On Tuesday night, Donovan Mitchell and James Harden led their Cleveland Cavaliers team to an emphatic win against New York Knicks with strong second half performances that ultimately resulted in a 109-94 triumph for Cleveland over their rival. Mitchell scored 23 points while Harden racked up 20, helping their side pull away in the latter stages of the contest.
Cavaliers Overcome Knicks
Jarrett Allen posted a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds as the Cavaliers earned their eighth win in nine games. For New York Knicks opponents Jalen Brunson led with 20 points while Mikal Bridges finished up 18 of his own. Mitchell Robinson proved dominant on the boards by collecting 15 rebounds – just shy of his season high mark!
The Knicks faced offensive struggles, shooting 35 for 86 overall. Bridges and Brunson combined to make only 12 of 36 attempts, and New York’s three-point shooting was limited to 27%, hitting just 10 of 37 tries. Notably, the Cavaliers entered the game with one of the league’s poorest defenses against three-pointers.
Both teams hold identical records at 37-22, tied for third in the Eastern Conference, though New York maintains the tiebreaker edge after winning two of three meetings this season.
76ers Dominate Pacers
Joel Embiid returned strongly for the Philadelphia 76ers, scoring 27 points in a 135-114 road victory over the Indiana Pacers. Tyrese Maxey shined, leading all scorers with 32 points.
Embiid was efficient through 26 minutes, tallying 20 points in the first half on 11-of-17 shooting. VJ Edgecombe also made a notable impact, contributing 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting, as the 76ers shot 58% from the field.
Indiana’s top contributors were Andrew Nembhard and Micah Potter, each scoring 23 points, with Potter setting a career high. The Pacers struggled with a 42% shooting clip and committed 16 turnovers. Philadelphia dominated inside, outscoring Indiana 82-52 in points in the paint. Pascal Siakam missed the game due to a left wrist sprain.
Mavericks Edge Nets
The Dallas Mavericks overcame travel difficulties caused by a blizzard to defeat the Brooklyn Nets 123-114. Marvin Bagley III led Dallas with 22 points while Naji Marshall added 21. The Mavericks set a season-high by scoring 76 points in the first half.
Brandon Williams contributed 19 points and dished out 10 assists, and Klay Thompson chipped in 17 points. This victory marked the Mavericks’ second consecutive win following a ten-game losing streak.
Thunder Triumph Over Raptors
The Oklahoma City Thunder earned a 116-107 victory over the Toronto Raptors behind Cason Wallace’s 27 points, matching his career high, and Isaiah Joe’s 22 points. Despite missing star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder continue to thrive on the road with a 21-7 away record.
Wallace’s performance also included six assists and eight rebounds. RJ Barrett led the Raptors with 21 points, but the team’s three-game winning streak came to an end.
Kuminga Shines in Hawks Victory
Jonathan Kuminga made an impressive debut for the Atlanta Hawks, scoring a season-high 27 points off the bench in a 119-98 win over the Washington Wizards. Acquired at the trade deadline, Kuminga immediately showcased his talent, including a thunderous dunk and three successful three-pointers.
Though Trae Young returned to action for the Hawks, much of the spotlight was on Kuminga’s impactful performance.
Hornets Extend Road Winning Streak
The Charlotte Hornets crushed the Chicago Bulls 131-99, with Brandon Miller scoring 23 points and Kon Knueppel adding 21. The victory extended Charlotte’s record-setting road winning streak to eight games.
The Hornets shot 51.6% from the field and excelled from beyond the arc, making 25 of 57 three-point attempts. LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges each contributed 16 points.
Pelicans Hold Off Warriors
The New Orleans Pelicans held on to defeat the Golden State Warriors 113-109, led by Zion Williamson’s 26 points. Dejounte Murray made his return, scoring 13 points.
Saddiq Bey played a crucial role in the closing moments, scoring 18 points and drawing a foul on a reverse layup. De’Anthony Melton led Golden State with a season-high 28 points.
Bucks Take Down Heat
The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Miami Heat 128-117 behind Kevin Porter Jr.’s 32 points. Bobby Portis and Ryan Rollins each scored 21 points for Milwaukee.
Norman Powell led Miami with 26 points, but the Heat’s three-game winning streak came to an end.
Celtics Beat Suns
Boston Celtics defeated Phoenix Suns by an overwhelming score of 97-81 on Saturday evening, led by Derrick White who scored 22 points while Neemias Queta recorded both 14 points and 13 rebounds for himself to complete an incredible double-double performance.
Even without All-Star Jaylen Brown, the Celtics extended their winning streak to four games by dominating in the third quarter by outscoring Phoenix 30-11.