Hornets Defeat Heat, 122-117
The Charlotte Hornets defeated the visiting Miami Heat, 122-117, at Spectrum Center on Sunday.
There were 14 ties and 14 lead changes in this game, with neither team leading by more than 13 points. That was Charlotte in the fourth quarter, riding a 33-24 third quarter to their win. Miami actually had a game-high 13-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but there was a 27-point swing in a 15 minutes span to grab the Hornets their win. Charlotte shot 54 percent from the field and 38 percent from three-point range while holding Miami to 48 percent from the field and 32 percent from long range. The Hornets also out-rebounded the Heat, 47-36, while outscoring them in second-chance points, 25-10.
The Heat (28-23) were led by Jimmy Butler, collecting 28 points, seven rebounds, two assists and three steals on 11-of-14 from the field. Tyler Herro tallied 24 points, five rebounds and three assists. Bam Adebayo accrued 17 points, four rebounds, six assists and three steals, while Kyle Lowry had 11 points, four rebounds and five assists.
The Hornets (15-36) were led by Terry Rozier, tallying 31 points, six rebounds and seven assists. PJ Washington finished with 27 points, six rebounds and five assists. Gordon Hayward generated 20 points, five rebounds and two assists, while LaMelo Ball provided 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Mason Plumlee totaled 10 points and eight boards.
Both teams return to action on Tuesday, with Miami staying on the road to play the Cleveland Cavaliers and Charlotte traveling to face the Milwaukee Bucks.
There were 14 ties and 14 lead changes in this game, with neither team leading by more than 13 points. That was Charlotte in the fourth quarter, riding a 33-24 third quarter to their win. Miami actually had a game-high 13-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but there was a 27-point swing in a 15 minutes span to grab the Hornets their win. Charlotte shot 54 percent from the field and 38 percent from three-point range while holding Miami to 48 percent from the field and 32 percent from long range. The Hornets also out-rebounded the Heat, 47-36, while outscoring them in second-chance points, 25-10.
The Heat (28-23) were led by Jimmy Butler, collecting 28 points, seven rebounds, two assists and three steals on 11-of-14 from the field. Tyler Herro tallied 24 points, five rebounds and three assists. Bam Adebayo accrued 17 points, four rebounds, six assists and three steals, while Kyle Lowry had 11 points, four rebounds and five assists.
The Hornets (15-36) were led by Terry Rozier, tallying 31 points, six rebounds and seven assists. PJ Washington finished with 27 points, six rebounds and five assists. Gordon Hayward generated 20 points, five rebounds and two assists, while LaMelo Ball provided 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Mason Plumlee totaled 10 points and eight boards.
Both teams return to action on Tuesday, with Miami staying on the road to play the Cleveland Cavaliers and Charlotte traveling to face the Milwaukee Bucks.
Grizzlies Topple Pacers, 112-100
The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Indiana Pacers, 112-100, at FedEx Forum on Sunday evening.
The Pacers (24-28) came into the contest as fairly elevated underdogs, but it would have been difficult to discern that during a first half in which they built a 62-50 lead. However, the Grizzlies (32-18) came out of intermission a different team, dominating on both ends of the floor during the third quarter to erase their deficit and take a one-point advantage into the final period. Memphis followed it up with a 13-2 run over the first 3:09 of the fourth quarter, establishing the foundation for the sizable victory.
Bennedict Mathurin led the Pacers with 27 points, complementing them with eight rebounds, three assists and one steal. Aaron Nesmith delivered 16 points, five boards and one steal. Myles Turner furnished 15 points, four rebounds, one assist and one block. Isaiah Jackson supplied 13 points, four rebounds, one assist and three blocks. Andrew Nembhard turned in 12 points, three rebounds and three assists.
Jaren Jackson paced the Grizzlies with 28 points, supplementing them with eight rebounds, one assist, five blocks and one steal. Ja Morant generated a 27-point, 15-assist, 10-rebound triple-double that included two steals and one block. Brandon Clarke registered 13 points, two rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal. David Roddy produced 11 points and three rebounds. Tyus Jones delivered 10 points, four assists, one rebound and four steals.
The Pacers return home to host the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night, while the Grizzlies remain home and host the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.
The Pacers (24-28) came into the contest as fairly elevated underdogs, but it would have been difficult to discern that during a first half in which they built a 62-50 lead. However, the Grizzlies (32-18) came out of intermission a different team, dominating on both ends of the floor during the third quarter to erase their deficit and take a one-point advantage into the final period. Memphis followed it up with a 13-2 run over the first 3:09 of the fourth quarter, establishing the foundation for the sizable victory.
Bennedict Mathurin led the Pacers with 27 points, complementing them with eight rebounds, three assists and one steal. Aaron Nesmith delivered 16 points, five boards and one steal. Myles Turner furnished 15 points, four rebounds, one assist and one block. Isaiah Jackson supplied 13 points, four rebounds, one assist and three blocks. Andrew Nembhard turned in 12 points, three rebounds and three assists.
Jaren Jackson paced the Grizzlies with 28 points, supplementing them with eight rebounds, one assist, five blocks and one steal. Ja Morant generated a 27-point, 15-assist, 10-rebound triple-double that included two steals and one block. Brandon Clarke registered 13 points, two rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal. David Roddy produced 11 points and three rebounds. Tyus Jones delivered 10 points, four assists, one rebound and four steals.
The Pacers return home to host the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night, while the Grizzlies remain home and host the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.
Cavs Roll Past Visiting Clippers
By Dan Bruno
The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the visiting Los Angeles Clippers, 122-99, at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Sunday.
The Cavs jumped out to a great start with a, 31-15, lead after one quarter, and they kept the pressure on in the second to make it a 30-point deficit by halftime. The Clippers came out stronger in the third but could not make any progress, as the hosts pushed it to a 32-point game after three-quarters. The visitors kept up the fight in the fourth but it was not enough, as the Cavs cruised to the home win.
Cedi Osman led the Cavs with 29 points, two rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block, in 22 minutes. Darius Garland followed up with 16 points, two rebounds and 10 assists, while Jarrett Allen tallied 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. The Cavs shot 56.4 percent from the field, including 20-of-33 from deep.
Meanwhile, Brandon Boston led the Clippers with 24 points, three assists and a steal, in 34 minutes. Amir Coffey followed up with 18 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal, while Moses Brown logged 13 points and 16 rebounds. The Clippers shot 41.6 percent from the field, including 2-of-19 from long range.
The Clippers (28-25) will look to bounce back as they take on the Bulls in Chicago on Tuesday. The Cavs (31-21) play host to the Heat on Tuesday.
The Cavs jumped out to a great start with a, 31-15, lead after one quarter, and they kept the pressure on in the second to make it a 30-point deficit by halftime. The Clippers came out stronger in the third but could not make any progress, as the hosts pushed it to a 32-point game after three-quarters. The visitors kept up the fight in the fourth but it was not enough, as the Cavs cruised to the home win.
Cedi Osman led the Cavs with 29 points, two rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block, in 22 minutes. Darius Garland followed up with 16 points, two rebounds and 10 assists, while Jarrett Allen tallied 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. The Cavs shot 56.4 percent from the field, including 20-of-33 from deep.
Meanwhile, Brandon Boston led the Clippers with 24 points, three assists and a steal, in 34 minutes. Amir Coffey followed up with 18 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal, while Moses Brown logged 13 points and 16 rebounds. The Clippers shot 41.6 percent from the field, including 2-of-19 from long range.
The Clippers (28-25) will look to bounce back as they take on the Bulls in Chicago on Tuesday. The Cavs (31-21) play host to the Heat on Tuesday.
Bucks Defeat Pelicans, 135-110
The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the visiting New Orleans Pelicans, 135-110, at Fiserv Forum on Sunday.
A 37-19 first quarter set the tone for Milwaukee in this wire-to-wire win, leading by at least five points for the final three quarters. They got their lead up to 27 points at times, capping off the victory with a 29-22 fourth quarter. The Bucks shot 55 percent from the field while holding the Pelicans to 44 percent shooting. In addition, Milwaukee out-rebounded New Orleans, 63-46, while outscoring them in the paint, 58-44.
The Pelicans (26-25) were led by Jose Alvarado, amassing 18 points, three rebounds, six assists and two steals. Jonas Valanciunas totaled 16 points and three rebounds. Trey Murphy tallied 16 points and two rebounds, while Kira Lewis Jr led the bench with 15 points, six rebounds and three assists. Larry Nance Jr also provided 10 points and 12 boards.
The Bucks (33-17) were led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, collecting 50 points, 13 rebounds and four assists on 20-of-26 from the field. Jrue Holiday had 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Brook Lopez generated 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks, while Khris Middleton led the bench with nine points, three rebounds and four assists.
Both teams return to action on Tuesday, with New Orleans staying on the road to play the Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee remaining home to face the Charlotte Hornets.
A 37-19 first quarter set the tone for Milwaukee in this wire-to-wire win, leading by at least five points for the final three quarters. They got their lead up to 27 points at times, capping off the victory with a 29-22 fourth quarter. The Bucks shot 55 percent from the field while holding the Pelicans to 44 percent shooting. In addition, Milwaukee out-rebounded New Orleans, 63-46, while outscoring them in the paint, 58-44.
The Pelicans (26-25) were led by Jose Alvarado, amassing 18 points, three rebounds, six assists and two steals. Jonas Valanciunas totaled 16 points and three rebounds. Trey Murphy tallied 16 points and two rebounds, while Kira Lewis Jr led the bench with 15 points, six rebounds and three assists. Larry Nance Jr also provided 10 points and 12 boards.
The Bucks (33-17) were led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, collecting 50 points, 13 rebounds and four assists on 20-of-26 from the field. Jrue Holiday had 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Brook Lopez generated 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks, while Khris Middleton led the bench with nine points, three rebounds and four assists.
Both teams return to action on Tuesday, with New Orleans staying on the road to play the Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee remaining home to face the Charlotte Hornets.