Winning streaks here, there, and everywhere.
East leaders Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers are hitting their strides ahead of their marquee showdown, while the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors keep humming in the West.
LUKA DONCIC DROPS TRIPLE-DOUBLE OVER MAVS; WARRIORS SUSTAIN FIERY FORM
- Los Angeles Lakers (35-21) def. Dallas Mavericks (31-28), 107-99: Against his former team in Dallas, Luka Doncic gained a measure of revenge after leading a third straight Lakers dub behind a first triple-double outing in over two months--or his first in a purple and gold uniform.
[ALSO READ: Luka Doncic drops first triple-double for Lakers in vengeful game vs former team Mavericks]
- Golden State Warriors (31-27) def. Charlotte Hornets (14-43), 128-92: The Warriors became just the fifth franchise ever to reach 3,000 regular season wins, thanks to a 36-point blowout of the Hornets.
- Houston Rockets (36-22) def. Milwaukee Bucks (32-25), 100-97: Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun joined forces, putting up a combined 48-point performance that helped the Rockets snapped the Bucks’ four-game winning streak.
- New Orleans Pelicans (15-43) def. San Antonio Spurs (24-32), 109-103: For the second time in the last three days, Trey Murphy III and the Pelicans toppled the Spurs for their first consecutive wins in over a month.
CLUTCH JA MORANT STARS AS CELTICS, CAVS CONTINUE SURGE
- Memphis Grizzlies (38-20) def. Phoenix Suns (27-31), 151-148: Ja Morant’s heroics sent the game to overtime where the Grizzlies grinded out a high-scoring home squeaker against the visiting Suns.
- Bear the Triple Brunt: Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane combined for 82 points in a thrilling contest as Memphis improved to 3-0 this season over the Phoenix.
- Boston Celtics (42-16) def. Toronto Raptors (18-40), 111-101: Make it six straight victories for the streaking Celtics after overpowering the Raptors, earning a league-leading 24th road win.
- Cleveland Cavaliers (48-10) def. Orlando Magic (30-30), 122-82: In this East opening round rematch, the Cavaliers dominated the Magic from start to finish en route to their third eight-game winning streak of the season.
[ALSO READ: NBA-best Cavaliers deliver 40-point beatdown of Magic for eighth straight win]
