TeamStat(G,'Pelicans') has 10 Losses ,has 117 Total points ,has 6 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Timberwolves') has 10 Losses ,has 96 Total points ,has 4 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Andrew Wiggins') has 9 Assists ,has 13 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Karl-Anthony Towns') has 2 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 9 3-pointers made ,has 1 Free throws made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Zach LaVine') has 26 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Anthony Davis') has 1 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ,has 1 3-pointers made ,has 1 Free throws made ,has 45 Offensive rebounds ,has 10 Personal fouls ,has 2 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jrue Holiday') has 8 Assists ,has 7 Blocks ."]

The Philadelphia 76ers (17 - 52) defeated the New York Knicks (14 - 55), 97 - 81, in a battle of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference. It was the first time all season the Sixers were the pregame favorite, and they scored 29 points off 20 Knicks’ turnovers. Nerlens Noel added to his Rookie of the Year resume, scoring a career - high 23 points, grabbing 14 rebounds, recording five steals, blocking three shots and notching one assist in 32 minutes. Newly promoted Ish Smith added 15 points, nine assists, four rebounds, and two steals. Isaiah Canaan hit four three - pointer off the bench, and his 115 three - point attempts after the All-Star break ties Stephen Curry for most. Thomas Robinson was held out as he deals with a rib contusion. He plans to return for the Sixers’ next game. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Cleanthony Early each missed their third straight game due to injury. Lou Amundson was limited to 16 minutes as he fought off an illness. Former Sixer Alexey Shved scored a career - high 25 points and made a career - high seven three - pointers. Langston Galloway struggled the second night of a back - to - back, scoring two points in 33 minutes in his return to his hometown. Cole Aldrich failed to block a shot for the first time in nine contests. The Knicks were held to 32 second - half points and shot 36 percent overall. The Sixers begin a three - game Western Conference road trip Sunday against the Lakers. The Knicks concluded a mini two - game road trip Sunday in Toronto, they’re third game in four days.

["TeamStat(G,'76ers') has 52 Percentage of field goals ,has 97 Losses ,has 29 Total points ,has 17 Points in 1st quarter ." "TeamStat(G,'Knicks') has 36 Percentage of field goals ,has 55 Losses ,has 81 Total points ,has 14 Points in 1st quarter ." "PlayerStat(G,'Lou Amundson') has 16 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Alexey Shved') has 7 Assists ,has 25 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Langston Galloway') has 33 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Nerlens Noel') has 1 Assists ,has 3 Blocks ,has 32 3-pointers made ,has 23 Minutes played ,has 14 Points ,has 5 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Ish Smith') has 9 Assists ,has 15 Blocks ,has 4 3-pointers made ,has 2 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Isaiah Canaan') has 4 Assists ."]

The Miami Heat defeated the host Orlando Magic, 108 - 96, on Wednesday in the season opener for both teams at Amway Center. Orlando (0 - 1) was expected to be the more improved team while the Heat (10) were supposed to decline, but that did n't show in the opener. A 37 - 16 run in the second half is when the Heat really pulled away and the Magic simply could n't respond. Defense was key for Miami, as they held Orlando to 39 percent shooting and outrebounded them 53 - 44. Points in the paint was a huge factor as well, with the Heat recording 74 paint points to the Magic's 36. Many people pegged the Heat as a subpar team, but they showed some resiliency in an impressive opener. Hassan Whiteside tallied a team - high 18 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks in the win. Justice Winslow played well too, accumulating 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Goran Dragic was in foul trouble all night, but still finished with 16 points, six rebounds and six assists. Orlando went with a short eight - man rotation in the opener and it simply did n't go well. All five starters did score in double figures, but none of them shot over 50 percent from the field. Evan Fournier led the team in scoring, totaling 20 points, four rebounds and four assists in the defeat. Nikola Vucevic recorded a double - double, amassing 17 points and 14 rebounds. Aaron Gordon played 35 minutes in the defeat, scoring 12 points, grabbing eight boards and dishing out four assists. Both teams return to action on Friday, as the Magic travel to Detroit to play the Pistons and the Heat host the Charlotte Hornets.

["TeamStat(G,'Magic') has 1 Losses ,has 96 Total points ,has 0 Turnovers ." "TeamStat(G,'Heat') has 108 Losses ,has 10 Total points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Justise Winslow') has 4 Assists ,has 15 Blocks ,has 8 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Hassan Whiteside') has 4 Assists ,has 18 Blocks ,has 14 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Goran Dragic') has 6 Assists ,has 16 Blocks ,has 6 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Aaron Gordon') has 4 Assists ,has 35 Blocks ,has 12 Minutes played ,has 8 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Nikola Vucevic') has 17 Assists ,has 14 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Evan Fournier') has 4 Assists ,has 20 Blocks ,has 4 Minutes played ."]

The Washington Wizards defeated the host Chicago Bulls, 107 - 97, at United Center on Wednesday. These are two teams going in opposite directions and this result shows just which way. This game was close throughout though, as there were 11 ties and 17 lead changes in total, with neither team leading by more than 13 points. The fourth quarter is when things really separated, with Washington winning that quarter, 30 - 20. The shooting was the glaring difference, as the Wizards shot 52 percent from the field, while the Bulls barely cracked 40 percent. In addition, Chicago went just 3 - of - 18 from three - point range and 18 - of - 25 from the free - throw line. Fastbreak points was the only other big differential, with Washington doubling up Chicago, 32 - 16 in that category. Washington (13 - 15) have now won six of their last eight games and road wins against a tough team like the Bulls shows their recent progression. John Wall was once again the catalyst, as he tallied 23 points, six rebounds, nine assists and three steals. Bradley Beal was n't far behind, as he accrued 21 points, five assists and two steals. Marcin Gortat recorded a double - double, totaling 14 points and 11 rebounds. Otto Porter played just 12 minutes, as he left with back spasms in the second quarter. The Wizards will look to keep rolling on Friday in a road matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. Chicago (14 - 14) has now lost seven of their last 10 games and home losses against teams like the Wizards simply wo n't get it done. Jimmy Butler did all he could for the Bulls, as he led the team with 20 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Taj Gibson also played well, amassing 17 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in the defeat. Rajon Rondo did provide six rebounds and 10 assists, but shot just 1 - of - 10 from the field to score three points. Dwyane Wade also shot poorly, but accumulated 19 points, three rebounds and three assists. Butler, Rondo and Wade combined to shoot 14 - of - 50 in the loss. The Bulls will look to get out of this slump on Friday in a road matchup against the Charlotte Hornets.

["TeamStat(G,'Bulls') has 40 Percentage of field goals ,has 14 Losses ,has 97 Total points ,has 20 Points in 4th quarter ,has 14 Turnovers ." "TeamStat(G,'Wizards') has 52 Percentage of field goals ,has 15 Losses ,has 107 Total points ,has 30 Points in 4th quarter ,has 10 Turnovers ,has 13 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Marcin Gortat') has 14 Assists ,has 11 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Bradley Beal') has 5 Assists ,has 21 Field goals attempted ,has 2 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'John Wall') has 9 Assists ,has 23 Field goals attempted ,has 6 Field goals made ,has 3 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jimmy Butler') has 5 Assists ,has 20 Field goals attempted ,has 11 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Taj Gibson') has 17 Assists ,has 11 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Dwyane Wade') has 3 Assists ,has 19 Field goals attempted ,has 3 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Rajon Rondo') has 10 Assists ,has 10 Field goals attempted ,has 1 Field goals made ,has 3 Points ,has 6 Total rebounds ."]

The Houston Rockets (22 - 9) defeated the Charlotte Hornets (10 - 23) 102 - 83 on Wednesday. Houston snapped their two - game losing streak with the win. Josh Smith continues to struggle with his shot since moving into the starting lineup three games ago, but he had a productive night in other categories, finishing with a line of five points, four rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks in 28 minutes. The Rockets had a poor showing on offense Wednesday. It was their defense that got the win. They held the Hornets to 38 percent shooting from the field and 17 percent from beyond the arc. Houston will go on the road to face the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday. Charlotte has lost four straight, and with Al Jefferson (groin) expected to miss at least the next four weeks, it's getting hard to find reasons to think the Hornets could climb back into the playoff conversation this season. Lance Stephenson (pelvic) has started to do some work in practice but is n't considered too close to returning. Most of Charlotte's options in the frontcourt right now are underwhelming, but Michael Kidd-Gilchrist showed up well Wednesday with 16 points and eight rebounds in 28 minutes. They'll return home to host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.

["TeamStat(G,'Rockets') has 9 Percentage of 3 points ,has 102 Percentage of field goals ,has 22 Losses ." "TeamStat(G,'Hornets') has 17 Percentage of 3 points ,has 38 Percentage of field goals ,has 23 Losses ,has 83 Total points ,has 10 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Michael Kidd-Gilchrist') has 28 Assists ,has 16 Blocks ,has 8 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Josh Smith') has 3 Assists ,has 3 Blocks ,has 28 Minutes played ,has 3 Personal fouls ,has 5 Points ,has 4 Total rebounds ,has 3 Steals ."]

Philadelphia overcame a 13 - point fourth - quarter deficit, forced 17 turnovers and limited Boston to 40 percent shooting from the field and 21 percent from three - point range. Dario Saric's 23 points led the Sixers. Robert Covington tallied 16 points and drained the go - ahead three - pointer. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot supplied 13 points. Jahlil Okdafor (knee) had four points in 12 minutes before exiting. A trio of nine - point efforts from Sergio Rodriguez, Gerald Henderson and Nik Stauskas paced the reserves. Al Horford's 27 points paced the Celtics. Jae Crowder registered 15 points, while Terry Rozier was next with a bench - leading 14 - point, 10 - rebound double - double. Avery Bradley supplied 13 point and Kelly Olynyk was productive off the bench as well with 12. Marcus Smart drew a second straight start for Isaiah Thomas (knee) and produced eight points, eight assists, six rebounds and two steals.

["TeamStat(G,'Celtics') has 21 Percentage of 3 points ,has 17 Turnovers ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jae Crowder') has 15 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Al Horford') has 27 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Avery Bradley') has 13 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Marcus Smart') has 8 Assists ,has 8 Minutes played ,has 6 Points ,has 2 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Terry Rozier') has 14 Assists ,has 10 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kelly Olynyk') has 12 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Robert Covington') has 16 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Dario Saric') has 23 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jahlil Okafor') has 12 Assists ,has 4 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot') has 13 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Gerald Henderson') has 9 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Nik Stauskas') has 9 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Sergio Rodriguez') has 9 Assists ."]

The Golden State Warriors (31 - 5) defeated the Miami Heat (17 - 22) 104 - 89 on Wednesday at Oracle Arena in Oakland. The Warriors got off to an extremely fast start in this game, out - scoring the Heat 55 - 38 in the first half alone. The Warriors were the superior shooters in this game, going 47 percent from the field and 45 percent from the three - point line, while the Heat went 42 percent from the floor and just 33 percent from beyond the arc. The Warriors were also able to force the Heat into 19 turnovers, while only committing 13 of their own. The Warriors were led by their superstar backcourt of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, as they were the only players on the team to reach double figures in points. Curry went an impressive 11 - for - 19 from the field and 7 - for - 10 from the three - point line to score a game - high of 32 points, while also adding three assists and two steals. He's combined for 59 points over his last two games, as he continues to have the hot hand. Thompson on the other hand went 7 - for - 17 from the floor and 3 - for - 9 from beyond the arc to score 19 points. The Warriors had a solid bench contribution in this one, as they scored 41 points to help out the starters. Both Andre Iguodala and Leaondro Barbosa were the bench scoring leaders with nine points apiece. Chris Bosh and Luol Deng were the biggest contributions from the Heat in this game. Bosh finished with 26 points (8 - 18 FG, 2 - 4 3Pt, 8 - 8 FT) and seven rebounds, while Deng had 19 points (6 - 11 FG, 2 - 4 3Pt, 5 - 8 FT) and seven rebounds. Bosh was coming off a a very poor shooting performance (4 - 17 FG, 0 - 4 3Pt) on Tuesday, so it was good to see him have a bounce back game. With Dwyane Wade sitting out with a hamstring injury, rookie Shabazz Napier moved into the starting lineup for the first time in his career. He finished with 10 points (3 - 7 FG, 1 - 3 3Pt, 3 - 4 FT) and six assists, marking a new season - high in assists. The only other Heat player to reach double figures was Hassan Whiteside, who also moved into the starting lineup, and finished with 10 points. He added 12 rebounds, notching his second double - double in the last three games. The Warriors' next game will be on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday, while the Heat will travel to Sacramento to play the Kings on Friday.

["TeamStat(G,'Warriors') has 45 Percentage of 3 points ,has 47 Percentage of field goals ,has 5 Losses ,has 104 Total points ,has 13 Turnovers ,has 31 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Heat') has 33 Percentage of 3 points ,has 42 Percentage of field goals ,has 22 Losses ,has 89 Total points ,has 17 Turnovers ." "PlayerStat(G,'Luol Deng') has 4 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ,has 11 3-pointers attempted ,has 6 3-pointers made ,has 8 Field goals attempted ,has 5 Field goals made ,has 19 Free throws attempted ,has 7 Free throws made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Chris Bosh') has 4 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ,has 18 3-pointers attempted ,has 8 3-pointers made ,has 8 Field goals attempted ,has 8 Field goals made ,has 26 Free throws attempted ,has 7 Free throws made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Hassan Whiteside') has 3 Assists ,has 3 Blocks ,has 10 3-pointers attempted ,has 12 3-pointers made ,has 3 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Shabazz Napier') has 6 Assists ,has 3 Blocks ,has 1 3-pointers attempted ,has 7 3-pointers made ,has 3 Field goals attempted ,has 4 Field goals made ,has 3 Free throws attempted ,has 10 Free throws made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Klay Thompson') has 9 Assists ,has 3 Blocks ,has 17 3-pointers attempted ,has 7 3-pointers made ,has 19 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Stephen Curry') has 3 Assists ,has 10 Blocks ,has 7 3-pointers attempted ,has 19 3-pointers made ,has 11 Field goals attempted ,has 2 Field goals made ,has 32 Free throws attempted ,has 2 Free throws made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Andre Iguodala') has 9 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Leandro Barbosa') has 9 Assists ."]

The Atlanta Hawks (37 - 29) defeated the Memphis Grizzlies (39 - 27) 95 - 83 on Saturday. The Hawks put together one of their strongest defensive efforts of the year in stifling a depleted Grizzlies offense, which finally seemed to hit a wall after playing well in recent games despite numerous injuries. Saturday, they were once again without Zach Randolph (knee), Mike Conley (foot) and Chris Andersen (shoulder), leaving them considerably short - handed. Memphis also appeared spent after an exhilirating overtime victory over the Pelicans on Friday night, and saw only one starter, Tony Allen, post double - digit scoring. They managed a lackluster 35 percent success rate from the field, and a 26 percent figure from three - point range. Their fatigue also was reflected in their 16 turnovers, and their overall sluggish performance. Allen's 15 points paced the Memphis starting five, and he added nine rebounds and two steals. Lance Stephenson was the overall team leader on offense for the second straight night, posting 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists over 30 minutes. The newly - signed Ray McCallum acquitted himself well in his first game with the Grizzlies, totaling 13 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. Jarell Martin was the third reserve to post double - digit scoring, registering 10 points, four rebounds and a steal. The Grizzlies remain in second place in the Western Conference's Southwest Division, and currently hold the fifth seed in the conference. They head to Houston to face the Rockets on Monday night. Atlanta was paced by Paul Millsap, who posted 21 points, seven rebounds, five assists, a steal and a block. Al Horford followed with 19 points, eight boards, two assists and four blocks. Jeff Teague was next in line with 18 points, seven assists, two rebounds, a steal and two blocks. Kyle Korver contributed 15 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks. Thabo Sefolosha led the Hawks bench with 13 points, 11 rebounds, a steal and two blocks. Atlanta remains in third place in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division, and has a hold of the sixth seed in the conference as well. They're home again against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.

["TeamStat(G,'Hawks') has 29 Percentage of 3 points ,has 95 Percentage of field goals ,has 37 Losses ." "TeamStat(G,'Grizzlies') has 26 Percentage of 3 points ,has 35 Percentage of field goals ,has 27 Losses ,has 83 Total points ,has 16 Turnovers ,has 39 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Tony Allen') has 1 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 1 3-pointers attempted ,has 5 3-pointers made ,has 15 Free throws attempted ,has 9 Minutes played ,has 2 Offensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jarell Martin') has 10 Assists ,has 4 Blocks ,has 1 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Ray McCallum') has 2 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 13 3-pointers attempted ,has 4 3-pointers made ,has 2 Free throws attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Lance Stephenson') has 6 Assists ,has 30 Blocks ,has 18 3-pointers attempted ,has 8 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Paul Millsap') has 5 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 21 3-pointers attempted ,has 7 3-pointers made ,has 1 Free throws attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Al Horford') has 2 Assists ,has 4 Blocks ,has 19 3-pointers attempted ,has 8 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kyle Korver') has 3 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ,has 15 3-pointers attempted ,has 4 3-pointers made ,has 2 Free throws attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jeff Teague') has 7 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ,has 18 3-pointers attempted ,has 2 3-pointers made ,has 1 Free throws attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Thabo Sefolosha') has 2 Assists ,has 13 Blocks ,has 11 3-pointers attempted ,has 1 3-pointers made ."]

The visiting San Antonio Spurs demolished the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, 110 - 90. The Spurs (24 - 6) bounced back from a loss to the Clippers on Thursday with a crushing defeat of the Blazers on Friday. San Antonio advanced to 16 - 2 on the road, remaining the league's best road team. On Friday, star forward Kawhi Leonard led the way with 33 points on incredible efficiency. Leonard shot 9 - of - 15 including 5 - of - 7 from three and made all ten of his free - throw attempts. Forward LaMarcus Aldridge upped his production in the absence of big man Pau Gasol (rest), dropping 18 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists. Bench guard Patty Mills also added 23. Portland (13 - 19) is in the midst of a midseason crisis, as the team has now gone just 1 - 9 in its last ten games. The Blazers' defense currently ranks as the worst of any team in this decade, and it showed on Friday. Portland allowed the Spurs to shoot a scorching 50 percent from the field and 60 percent from beyond the arc. The team also saw underwhelming offensive production, as star guards Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum scored only 16 points each. The Spurs will play host to the Chicago Bulls on Christmas Day.

["TeamStat(G,'Trail Blazers') has 19 Percentage of 3 points ,has 90 Percentage of field goals ,has 13 Losses ." "TeamStat(G,'Spurs') has 60 Percentage of 3 points ,has 50 Percentage of field goals ,has 6 Losses ,has 110 Total points ,has 24 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kawhi Leonard') has 3 Assists ,has 7 Defensive rebounds ,has 5 3-pointers attempted ,has 15 3-pointers made ,has 9 Field goals attempted ,has 10 Field goals made ,has 10 Free throws attempted ,has 33 Free throws made ,has 3 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'LaMarcus Aldridge') has 6 Assists ,has 18 Defensive rebounds ,has 14 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Patty Mills') has 23 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'CJ McCollum') has 16 Assists ."]

The Golden State Warriors (59 - 13) defeated the Memphis Grizzlies (50 - 23) 107 - 84. The Splash brothers, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, turned the most intriguing matchup of the night into a slaughter. Curry put up 38 point and 10 assists, as Thompson poured in 28 points of his own to help their team take down the second best team in the Western Conference. Andrew Bogut played a big role in slowing down Marc Gasol, who's having his best season as a pro. The Warriors have a white - knuckle grip on the top seed in the and also own the best record in all of the NBA this season. They combine good chemistry with the ability to play multiple styles of offence to back up their spectacular defense. They stand a chance at ending the regular season with one of the best team records of all - time. Memphis was unable to successfully defend their homecourt against the Warriors on Friday. Most teams have been unable to do that this year but few would've expected the laugher that ensued when these two teams matched up. Jeff Green was probably the top performer for the Griz, he finished with 16 points and eight boards to go along with a negative 16 in the plus/minus statistic. Marc Gasol had one of his worst games of the year posting 13 points, five rebounds, four turnovers and a mind boggling negative 27 in the plus/minus. The Grizzlies will look to forget this game as they will take on the Spurs in San Antonio on Sunday. The Warriors will try and continue their spectacular play when they take on the Bucks in Milwaukee on Saturday.

["TeamStat(G,'Grizzlies') has 23 Losses ,has 84 Total points ,has 50 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Warriors') has 13 Losses ,has 107 Total points ,has 59 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Klay Thompson') has 28 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Stephen Curry') has 10 Assists ,has 38 Offensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Marc Gasol') has 1 Assists ,has 13 Offensive rebounds ,has 5 Personal fouls ,has 4 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jeff Green') has 1 Assists ,has 1 Offensive rebounds ,has 1 Personal fouls ,has 16 Points ,has 8 Total rebounds ,has 1 Steals ,has 1 Turnovers ."]

The Boston Celtics defeated the Utah Jazz, 115 - 104, at TD Center on Tuesday. The Celtics (21 - 14) came in to the game refreshed, having last played when the calendar still read 2016. Isaiah Thomas, who'd posted a career - high 52 points in that Dec. 30 victory, decided that he wanted to get the new year off on a momentous note as well. This time his remarkable accomplishment came in the assist category, as the point guard dished out a career - best 15 dimes, and scored 29 points, hauled in four rebounds and recorded a steal. His standout effort helped Boston overcome a slim 29 - 28 deficit after one quarter and outscore the Jazz (22 - 14) by an 87 - 75 margin the rest of the way. Utah was led by Gordon Hayward's 23 points, which he supplemented with two rebounds, two assists and a steal. Derrick Favors saw 29 minutes, his highest allotment since returning from a lengthy absence due to knee trouble, and produced 12 points, seven assists and six boards. Rodney Hood supplied nine points, four assists and three rebounds. Rudy Gobert could only tally eight points but did haul in 13 rebounds and record a block. A pair of wily veterans led the bench, as Joe Johnson generated 17 points, three rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal, while Boris Diaw went for 15 points in just 15 minutes. Al Horford and Jae Crowder checked in behind Thomas with matching 21 - point efforts, with the former adding five rebounds, four assists and a steal, and the latter posting three boards, an assist and a steal. Avery Bradley returned from a recent illness to compile 14 points, three rebounds and two assists. Jaylen Brown led the second unit with 10 - point tally, while Marcus Smart overcame the same stomach virus that had afflicted Bradley to suit up and go for nine points, three assists and a rebound off the bench over 28 minutes. The Jazz cross the border and take on the Toronto Raptors in their next contest on Thursday night, while the Celtics remain home and await the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday evening.

["TeamStat(G,'Celtics') has 14 Losses ,has 115 Total points ,has 28 Points in 1st quarter ,has 21 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Jazz') has 14 Losses ,has 104 Total points ,has 29 Points in 1st quarter ,has 22 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Gordon Hayward') has 2 Assists ,has 23 Blocks ,has 2 Minutes played ,has 1 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Derrick Favors') has 7 Assists ,has 29 Blocks ,has 12 Minutes played ,has 6 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Rudy Gobert') has 1 Assists ,has 8 Blocks ,has 13 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Rodney Hood') has 4 Assists ,has 9 Blocks ,has 3 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Joe Johnson') has 2 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ,has 17 Minutes played ,has 3 Points ,has 1 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Boris Diaw') has 15 Assists ,has 15 Blocks ,has 1 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jae Crowder') has 1 Assists ,has 21 Blocks ,has 3 Minutes played ,has 1 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Al Horford') has 4 Assists ,has 21 Blocks ,has 5 Minutes played ,has 1 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Avery Bradley') has 2 Assists ,has 14 Blocks ,has 3 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Isaiah Thomas') has 15 Assists ,has 29 Blocks ,has 4 Minutes played ,has 1 Points ,has 1 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Marcus Smart') has 3 Assists ,has 28 Blocks ,has 9 Minutes played ,has 1 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jaylen Brown') has 10 Assists ."]

The Rockets (15 - 14) defeated the Hornets (15 - 12) 102 - 95 at Toyota Center on Monday. After a very tight first half, the Rockets managed to jump out to a nine - point lead heading into the fourth quarter. But the Hornets responded to even the score, though they were unable to contain James Harden. After scoring just 18 points in Saturday's win, Harden turned in a vintage performance with 36 points (9 - 16 FG, 2 - 7 3Pt, 16 - 19 FT) to go along with seven assists and five rebounds. It was the third straight win for the Rockets, who are over the .500 mark on the season for the first time since Nov. 7. Harden did n't get much help from the rest of the Rockets' starters, but he did get some support from the bench. Terrence Jones posted 17 points on 7 - of - 11 shooting from the field and Marcus Thornton put up 13 with a pair of 3 - pointers. Dwight Howard was relatively quiet after recording back - to - back double - doubles. Houston will get a chance to extend its win streak to four games Wednesday against the Magic. The Hornets - - for the most part - - played a pretty tight defensive game, but had no one to slow down Harden, which was the difference in the end. They also experienced one of their worst offensive games of the season, shooting just under 35 percent from the field while hitting just 12 - of - 41 attempts from beyond the arc. Charlotte tried to spread the ball around with seven players taking eight or more shot attempts, but it did n't translate into winning basketball. The Hornets will look to end their mini two - game skid Wednesday against the Celtics at home.

["TeamStat(G,'Rockets') has 14 Percentage of field goals ,has 102 Losses ,has 15 Total points ." "TeamStat(G,'Hornets') has 35 Percentage of field goals ,has 12 Losses ,has 95 Total points ,has 15 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'James Harden') has 7 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 7 3-pointers attempted ,has 2 3-pointers made ,has 16 Field goals attempted ,has 9 Field goals made ,has 19 Free throws attempted ,has 16 Free throws made ,has 1 Offensive rebounds ,has 36 Points ,has 5 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Terrence Jones') has 11 Assists ,has 7 Blocks ,has 17 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Marcus Thornton') has 13 Assists ."]

The Los Angeles Clippers (45 - 27) defeated the visiting Denver Nuggets (31 - 43) 105 - 90, Sunday afternoon at Staples Center. The Nuggets entered Sunday winners of three of their last four, while the Clippers had lost three of four, however the trends did not continue as the Clippers downed the Nuggets, defending home court and clinching a playoff berth for the fifth year in a row. Clippers sit comfortably in fourth place, 5 games ahead of Memphis, while Denver needs to go nearly perfect in the rest of its games in order to have a shot at eighth. The Nuggets' window of opportunity is closing, as they play two of their next three games on the road, where they are now 14 - 24. Six players scored in double digits, while 11 players logged over 10 minutes and no starters played more than 30 minutes for the Clippers as they used a sound team effort in the victory. DeAndre Jordan finished with 16 points, 16 rebounds, six blocked shots, two assists and two steals, while Chris Paul added 14 points, nine assists, six rebounds, one steal and one block, to lead the team. The Clippers shot 48 percent from the field and gave up 15 turnovers but also forced Denver into 15 turnovers, while holding them to only 39 percent shooting from the field and 24 percent from long range. The Nugget's bench out - scored their starters 62 - 28. D.J Augustin was solid in 34 minutes off the bench, with 18 points and 10 assists. Jusuf Nurkic added 19 points, seven rebounds and three assists, in 24 minutes off the bench. Gary Harris was the only starter to score in double digits, as he chipped in 11 points in 29 minutes. Next, the Nuggets host Dallas on Monday, in a game that can make or break either team's playoff hopes. The Clippers host the Celtics on Monday.

["TeamStat(G,'Clippers') has 48 Percentage of 3 points ,has 27 Percentage of field goals ,has 105 Losses ,has 45 Total points ." "TeamStat(G,'Nuggets') has 24 Percentage of 3 points ,has 39 Percentage of field goals ,has 43 Losses ,has 90 Total points ,has 15 Turnovers ,has 31 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Gary Harris') has 29 Assists ,has 11 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jusuf Nurkic') has 3 Assists ,has 24 Blocks ,has 19 Minutes played ,has 7 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'D.J. Augustin') has 10 Assists ,has 34 Blocks ,has 18 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'DeAndre Jordan') has 2 Assists ,has 6 Blocks ,has 16 Minutes played ,has 16 Points ,has 2 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Chris Paul') has 9 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 14 Minutes played ,has 6 Points ,has 1 Total rebounds ."]

The Golden State Warriors (65 - 15), the best team in the Western Conference, defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves (16 - 64), the worst team in the Western Conference, 110 - 101. The Warriors continue to win even though they’ve nothing to play for, having clinched home - court advantage throughout the playoffs already. Leandro Barbosa was given the second straight night off as he deals with an Achilles issue. Stephen Curry added to his NBA record three - pointers made in a season, sinking five to push his total 281 with two games left. He finished the night with 34 points, seven assists, four rebounds and four steals in 35 minutes, improving his bid for Most Valuable Player. Draymond Green, potential Defensive Player of the Year, added 13 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block in 37 minutes. Harrison Barnes, the only Warrior to play every game this season, secured his sixth double - double with 13 points and 12 rebounds in 29 minutes. The Timberwolves 10 - game losing streak gives them the same record as the New York Knicks, both claiming the league’s worst record. Since they Wolves swept the season series, the Knicks hold the inside track for the best chance of landing the first overall selection. Both teams are two games better than the Philadelphia 76ers with two games remaining. Down to eight healthy players, the Wolves learned earlier in the day Ricky Rubio will have arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle early next week, essentially ending his season. Rookie of the Year frontrunner Andrew Wiggins supplied 17 points, a career - high nine assists, six rebounds, three steals, and one block in 44 minutes. He currently leads the NBA in minutes played, surpassing the Rockets’ James Harden by eight minutes for a total of 2,887. Fellow rookie Zach LaVine put on a performance of his own, scoring a career - high 37 points against the league's best defense. Kevin Martin, Justin Hamilton, and Chase Budinger all chipped in with 12 points each. The Warriors host the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, a contest which will help clear up the top of the Western Conference playoff seeding. The Timberwolves begin a two - game homestand Monday against the Pelicans.

["TeamStat(G,'Warriors') has 15 Losses ,has 110 Total points ,has 65 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Timberwolves') has 64 Losses ,has 101 Total points ,has 16 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Andrew Wiggins') has 9 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 44 3-pointers made ,has 17 Minutes played ,has 6 Points ,has 3 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Justin Hamilton') has 12 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kevin Martin') has 12 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Zach LaVine') has 37 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Chase Budinger') has 12 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Harrison Barnes') has 29 Assists ,has 13 Blocks ,has 12 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Draymond Green') has 5 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 37 3-pointers made ,has 13 Minutes played ,has 14 Points ,has 2 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Stephen Curry') has 7 Assists ,has 5 Blocks ,has 35 3-pointers made ,has 34 Minutes played ,has 4 Points ,has 4 Total rebounds ."]

The Detroit Pistons defeated the host Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, 95 - 85. Detroit (14 - 13) bounced back with the win after losing 97 - 79 to the lowly 76ers on Sunday. Wednesday's game went the opposite direction for the Pistons, in part due to their utter domination on the glass. The team held a 50 - 30 rebounding advantage and had 10 offensive boards. Big man Andre Drummond led the team with a whopping 17 rebounds, despite a marginal contribution on offense (three points, 1 - of - 3 shooting). Point guard Reggie Jackson led the team with 20 points, while forward Jon Leuer came off the bench for 19. The team shot an impressive 50 percent overall on the night. Dallas (6 - 19) sits at the bottom of the Western Conference despite a six - game stretch of .500 basketball heading into Wednesday. The team struggled on offense in Wednesday's contest, shooting just 41 percent from the field. Only two Mavericks scored in double figures, as forward Harrison Barnes led the team with 19 points. Guard Deron Williams scored 16 and shot 9 - of - 9 at the line but was just 3 - of - 13 from the field. Williams also recorded a team - high five assists. The Pistons will play in Washington on Friday against the Wizards, while the Mavericks will head to Utah to take on the Jazz.

["TeamStat(G,'Mavericks') has 19 Losses ,has 85 Total points ,has 6 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Pistons') has 13 Losses ,has 95 Total points ,has 14 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Andre Drummond') has 3 Assists ,has 1 Field goals attempted ,has 3 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Reggie Jackson') has 20 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jon Leuer') has 19 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Harrison Barnes') has 2 Assists ,has 2 Field goals attempted ,has 19 Field goals made ,has 2 Free throws attempted ,has 2 Free throws made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Deron Williams') has 5 Assists ,has 13 Field goals attempted ,has 3 Field goals made ,has 9 Free throws attempted ,has 9 Free throws made ,has 16 Offensive rebounds ."]

The host Dallas Mavericks defeated the Utah Jazz on Thursday, 112 - 105, in overtime at American Airlines Center. Dallas (21 - 32) bounced back from two straight losses with a clutch overtime victory against the surging Jazz. Despite Utah leading for much of the game, Dallas was able to pull close at the end of regulation and dominate OT. Forward Harrison Barnes led the Mavericks' offense, scoring 31 points on 12 - of - 20 shooting. Veteran Dirk Nowitzki, meanwhile, scored 20 points including the shot that forced the Jazz into overtime. Nowitzki's veteran presence and scoring touch has been an integral part of the Mavericks' season beginning to turn around. The team failed to find outside shooting on Thursday, hitting only five three - pointers, but made over 50 percent of its shots from the field on the night. Utah (34 - 20), meanwhile, snapped a four - game winning streak with the overtime collapse. The Jazz had led for most of regulation but seemingly ran out of steam at the end of the game, ceding plenty of offense to the Mavericks in OT. Utah saw 36 points from All-Star forward Gordon Hayward, but had a sub - par offensive night outside of his performance. The team hit 13 three - pointers but shot five percent worse from the field than their opponent. Dallas will host the Magic on Saturday, while Utah will host the Celtics.

["TeamStat(G,'Mavericks') has 32 Losses ,has 112 Total points ,has 21 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Jazz') has 20 Losses ,has 105 Total points ,has 34 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Gordon Hayward') has 36 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Harrison Barnes') has 20 Field goals attempted ,has 12 Field goals made ,has 31 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Dirk Nowitzki') has 20 Field goals attempted ."]

The Los Angeles Clippers (2 - 1) defeated the Houston Rockets (1 - 2) 124 - 99, in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals on Friday. Chris Paul (hamstring) was able to play limited minutes, and started off with a bang. After his first stint in the first quarter he had four points and five assists to get off to a nice start. His teammates kept their foot on the gas which made coach Doc Rivers life easy, as we was only needed to play for 23 minutes. Rivers' son Austin played maybe the best game of his career. He had the crowd in a frenzy, screaming his name at the top of their lungs in the third. He scored 16 points in the third and helped Los Angeles end the quarter on a 170 run. J.J. Redick also blasted 31 points for a new career, playoff - high. DeAndre Jordan was an immaculate plus - 36 in the plus/minus statistic, compared to the negative - 10 of his defensive assignment Dwight Howard. The Rockets looked sluggish for most of Game 3, and clearly did n't have the gusto that the Clippers seemed to have an unlimited supply of. Once the game was out of reach in the third quarter, both teams became chippy. That was to be expected from the get - go seeing as Matt Barnes recieved a $50,0 fine for cursing out the mother of Most Valuable Player runner - up James Harden. 25 points and 11 assists was the final line for Harden, who also had five turnovers. Houston will need a big game from him and Dwight Howard in Game 4 on Sunday to regain some confidence after the blowout suffered in Game 3.

["TeamStat(G,'Clippers') has 1 Losses ,has 124 Total points ,has 2 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Rockets') has 2 Losses ,has 99 Total points ,has 1 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Dwight Howard') has 4 Assists ,has 36 Defensive rebounds ,has 3 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'James Harden') has 11 Assists ,has 3 Defensive rebounds ,has 4 3-pointers made ,has 3 Free throws made ,has 25 Free throw percentage ,has 3 Minutes played ,has 5 Personal fouls ." "PlayerStat(G,'DeAndre Jordan') has 10 Assists ,has 36 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'JJ Redick') has 31 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Chris Paul') has 23 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Austin Rivers') has 23 Assists ."]

Tobias Harris' team - high 24 points helped the Pistons notch just their second road victory of the season. He was aided by a pair of 18 - point efforts from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Marcus Morris, which helped make up for an ejection of Andre Drummond for elbowing Roy Hibbert. Drummond scored just three points over 13 minutes. Jon Leuer was once again solid off the bench, leading the second unit with 12 points. The Pistons shot 49 percent overall while limiting the Hornets to sub - 40 percent tallies from the field and three - point range. Only three Hornets players scored in double digits. Kemba Walker's 23 points led the way, while Michael Kidd-Gilchrist poured in 10 points overall. Cody Zeller and Nicolas Batum supplemented their eight - point outputs with 10 and 11 rebounds, respectively. Marco Belinelli's 11 points lead the second unit.

["TeamStat(G,'Hornets') has 40 Percentage of field goals ." "TeamStat(G,'Pistons') has 49 Percentage of field goals ,has 24 Points in 2nd quarter ." "PlayerStat(G,'Tobias Harris') has 24 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Marcus Morris') has 18 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Andre Drummond') has 13 Defensive rebounds ,has 3 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kentavious Caldwell-Pope') has 18 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jon Leuer') has 12 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Michael Kidd-Gilchrist') has 10 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Cody Zeller') has 8 Defensive rebounds ,has 10 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Nicolas Batum') has 10 Defensive rebounds ,has 8 Minutes played ,has 11 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kemba Walker') has 23 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Marco Belinelli') has 11 Defensive rebounds ."]

The Cleveland Cavaliers (28 - 20) defeated the Sacramento Kings (16 - 29) 101 - 90 on Friday. Cleveland went into beast mode in the middle of January. They've rattled off nine straight wins to adequately squelch any erroneous chatter about coach David Blatt being on the hot seat. LeBron James returned from a one - game absence Friday after having sat out Wednesday's 99 - 94 win over the Portland Trail Blazers with a wrist injury. James put up 19 points, seven assists, four steals and two blocks in 33 minutes, putting to rest most injury concerns regarding his wrist. Kevin Love rebounded from a poor 3 - for - 15 shooting performance Wednesday to put a game - high 23 points and 10 rebounds in 29 minutes. The Cavaliers are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings, 12 games behind the conference - leading Atlanta Hawks. Sacramento has lost eight straight games as their playoff chances continue to sputter and die. Even with another two and a half months of the regular season, the Kings sit 10 games behind the Suns for the final playoff spot, and between the Kings and Suns sit two playoff - worthy teams in the Thunder and Pelicans. DeMarcus Cousins was named as an injury replacement for Kobe Bryant (shoulder) on Friday for the All-Star Game, and he celebrated with 21 points, 13 rebounds and five steals. Omri Casspi chipped in 15 points off the bench to help, but the Kings were no match for the ascending Cavaliers. The Cavaliers will go on the road to face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. The Kings will finish up their four - game road trip against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.

["TeamStat(G,'Cavaliers') has 20 Losses ,has 101 Total points ,has 15 Points in 4th quarter ,has 28 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Kings') has 29 Losses ,has 90 Total points ,has 16 Points in 4th quarter ." "PlayerStat(G,'DeMarcus Cousins') has 21 Assists ,has 13 Blocks ,has 5 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Omri Casspi') has 15 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'LeBron James') has 7 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ,has 1 3-pointers made ,has 33 Minutes played ,has 1 Personal fouls ,has 19 Points ,has 4 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kevin Love') has 29 Assists ,has 23 Blocks ,has 10 3-pointers made ."]

The Miami Heat (5 - 2) took down the Dallas Mavericks (4 - 3) 105 - 96 at the American Airlines Center on Sunday. The Heat did n't need LeBron James to take down the Mavericks on Sunday night, as it was newly acquired Luol Deng who led the charge with 30 points (13 - 19 FG, 4 - 9 3Pt, 0 - 2 FT), to go along with five rebounds, four assists and one steal. The Heat have gotten off on the right foot to start 2014, and the two players left from the "big three" stepped up once again in this win, with Chris Bosh posting a double - double of 20 points (7 - 10 FG, 0 - 2 3Pt, 6 - 11 FT) and 10 rebounds, while also dishing out five assists. Dwyane Wade had a double - double of his own, with 20 points (9 - 18 FG, 1 - 1 3Pt, 1 - 2 FT) and 10 assists. The Heat head back home to take on the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night. The Mavericks could n't use the home court to their advantage in this game, even though they had five players score in double figures. Tyson Chandler had a big double - double with 16 points (7 - 10 FG, 2 - 3 3Pt) and 15 rebounds, while Monta Ellis chipped in 23 points (8 - 14 FG, 2 - 5 3Pt, 5 - 6 FT) with five assists. Dallas had a few players really struggle shooting the ball though, as Chandler Parsons scored just four points (1 - 9 FG, 0 - 4 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT), and J.J. Barea had only three points (1 - 9 FG, 1 - 3 3Pt). The Mavericks are at home once again on Tuesday night against the Sacramento Kings.

["TeamStat(G,'Mavericks') has 3 Losses ,has 96 Total points ,has 4 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Heat') has 2 Losses ,has 105 Total points ,has 5 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Luol Deng') has 4 Assists ,has 9 3-pointers attempted ,has 4 3-pointers made ,has 19 Field goals attempted ,has 13 Field goals made ,has 2 Free throws attempted ,has 0 Free throws made ,has 30 Offensive rebounds ,has 5 Points ,has 1 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Chris Bosh') has 5 Assists ,has 2 3-pointers attempted ,has 0 3-pointers made ,has 10 Field goals attempted ,has 7 Field goals made ,has 11 Free throws attempted ,has 6 Free throws made ,has 2 Offensive rebounds ,has 20 Points ,has 10 Total rebounds ,has 3 Steals ." "PlayerStat(G,'Dwyane Wade') has 10 Assists ,has 1 3-pointers attempted ,has 1 3-pointers made ,has 18 Field goals attempted ,has 9 Field goals made ,has 2 Free throws attempted ,has 1 Free throws made ,has 20 Offensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Chandler Parsons') has 4 Assists ,has 0 3-pointers attempted ,has 9 3-pointers made ,has 1 Field goals attempted ,has 2 Field goals made ,has 2 Free throws attempted ,has 4 Free throws made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Tyson Chandler') has 10 Assists ,has 7 3-pointers attempted ,has 16 3-pointers made ,has 15 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Monta Ellis') has 5 Assists ,has 5 3-pointers attempted ,has 2 3-pointers made ,has 14 Field goals attempted ,has 8 Field goals made ,has 6 Free throws attempted ,has 5 Free throws made ,has 23 Offensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'J.J. Barea') has 3 Assists ,has 1 3-pointers attempted ,has 9 3-pointers made ,has 1 Field goals attempted ,has 3 Field goals made ."]

The Los Angeles Clippers (30 - 16) defeated the Atlanta Hawks (27 - 20) 85 - 83 on Wednesday. The Clippers improved to 4 - 2 on their East Coast swing largely by taking care of the ball and playing some suffocating defense. Los Angeles managed to force 23 turnovers from the Hawks on the night, while also holding them to 60 points over the final three periods after Atlanta had build a 23 - 17 lead through one quarter. Despite their efforts, the Hawks were in prime position to send matters into overtime as regulation expired, with the ball in the hands of the dependable Paul Millsap. However, the stalwart power forward missed his driving layup with a second on the clock, and the Clippers' DeAndre Jordan came down with a 15th defensive rebound for the second consecutive night to seal the win. The visitors actually struggled somewhat from the field, tallying a 39 percent success rate overall and only 19 percent from three - point range. Their lack of offensive proficiency was evidenced by Jamal Crawford serving as the leading scorer on the night off the bench with a 21 - point total. He added a pair of assists, a rebound and a steal. Jordan came on strong in the fourth quarter to finish with a 13 - point, 19 - rebound double - double, while also adding a block. Chris Paul chipped in with a double - double of his own that consisted of 11 points and 10 assists, with a trio of steals thrown in for good measure. J.J. Redick managed 12 points but could only add a steal to his stat line otherwise. The Clippers remain in second place in the Western Conference's Pacific Division. They now return home and take on the Lakers in an intra - city matchup on Friday. The home team tallied 42 and 44 percent success rates from the field and three - point range, respectively, and saw all five starters hit double - digit scoring. Jeff Teague led the way with 16 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals. However, he also matched Kent Bazemore for the team lead with five turnovers. Al Horford held his own in his tussle with Jordan, managing 15 points, eight boards, six assists and a steal. Kyle Korver and Millsap pitched in with a pair of 14 - point efforts, with the former adding three rebounds, three assists and a block, and the former putting together a 14 - point, 12 - rebound double - double that was supplemented with four assists, a steal and a pair of blocks. Bazemore rounded out the productive night for the starting five with 12 points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal. Despite the loss, the Hawks retain a hold on first place in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division. They're back on the court Thursday night in Indiana to tangle with the Pacers.

["TeamStat(G,'Hawks') has 20 Losses ,has 83 Total points ,has 23 Points in 1st quarter ,has 27 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Clippers') has 16 Losses ,has 85 Total points ,has 17 Points in 1st quarter ,has 30 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'DeAndre Jordan') has 1 Assists ,has 13 Blocks ,has 19 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'JJ Redick') has 12 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Chris Paul') has 10 Assists ,has 11 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jamal Crawford') has 2 Assists ,has 21 Blocks ,has 1 Defensive rebounds ,has 1 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kent Bazemore') has 2 Assists ,has 5 Blocks ,has 5 Defensive rebounds ,has 12 Field goals made ,has 5 Points ,has 1 Total rebounds ,has 5 Steals ." "PlayerStat(G,'Paul Millsap') has 4 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ,has 14 Defensive rebounds ,has 12 Field goals made ,has 1 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Al Horford') has 6 Assists ,has 15 Blocks ,has 8 Defensive rebounds ,has 1 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kyle Korver') has 3 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 14 Defensive rebounds ,has 3 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jeff Teague') has 2 Assists ,has 16 Blocks ,has 3 Defensive rebounds ,has 2 Field goals made ,has 5 Points ."]

The Raptors (9 - 2) handed the Grizzlies (10 - 2) their second loss of the season Wednesday, pulling out a 96 - 92 victory at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto trailed by four entering the fourth quarter but quickly battled back courtesy of third - year guard Terrence Ross. Ross scored 11 straight points in less than three minutes, giving the Raptors an 83 - 82 advantage with 6:11 to play. Memphis would regain the lead but a Kyle Lowry jumper with 1:38 remaining put the Raptors up two, a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. DeMar DeRozan led the way with 21 points for Toronto, shooting 10 - of - 22 from the field. Lowry finished with 18 points and seven assists, while Ross added 16 points. Lou Williams had 13 points off the bench. Memphis, which had its four - game winning streak snapped, got 22 points and 12 rebounds from Marc Gasol. Mike Conley added 19 points and 10 rebounds of his own, while Zach Randolph had an 18 - point, 18 - rebound double - double. Tayshaun Prince chipped in 15 points in 34 minutes. Up next, the Grizzlies host Boston on Friday. Toronto stays home to host the streaking Bucks, also on Friday.

["TeamStat(G,'Raptors') has 2 Losses ,has 96 Total points ,has 9 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Grizzlies') has 2 Losses ,has 92 Total points ,has 10 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Tayshaun Prince') has 34 Assists ,has 15 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Zach Randolph') has 18 Assists ,has 18 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Marc Gasol') has 4 Assists ,has 22 3-pointers made ,has 12 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Mike Conley') has 19 Assists ,has 10 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Terrence Ross') has 16 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'DeMar DeRozan') has 22 Assists ,has 10 3-pointers made ,has 21 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kyle Lowry') has 7 Assists ,has 2 3-pointers made ,has 2 Field goals attempted ,has 2 Field goals made ,has 18 Free throws attempted ,has 2 Free throws made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Lou Williams') has 13 Assists ."]

The Charlotte Hornets (35 - 28) defeated the visiting New Orleans Pelicans (24 - 39) on Wenesday 122 - 113. Kemba Walker led the team with 35 points, his fourth straight outing of 30 or more points. Walker has been on an absolute tear of late, averaging 32 points per game over the duration of Charlotte's current five - game win streak. The point guard has also knocked down an average of four three - pointers per game on 51 percent from beyond the arc during this stretch, and has been shooting 53 percent from the field as a whole. He is now just the second player in Charlotte's history to score 30 or more in four consecutive contests. Even excluding Kemba Walker, the Hornets had a strong showing on the floor. Seven Charlotte players scored in double - digits, with all five starters reaching at least 13. The team shot 46 percent from the floor, but even more importantly had just five team turnovers on the night. The Hornets have been a model of safety and efficiency over the course of their win streak, only proving their ability to make wise decisions in Wednesday's contest. 40 points from Anthony Davis and 38 from Jrue Holiday were not enough to earn New Orleans the win. Davis was the unequivocal focal point for the Pels on Wednesday, taking a team - high 26 shots and pulling down 13 rebounds. Holiday, meanwhile, was lights - out from deep, hitting five three - pointers en route to 13 field goals made. The issue for New Orleans was team play, as the rest of the Pelicans shot just 36 percent from the field on the night. Charlotte held a major advantage in turnovers, as New Orleans committed 13. The Pelicans will visit the Grizzlies on Friday. The Hornets will look to extend their win streak on Friday as they host the Pistons.

["TeamStat(G,'Hornets') has 28 Losses ,has 122 Total points ,has 32 Points in 2nd quarter ,has 5 Turnovers ,has 35 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Pelicans') has 39 Losses ,has 113 Total points ,has 24 Points in 2nd quarter ." "PlayerStat(G,'Anthony Davis') has 26 3-pointers made ,has 40 Field goals attempted ,has 13 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jrue Holiday') has 5 3-pointers made ,has 13 Field goals attempted ,has 38 Field goals made ,has 38 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kemba Walker') has 5 3-pointers made ,has 35 Field goals attempted ."]

Indiana have been dominant at home all season, but this wire - to - wire win for Denver shows just how dangerous they can be going forward. Free-throw shooting was the difference in the game, with Denver hitting 40 - of - 43, while Indiana only went 8 - of - 11 from the charity stripe. The Nuggets also took care of the glass, winning the rebounding battle, 46 - 39. Nikola Jokic was the player of the game, as he collected 30 points, 17 rebounds and four assists. Wilson Chandler finished with 24 points and four rebounds. Danilo Gallinari made his return from a knee injury to total 21 points and 11 rebounds. Paul George led the way for the Pacers, as he accumulated 27 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals. Myles Turner amassed 20 points, four rebounds and four blocks. Jeff Teague accrued 21 points and eight assists.

["TeamStat(G,'Pacers') has 27 Points in 2nd quarter ." "PlayerStat(G,'Wilson Chandler') has 24 Assists ,has 4 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Danilo Gallinari') has 21 Assists ,has 11 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Nikola Jokic') has 30 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Paul George') has 3 Assists ,has 27 Blocks ,has 9 Points ,has 3 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Myles Turner') has 4 Assists ,has 20 Blocks ,has 4 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jeff Teague') has 8 Assists ,has 21 Blocks ."]

The Houston Rockets (39 - 41) steamrolled the Los Angeles Lakers (16 - 64) Sunday afternoon at Toyota Center, 130 - 110. Houston knocked down 17 of their 41 three - point attempts (42 percent) and recorded an absurdly efficient 60 effective field goal percentage as the Lakers defense put up no resistance. Four different Rockets hit at least three shots from downtown as Los Angeles couldn’t run them off the three - point line. James Harden scored 40 points (14 - 31 FG, 6 - 14 3PT, 6 - 8 FT) dished 13 assists and added four rebounds and four steals in an all - around dominant performance. Trevor Ariza (8 - 14 FG, 3 - 7 3PT) and Patrick Beverley (7 - 11 FG, 3 - 6 3PT) added 19 points apiece, and Jason Terry came off the bench to hit three shots from deep and add 11 points in just 20 minutes. The Rockets did whatever they wanted offensively, as they assisted on 30 of their 50 made field goals and committed just 13 turnovers. Kobe Bryant showed flashes of his old self as he scored 35 points (10 - 22 FG, 4 - 11 3PT, 11 - 11 FT), his second - highest output of the season. Bryant has just two games left in his final season. Jordan Clarkson added 21 points (9 - 17 FG, 3 - 8 3PT), but the next high scorer for Los Angeles was Julius Randle with just 11. The Lakers shot well, at 49 percent from the floor and 12 - 28 (43 percent) from three - point land, but they committed 18 turnovers and allowed Houston to grab 16 offensive rebounds as the Rockets dominated every other facet of the game. The Rockets travel to Minnesota for their next game on Monday. The Lakers head to Oklahoma City for a Monday matchup against the Thunder.

["TeamStat(G,'Rockets') has 30 Number of team assists ,has 42 Percentage of 3 points ,has 41 Percentage of field goals ,has 130 Losses ,has 13 Total points ,has 39 Turnovers ." "TeamStat(G,'Lakers') has 43 Number of team assists ,has 49 Percentage of 3 points ,has 64 Percentage of field goals ,has 110 Losses ,has 18 Total points ,has 16 Turnovers ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kobe Bryant') has 2 Assists ,has 11 Defensive rebounds ,has 4 3-pointers attempted ,has 22 3-pointers made ,has 10 Field goals attempted ,has 11 Field goals made ,has 11 Free throws attempted ,has 35 Free throws made ,has 2 Points ,has 2 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Julius Randle') has 11 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jordan Clarkson') has 8 Assists ,has 3 Defensive rebounds ,has 17 3-pointers attempted ,has 9 3-pointers made ,has 21 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Trevor Ariza') has 3 Assists ,has 7 Defensive rebounds ,has 3 3-pointers attempted ,has 14 3-pointers made ,has 8 Field goals attempted ,has 19 Field goals made ,has 3 Free throws attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'James Harden') has 13 Assists ,has 14 Defensive rebounds ,has 6 3-pointers attempted ,has 31 3-pointers made ,has 14 Field goals attempted ,has 8 Field goals made ,has 6 Free throws attempted ,has 40 Free throws made ,has 4 Points ,has 4 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Patrick Beverley') has 6 Assists ,has 3 Defensive rebounds ,has 11 3-pointers attempted ,has 7 3-pointers made ,has 19 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jason Terry') has 7 Assists ,has 3 Defensive rebounds ,has 11 3-pointers attempted ."]

Despite the lack of success for his team, Hassan Whiteside continues to be a one - man wrecking crew in the paint, as his 23 - point, 17 - rebound performance on Monday against the Spurs was his fifth game this season with at least 20 points and 15 rebounds and was also his eighth double - double in nine games. Whiteside is also the only player in the NBA currently averaging at least 17 points and 14 rebounds per game. Whiteside's unbelievably productive start to the 2016 - 17 season is big reason as to why the Heat are ranked in the top 10 in the NBA in points in the paint. While Whiteside's start has n't led to positive team results, the play of Spurs' star Kawhi Leonard has. With 24 points and 12 rebounds on Monday, Leonard led the team in both points and rebounds. And this should n't come as a surprise despite the fact that Leonard plays alongside both LaMarcus Aldridge and Paul Gasol, as this is already the third time this season the small forward has led the team in both categories.

["TeamStat(G,'Spurs') has 23 Points in 4th quarter ." "PlayerStat(G,'Hassan Whiteside') has 1 Assists ,has 9 Field goals made ,has 9 Free throws attempted ,has 23 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kawhi Leonard') has 24 Assists ,has 12 Field goals made ."]

The Chicago Bulls continue to impress as they earned perhaps their biggest win of the season, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 111 - 105 at United Center on Friday. The Cavaliers have a problem on their hands as they dropped their third straight while following the same trend of winning the first and fourth quarters and being dominated in the middle two quarters. In their last two losses combined the Cavs were out - scored 123 - 79 over the second and third quarters and in this contest added to that deficit as they were out - scored 58 - 47 over the second and third quarters. Again, they won the first and fourth quarters on Friday, even cutting the gap to four with eight seconds to go, but fell short once again, leading to a season - high losing streak of three games and counting. LeBron James led the way for the Cavs (13 - 5) with 27 points, 13 assists and five rebounds, while Kyrie Irving added 20 points, eight assists and six rebounds. The Cavs shot 54 percent from the field but only got to the foul line 10 times where they hit 5 - of - 10. The Cavs go on to visit Toronto on Monday, in what will be the second game of a three - game road trip. Jimmy Butler was the high - point man for the Bulls (11 - 7) with 26 points, while Dwyane Wade was right behind with 24 points. All five starters scored in double figures for Chicago, including Rajon Rondo who finished with a triple - double consisting of 15 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds. The Bulls move to 5 - 2 at home but face the second night of a back - to - back as they travel to Dallas to take on the Mavericks Saturday.

["TeamStat(G,'Bulls') has 7 Losses ,has 111 Total points ,has 11 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Cavaliers') has 105 Losses ." "PlayerStat(G,'LeBron James') has 13 Assists ,has 27 Points ,has 5 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kyrie Irving') has 8 Assists ,has 20 Points ,has 6 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jimmy Butler') has 26 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Dwyane Wade') has 24 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Rajon Rondo') has 12 Assists ,has 15 Points ."]

The Toronto Raptors (18 - 6) defeated the New York Knicks (5 - 21) 95 - 90 in overtime on Sunday. Toronto is on a two - game win streak and have taken three of their last four games, showing up spectacularly well despite being without DeMar DeRozan (adductor) for what is expected to be at least another couple weeks. Landry Fields has started the last three games in DeRozan's absence, but it's been the increased workloads of Kyle Lowry and Louis Williams that has carried the Raptors. Terrence Ross even got in on the fun Sunday, putting up a team - high 22 points. The Raptors shot 46 percent from the field and 38 percent from beyond the arc to secure the win. They'll host the Orlando Magic on Monday. New York has lost 11 of their last 12 games, and the bleakness will be hard for them to overcome anytime soon as they're currently trudging through a difficult part of their schedule. Playing without Iman Shumpert (shoulder) and J.R. Smith (plantar fascitis) on Sunday, the Knicks struggled, shooting just 37 percent from the field and 31 percent from beyond the arc. Carmelo Anthony scored a game - high 34 points. The Knicks will host the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday.

["TeamStat(G,'Knicks') has 31 Percentage of 3 points ,has 37 Percentage of field goals ,has 21 Losses ,has 90 Total points ,has 5 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Raptors') has 38 Percentage of 3 points ,has 46 Percentage of field goals ,has 6 Losses ,has 95 Total points ,has 18 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Terrence Ross') has 22 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kyle Lowry') has 3 Assists ,has 3 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Lou Williams') has 3 Assists ,has 3 Defensive rebounds ,has 3 Free throws attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Carmelo Anthony') has 34 Assists ."]

The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in overtime, 97 - 90, at AT & T Center on Saturday. Despite Minnesota leading for the first 44 minutes, this ended up being an overtime thriller. San Antonio really turned it on in the second half, as they overcame a 12 - point halftime deficit and held the T'Wolves to just 28 points in the second half. Defense was key all night, as Minnesota shot just 39 percent form the field and 25 percent from three - point range. San Antonio also combined for 18 blocks and steals, while the Timberwolves could only muster up nine of their own. The Spurs bench was huge as well, outscoring Minnesota's bench, 30 - 18. The Timberwolves (25 - 37) had won three of four headed into this game, so an overtime loss against the Spurs is nothing to be ashamed of. Karl-Anthony Towns led the way for Minnesota, tallying 24 points and 14 rebounds. Ricky Rubio was their most valuable player, as he collected 11 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists en route to a triple - double. Andrew Wiggins finished second in scoring, totaling 17 points and four rebounds, despite going just 6 - of - 24 from the field. Gorgui Dieng recorded a 13 - point, 11 - rebound double - double. On deck for Minnesota is a home matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday. The Spurs (48 - 13) have now won seven - straight games, as this was their second - straight overtime victory. Kawhi Leonard once again carried the load, as he accumulated 34 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and six steals. LaMarcus Aldridge finished second on the team, totaling 18 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Pau Gasol was the only other Spur in double figures, providing 17 points, eight rebounds and three assists off the bench. San Antonio will look to keep rolling on Monday against the Houston Rockets.

["TeamStat(G,'Spurs') has 13 Percentage of 3 points ,has 97 Percentage of field goals ,has 48 Losses ." "TeamStat(G,'Timberwolves') has 25 Percentage of 3 points ,has 39 Percentage of field goals ,has 37 Losses ,has 90 Total points ,has 25 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Andrew Wiggins') has 24 Assists ,has 6 Blocks ,has 17 Field goals attempted ,has 4 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Gorgui Dieng') has 13 Assists ,has 11 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Karl-Anthony Towns') has 24 Assists ,has 14 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Ricky Rubio') has 10 Assists ,has 11 Blocks ,has 13 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kawhi Leonard') has 5 Assists ,has 34 Blocks ,has 10 Field goals attempted ,has 6 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'LaMarcus Aldridge') has 2 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ,has 18 Field goals attempted ,has 10 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Pau Gasol') has 3 Assists ,has 17 Blocks ,has 8 Field goals attempted ."]

In their first full game without Kevin Durant (knee), Golden State shot an atypical 39 percent overall, including an unsightly 20 percent (6 - for - 30) from behind the arc. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson managed to drain only 15 of their combined 49 shot attempts. The Bulls also won the rebounding battle, 49 - 41. Curry's 23 points led the Warriors. Thompson netted only 13 points (5 - 22 FG, 1 - 11 3Pt). Draymond Green's full line consisted of 12 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and one steal. Rookie Patrick McCaw started in Durant's stead and tallied 11 points, while Andre Iguodala led the bench with 10 points. Jimmy Butler's 22 points paced the Bulls. Bobby Portis managed a 17 - point, 13 - rebound double - double, while Dwyane Wade supplied 12 points. Robin Lopez registered 10 points, and Paul Zipser's nine points led the bench.

["TeamStat(G,'Bulls') has 49 Percentage of 3 points ." "TeamStat(G,'Warriors') has 20 Percentage of 3 points ,has 39 Percentage of field goals ,has 41 Rebounds ,has 15 Turnovers ." "PlayerStat(G,'Patrick McCaw') has 11 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Draymond Green') has 7 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ,has 12 3-pointers attempted ,has 8 3-pointers made ,has 1 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Klay Thompson') has 11 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 22 3-pointers attempted ,has 5 3-pointers made ,has 13 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Stephen Curry') has 23 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Andre Iguodala') has 10 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jimmy Butler') has 22 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Bobby Portis') has 17 Assists ,has 13 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Robin Lopez') has 10 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Dwyane Wade') has 12 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Paul Zipser') has 9 Assists ."]

The Golden State Warriors defeated the Chicago Bulls, 123 - 92, on Wednesday at Oracle Arena. This game was essentially over before it started, with the Bulls (26 - 27) ruling out both Jimmy Butler (heel) and Dwyane Wade (illness) prior to tip - off. As a result, the Warriors (44 - 8) stomped all over the undermanned Bulls, and while Chicago did their best to hang around, Golden State made sure with a dominant fourth quarter that there would be no upset that night. Klay Thompson led the way for the Warriors, shooting 10 - of - 18 from the field and 6 - of - 9 from behind the arc en route to a game - high 28 points. Kevin Durant put together a great all - around performance, recording 20 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in just 31 minutes, while Draymond Green produced a lighter version of that stat line, posting 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists in 32 minutes. As a team, Golden State was hitting on all cylinders, shooting 56 percent from the field and 54 percent from behind the arc. As for the Bulls, Paul Zipser filled in for Wade in the starting lineup while Michael Carter-Williams continued to fill the gap left by Butler. However, the two combined to go just 1 - of - 10 from the field with Zipser leaving the game due to an ankle injury after playing just 10 minutes and taking one shot. That left Carter-Williams to go just 1 - of - 9 from the field and finish with three points. Robin Lopez ended up leading the way with a rare double - double for the big man, posting a team - high 17 points and 10 rebounds in 29 minutes. In the end, the absence of Wade and Butler proved to be too much, as the team struggled mightily offensively, shooting just 40 percent from the field and 17 percent from behind the arc. Up next, the Warriors will look to keep things rolling in Memphis against the Grizzlies on Friday, while the Bulls will head to Phoenix on Friday to take on the Suns.

["TeamStat(G,'Warriors') has 54 Percentage of 3 points ,has 56 Percentage of field goals ,has 8 Losses ,has 123 Total points ,has 44 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Bulls') has 27 Percentage of 3 points ,has 92 Percentage of field goals ,has 26 Losses ." "PlayerStat(G,'Paul Zipser') has 2 Assists ,has 1 Defensive rebounds ,has 1 3-pointers attempted ,has 10 3-pointers made ,has 1 Field goals attempted ,has 1 Field goals made ,has 1 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Robin Lopez') has 29 Assists ,has 17 Defensive rebounds ,has 10 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Michael Carter-Williams') has 9 Assists ,has 1 Defensive rebounds ,has 3 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kevin Durant') has 7 Assists ,has 31 Defensive rebounds ,has 10 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Draymond Green') has 6 Assists ,has 32 Defensive rebounds ,has 19 3-pointers attempted ,has 8 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Klay Thompson') has 9 Assists ,has 6 Defensive rebounds ,has 18 3-pointers attempted ,has 10 3-pointers made ,has 28 Field goals attempted ."]

The Toronto Raptors defeated the Boston Celtics, 114 - 106, at Air Canada Centre on Tuesday. Throughout his first seven seasons, DeMar DeRozan had managed two performances of over 40 points. In what has already proven to be a stellar 2016 - 17 campaign, the All-Star shooting guard has already accomplished the feat on three occasions, with Tuesday night being one of those. DeRozan led all scorers with 41 points, which he complemented with 13 boards and two steals. The effort included a 16 - of - 29 tally from the field, and even a rather rare three - pointer on two attempts from beyond the arc. Toronto (25 - 13) was hot collectively from long range, and it proved to be the difference in the game. Both teams equaled the others' solid 47 percent success rate from the field, yet the Raptors managed to drain their 22 three - point attempts at a 46 percent clip. The Celtics (23 - 15), meanwhile, noticeably lagged behind with a 33 percent figure. Isaiah Thomas led the way for Boston with 27 points, seven assists and a rebound. Marcus Smart logged another start for Avery Bradley (Achilles) and went for 16 points, five assists, four rebounds, four steals and a block. Al Horford managed a near double - double with 14 points, nine rebounds, four assists and a steal. Jae Crowder and Amir Johnson combined for just 13 points, but Gerald Green and Kelly Olynyk helped make up for the void off the bench. Green led the second unit with 14 points and five rebounds, and Olynyk provided 13 points, four boards, an assist and a block. DeRozan's usual partner - in - crime, Kyle Lowry, backed him up with 24 points, nine assists, four rebounds, two steals and a block. Jonas Valanciunas contributed an impressive 18 - point, 23 - rebound double - double that also included a pair of blocks. DeMarre Carroll supplied 11 points, four rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block. Patrick Patterson drew the start but went scoreless over 21 minutes. Lucas Nogueira and Cory Joseph paced the bench with matching seven - point efforts. The Celtics return home to face off with the Washington Wizards on Wednesday evening, while the Raptors remain home and next tangle with the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night.

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The Detroit Pistons (25 - 21) defeated the Philadelphia 76ers (7 - 40) 110 - 97 on Wednesday night. The Sixers have shown marked improvement over the last several weeks, as seven wins qualify as such when a team starts the season 0 - 18. However, coming off an impressive victory over a depleted Suns team at home Tuesday, Philadelphia ran into much stiffer competition in the form of the Pistons' top 10 defense. Detroit elicited 17 turnovers from the visitors, which led to 24 points. In contast, a night earlier, the Sixers had taken the ball 17 times themselves from the Suns, which they'd converted to 28 points. Despite the loss, Philadelphia's re - shuffled frontcourt was very productive, with Jerami Grant and Nerlens Noel turning in notable efforts. The pair tallied 21 and 20 points, respectively, helping make up for the absence of Jahlil Okafor (illness). Grant added eight rebounds, two assists, three steals and a block to his team - high scoring total, while Noel also hauled in seven boards, four assists, a steal and a block. Ish Smith was the only other starter with double - digit scoring, totaling 13 points and dishing out six assists, hauling in three boards and posting a block. Robert Covington turned in a modest but productive outing with eight points and eight rebounds. Hollis Thompson paced the Sixers bench with 12 points, two rebounds and an assist. The Sixers remain firmly entrenched in last place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division. They head back home to await the Golden State Warriors for a Saturday afternoon tilt. Detroit received a pair of 20 - point - plus efforts from two of their most dependable stars, Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson. The latter contributed a team - high 27 points, and added three assists, a pair of rebounds and a steal. Meanwhile, Drummond put together one of his trademark double - doubles, slamming home 25 points and grabbing 18 boards. He also added a pair of steals and a block. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope poured in 14 points and added four rebounds, a steal and a block. Marcus Morris was the fourth starter with double - digit scoring, totaling 10 points, seven rebounds and a trio of dimes. However, it was his backup, rookie Stanley Johnson, who outplayed him while also pacing the reserves with 18 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal. The Pistons retain a hold on third place in the Eastern Conference's Central Division. They remain home for a Friday night tussle with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

["TeamStat(G,'Pistons') has 21 Losses ,has 110 Total points ,has 10 Turnovers ,has 25 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'76ers') has 40 Losses ,has 97 Total points ,has 7 Turnovers ." "PlayerStat(G,'Robert Covington') has 8 Assists ,has 8 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jerami Grant') has 2 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 8 Defensive rebounds ,has 3 Personal fouls ." "PlayerStat(G,'Nerlens Noel') has 4 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 7 Defensive rebounds ,has 1 Personal fouls ." "PlayerStat(G,'Ish Smith') has 6 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 13 Defensive rebounds ,has 3 Personal fouls ." "PlayerStat(G,'Hollis Thompson') has 12 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Marcus Morris') has 3 Assists ,has 10 Blocks ,has 7 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Andre Drummond') has 1 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 25 Defensive rebounds ,has 18 Personal fouls ,has 2 Points ,has 2 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kentavious Caldwell-Pope') has 1 Assists ,has 14 Blocks ,has 4 Defensive rebounds ,has 1 Personal fouls ." "PlayerStat(G,'Reggie Jackson') has 2 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ,has 2 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Stanley Johnson') has 3 Assists ,has 18 Blocks ,has 3 Defensive rebounds ,has 1 Personal fouls ."]

C.J. McCollum may have the hot hand at the moment for the Portland Trail Blazers, and his 27 points led all scorers in the win over the Cleveland Cavaliers at home on Wednesday, but it was Allen Crabbe's 24 points off the bench that led to the Blazers' big home win. Crabbe was lights out from the field, evidenced by his 9 - of - 11 shooting, which included three buckets from behind the arc and four assists. McCollum entered the contest averaging 33 points over his last seven games, and Damian Lillard has taken notice, given his deferment of scoring duties. Lillard went 5 - of - 15 from the field, while McCollum finished 11 - of - 20. As for the Cavaliers, LeBron James went on to finish with 20 points, 11 rebounds and four assists, while Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love combined for 28 points.

["TeamStat(G,'Trail Blazers') has 27 Points in 1st quarter ,has 24 Points in 3rd quarter ." "TeamStat(G,'Cavaliers') has 20 Points in 1st quarter ,has 20 Points in 3rd quarter ." "PlayerStat(G,'LeBron James') has 4 Assists ,has 20 Blocks ,has 11 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'CJ McCollum') has 3 Assists ,has 20 Blocks ,has 11 3-pointers made ,has 3 Field goals attempted ,has 27 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Damian Lillard') has 15 Assists ,has 5 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Allen Crabbe') has 3 Assists ,has 11 Blocks ,has 9 3-pointers made ,has 3 Field goals attempted ,has 24 Field goals made ."]

The Toronto Raptors defeated the Brooklyn Nets, 132 - 113, at Air Canada Centre on Friday. The Raptors (26 - 13) likely strolled into Friday night's contest with a healthy degree of confidence, considering the Nets (8 - 31) checked in with only one road victory on the season, as well as the NBA's worst defense in terms of points allowed. However, Brooklyn approached the game with a very different mindset, and as a result, found themselves with only a one - point deficit (90 - 89) entering the fourth quarter. That's when Toronto seemingly woke up, opening the period on an 110 run and outscoring their visitors by a 42 - 24 margin over the final 12 minutes overall. The Raptors finished the night with a stellar 54 percent success rate from the field, helping to offset an even better shooting night from the Nets, who shot 47 percent overall, as well as 47 percent from three - point range. Brooklyn saw Bojan Bogdanovic lead the way with 23 points, which he supplemented with four rebounds and two assists. Brook Lopez managed 20 points, five assists, three rebounds, a steal and a block. Joe Harris produced 11 points, four rebounds and a steal in a start at shooting guard, while Spencer Dinwiddie supplied 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal. Justin Hamilton led the second unit with 11 points, two assists, two rebounds and a steal. Quincy Acy and Randy Foye were productive in reserve roles as well with matching nine - point efforts. DeMar DeRozan's 28 points paced the Raptors, a total that he complemented with four rebounds and two assists. Kyle Lowry followed with 20 points, six boards, six assists, two steals and two blocks. DeMarre Carroll enjoyed one of his best games of the season, posting an 18 - point, 11 - rebound double - double, with 10 of those boards coming on the defensive glass. Jonas Valanciunas generated a 14 - point, 10 - rebound double - double that also included an assist, a steal and a block. Lucas Nogueira got the start at power forward and totaled 10 points, nine rebounds, two assists and four blocks. Cory Joseph led the bench with 16 points, seven assists, four rebounds and two steals, while Terrence Ross supplied 12 points in a reserve role as well. The Nets head back home to face off with the Houston Rockets on Sunday evening, while the Raptors remain home to face off with the New York Knicks on Sunday afternoon.

["TeamStat(G,'Raptors') has 54 Percentage of 3 points ,has 13 Percentage of field goals ,has 132 Losses ,has 42 Total points ,has 26 Points in 4th quarter ." "TeamStat(G,'Nets') has 47 Percentage of 3 points ,has 47 Percentage of field goals ,has 31 Losses ,has 113 Total points ,has 24 Points in 4th quarter ,has 8 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Bojan Bogdanovic') has 2 Assists ,has 23 Blocks ,has 4 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Brook Lopez') has 5 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 20 Defensive rebounds ,has 3 3-pointers attempted ,has 1 Free throws attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Joe Harris') has 11 Assists ,has 4 Blocks ,has 1 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Spencer Dinwiddie') has 3 Assists ,has 10 Blocks ,has 5 Defensive rebounds ,has 1 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Justin Hamilton') has 2 Assists ,has 11 Blocks ,has 2 Defensive rebounds ,has 1 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Randy Foye') has 9 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Quincy Acy') has 9 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'DeMarre Carroll') has 10 Assists ,has 10 Blocks ,has 1 Defensive rebounds ,has 1 3-pointers attempted ,has 1 Free throws attempted ,has 18 Free throws made ,has 11 Offensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Lucas Nogueira') has 2 Assists ,has 4 Blocks ,has 10 Defensive rebounds ,has 9 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jonas Valanciunas') has 1 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 14 Defensive rebounds ,has 10 3-pointers attempted ,has 1 Free throws attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'DeMar DeRozan') has 2 Assists ,has 28 Blocks ,has 4 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kyle Lowry') has 6 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ,has 1 Defensive rebounds ,has 1 3-pointers attempted ,has 20 Free throws attempted ,has 6 Free throws made ,has 2 Offensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Terrence Ross') has 12 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Cory Joseph') has 7 Assists ,has 16 Blocks ,has 4 Defensive rebounds ,has 2 3-pointers attempted ."]

The Houston Rockets defeated the New York Knicks, 118 - 99, at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday. The James Harden Experiment at point guard had been an unqualified success over the first four games of the season, and Wednesday was yet another testament to its efficacy. The perennial All-Star led the way for Houston (3 - 2) once again with a 30 - point, 15 - assist effort that also included six rebounds and a pair of steals. Despite serving as an excellent facilitator for scoring opportunities for his teammates, Harden continues to also put up plenty of shots, recording 16 attempts in the victory. Houston impressively bounced back on the second game of a back - to - back after suffering a 128 - 120 loss to the Cavaliers on Tuesday. Harden's backcourt mate Eric Gordon continues to serve as an outstanding complementary presence, managing 21 points, three rebounds, an assist and a steal. Ryan Anderson was just a rebound short of a double - double with 16 points and nine boards. Trevor Ariza took the court despite suffering a facial laceration in Tuesday's game and managed eight points, four rebounds, three assists and four steals in a gutsy performance. Montrezl Harrell paced the bench with a 17 - point, 10 - rebound double - double in 27 minutes. The Knicks' (1 - 3) attack was spearheaded by Carmelo Anthony, who finished with 21 points, seven rebounds, an assist and a steal. Derrick Rose and Courtney Lee were next with a pair of 16 - point outings, with the former also posting four rebounds, four assists and two steals and the latter managing an assist, two steals and a block. Big men Joakim Noah and Kristaps Porzingis notably came up small on the stat sheet, combining for just three points, which all came from the latter. Brandon Jennings led the reserves with 12 points, three rebounds and three dimes. The Rockets head south to Atlanta for a Saturday night tussle with the Hawks, while the Knicks tangle with the Bulls on Friday night in Chicago.

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The Detroit Pistons defeated the Charlotte Hornets 115 - 114 Thursday at the Palace in Auburn Hills. The game ended up being a lot closer than one would have thought as the final period kicked off, as the the Pistons (17 - 21) opened up a lead as large as 19 points before Kemba Walker and the Hornets (20 - 17) decided to come storming back. After tying the game late, Charlotte ultimately found themselves down one with 1 seconds remaining on the game clock. Marco Belinelli, without a teammate open, threw a pass off a defender's back and drained a jumper off the glass, but it ended up leaving his hands long after the buzzer had sounded. In their victory, the Pistons got a pair of nearly perfect performances off the bench Thursday night, with Tobias Harris continuing his hot streak off the bench, and Boban Marjanovic putting together his best performance of the season. Harris finished with a team - high 25 points on 10 - of - 16 shooting, while Marjanovic, recorded a double - double of 15 points and 18 rebounds in just 22 minutes. For the starters, Marcus Morris posted a double - double of his own of 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Reggie Jackson, on top of hitting some crucial free throws in crunch time, recorded 22 points and 11 assists. Detroit managed to move the ball efficiently and effectively, posting 24 assists to just seven turnovers as a team. For the Hornets, it was a very cold start with a very hot finish, as Walker carried the team on his back after struggling through the first three quarters. Walker shot 9 - of - 11 from the field in the fourth quarter en route to scoring 20 of his 32 points in the final period. He also finished with seven rebounds and five assists on top of that, but the team's subpar performance through the first three quarters ultimately led to a deficit that was too big to overcome.

["TeamStat(G,'Pistons') has 24 Number of team assists ,has 21 Losses ,has 115 Total points ,has 7 Turnovers ,has 17 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Hornets') has 17 Number of team assists ,has 114 Losses ,has 20 Total points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kemba Walker') has 5 Assists ,has 1 Field goals attempted ,has 32 Field goals made ,has 7 Minutes played ,has 3 Offensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Marcus Morris') has 20 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Reggie Jackson') has 11 Assists ,has 22 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Tobias Harris') has 16 Assists ,has 10 Field goals attempted ,has 25 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Boban Marjanovic') has 22 Assists ,has 15 Field goals attempted ."]

The San Antonio Spurs (24 - 5) defeated the Indiana Pacers (16 - 11) Monday 106 - 92 at the AT & T Center in San Antonio. The Spurs continued their dominance at home, extending their home record this season to 160. The Pacers hung with San Antonio in the first half, but the home team proved to be too much for the visitors in the second 24 minutes, outscoring Indiana by 12 points. The Spurs were led once again by Kawhi Leonard, who finished with a game - high 24 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals in 35 minutes. Tony Parker and LaMarcus Aldridge added 15 and 10 points respectively, while Boris Diaw and Patty Mills came off the bench to record 14 and 10 points respectively. The team’s efficient play continues to doom their opponents, as they recorded 27 assists to just nine turnovers on the night. The Pacers left a lot to be desired from their starting lineup, as George Hill (15) was the lone starter who managed to reach double figure scoring, while Monta Ellis and Paul George combined to shoot just 4 - of - 24 from the field and score 13 points. The team’s bench gave it a fighting chance, but ultimately it was not enough, as Jordan Hill scored 15 points in 25 minutes off the bench, while Rodney Stuckey scored a game - high 16 points in 27 minutes. Up next, the Spurs will travel to Minnesota Wednesday to take on the Timberwolves, while the Pacers will head home Wednesday to play the Kings.

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The San Antonio Spurs (21 - 5) defeated the Utah Jazz (10 - 13) Monday 118 - 81 at the AT & T Center in San Antonio. This game was over from the start, as the Spurs opened up a 14 - point lead after the first quarter and continued to pile it on throughout the rest of the game. By the time the fourth period rolled around, San Antonio had opened up a 40 - point lead. All 13 active Spurs played double - digit minutes in this game and each of them scored. They were once again led by Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge, who combined to score 40 points in just 49 minutes. In just 18 minutes, Tony Parker scored 18 points and dished out five assists, while Patty Mills and Matt Bonner scored 11 and 10 points respectively off the bench. It was a clinic for the Spurs, as they shot 56 percent from the field and 43 percent from behind the arc. For the Jazz, it was simply a struggle. Just three players managed to score in double figures, with Derek Favors leading the way with 16 points and just three rebounds in 24 minutes. Raul Neto scored 12 points in 21 minutes, while Trey Burke managed 10 points in 24 minutes off the bench. Starters Trey Lyles, Gordon Hayward and Rodney Hood combined to score just 10 total points. Up next, the Spurs will stay home Wednesday to play the Wizards, while the Jazz will head back home Wednesday to go up against the Pelicans.

["TeamStat(G,'Spurs') has 43 Percentage of 3 points ,has 56 Percentage of field goals ,has 5 Losses ,has 118 Total points ,has 21 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Jazz') has 13 Percentage of 3 points ,has 81 Percentage of field goals ,has 10 Losses ." "PlayerStat(G,'Derrick Favors') has 3 Assists ,has 24 Defensive rebounds ,has 16 Minutes played ,has 3 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Raul Neto') has 21 Assists ,has 12 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Trey Burke') has 24 Assists ,has 10 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Tony Parker') has 5 Assists ,has 18 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Patty Mills') has 11 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Matt Bonner') has 18 Assists ,has 10 Defensive rebounds ."]

The Portland Trail Blazers (1 - 3) beat the Memphis Grizzlies (3 - 1) 99 - 92 in Game 4, to keep the series alive on Tuesday. Damian Lillard came up big with 32 points and seven assists to help push this series to a fifth game. LaMarcus Aldridge did n't have his best game and went 0 - for - 10 in the second half. That made Lillards play even more dire. However, the Trail Blazers got huge production from their bench, as Meyers Leonard and C.J. McCollum played huge roles in forcing Game 5. They each had a plus - 23 in the plus/minus statistic. Leonard finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds, and also went 3 - for - 3 from long range and had a valiant effort guarding Marc Gasol. McCollum hit both of his three - point attempts ended the game with 18 vital points to go along with five rebounds and two steals. The Trail Blazers will try and keep their season alive in Game 5, with hopes of forcing a Game 6 in Portland. The Grizzlies could n't quite seal the deal to complete the sweep in Portland, and will try again when they take on the Trail Blazers from Memphis in Game 5. Gasol and Zach Randolph had sub - par first halfs, but came back strong and finished with a combined 33 points, 19 rebounds. Gasol also dished out six assists and blocked one shot. Mike Conley's absence was very apparent, as Lillard was able to get what he wanted, especially in the second half. In a somewhat questionable decision, Jon Leuer entered the game in the fourth quarter and the Grizzlies gave up six points in what may have been the turning point in the game. Memphis will get a chance to win the series in front of their home crowd in Game 5. The winner of this series will take on the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference semifinals.

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The San Antonio Spurs (23 - 5) defeated the Los Angeles Clippers (16 - 11) 115 - 107 on Friday. In a battle of Western Conference hopefuls, this was a beautiful game at times and an ugly game at others. Both teams fought throughout and played some great offense, but the hack - a - Jordan strategy ruined it's luster at times. The strategy worked though, as it ruined the Clippers momentum in the fourth quarter en route to a 5 - for - 18, 19 - point quarter. The Spurs started the fourth on an 110 run and that proved to be the difference. The Clippers have nothing to be disappointed about, as they played a great game against an elite defense. They did fall just short, but a game like this can give them some momentum going forward. All the Clippers stars played well, as Blake Griffin and Chris Paul combined for 52 points and 10 assists. DeAndre Jordan put in a 16 point - 17 rebound game, but did shoot 8 - for - 20 from the free - throw line, thanks to the hack - a - Jordan strategy. Putting up 107 points against this defense is an impressive feat though, win or loss. The Clippers will play the Houston Rockets in their next game on Saturday in a playoff revenge game. The Spurs are now 150 at home and playing some of the best basketball in the NBA. Their defense has been carrying them this season, but it was subpar tonight. They did turn on the defense in the fourth quarter though and that's when it truly matters. The three - point shooting was spectacular for San Antonio tonight, as they went 10 - for - 19 from long distance. LaMarcus Aldridge had one of his best games in a silver uniform, as he tallied 26 points and 13 rebounds in the win. The Spurs will look to keep up that home - streak when they host the Indiana Pacers on Monday.

["TeamStat(G,'Spurs') has 5 Losses ,has 115 Total points ,has 23 Points in 4th quarter ." "TeamStat(G,'Clippers') has 11 Losses ,has 107 Total points ,has 19 Points in 4th quarter ,has 16 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'DeAndre Jordan') has 20 Assists ,has 8 Blocks ,has 16 Free throws attempted ,has 17 Free throws made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Chris Paul') has 10 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'LaMarcus Aldridge') has 1 Assists ,has 26 Blocks ,has 13 Free throws attempted ."]

The Golden State Warriors (33 - 6) dominated the Denver Nuggets (18 - 23) 122 - 79 on Monday at the Oracle Arena. This contest was over from the early goings, with Golden State taking a 27 - point lead into halftime. The Nuggets had a six - minute scoring drought in the second quarter that put them too far behind to catch the sharp shooting Warriors. Golden State shot 54 percent from the floor for the second straight game en route to another easy victory. Denver has tailed off after its five - game winning streak and has now dropped three in a row to further hurt its slim playoff chances. The Nuggets offensive woes returned as they failed to score 90 points for the second time in three games. They will return home Tuesday to host the Spurs to finish up its fourth game in five days. Golden State rested its starters after this game was well in hand. No starter logged more than 25 minutes on the floor as eight reserves got into the game. The Warriors will take on a Rockets team Wednesday that they just beat by 25 points on Saturday.

["TeamStat(G,'Warriors') has 54 Percentage of field goals ,has 6 Losses ,has 122 Total points ,has 25 Points in 1st quarter ,has 33 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Nuggets') has 23 Percentage of field goals ,has 79 Losses ,has 18 Total points ."]

The Washington Wizards (22 - 8) defeated the Houston Rockets (21 - 9) 104 - 103 on Monday at the Toyota Center in Houston. Despite out - scoring the Wizards 36 - 26, marked by a big late quarter run, the Rockets just ran out of time and were n't able to complete the comeback to get the victory in front of their home fans. Free throws may have been the difference in this one, with the Wizards converting on 26 - of - 28, while the Rockets only hit 14 - of - 23 from the line. The Wizards victory was largely the result of an outstanding performance from Bradley Beal. Beal went 9 - for - 17 from the field and 5 - for - 11 from the three - point line to score a season - high of 33 points. He was able to get to the line at will, converting on a perfect 10 - of - 10 on his free throws. It was a nice breakout performance for him, as he's averaged 15 points thus far this season. Another solid contributor was Paul Pierce who had an efficient 21 points, where he went 7 - for - 9 from the floor and 6 - for - 6 from the free throw line. He's bumped up his scoring the last few games, combining for 38 points over that span. John Wall did n't have his best shooting performance (4 - 10 FG, 0 - 1 3Pt), but he still finished with 13 points and was able to add 12 assists, giving him a double - double. The Wizards' bench had only 16 points in the win. Continuing to perform with MVP-like numbers, James Harden again had a strong showing. He matched a game - high with 33 points, while also contributing six rebounds and four assists. He's been unstoppable the past two weeks, as he's averaging an incredible 34 points per game over his last four outings. Providing Harden some help was Trevor Ariza, who scored 15 points (6 - 15 FG, 2 - 8 3Pt, 1 - 1 FT) and recorded five rebounds. After a poor showing on Sunday, it was good to see him turn things around. Also, in his second impressive performance in a row, Corey Brewer came off the bench for 15 points (5 - 13 FG, 2 - 5 3Pt, 3 - 4 FT) and two steals. Although he did n't reach the 25 - point mark like he did Sunday, he continued to be a nice spark off the bench since being aquired a little over a week ago from the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Wizards' next game will be on the road against the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, while the Rockets will be at home against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday.

["TeamStat(G,'Rockets') has 9 Losses ,has 103 Total points ,has 36 Points in 4th quarter ,has 21 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Wizards') has 8 Losses ,has 104 Total points ,has 26 Points in 4th quarter ,has 22 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Paul Pierce') has 9 Assists ,has 7 3-pointers attempted ,has 6 3-pointers made ,has 6 Field goals attempted ,has 21 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Bradley Beal') has 11 Assists ,has 5 3-pointers attempted ,has 17 3-pointers made ,has 9 Field goals attempted ,has 10 Field goals made ,has 10 Free throws attempted ,has 33 Free throws made ." "PlayerStat(G,'John Wall') has 12 Assists ,has 1 3-pointers attempted ,has 0 3-pointers made ,has 10 Field goals attempted ,has 4 Field goals made ,has 13 Free throws attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Trevor Ariza') has 8 Assists ,has 2 3-pointers attempted ,has 15 3-pointers made ,has 6 Field goals attempted ,has 1 Field goals made ,has 1 Free throws attempted ,has 15 Free throws made ,has 5 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'James Harden') has 4 Assists ,has 33 3-pointers attempted ,has 6 3-pointers made ,has 2 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Corey Brewer') has 5 Assists ,has 2 3-pointers attempted ,has 13 3-pointers made ,has 5 Field goals attempted ,has 4 Field goals made ,has 3 Free throws attempted ,has 15 Free throws made ,has 2 Points ."]

This game was over early and often, as Boston led by 23 headed into halftime. Rebounding was key, as the Celtics won that differential, 46 - 34. In addition, Boston shot 51 percent from the field, while holding Los Angeles to under 43 percent shooting. Isaiah Thomas led Boston, as he accumulated 18 points and eight assists. Al Horford contributed 17 points, four rebounds and three assists. Jaylen Brown led the bench, as he provided 16 points and eight rebounds. Amir Johnson amassed 13 points, six rebounds and four assists. Jordan Clarkson was a bright spot for Los Angeles, as he tallied 20 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals off the bench. D'Angelo Russell led the starters with 17 points, three rebounds and four assists. Julius Randle totaled 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

["TeamStat(G,'Lakers') has 43 Percentage of field goals ." "TeamStat(G,'Celtics') has 51 Percentage of field goals ,has 23 Points in 3rd quarter ." "PlayerStat(G,'Amir Johnson') has 4 Assists ,has 13 Points ,has 6 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Al Horford') has 3 Assists ,has 17 Points ,has 4 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Isaiah Thomas') has 8 Assists ,has 18 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jaylen Brown') has 16 Assists ,has 8 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Julius Randle') has 3 Assists ,has 13 Points ,has 7 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'D'Angelo Russell') has 4 Assists ,has 17 Points ,has 3 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jordan Clarkson') has 3 Assists ,has 20 Points ,has 4 Total rebounds ,has 3 Steals ."]

The Utah Jazz claimed their third straight victory and their seventh win over the last eight games. The streaking Jazz are being led mainly by two players, Rudy Gobert and Gordon Hayward. Gobert's play on both sides of the floor has made his a matchup nightmare for opposing frontcourts. In Tuesday's game,, Gobert finished with 22 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and racked up four blocks in 38 minutes. Hayward completed another game with 20 - plus points, and is among the Top 15 scorers in the NBA, adding to his impressive start to the season with 28 points on 8 - of - 16 shooting. The Suns, meanwhile, were primarily led by their bench. Three Phoenix reserves reached double figures, with Alex Len, Leandro Barbosa and Brandon Knight all amassed 20 - plus minutes and 10 - plus points in the contest. Starting shooting guard Devin Booker also tallied 21 points for the second straight contest.

["PlayerStat(G,'Devin Booker') has 21 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Leandro Barbosa') has 10 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Gordon Hayward') has 2 Blocks ,has 16 3-pointers made ,has 8 Field goals attempted ,has 28 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Rudy Gobert') has 4 Blocks ,has 38 3-pointers made ,has 2 Field goals attempted ,has 22 Field goals made ,has 11 Minutes played ."]

The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the host San Antonio Spurs, 98 - 97, in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals to even the series Monday at AT & T Center. The final possession was as climactic as one possession can get after the home team stole the inbound pass, drove the length of the court and left the ball in Manu Ginobili's hands to beat the buzzer. In a perfect world, Ginobili's shot banks of the glass and fall through the hoop, but a controversial no call left the Spurs stunned on their home court. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant looked like they returned to their superstar form in the win. Durant finished with 28 points, seven rebounds and four assists on 11 - of - 19 shooting, while Westbrook 29 points, seven rebounds, 10 assists and two steals on 11 - of - 25 shooting. It is obvious that the Thunder will only win the series if the Durant-Westbrook duo are in the drivers seat, but down the stretch, Serge Ibaka came up big with a handful of midrange jumpers. Ibaka contributed 12 points, while Steven Adams pitched in 12 points and 17 rebounds. LaMarcus Aldridge, who is truly showing his playoff colors, finished with 41 points, which led all scorers. It was Aldridge’s second straight game in which he led the scoring department, and his footwork in the lane is becoming, arguably, the biggest threat in the league. The big man import from the Trail Blazers only one year ago, added eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks to his tremendous performance. Kawhi Leonard was less efficient on the offensive end, but also proved how valuable he is for his end - to - end play. Leonard added 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks in the contest. Game 3 is Friday at Oklahoma City.

["TeamStat(G,'Spurs') has 97 Total points ." "TeamStat(G,'Thunder') has 98 Total points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kevin Durant') has 4 Assists ,has 19 Blocks ,has 11 Defensive rebounds ,has 28 3-pointers attempted ,has 7 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Serge Ibaka') has 1 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ,has 1 Defensive rebounds ,has 12 3-pointers attempted ,has 1 3-pointers made ,has 1 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Steven Adams') has 1 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 12 Defensive rebounds ,has 17 3-pointers attempted ,has 1 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Russell Westbrook') has 10 Assists ,has 25 Blocks ,has 11 Defensive rebounds ,has 29 3-pointers attempted ,has 7 3-pointers made ,has 2 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kawhi Leonard') has 3 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ,has 14 Defensive rebounds ,has 7 3-pointers attempted ,has 2 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'LaMarcus Aldridge') has 3 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ,has 1 Defensive rebounds ,has 1 3-pointers attempted ,has 41 3-pointers made ,has 8 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Manu Ginobili') has 1 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 1 Defensive rebounds ,has 1 3-pointers attempted ."]

The host Los Angeles Clippers took down the visiting Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, 115 - 106. Los Angeles (24 - 14) has been devastated by injuries midway through the season. Stars Chris Paul (hamstring) and Blake Griffin (knee surgery) both sat on Wednesday, leaving LA shorthanded and reliant on its backups. Fortunately for the Clippers, the bench pulled through, as point guard Austin Rivers had 28 points and seven assists. Raymond Felton also played 37 minutes and had 11 points, six assists, and four steals. The true star of the show, however, was All-NBA center and well - known ironman DeAndre Jordan. Jordan had 18 points to go with a whopping 20 rebounds and two blocks. As a team, the Clippers shot a solid 50 percent from the floor and poured in nine three - pointers. The Grizzlies (22 - 16) have now dropped two games in two days on their road trip to Los Angeles, as the team lost by double - digits to the Lakers on Tuesday. Memphis had ailments of its own, as the oft - injured Chandler Parsons missed yet another contest on Wednesday. Marc Gasol had a strong night, scoring 23 points, and Mike Conley had a 17 - point, 12 - assist double - double. While the team saw strong play from its stars, it shot just 43 percent from the field and 76 percent at the free - throw line. The Grizzlies will visit the Warriors on Friday, while the Clippers will take on the Kings.

["TeamStat(G,'Clippers') has 115 Losses ." "TeamStat(G,'Grizzlies') has 16 Losses ,has 106 Total points ,has 22 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Marc Gasol') has 23 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Mike Conley') has 12 Assists ,has 17 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Austin Rivers') has 7 Assists ,has 28 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'DeAndre Jordan') has 2 Assists ,has 18 Blocks ,has 20 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Raymond Felton') has 6 Assists ,has 37 Blocks ,has 11 Minutes played ,has 4 Points ."]

The Oklahoma City Thunder (18 - 9) dealt the struggling Los Angeles Lakers (4 - 23) yet another loss, winning 118 - 78. Per usual, stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook led the way for the Thunder. Durant wowed with 22 points in 30 minutes, made more impressive alongside 8 rebounds. Westbrook, coming off a 27 - point performance against Cleveland, put up just 13. However, the All-Star also tacked on 11 assists, and his average of 9 per game puts him at second in the NBA behind the Kings' Rajon Rondo. The Thunder's win came as no surprise, as the Lakers have struggled mightily thus far this season. The team sits at last in the Western Conference, and holds the unfortunate distinction of second - worst record in the NBA, edging out only the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite the loss, Jordan Clarkson delivered a strong performance, posting 15 points and 4 rebounds. Clarkson has shown off his high potential of late, posting 12 points, four assists, and two steals in the Lakers' previous matchup against Houston. The Lakers' woes have persisted throughout the season, and their bad luck looks unlikely to change any time soon, as they face road matchups in four of their final six games of the calendar year. Their next game will be in Denver on Tuesday. OKC, on the other hand, has established themselves as a legitimate contender early on in the season. They will face the fourth - seed Clippers on Monday in Los Angeles.

["TeamStat(G,'Thunder') has 9 Losses ,has 118 Total points ,has 18 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Lakers') has 23 Losses ,has 78 Total points ,has 4 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jordan Clarkson') has 15 Assists ,has 4 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kevin Durant') has 30 Assists ,has 22 Minutes played ,has 8 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Russell Westbrook') has 11 Assists ,has 13 Minutes played ."]

Many spent the offseason pondering who would be the first player to drop 40 points in the 2016 - 17 season, and Damian Lillard very nearly offered an immediate answer. The star point guard scored 39 points in the Trail Blazers' win Tuesday against the Utah Jazz, grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out six assists to go along with it. With Lillard at the helm, Portland was able to pull off a phenomenal 52 percent shooting from the field. The shots seemed to fall more the farther the Blazers got from the basket, as they shot an impeccable 68 percent from 3 - point range. Neither figure stacks up to the free - throw shooting displayed by both sides, however; of the 38 free - throws attempted by both sides in the game, there was not a single miss. Truly, an impressive shooting exhibition all - around.

["TeamStat(G,'Trail Blazers') has 68 Percentage of 3 points ,has 52 Percentage of field goals ."]

The Heat (19 - 24) held on to beat the Pacers (15 - 30) 89 - 87 in Miami on Friday night. Miami opened the second half with a 17 - point lead but allowed Indiana to slowly crawl back into the game. The lead was down to 11 at the start of the fourth, and a Rodney Stuckey jumper - plus - the - foul with 3:32 remaining trimmed it to just six. David West hit a jumper on the ensuing possession to cut the lead to four, but Chris Bosh responded with a mid - range shot of his own on the other end. With seven seconds to play, George Hill put in a layup to bring Indiana within one, and the Pacers sent Dwyane Wade to the line with six seconds left. Wade split the pair, giving the Pacers an opportunity to win or tie, but a C.J. Watson could not connect on a jumper as time expired. Luol Deng led the way for Miami with 23 points and five rebounds in 35 minutes. Wade, who was battling through an illness, finished with 13 points and four assists, while Bosh had 19 points on 8 - of - 16 shooting. Mario Chalmers chipped in nine points, and Danny Granger and Shawne Williams each had six off the bench. The Heat shot 48 percent as a team but made only 4 - of - 17 three - point attempts. Indiana didn’t fair any better, hitting just three of its 15 attempts from beyond the arc. West (12 points) and Watson (13) were the only starters in double - figures. Luis Scola was the high man with 14 points in 15 minutes off the bench, while Hill finished with 13 points on 5 - of - 10 shooting. Next up, the Heat travel to Chicago to take on the Bulls on Sunday afternoon. Indiana plays in Orlando on Sunday night.

["TeamStat(G,'Heat') has 48 Percentage of field goals ,has 24 Losses ,has 89 Total points ,has 19 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Pacers') has 30 Percentage of field goals ,has 87 Losses ,has 15 Total points ." "PlayerStat(G,'David West') has 12 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'CJ Watson') has 13 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Rodney Stuckey') has 11 Assists ,has 4 Defensive rebounds ,has 4 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'George Hill') has 1 Assists ,has 1 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Luis Scola') has 15 Assists ,has 14 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Luol Deng') has 35 Assists ,has 23 Defensive rebounds ,has 5 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Chris Bosh') has 4 Assists ,has 4 Defensive rebounds ,has 16 3-pointers attempted ,has 8 Field goals attempted ,has 19 Field goals made ,has 4 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Dwyane Wade') has 4 Assists ,has 13 Defensive rebounds ,has 6 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Mario Chalmers') has 9 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Shawne Williams') has 6 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Danny Granger') has 6 Assists ."]

The visiting New Orleans Pelicans narrowly defeated the Phoenix Suns on Monday, 110 - 108. New Orleans (22 - 34) was led to the win by strong play from superstar Anthony Davis. Davis led the team with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks and played a whopping 40 minutes. Per usual, the 23 - year - old superstar did everything on the court, including going a perfect 8 - of - 8 from the line. Free-throw shooting was a major edge for the Pelicans, as they reached the line 35 times and shot 80 percent. It took an edge at the line and holding Phoenix to just 43 percent shooting to squeeze out the win, as the Suns managed to come away with an impressive 13 offensive rebounds for second chances. Phoenix (17 - 39) also saw an extremely strong game from point guard Eric Bledsoe. Bledsoe scored a team - high 37 points and came away with three steals. Bledsoe, who had his season shortened by a torn meniscus in 2015 - 16, has been enjoying the best year of his career thus far. The 37 - point explosion nears his career high of 42 set earlier in the season. Sophomore Devin Booker continued his scoring tear as well. Booker hit two three - pointers and scored 21 points on the night. In the end, though, the Suns made too many costly turnovers. Phoenix turned it over 18 times on the night. The Pelicans will visit the Grizzlies on Wednesday while the Suns host the Lakers.

["TeamStat(G,'Suns') has 43 Percentage of field goals ,has 39 Losses ,has 108 Total points ,has 18 Turnovers ,has 17 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Pelicans') has 34 Percentage of field goals ,has 110 Losses ,has 22 Total points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Anthony Davis') has 4 Blocks ,has 40 3-pointers made ,has 24 Minutes played ,has 10 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Devin Booker') has 2 Blocks ,has 21 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Eric Bledsoe') has 37 Blocks ,has 3 3-pointers made ."]

The Pistons (9 - 9) ran away with a 116 - 105 win over the Rockets (7 - 11) at The Palace of Auburn Hills on Monday. After scoring 17 in the first half, Pistons point guard Reggie Jackson went on to finish with a game - high 31 points (11 - 18 FG, 3 - 4 3Pt, 6 - 8 FT) with eight assists and five rebounds. Detroit forced Houston into 40 percent shooting from the field to its 53 percent. James Harden struggled to find his shot, but managed to get to the line enough to post 29 points (6 - 15 FG, 2 - 4 3Pt, 15 - 17 FT) along with nine rebounds and seven assists. Harden had been on a tear since the firing of coach Kevin McHale on Nov. 18, but his scoring has cooled down since Sunday when he scored just 26 points. The Rockets rotation has looked a bit different under interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff, as Clint Capela and Patrick Beverley are now in the starting lineup. Capela's production shot up, but he only managed 11 points and five rebounds against Detroit. Beverley finished with 10 points (4 - 12 FG, 2 - 5 3Pt). Despite Jackson's 31 and a 24 - point, 13 - rebound performance from Andre Drummond, the player of the game award definitely goes to rookie Stanley Johnson. The forward out of Arizona came off the bench and scored 19 points (6 - 11 FG, 4 - 5 3Pt, 3 - 4 FT) with 10 rebounds for his first career double - double. Johnson hit plenty of big 3 - point shots and even showed flashes of his defensive ability with a pair of blocks. point guard Spencer Dinwiddie missed his fourth straight game due to a knee injury. The Rockets return to Honda Center for a date with the Pelicans on Wednesday; the Pistons play the second of a four - game homestand against the Suns.

["TeamStat(G,'Pistons') has 53 Percentage of field goals ,has 9 Losses ,has 116 Total points ,has 9 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Rockets') has 40 Percentage of field goals ,has 11 Losses ,has 105 Total points ,has 7 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Clint Capela') has 11 Assists ,has 5 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'James Harden') has 7 Assists ,has 4 Blocks ,has 2 3-pointers attempted ,has 15 3-pointers made ,has 6 Field goals attempted ,has 17 Field goals made ,has 15 Free throws attempted ,has 29 Free throws made ,has 9 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Patrick Beverley') has 5 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ,has 12 3-pointers attempted ,has 4 3-pointers made ,has 10 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Andre Drummond') has 24 Assists ,has 13 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Reggie Jackson') has 8 Assists ,has 4 Blocks ,has 3 3-pointers attempted ,has 18 3-pointers made ,has 11 Field goals attempted ,has 8 Field goals made ,has 6 Free throws attempted ,has 31 Free throws made ,has 5 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Stanley Johnson') has 2 Assists ,has 5 Blocks ,has 4 3-pointers attempted ,has 11 3-pointers made ,has 6 Field goals attempted ,has 4 Field goals made ,has 3 Free throws attempted ,has 19 Free throws made ,has 10 Points ."]

The Denver Nuggets defeated the visiting Chicago Bulls, 110 - 107, at Pepsi Center on Tuesday. While there were some huge swings in the first half, this game stayed close throughout the second half. The Bulls started the game up 31 - 19 after the first quarter, but the Nuggets responded with a 220 run in the second quarter to recapture the lead. From there, it was even throughout, as there were 13 ties in total with no team leading by more than six points for the final 14 minutes. Bench scoring was the biggest difference in this game, with the Nuggets bench combining for 61 points to the Bulls 13 combined bench points. Denver won many of the stats, as they won the rebounding battle, assist differential, points in the paint and fastbreak points. Chicago (9 - 6) is in the midst of the circus road trip and this tight loss made them 3 - 2 through five games. Jimmy Butler did all he could, as he tallied 35 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the defeat. Dwyane Wade was second on the team, as he scored 22 points on 9 - of - 21 shooting. Rajon Rondo accumulated 13 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists of his own. All five starters scored in double figures, with Taj Gibson and Robin Lopez each scoring 12 points a piece. On deck for the Bulls is a road matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday. Denver (6 - 8) has struggled in close games all season, but they were able to prevail here. Rookie Jamal Murray was the player of the game, as he scored a career - high 24 points on 9 - of - 13 shooting off the pine. Wilson Chandler was second on the team, as he provided 16 points and nine rebounds off the bench as well. Jusuf Nurkic recorded a double - double in the win, totaling 14 points, 14 rebounds and four assists. Danilo Gallinari led the starters in scoring with 15 points on 6 - of - 9 shooting. Denver will be in action again on Wednesday, as they travel to play the Utah Jazz for their next game.

["TeamStat(G,'Nuggets') has 8 Losses ,has 110 Total points ,has 19 Points in 1st quarter ,has 6 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Bulls') has 6 Losses ,has 107 Total points ,has 31 Points in 1st quarter ,has 9 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jimmy Butler') has 5 Assists ,has 35 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Taj Gibson') has 5 Assists ,has 12 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Robin Lopez') has 12 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Dwyane Wade') has 21 Assists ,has 9 Field goals attempted ,has 22 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Rajon Rondo') has 8 Assists ,has 13 Field goals attempted ,has 11 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Danilo Gallinari') has 9 Assists ,has 6 Field goals attempted ,has 15 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jusuf Nurkic') has 4 Assists ,has 14 Field goals attempted ,has 14 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Wilson Chandler') has 16 Assists ,has 9 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jamal Murray') has 13 Assists ,has 9 Field goals attempted ,has 24 Field goals made ."]

The New Orleans Pelicans (41 - 34) defeated the Sacramento Kings (26 - 49) 101 - 95 on Friday. The Pelicans had dropped four in a row but are now on a four - game win streak after their victory at Sleep Train Arena. Tyreke Evans was just one assist shy of a triple - double. He had 19 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists. Anthony Davis had 20 points and ten rebounds in another stellar game for the "Smoothie King Superstar". New Orleans is just a half a game back of the Oklahoma City Thunder for the eighth seed in the Western Conference. They could finish as high as the seventh seed but are in danger of missing the playoffs once again. DeMarcus Cousins put up an awe - inspiring performance in another tough loss. Cousins had 24 points, 20 rebounds and 13 assists, all of which were game - highs. He's now put up back - to - back games of 20 - plus points, 20 - plus rebounds and 10 - plus assists from the center position. Russell Westbrook is n't the only one playing out of his mind right now, as Cousins has averaged 28 points, 18 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 blocks and 2 steals over his last four games. The Kings will welcome the Utah Jazz to Sacramento on Sunday, as New Orleans will host the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday.

["TeamStat(G,'Kings') has 49 Losses ,has 95 Total points ,has 26 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Pelicans') has 34 Losses ,has 101 Total points ,has 41 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Anthony Davis') has 20 Assists ,has 10 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Tyreke Evans') has 9 Assists ,has 19 Defensive rebounds ,has 12 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'DeMarcus Cousins') has 13 Assists ,has 20 Defensive rebounds ,has 1 3-pointers attempted ,has 10 Free throws attempted ,has 24 Points ,has 20 Total rebounds ,has 1 Steals ."]

The Washington Wizards (16 - 19) defeated the Orlando Magic (20 - 18) 105 - 99 on Saturday. The Wizards snapped a three - game skid on the strength of an outstanding shooting night. All five starters managed double - digit points, and Washington was able to shoot a stellar 55 percent from the field and 57 percent from beyond the arc. Four members of the first unit were able to tally at least one three - pointer, and Gary Neal also pitched in with two treys of his own off the bench. The performance provided a glimpse of the significant potential the Wizards' offense possesses, even with Bradley Beal out of the lineup. However, their inability to put together outings such as Saturday's with any type of consistency has been at the root of their mediocre record over the first 35 games. John Wall led the way for the visitors with another one of his patented double - doubles, tallying 24 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and four steals. It was the All-Star point guard's 13th double - double outing in the last 16 games, an amazing stretch that has helped keep Washington afloat in Beal's absence. Otto Porter and Jared Dudley were next in line with a pair of 16 - point efforts, with the former adding two rebounds, two assists and four steals, while the latter dished out four dimes and hauled in three boards. Marcin Gortat managed 12 points for the fourth straight contest, and added 10 rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal. It was the Wizards' big man's sixth double - double over the last seven games. Garrett Temple rounded out the starting five's productive night with 11 points, four rebounds and four assists, and Neal collected 16 points, three assists, a rebound and a block over 22 minutes to pace the reserves. The Wizards improved to 16 - 19 and but still reside in last place in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division. They next head to Chicago for a Monday night showdown with the Bulls. The Magic was spearheaded by Nikola Vucevic, who turned in an impressive performance against Gortat's stout defense. Orlando's big man registered 23 points, nine rebounds, five assists and a steal. Victor Oladipo received another start at point guard and was solid once again, pouring in 17 points and adding five assists, three rebounds, a steal and a block. However, he had trouble keeping the ball away from the opposition, equaling his season high with six turnovers. Channing Frye managed one of his most fruitful offensive nights of the year, tallying 12 points and bringing down four rebounds. Tobias Harris and Evan Fournier rounded out the starting five with a pair of 11 - point outings. Aaron Gordon was highly efficient from the bench, posting a 10 - point, 10 - rebound double - double over 30 minutes. Orlando fell to 20 - 18 but remains in second place in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division. They'll now take a jaunt across the Atlantic to face off against the Toronto Raptors in London on Thursday.

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Kawhi Leonard's box score numbers did not accurately reflect his defensive effort against the Chicago Bulls, and although the Spurs suffered just their first road loss of the season, Leonard's defensive efficiency was on full display. The San Antonio forward held Jimmy Butler to zero points in the first half, contesting every shot Butler had to force up in an attempt to get some rhythm going. Leonard went on to dominate his matchup to the tune of 24 points, eight rebounds, five assists and one steal on 10 - of - 19 shooting, but it was not enough to keep Dwyane Wade from the free throw line and iron out a win. Wade did his damage from the charity stripe, where his 9 - of - 13 shooting kept the Spurs comeback just out of reach. Rajon Rondo put together the best all around box score performance of the night, evidenced by his 12 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists on 6 - of - 12 shooting.

["PlayerStat(G,'Kawhi Leonard') has 5 Assists ,has 19 Field goals attempted ,has 10 Field goals made ,has 24 Free throws attempted ,has 8 Free throws made ,has 1 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Dwyane Wade') has 5 Assists ,has 13 Field goals attempted ,has 9 Field goals made ,has 1 Free throws attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Rajon Rondo') has 9 Assists ,has 12 Field goals attempted ,has 6 Field goals made ,has 12 Free throws attempted ,has 10 Free throws made ."]

Lopsided games are n't shocking in Memphis, but they are when it's the road team doing the damage. That was just the case here, with Atlanta leading by 18 after the first quarter in their wire - to - wire win. Defense was key, as they held the Grizzlies to 38 percent from the field and 17 percent from three - point range, The Hawks also dominated the defensive rebounding, winning that battle, 40 - 28. Dennis Schroeder accumulated 16 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and three steals. Paul Millsap matched that 16 points, by adding 11 rebounds and six assists to his line. Taurean Prince led the bench by providing 17 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals on 5 - of - 6 shooting. JaMychal Green was a bright spot for Memphis, as he led the team with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Mike Conley collected 16 points, five assists and five steals.

["TeamStat(G,'Grizzlies') has 17 Percentage of 3 points ,has 38 Percentage of field goals ,has 20 Points in 2nd quarter ." "TeamStat(G,'Hawks') has 18 Percentage of 3 points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Paul Millsap') has 6 Assists ,has 16 Field goals attempted ,has 11 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Dennis Schroder') has 8 Assists ,has 16 Field goals attempted ,has 7 Field goals made ,has 3 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Taurean Prince') has 2 Assists ,has 6 Field goals attempted ,has 5 Field goals made ,has 17 Points ,has 3 Total rebounds ,has 2 Steals ." "PlayerStat(G,'JaMychal Green') has 20 Assists ,has 11 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Mike Conley') has 5 Assists ,has 16 Field goals attempted ,has 5 Field goals made ."]

Kyle Lowry shook off his early - season doldrums to supply a 29 - point effort, which when combined with backcourt mate DeMar DeRozan's 33 points, represented nearly 60 percent of the Raptors' scoring on the night. Four-fifths of the starting five was sharp from the field, as Jonas Valanciunas and DeMarre Carroll joined the dynamic guard duo to generate a collective 52 percent (33 - for - 63) success rate. Notably, DeRozan and Lowry combined for 19 of Toronto's 25 free - throw attempts and were the only members of the first unit to visit the charity stripe. The Nuggets enjoyed another strong performance from Jusuf Nurkic, who hauled in 18 rebounds and is now averaging 11 boards per contest. All five members of Denver's first unit managed double - digit scoring for the second straight game, and the two teams combined for just 16 turnovers.

["TeamStat(G,'Raptors') has 25 Percentage of 3 points ,has 33 Losses ,has 29 Points in 1st quarter ." "TeamStat(G,'Nuggets') has 2 Percentage of 3 points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jusuf Nurkic') has 18 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'DeMarre Carroll') has 5 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'DeMar DeRozan') has 33 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kyle Lowry') has 29 3-pointers attempted ."]

The Chicago Bulls (2 - 1) defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves (1 - 2) 106 - 105 on Saturday. Derrick Rose sat out the game as a precaution. He sprained his ankle in Friday's loss to the Cavaliers. Rose was originally listed in the starting lineup before being removed just before tip - off. He said he could have played if the game was a must - win but that it's more important to make sure he does n't injure himself further at this time of the season. Kirk Hinrich started at point guard in Rose's absence, and Jimmy Butler, who had missed the first two games of the season with a thumb injury, returned to the lineup and started at shooting guard. Butler finished with 24 points in 38 minutes, shooting 11 - of - 15 at the free - throw line. Rookie Nikola Mirotic posted 12 points and eight rebounds in 28 minutes off the bench. Thaddeus Young suffered a scary neck injury and had to leave after playing just 17 minutes. He was diagnosed with a neck strain and never returned to the game. Anthony Bennett started the second half at power forward in Young's absence. Kevin Martin moved into the starting lineup for the Timberwolves on Saturday. He finished with 33 points and seven rebounds in 36 minutes. Corey Brewer moved to the bench so that Andrew Wiggins could remain in the starting lineup at small forward. Brewer played just 17 minutes. Ricky Rubio tied his career - high mark with 17 assists, celebrating the four - year, $55 million contract extension he signed with the Timberwolves on Friday. The Bulls have two days off before hosting the Orlando Magic on Tuesday. The Timberwolves have three days off before going on the road to face the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.

["TeamStat(G,'Timberwolves') has 2 Losses ,has 105 Total points ,has 1 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Bulls') has 1 Losses ,has 106 Total points ,has 2 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jimmy Butler') has 2 Assists ,has 15 Defensive rebounds ,has 11 3-pointers attempted ,has 24 Free throws attempted ,has 2 Free throws made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kirk Hinrich') has 2 Assists ,has 2 Defensive rebounds ,has 2 3-pointers attempted ,has 2 Free throws attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Nikola Mirotic') has 28 Assists ,has 12 Defensive rebounds ,has 8 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Thaddeus Young') has 17 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kevin Martin') has 36 Assists ,has 33 Defensive rebounds ,has 7 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Ricky Rubio') has 17 Assists ,has 4 Defensive rebounds ,has 4 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Corey Brewer') has 17 Assists ,has 4 Defensive rebounds ."]

The Boston Celtics (11 - 18) defeated the Sacramento Kings (13 - 19) 106 - 84 on Wednesday in a matinee matchup. Boston snapped their four - game losing streak with the win. Despite tweaking his ankle near the end of their last game Saturday, Jared Sullinger led the way with 20 points and 11 rebounds in 27 minutes. This game got out of reach for the Kings early enough that both teams used most of their benches for significant stretches. The Celtics gained their biggest advantage on defense, holding the Kings to 37 percent shooting from the field while also forcing them into giving up 22 points off 16 turnovers. Evan Turner started at point guard instead of Marcus Smart, who had started the last few games. Turner posted a double - double of 10 points and 11 assists, and Smart played well off the bench, putting up 11 points and six rebounds in 28 minutes. Boston will try to keep the good times rolling when they host the Dallas Mavericks and welcome back Rajon Rondo for his first game in TD Garden as a member of the Mavericks. Sacramento has lost four of their last five games, and their poor performance Wednesday feels like a new low for the mercurial franchise. Jason Thompson started every single game this season coming into Wednesday, but he was moved to the bench in favor of Ryan Hollins and never entered the game. It was believed Thompson might be one of the pieces to fall out of the rotation after the Kings made a coaching change a couple weeks back, but coach Ty Corbin has been slow to make changes, leaving the Kings players questioning what exactly the direction of the team is. They’ll continue their road trip against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, giving them a quick turnaround and a new opportunity to get moving in the right direction.

["TeamStat(G,'Celtics') has 18 Percentage of field goals ,has 106 Losses ,has 11 Total points ." "TeamStat(G,'Kings') has 37 Percentage of field goals ,has 19 Losses ,has 84 Total points ,has 20 Points in 2nd quarter ,has 22 Points in 3rd quarter ,has 16 Turnovers ,has 13 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jared Sullinger') has 27 Assists ,has 20 Minutes played ,has 11 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Evan Turner') has 11 Assists ,has 10 Minutes played ,has 6 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Marcus Smart') has 28 Assists ,has 11 Minutes played ,has 6 Points ."]

The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 121 - 110 Wednesday at Smoothie King Center. The Thunder (17 - 12) were once again led by their fearless leader Russell Westbrook, who put together another 40 - point performance with 42 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in just 34 minutes. Westbrook once again carried a team that failed to get many significant contributions from its starters. Alex Abrines, however, did have a surprise performance off the bench Wednesday, scoring 18 points in 30 minutes - - just his second double - digit performance of the season. Additionally, Enes Kanter posted yet another double - double as a reserve, posting 14 points and 14 rebounds in 34 minutes. As a team, the Thunder did shoot the ball rather effectively, hitting 51 percent of their shots overall and 39 percent of their threes. The Pelicans (10 - 21) got another stellar performance out of their superstar forward Anthony Davis, as he posted 34 points and 15 rebounds in 36 minutes. And while Jrue Holiday and Terrence Jones each had great nights themselves, scoring 23 and 21 points respectively, the other nine players who saw the floor for New Orleans managed to score a total of just 32 points. Despite not having a full team effort, the game was ultimately lost for New Orleans on the boards, as they were out - rebounded by the Thunder 49 - to - 34. Up next, the Thunder will travel to Boston on Friday to take on the Celtics, while the Pelicans will stay home Friday and play the Heat.

["TeamStat(G,'Pelicans') has 21 Percentage of 3 points ,has 110 Percentage of field goals ,has 9 Losses ,has 10 Total points ." "TeamStat(G,'Thunder') has 39 Percentage of 3 points ,has 51 Percentage of field goals ,has 12 Losses ,has 121 Total points ,has 34 Points in 1st quarter ,has 34 Points in 4th quarter ,has 49 Rebounds ,has 17 Turnovers ." "PlayerStat(G,'Russell Westbrook') has 7 Assists ,has 34 Field goals made ,has 42 Minutes played ,has 10 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Enes Kanter') has 34 Assists ,has 14 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Alex Abrines') has 30 Assists ,has 18 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Anthony Davis') has 36 Assists ,has 34 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jrue Holiday') has 9 Assists ,has 23 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Terrence Jones') has 9 Assists ,has 21 Field goals made ."]

The Indiana Pacers (36 - 31) defeated the Boston Celtics (39 - 28) 103 - 98 on Tuesday. An exciting back - and - forth battle featured a strong fourth quarter from the home team that led them to victory. The Pacers managed a game - high 32 points in the final period, including a 15 - 4 run that provided enough of a cushion to hold off Boston when it counted most. Indiana utilized a strong shooting night to key the victory, as they posted 46 and 46 percent success rates from the field and three - point range, respectively. Conversely, they held the Celtics to 38 percent and 25 percent figures in those categories, while also forcing 13 turnovers. Boston was led by Isaiah Thomas' 21 points, which he supplemented with eight assists, six rebounds, two steals and a block. However, he struggled from three - point range, going 3 - for - 11 from beyond the arc. Jared Sullinger followed with a 15 - point, 11 - rebound double - double that also included three assists and two steals. Marcus Smart drew the start for the ailing Jae Crowder (ankle), and tallied 12 points, four rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block. Avery Bradley contributed 10 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal. Jonas Jerebko paced the Boston bench with 17 points, three rebounds and a pair of assists. The Celtics remain in second place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division, and hold the third seed in the conference as well. They're home versus the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Indiana was led by Paul George, who supplied 25 points, seven rebounds, four assists, four steals and a block. Monta Ellis was next with 16 points, seven rebounds, six assists and a pair of steals. Ian Mahinmi followed with 13 points, six boards and an assist, while George Hill, nursing a sore toe, was able to pitch in with 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and a block. Jordan Hill led the reserves with 15 points, three rebounds and a block. The Pacers remain in second place in the Eastern Conference's Central Division, and are currently slotted in the seventh seed in the conference as well. They take on the Toronto Raptors at home on Thursday night.

["TeamStat(G,'Pacers') has 46 Percentage of field goals ,has 31 Losses ,has 103 Total points ,has 32 Points in 4th quarter ,has 13 Turnovers ,has 36 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Celtics') has 38 Percentage of field goals ,has 28 Losses ,has 98 Total points ,has 13 Points in 4th quarter ,has 39 Turnovers ." "PlayerStat(G,'Marcus Smart') has 2 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 12 3-pointers attempted ,has 4 3-pointers made ,has 1 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jared Sullinger') has 3 Assists ,has 15 Blocks ,has 11 3-pointers attempted ,has 2 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Avery Bradley') has 2 Assists ,has 10 Blocks ,has 3 3-pointers attempted ,has 1 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Isaiah Thomas') has 8 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 11 3-pointers attempted ,has 3 3-pointers made ,has 21 Points ,has 6 Total rebounds ,has 2 Steals ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jonas Jerebko') has 2 Assists ,has 17 Blocks ,has 3 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Paul George') has 4 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 25 3-pointers attempted ,has 7 3-pointers made ,has 4 Points ." "PlayerStat(G,'Ian Mahinmi') has 1 Assists ,has 13 Blocks ,has 6 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Monta Ellis') has 6 Assists ,has 16 Blocks ,has 7 3-pointers attempted ,has 2 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'George Hill') has 3 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 10 3-pointers attempted ,has 5 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jordan Hill') has 1 Assists ,has 15 Blocks ,has 3 3-pointers attempted ."]

The Golden State Warriors (4 - 2) defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers (2 - 4), 105 - 97, on Tuesday at the Quicken Loans Arena to capture their first NBA Title since the 1974 - 75 season. Knowing that they had just one game standing between themselves and history, the Warriors came out on Tuesday and showed why they were the league's best team this season. The Warriors took over in the second half, and although they never built a massive lead, they played so well on both ends of the floor that even a ten point lead seemed insurmountable for the Cavaliers. It was n't necessarily Golden State's "Splash Brothers" that made the biggest impact in the decisive Game 6, either. Andre Iguodala had his highest scoring total of the season with 25 points and also added five assists. He had averaged 10 points per game in the playoffs leading into Game 6. Iguodala's tremendous play on both ends of the floor earned him Finals MVP honors despite not making a single start in the regular season. Draymond Green, who had struggled early in the series, posted a triple - double with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. Cleveland would not go down with out a fight, however. The Cavaliers chipped away at a 13 - point deficit with just under two minutes left to cut the Warriors' lead to just four points with 33 seconds remaining. In the end, the Warriors would not be denied the championship they had fought so hard to capture. The Warriors' championship cements their place among the best single seasons that the league has seen as they proved that a jump shooting team could be about more than just finesse. Golden State's lock - down defense throughout the season was equal to its offensive fire power, which made this team one of the most unique and impressive champions in recent memory. For Cleveland, the season ends in disappointment, but it should be encouraged by the path that took the Cavaliers to Game 6 of the NBA Finals. A first - year NBA coach in David Blatt, a largely playoff - inexperienced roster, and a rash of injuries could have derailed a lesser team, but the Cavaliers battled until the bitter end. LeBron James' performance in the Finals nearly negated all of the injuries and bad luck that the Cavaliers endured during the postseason. James had 32 points and 18 rebounds over 47 minutes in Game 6. He had at least 30 points in five of the six games in this series and also posted two triple - doubles. James' Herculean efforts were n't enough to knock off the full - strength Warriors, however. Still, James and the Cavaliers should be commended for their tremendous playoff run. The Cavaliers will undoubtedly be back in contention next season with a battle tested and talented roster. Golden State reached the pinnacle of basketball on Tuesday after many difficult and disappointing seasons. The Warriors began to look like a championship caliber team last season by finishing 20 games above .500 for the first time since the 1991 - 92 season. The addition of Steve Kerr as the coach this season vaulted the Warriors from contender to powerhouse, winning 67 regular season games to secure the top seed in the Western Conference. The Warriors had the best record in the NBA this season, the MVP of the league in Stephen Curry, and one of the best all - around teams in years. Golden State's first title in 40 years will be one to remember, and its star - studded nucleus means that the Warriors will be formidable for years to come.

["TeamStat(G,'Cavaliers') has 4 Losses ,has 97 Total points ,has 2 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Warriors') has 2 Losses ,has 105 Total points ,has 4 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Andre Iguodala') has 5 Assists ,has 25 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Draymond Green') has 10 Assists ,has 16 3-pointers made ,has 11 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'LeBron James') has 2 Assists ,has 47 3-pointers made ,has 32 Minutes played ,has 18 Points ,has 2 Total rebounds ,has 6 Steals ."]

The Portland Trail Blazers (49 - 26) routed the Los Angeles Lakers (20 - 55) at the Staples Center on Friday by a score of 107 - 77. Portland clinched the Northwest Division shortly before tip - off after Oklahoma City fell to Memphis, but that did n't stop the Trail Blazers from putting the exclamation point on the night. The Trail Blazers started hot and finished hot, outscoring the Lakers 26 - 12 in the first quarter and 33 - 14 in the fourth. Second-year guard C.J McCollum poured in a team - high 27 points in 27 minutes off the bench. With Friday's win, the Trail Blazers completed the season sweep over the Lakers. Portland had n't won a division title outright since the 1998 - 99 season when it was a member of the Pacific Division. Damian Lillard posted 20 points on an efficient 8 - of - 15 shooting performance that included going 4 - of - 8 from beyond the arc. The Trail Blazers currently hold the fourth spot in the Western Conference, but have one less win than the Clippers and Spurs. The division title looms large in this case as the Warriors have already clinched the Clippers' division and the Spurs have an uphill climb to unseat the Grizzlies and Rockets in the Southwest. The Trail Blazers will play the second half of a back - to - back set Saturday when they host the Pelicans. Los Angeles' season - long woes continued Friday with another blowout loss in front of the home crowd. Friday's defeat tied a not - so - prestigious franchise record for most losses in a single season. The Lakers are almost assured to have one of the bottom - five records in the league this season, which should allow them to have a top - five pick in the upcoming draft. Jordan Clarkson was again one of the few bright spots for the Lakers as he led them in scoring with 27 points. Clarkson also pulled down seven rebounds and dished out five assists in 35 minutes of action. The Lakers will kick off their "home - and - home" set against the Clippers on Sunday.

["TeamStat(G,'Lakers') has 55 Losses ,has 77 Total points ,has 12 Points in 1st quarter ,has 27 Points in 2nd quarter ,has 14 Points in 4th quarter ,has 20 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Trail Blazers') has 26 Losses ,has 107 Total points ,has 26 Points in 1st quarter ,has 33 Points in 2nd quarter ,has 49 Points in 4th quarter ." "PlayerStat(G,'Damian Lillard') has 8 Assists ,has 4 3-pointers attempted ,has 15 3-pointers made ,has 8 Field goals attempted ,has 20 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'CJ McCollum') has 27 Assists ,has 27 3-pointers attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jordan Clarkson') has 5 Assists ,has 1 3-pointers attempted ,has 35 3-pointers made ,has 1 Field goals attempted ,has 1 Field goals made ,has 27 Free throws made ,has 7 Minutes played ."]

The Heat posted a 52 percent success rate from the field, with four members of the first unit managing double digits in the scoring column. James Harden did generate 38 - point, 12 - rebound, 12 - assist triple - double, but the other four members of their starting five combined for just 41 points. Matching 23 - point efforts from Hassan Whiteside and Dion Waiters led the Heat, with the former also hauling in 14 boards. Goran Dragic contributed 21 points, while Rodney McGruder supplied 11. Tyler Johnson paced the second unit with 16 points. Ryan Anderson was a distant second behind Harden with 17 points, while Clint Capela posted 12. Eric Gordon matched Capela's point total in 32 minutes off the bench. Patrick Beverley and Trevor Ariza notably combined for just 12 points, with the former exiting after 12 minutes with a groin strain.

["TeamStat(G,'Heat') has 52 Percentage of field goals ." "PlayerStat(G,'Rodney McGruder') has 11 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Hassan Whiteside') has 23 Assists ,has 14 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Dion Waiters') has 23 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Goran Dragic') has 21 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Tyler Johnson') has 16 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Ryan Anderson') has 17 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Clint Capela') has 12 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'James Harden') has 12 Assists ,has 4 3-pointers made ,has 5 Minutes played ,has 38 Personal fouls ,has 12 Points ,has 4 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Eric Gordon') has 32 Assists ."]

The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the host Phoenix Suns, 137 - 112, at Talking Stick Resort Arena on Saturday evening. The Bucks turned in their highest point total of the season, as they ran past the struggling Suns. The Bucks (22 - 28) shot a blistering 63 percent from the field, as they scorched the Suns' defense. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way for Milwaukee with 30 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and four blocks to stuff the stat sheet. Mirza Teletovic followed up with 19 points on 6 - of - 10 shooting, to burn his former team. Jabari Parker added 18 points on 7 - of - 10 shooting, and nine rebounds, as he was solid in 31 minutes. The Bucks are still stuck outside the top eight in the East but will look to continue to claw their way back, as they play host to the Heat on Wednesday. The Suns (16 - 35) shot only 42 percent from the field, and were dominated in the paint, where they were outscored 74 - 42. However, Phoenix saw some great performances from some of it's youngsters, as Marquese Chriss tallied a career - high 27 points on 9 - of - 16 shooting, to go along with six rebounds, in only 24 minutes. Devin Booker went off for 27 points in the second quarter alone, but cooled down, as he finished with 31 points in the contest. Tyson Chandler grabbed 13 rebounds, while Eric Bledsoe and P.J. Tucker chipped in 13 points each. The Suns remain last place in the West but will continue to fight, as they go on to visit New Orleans on Monday.

["TeamStat(G,'Suns') has 42 Percentage of field goals ,has 35 Losses ,has 112 Total points ,has 16 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Bucks') has 63 Percentage of field goals ,has 28 Losses ,has 137 Total points ,has 22 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Giannis Antetokounmpo') has 6 Assists ,has 4 Blocks ,has 30 Field goals attempted ,has 12 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jabari Parker') has 10 Assists ,has 7 Blocks ,has 31 Field goals attempted ,has 18 Field goals made ,has 9 Minutes played ." "PlayerStat(G,'Mirza Teletovic') has 10 Assists ,has 6 Blocks ,has 19 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Marquese Chriss') has 24 Assists ,has 27 Blocks ,has 6 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Devin Booker') has 31 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'PJ Tucker') has 13 Assists ."]

The Bucks (21 - 19) handled the Knicks (5 - 36) 95 - 79 at the O2 in London, England on Thursday. Milwaukee jumped out to an early 31 - 13 lead and never looked back, as the lead reached as many as 26 points in the third quarter. The Knicks mounted a mini - comeback midway through the fourth, cutting the lead to 11 at one point, but a pair of Zaza Pachulia free throws followed by an O.J. Mayo three - pointer brought advantage back to 16 with under three minutes to play. Mayo led Milwaukee with 22 points (4 - 6 3Pt) off the bench but he was one of only two Bucks to make more than half of his shots, as Milwaukee converted at just a 39 percent clip as a team. Giannis Antetokounmpo was the other, contributing 16 points (6 - 10 FG) and five rebounds in 33 minutes. Brandon Knight added 20 points, six assists, six steals and five rebounds, and Khris Middleton added 14 points go to with six boards. Zaza Pachulia posted a double - double with 11 points and 14 rebounds (seven offensive) in just 28 minutes. New York, meanwhile, careened to its 16th straight loss despite the best efforts of Carmelo Anthony, who finished with 25 points and three rebounds. Jose Calderon added 11 points and nine assists, and Travis Wear scored 13 points off the bench. Amar’e Stoudemire started at center but played only eight minutes and was held scoreless. Up next, the Bucks return stateside to face the Raptors in Milwaukee on Monday. New York is also off until Monday, when they welcome the Pelicans to Madison Square Garden.

["TeamStat(G,'Bucks') has 39 Percentage of field goals ,has 19 Losses ,has 95 Total points ,has 31 Points in 1st quarter ,has 26 Points in 3rd quarter ,has 21 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Knicks') has 36 Percentage of field goals ,has 79 Losses ,has 13 Total points ,has 5 Points in 1st quarter ." "PlayerStat(G,'Carmelo Anthony') has 25 Assists ,has 3 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Amar'e Stoudemire') has 8 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Jose Calderon') has 9 Assists ,has 11 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Travis Wear') has 13 Assists ." "PlayerStat(G,'Giannis Antetokounmpo') has 10 Assists ,has 6 Defensive rebounds ,has 33 3-pointers attempted ,has 16 3-pointers made ,has 5 Field goals attempted ." "PlayerStat(G,'Zaza Pachulia') has 7 Assists ,has 7 Defensive rebounds ,has 28 3-pointers attempted ,has 7 3-pointers made ,has 11 Field goals attempted ,has 14 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Khris Middleton') has 14 Assists ,has 6 Defensive rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Brandon Knight') has 6 Assists ,has 20 Defensive rebounds ,has 5 3-pointers attempted ,has 6 3-pointers made ." "PlayerStat(G,'O.J. Mayo') has 1 Assists ,has 6 Defensive rebounds ,has 4 3-pointers attempted ,has 2 3-pointers made ,has 2 Field goals attempted ,has 22 Field goals made ,has 1 Free throws attempted ,has 1 Free throws made ."]

The Milwaukee Bucks (5 - 5) defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers (8 - 2) 108 - 105 in double - overtime thriller on Saturday. The final tally doesn’t represent how much of a defensive struggle this was between two defensive - centric teams. The Cavaliers committed a season - high 21 turnovers and that very well may have been the difference in a close game. Both teams struggled shooting the ball, as they both barely shot above 40 percent from the field and hovered around 70 percent from the free - throw line. This was a hard - fought defensive game that was 88 - 88 going into the first overtime. The Cavaliers were on the second half of a back - to - back and left it all on the floor on Saturday. The tired legs were evident though, as they set a season - high in turnovers and missed 24 three - point shots. They were led by LeBron James who put together a ridiculous line. King James tallied 37 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three blocks in the loss. Kevin Love also had another strong double - double, as he recorded 24 points and 14 boards in the defeat. This was a tough situation for Cleveland and the effort - filled loss is still a good sign for the morale of this team. They'll get a few days off and then play the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday. The Bucks carried a two - game losing streak coming into this game and put in quite the effort against the defending Eastern Conference champs. In the Bucks five wins this season, they have allowed under 90 points per game on average and that defense held true tonight. The 105 points looks like a lot from Cleveland, but its an unfair indicator considering the Cavs scored 88 points going into overtime. Milwaukee was led by Greg Monroe, who totaled 16 points and 17 rebounds, while grabbing a game - capping offensive rebound in the final seconds. This is a young and exciting team and they should be a threat to any team on any given night. They'll look to start a new winning - streak on Tuesday against the Washington Wizards.

["TeamStat(G,'Bucks') has 5 Losses ,has 108 Total points ,has 5 Wins ." "TeamStat(G,'Cavaliers') has 2 Losses ,has 105 Total points ,has 8 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'LeBron James') has 5 Assists ,has 3 Blocks ,has 37 Points ,has 12 Total rebounds ." "PlayerStat(G,'Kevin Love') has 24 Assists ,has 14 Blocks ." "PlayerStat(G,'Greg Monroe') has 16 Assists ,has 17 Blocks ."]

It was a battle between two star big men in Tuesday's matchup between the Heat and Pistons, and while Miami's Hassan Whiteside ultimately got the best of Drummond by hitting a game - winning tip shot over Detroit's center as time expired, both players saw failed to do what they have grown accustomed to doing all season: recording a double - double. Whiteside finished one rebound shy of the double - double, posting 17 points and nine rebounds in the contest, while Drummond fell one point shy, posting nine points and 13 rebounds of his own. For Whiteside, it was the first time since Feb. 24 that he failed to record a double - double, and it was the first time since Jan. 25 where he failed to record at least nine rebounds. For Drummond, it was actually the third time in his last four games where he failed to reach double - digit scoring, but he still has recorded at least 13 rebounds in each of his last seven games.

["PlayerStat(G,'Hassan Whiteside') has 7 Assists ,has 4 Blocks ,has 4 Defensive rebounds ,has 17 Field goals attempted ,has 9 Field goals made ." "PlayerStat(G,'Andre Drummond') has 2 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ,has 7 Defensive rebounds ,has 7 Field goals attempted ,has 4 Field goals made ,has 9 Free throws attempted ,has 13 Offensive rebounds ,has 2 Points ,has 2 Total rebounds ."]

The Golden State Warriors (58 - 13) had an emphatic victory Tuesday in Portland, defeating the Trail Blazers (44 - 25) 122 - 108 to clinch the Pacific Division. Golden State saved its best for the best competition with its best shooting performance of the year. The Warriors shot a remarkable 60% from the floor on their way to putting up 122 points against the Trail Blazers, who were missing LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum. This matchup showcased two of the best point guards in the game with Steph Curry putting up 33 points while Damian Lillard finished with 29. The Warriors broke the game open in the third quarter with a 21 - 3 run, leading to a 36 point quarter. The Trail Blazers and Warriors will wrap up the season series on April 9 at the Oracle Arena. Just one night after dismantling the East's fifth - best team, the Wizards, the Warriors put on a show against the West's fourth seed. Golden State had n't won a division title since the 1975 - 76 season where it lost in the conference finals. They are now one win shy of tying the franchise record for wins, a mark they should easily top. The Warriors dished out 37 assists in the game and scored 52 points in the paint. Golden State will return to action Friday when it hosts Memphis. Portland has started to slide over the past week with five straight losses. LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum, and Chris Kaman were all sidelined with injuries, which forced Portland to reach deep into its bench with players like C.J McCollum and Joel Freeland both playing more than 20 minutes. It's unclear if any of those three players will be available for Wednesday's tilt in Utah.

["TeamStat(G,'Trail Blazers') has 25 Number of team assists ,has 108 Percentage of field goals ,has 44 Losses ." "TeamStat(G,'Warriors') has 37 Number of team assists ,has 60 Percentage of field goals ,has 13 Losses ,has 122 Total points ,has 36 Points in 3rd quarter ,has 58 Wins ." "PlayerStat(G,'Stephen Curry') has 2 Defensive rebounds ,has 2 Free throws attempted ,has 2 Free throws made ,has 2 Personal fouls ,has 33 Points ,has 2 Total rebounds ,has 2 Turnovers ." "PlayerStat(G,'Damian Lillard') has 29 Defensive rebounds ."]