The New York Knicks extended their season-high winning streak to four games, the Cleveland Cavaliers became the first team to reach 20 wins so far, while the Memphis Grizzlies and the Dallas Mavericks made significant strides in the West.
CAVS TOPPLE NUGGETS AS MAVS, GRIZZLIES RISE TO JOINT THIRD IN WEST
- Cleveland Cavaliers (20-3) def. Denver Nuggets (11-9), 126-114: Despite Nikola Jokic’s record-setting outing, the league-leading Cavaliers improved to 13-1 at home after eclipsing the Nuggets.
[ALSO READ: NBA-best Cavaliers take down Nuggets, spoil Nikola Jokic's historic night]
- Dallas Mavericks (15-8) def. Washington Wizards (2-18), 137-101: Luka Doncic racked up his third triple-double of the season as the Mavericks cruised past the Wizards for a sixth straight win.
- Luka 🤝 Uncle Drew: Doncic put up 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists while Kyrie Irving added 25 for the surging Mavericks, who grabbed a share of the no. 3 spot in the West alongside the Memphis Grizzlies and the Houston Rockets behind their identical 15-8 records.
- Memphis Grizzlies (15-8) def. Sacramento Kings (10-13), 115-105: The second-best scoring team in terms of bench production, the Grizzlies posted 60 points from their bench players for a bounce-back win.
- Grizzly Bench Mob: Marcus Smart led the bench with 18, Santi Aldama added 15, and the Grizzlies erased an early 12-point deficit to topple the Kings.
- OKC Thunder (17-5) def. Toronto Raptors (7-16), 129-92: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped his ninth 30-point game of the season, anchoring the West-leading Thunder to back-to-back wins.
KNICKS KEEP SURGING AS WARRIORS END SLUMP
- New York Knicks (14-8) def. Charlotte Hornets (6-16), 125-101: Make it four straight wins for the Knicks after dispatching the Hornest at the Big Apple.
- One Four All: The New York starters all scored 18 points or more led by Karl-Anthony Towns’ 27-point, 16-rebound double-double for their 14th win of the season.
- Golden State Warriors (13-8) def. Houston Rockets (15-8), 99-93: Jonathan Kuminga posted a career-high 33 markers and the Warriors overcame the Rockets despite the absence of Steph Curry and Draymond Green.
[ALSO READ: Jonathan Kuminga's career-night powers Warriors past West no. 2 Rockets to snap skid]
- Chicago Bulls (10-13) def. San Antonio Spurs (11-11), 139-124: Nikola Vucevic went off for his own career-high of 39 points, Ayo Dosunmu dropped a triple-double to carry the Bulls over the Spurs.
- Unstoppa-Bulls: Vucevic dropped 39 points while Asomu added 27 markers, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds for back-to-back Bulls victory.
- New Orleans Pelicans (5-18) def. Phoenix Suns (12-9), 126-124: Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum combined for 54 points as the Pelicans ended a nine-game skid after nipping the Suns.
