Scoreboard
Magic 94, Mavericks 87
Trail Blazers 105, Hornets 95
Nuggets 122, Pacers 119
Jazz 125, Hawks 119
Celtics 128, Pistons 112
Nets 112, Knicks 85
Raptors 116, Rockets 109
Pelicans 115, Bulls 111
Suns 129, Timberwolves 117
Bucks 136, Thunder 132
Grizzlies 124, Spurs 122
Clippers 114, Lakers 101
Kings 127, Cavaliers, 120
What went down
A 13-game lineup and the two most unexpected teams stole the, um, thunder. The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Milwaukee Bucks went at it in a game that just doesn’t seem to want to end.
The Bucks headed into this game without their top three players in Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, and Khris Middleton. It’s fair to say that the Thunder had an advantage on this one–just don’t say that to Jevon Carter’s face. Carter, the Bucks’ backup guard, stepped into the role of All-Star and carried the Bucks’ offense in the first half. He scored 21 points to keep the game tied at 55 after two quarters.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder still looked to have a slight advantage despite Carter’s hot shooting, up until the fourth quarter when the Bucks began to roll. Milwaukee built an eight-point lead, but OKC managed to claw their way back and tie the game, setting up a last-second Carter potential game-winner, which he missed.
In overtime, SGA tried to put away the Bucks for good with a stepback 3 to give Thunder a one-point lead with only 0.6 seconds left. With the Bucks’ last chance, they went for a lob to Brook Lopez, who was fouled. Lopez, not wanting to go home yet, split his free throws to send the game to double overtime.
The Bucks held steady in double overtime, but the Thunder just won’t go away. After a couple of coach’s challenges, call reviews, and foul shot exchanges, the Bucks escaped with a four-point win. Carter’s career-game ended with these numbers: 36 points (career-high) on five 3s and 12 assists (career-high). SGA was again spectacular for OKC, dropping 39 points in the losing effort.
In a night where both New York teams and both LA teams battled for supremacy, the show was stolen by Jevon Carter, SGA, and a game that went on forever.
Big-time ballers
Kevin Durant put in work to get Brooklyn Nets a much-needed win versus the New York Knicks. KD scored 29 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and notched 12 assists–all the while shimmying and flexing on Julius Randle (who didn’t have a bad game himself).
Durant was three points short of what appeared to be this gameday’s favorite number: 32. Five players across the league scored 32 points to lead their respective teams, with Ja Morant and Desmond Bane getting that rare double 32 for Memphis. Devin Booker, Lauri Markkanen, and Fred VanVleet each scored 32 points, all in victories.
Indiana Pacers rookie Bennedict Mathurin got hot quick against the Denver Nuggets, scoring 23 points on five 3s at the half. He finished with 30 points in a losing effort.
What he said
New Brooklyn Nets coach Jacque Vaughn had a unique take on him landing the coaching gig, comparing it to his marriage with his wife:
“I might have not been her first choice and we've been together 20 years.”
Did you see that?
D’Angelo Russell checked back into the game, but inexplicably didn’t enter the game, forcing the Minnesota Timberwolves to play 4-on-5:
This is an all-timer! Russell not realizing he's supposed to be on the court, Suns play a possession 5-on-4, make a 3-pointer. #Timberwolves pic.twitter.com/3hrT51FGKO
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) November 10, 2022
