A 10-game NBA slate featured clutch performances from OG Anunoby and Walker Kessler, the Denver Nuggets stopping the Detroit Pistons, and the Cleveland Cavaliers making a 22-point comeback in Boston Garden.
COMEBACK CAVS STRIKE; JOKIC-LED NUGGETS HALT PISTONS
- Cleveland Cavaliers (49-10) def. Boston Celtics (42-18), 123-116: Donovan Mitchell and the league-best Cavaliers overcame a 22-point deficit and Jayson Tatum’s season-high 46 points to beat the Celtics for a ninth-straight win.
[ALSO READ: Cavaliers survive Jayson Tatum’s 46, make 22-point comeback vs Celtics for 9th straight win]
- Denver Nuggets (39-21) def. Detroit Pistons (33-27), 134-119: Nikola Jokic wreaked havoc in Detroit with a league-leading 28th triple-double outing, helping the Nuggets snap the Pistons’ eight-game winning run and climbed to the second spot in the Western Conference.
- Joker Catching Up on Big O: Jokic finished with 23 points, 17 rebounds, and 15 assists for his 14th career 20-15-15 game, one shy of legend Oscar Robertson's record of 15.
- Miami Heat (28-30) def. Indiana Pacers (33-35), 125-120: Tyler Herro unleashed a 29-point performance for the Heat’s first winning streak in over a month after fending off the Pacers.
- Chicago Bulls (24-36) def. Toronto Raptors (18-42), 125-115: Coby White’s clutch four-point play sent the game to overtime where the Bulls dominated and handed the Raptors a third straight loss.
- Portland Trail Blazers (27-33) def. Brooklyn Nets (21-38), 121-102: The Trail Blazers continue to roll as Shaedon Sharpe’s 25 points paced a fourth straight win at expense of the Nets.
CLUTCH ANUNOBY, KESSLER SHOW UP; LAKERS TAKE ‘BATTLE OF LA’
- New York Knicks (39-20) def. Memphis Grizzlies (38-21), 114-113: OG Anunoby hit the game-winning triple with 4.3 seconds left, lifting the Knicks to a cardiac road escape over the Grizzlies.
- Utah Jazz (15-44) def. Minnesota Timberwolves (32-29), 117-116: Walker Kessler connected on the go-ahead slam with 9.1 ticks left in a thrilling home win against the Anthony Edwards-less Timberwolves.
- LA Lakers (37-21) def. LA Clippers (32-27), 117-116: The surging Lakers leaned on Luka Doncic and LeBron James to extend their winning streak to five games after overpowering the Clippers.
[ALSO READ: Luka Doncic, LeBron James handle business vs Clippers as Lakers win latest ‘Battle of LA’]
- OKC Thunder (48-11) def. Atlanta Hawks (27-33), 135-119: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped his 36th 30-point game to spearhead the Thunder over the Hawks as OKC improved to 21-1 this season against Eastern Conference foes.
- Phoenix Suns (28-32) def. New Orleans Pelicans (16-44), 125-108: Bol Bol poured a season-high 25 points and career-high five threes in just 26 minutes, leading the charge for the Suns to halt a three-game skid.
