Scoreboard
Magic 111, Knicks 106
Cavaliers 116, Nets 114
Pelicans 115, Hornets 96
Clippers 127, Thunder 105
What went down
As if Brooklyn needs more heartbreaking experiences, they lost a close one to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Nets were holding on to a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter, only to watch it fade away up to the closing minutes.
Still, the Nets were up four with less than 30 seconds left, thanks to a determined Spencer Dinwiddie trying to provide the best back-up to Mikal Bridges.
Dinwiddie and Bridges finished with 25 points and 32 points, respectively, for the Nets.
However, it was the Cavs’ night.
Donovan Mitchell (31 points) came up with a clutch basket and a steal to give the Cavs a chance to tie the game. With the Cavs down one and Mitchell having one more freebie, things began to unravel for the Nets.
Mitchell missed the second free throw, got the rebound, missed on his putback, until the ball eventually landed on Isaac Okoro’s hands. Okoro was wide open at the corner and knocked down the game-winning 3 with only 0.7 seconds left for Brooklyn.
The ending to the Cavs-Nets game was too wild for words, it just needs to be watched again:
ISAAC OKORO FOR THE WIN 😱
— NBA (@NBA) March 24, 2023
WHAT A FINISH. pic.twitter.com/21XgHBFyRB
Big-time ballers
Isaac Okoro may have been the hero in Cleveland’s win against Brooklyn, but–as how it’s been the whole season–Donovan Mitchell was the scoring leader. Mitchell scored 31 points to lead the Cavs, putting Mikal Bridges’ game-high 32 points to waste.
Donovan Mitchell says words to Royce O'Neale. Donovan Mitchell follows it up with a bucket. pic.twitter.com/pkIzLTmfpI
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) March 24, 2023
Brandon Ingram is back in peak BI form, dropping his first career triple-double versus the Hornets. Ingram scored 30 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and dished out 10 assists in the big win – the Pelicans’ third straight.
Ingram’s teammate Jonas Valanciunas also came up big for New Orleans with a 20-point, 19-rebound game.
Markelle Fultz (10 points, 8 assists) has also been rocking big-time playmaking for the Magic as of late, none bigger than this gem of a no-look pass:
What a pass by Markelle Fultz 🤯
— NBA (@NBA) March 23, 2023
Watch live on NBA TV
📺: https://t.co/WjxYAo0Ivs pic.twitter.com/6RDvPEO33u
Meanwhile, Kawhi Leonard flexed Kawhi Leonard numbers versus the Thunder with this statline:
32 points, six rebounds, six assists, and four steals.
What he said
Isaac Okoro’s game-winner felt good the moment he launched it:
"Once it left my hand, it was going in."
— NBA (@NBA) March 24, 2023
Isaac Okoro walks through his game-winner in Brooklyn 🗣? pic.twitter.com/LWehuK41N8
Did you see that?
Julius Randle got heated against the Magic, the refs, but also, against his teammate Immanuel Quickley:
Julius Randle was not happy. pic.twitter.com/Mk0B1cCYBI
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 24, 2023
