Scoreboard
Wizards 132, Hornets 116
Pacers 134, Jazz 118
Sixers 106, Celtics 103
Nets 100, Clippers 93
Knicks 126, Spurs 105
Suns 116, Bulls 115
Rockets 128, Lakers 94
Heat 108, Grizzlies 102
Bucks 120, Pistons 118
Timberwolves 122, Pelicans 101
Thunder 128, Cavaliers 120
Raptors 127, Mavericks 116
Nuggets 108, Warriors 105
Kings 121, Trail Blazers 118
What went down
Four of the top teams in the league faced off today, resulting in two games that went down the wire. The Philadelphia 76ers met their East coast rivals, the Boston Celtics, and had an early taste of what it's like to meet a powerhouse team that (still) has the potential to go deep in the playoffs.
The Celtics are looking different this season with key additions like Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday while the Sixers got a new coach and got rid of an unhappy James Harden.
The Sixers jumped the gun on the Celtics and went big early and held onto it until the final minutes of the fourth - until the Celtics threatened to steal another win, shades of what happened in the previous playoffs.
The Celtics were a 3-pointer away from tying the game in the final seconds, but Porzingis missed. Boston is now on a two-game losing streak while Philly extended their win streak to six.
While the duo of Joel Embiid (27 points) and Tyrese Maxey (25 points) held steady for the Sixers, the contributions of Tobias Harris in the fourth quarter gave the Sixers a big boost. Harris ended with 17 points.
Over out West, the Golden State Warriors were also a basket away from tying the game, but a missed goaltending call went in favor of the defending champs Denver Nuggets. This happened early in the fourth. With less than 10 seconds left in the game, Curry would have another opportunity to tie the game, but missed the layup.
Nikola Jokic was his usual dominant self:
Nikola Jokic's dominant start to the season continued in the Denver W 🃏
— NBA (@NBA) November 9, 2023
35 PTS
13 REB
5 AST pic.twitter.com/HsD8Spe7UE
Denver’s win improved their record to 8-1, tying the franchise-best start in nine games.
Will these four teams meet again deep in the playoffs come May? From the looks of it, a meeting in June doesn’t seem too far-fetched.
Big-time ballers
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been on fire since his knee injury and appears to be better than ever. In a win versus the Cavs, SGA dropped a season-high 43 points, adding seven rebounds and six assists.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went OFF tonight in the OKC W ??
— NBA (@NBA) November 9, 2023
43 PTS \ 7 REB \ 6 AST \ 3 STL \ 68% FG pic.twitter.com/0wuPpz5ldk
Efficiency is not often linked to Jalen Green’s name, but that’s exactly what he delivered against the Los Angeles Lakers. Green shot a whopping 73 percent on 15 shots, finishing with a game-high 28 points in the win.
These back-to-back Jalen Green buckets are TOUGH.
— NBA (@NBA) November 9, 2023
Lakers-Rockets | Live on the NBA App
📲 : https://t.co/pqQsaiCmYw pic.twitter.com/Xb5L4niLzH
What was supposed to be Grayson Allen’s night (he hit a career-high eight 3s) was hijacked by his Suns teammate Jusuf Nurkic. The big man hit the game-winner in overtime against the Chicago Bulls for a 20-point, 17-rebound game.
Nurkic gives the lead back to PHX ??
— NBA (@NBA) November 9, 2023
Seconds remain in OT 👀
Suns-Bulls | Live on the NBA App
📲 : https://t.co/QPNRiLoJ3U pic.twitter.com/4j3iyvSvz6
What he said
Giannis Antetokounmpo was ejected versus the Detroit Pistons after he was given a second technical for doing this:
Giannis given his second technical and ejected for this pic.twitter.com/16NsuNXrSg
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) November 9, 2023
Good thing the Bucks got away with the two-point win, prompting Giannis to tweet something positive postgame:
Great team win 💪🏾💪🏾 pic.twitter.com/nG2GSQGbxM
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) November 9, 2023
Did you see that?
Years and years after winning an NBA championship together, Houston Rockets legends Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon and Clyde “The Glide” Drexler are still in sync:
Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler are in sync courtside tonight in Houston 👀#NBACelebRow | Live on the NBA App
— NBA (@NBA) November 9, 2023
📲 : https://t.co/pqQsaiCmYw pic.twitter.com/nPI7VRFBv6
Extra pass
Two Eastern Conference teams, the Atlanta Hawks and the Orlando Magic, will battle tomorrow at 9:30 AM on League Pass. Both teams have identical 4-3 win-loss records and are both coming off losses, so expect a shootout from the two young teams.
