Magic Pull Upset Against Nuggets
The Orlando Magic defeated the Denver Nuggets, 115-104, at Amway Center on Thursday.
The Magic (23-33) pulled the upset against the Nuggets (38-18) on Thursday, though in the end, this was a game that didn’t carry too much attention from media due to the fact that the entire league was focused on what happened before the trade deadline. The Magic looked good in the early going and raced out to a 29-26 lead in the first quarter, and they bolstered their advantage following a 36-29 score in the second quarter to make it a 10-point game at halftime. Denver responded with a 29-24 score in the third quarter and seemed as if the Nuggets would pull a second-half comeback, but the Magic didn’t want any surprises and closed the game out with a 26-20 score in the final 12 minutes. With the win, Orlando moved to 14-14 at home, while the Nuggets fell to 12-14 on the road.
Seven Magic players scored in double digits here, with Wendell Carter Jr. leading the way following a 19-point, six-rebound effort, while Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs each had 11 points – Banchero also added 10 rebounds. Franz Wagner posted 10 points, six assists, two rebounds and three steals, and Moritz Wagner recorded 12 points off the bench. Bol Bol and Cole Anthony had 17 points off the bench, with Anthony also adding seven rebounds and seven assists.
Aaron Gordon posted 37 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Nuggets, while Nikola Jokic snapped their triple-double streak with a 29-point, 12-rebound and six-assist performance while also recording two blocks. Michael Porter Jr. had 12 points. No other Denver player scored in double digits.
The Magic (23-33) pulled the upset against the Nuggets (38-18) on Thursday, though in the end, this was a game that didn’t carry too much attention from media due to the fact that the entire league was focused on what happened before the trade deadline. The Magic looked good in the early going and raced out to a 29-26 lead in the first quarter, and they bolstered their advantage following a 36-29 score in the second quarter to make it a 10-point game at halftime. Denver responded with a 29-24 score in the third quarter and seemed as if the Nuggets would pull a second-half comeback, but the Magic didn’t want any surprises and closed the game out with a 26-20 score in the final 12 minutes. With the win, Orlando moved to 14-14 at home, while the Nuggets fell to 12-14 on the road.
Seven Magic players scored in double digits here, with Wendell Carter Jr. leading the way following a 19-point, six-rebound effort, while Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs each had 11 points – Banchero also added 10 rebounds. Franz Wagner posted 10 points, six assists, two rebounds and three steals, and Moritz Wagner recorded 12 points off the bench. Bol Bol and Cole Anthony had 17 points off the bench, with Anthony also adding seven rebounds and seven assists.
Aaron Gordon posted 37 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Nuggets, while Nikola Jokic snapped their triple-double streak with a 29-point, 12-rebound and six-assist performance while also recording two blocks. Michael Porter Jr. had 12 points. No other Denver player scored in double digits.
Hawks Top Suns, 116-107
The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Phoenix Suns, 116-107, at State Farm Arena on Thursday night.
The Hawks (28-28) came into the contest as home favorites and looked the part early, jumping out to a 36-22 lead through one. The Suns (30-27) knocked five points from their deficit in the second, but Atlanta curtailed that momentum coming out of intermission by adding nine points to its advantage during the third quarter to set the stage for the nine-point home victory. Each team shot 45.3 percent, but the hosts partly overcame 19 turnovers with a massive 59-35 rebounding edge.
Josh Okogie led the Suns with 25 points, adding four rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block. Deandre Ayton furnished 23 points, two boards, two assists, two blocks and one steal. Ish Wainwright supplied 17 points, four rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocks. Chris Paul registered 15 points, eight assists, five rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
Trae Young paced the Hawks with 36 points, complementing them with 12 assists, seven rebounds and two steals. Dejounte Murray turned in 19 points, eight rebounds, five assists and one block. John Collins registered 16 points, two boards and one steal. Onyeka Okongwu generated an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double that included one steal and one block.
The Suns remain on the road and visit the Indiana Pacers on Friday night, while the Hawks remain home and host the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night.
The Hawks (28-28) came into the contest as home favorites and looked the part early, jumping out to a 36-22 lead through one. The Suns (30-27) knocked five points from their deficit in the second, but Atlanta curtailed that momentum coming out of intermission by adding nine points to its advantage during the third quarter to set the stage for the nine-point home victory. Each team shot 45.3 percent, but the hosts partly overcame 19 turnovers with a massive 59-35 rebounding edge.
Josh Okogie led the Suns with 25 points, adding four rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block. Deandre Ayton furnished 23 points, two boards, two assists, two blocks and one steal. Ish Wainwright supplied 17 points, four rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocks. Chris Paul registered 15 points, eight assists, five rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
Trae Young paced the Hawks with 36 points, complementing them with 12 assists, seven rebounds and two steals. Dejounte Murray turned in 19 points, eight rebounds, five assists and one block. John Collins registered 16 points, two boards and one steal. Onyeka Okongwu generated an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double that included one steal and one block.
The Suns remain on the road and visit the Indiana Pacers on Friday night, while the Hawks remain home and host the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night.
New-Look Nets Stun Bulls
By Dan Bruno
The Brooklyn Nets defeated the visiting Chicago Bulls, 116-105, at Barclays Center on Thursday evening.
The Bulls jumped out to a strong start with a, 26-19, lead after one quarter, but the Nets rallied back through the second and gained a three-point edge by halftime. The visitors picked up the pace in the third and reclaimed control with a five-point advantage heading into the final frame. Despite their many roster changes, the Nets managed to keep their focus in the fourth, outscoring the Bulls by 16 points in the quarter to run away with their second straight win. This marks the third straight loss for the Bulls.
Spencer Dinwiddie led the Nets with 25 points, five rebounds, six assists and four steals, in 39 minutes. Cam Thomas followed up with 20 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Joe Harris added 18 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal. The Nets shot 42.9 percent from the field, including 17-of-44 from long range.
Meanwhile, Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 38 points on 16-of-25 shooting, in 40 minutes of action. Nikola Vucevic followed up with 15 points and 17 rebounds, while DeMar DeRozan added 14 points, three rebounds, six assists and a block. The Bulls shot 46.2 percent from the field, including 5-of-26 from deep.
The Bulls (26-29) will look to bounce back as they take on the Cavs in Cleveland on Saturday. The Nets (33-22) play host to the 76ers on Saturday.
The Bulls jumped out to a strong start with a, 26-19, lead after one quarter, but the Nets rallied back through the second and gained a three-point edge by halftime. The visitors picked up the pace in the third and reclaimed control with a five-point advantage heading into the final frame. Despite their many roster changes, the Nets managed to keep their focus in the fourth, outscoring the Bulls by 16 points in the quarter to run away with their second straight win. This marks the third straight loss for the Bulls.
Spencer Dinwiddie led the Nets with 25 points, five rebounds, six assists and four steals, in 39 minutes. Cam Thomas followed up with 20 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Joe Harris added 18 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal. The Nets shot 42.9 percent from the field, including 17-of-44 from long range.
Meanwhile, Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 38 points on 16-of-25 shooting, in 40 minutes of action. Nikola Vucevic followed up with 15 points and 17 rebounds, while DeMar DeRozan added 14 points, three rebounds, six assists and a block. The Bulls shot 46.2 percent from the field, including 5-of-26 from deep.
The Bulls (26-29) will look to bounce back as they take on the Cavs in Cleveland on Saturday. The Nets (33-22) play host to the 76ers on Saturday.
Bucks Defeat Lakers, 115-106
The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the host Los Angeles Lakers, 115-106, at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday.
While Los Angeles held the lead for the majority of the first half, Milwaukee rode a 38-23 third quarter to their victory. That allowed them to hold the lead for the entirety of the fourth quarter, despite neither team leading by more than 11 points in this game. The Bucks had five steals and seven blocks, while the Lakers had just two steals and two blocks. In addition, Milwaukee out-rebounded Los Angeles, 62-50, while outscoring them in the paint. 54-44. They also outscored the Lakers in second-chance points, 23-11, and in fastbreak scoring, 10-2.
The Bucks (38-17) were led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, accruing 38 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Jrue Holiday had 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Brook Lopez totaled nine points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three blocks, while Khris Middleton led the bench with 22 points, five rebounds and three assists.
The Lakers (25-31) were led by Dennis Schroder, finishing with 25 points, two rebounds and 12 assists. Anthony Davis collected 23 points, 16 rebounds and two assists. Troy Brown Jr generated 11 points, eight rebounds and two assists, while Austin Reaves led the bench with 18 points, four rebounds and two assists.
Milwaukee has to play the second half of a back-to-back set on Friday, staying on the road to play the Los Angeles Clippers. As for the Lakers, they return to action on Saturday in a road matchup with the Golden State Warriors.
While Los Angeles held the lead for the majority of the first half, Milwaukee rode a 38-23 third quarter to their victory. That allowed them to hold the lead for the entirety of the fourth quarter, despite neither team leading by more than 11 points in this game. The Bucks had five steals and seven blocks, while the Lakers had just two steals and two blocks. In addition, Milwaukee out-rebounded Los Angeles, 62-50, while outscoring them in the paint. 54-44. They also outscored the Lakers in second-chance points, 23-11, and in fastbreak scoring, 10-2.
The Bucks (38-17) were led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, accruing 38 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Jrue Holiday had 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Brook Lopez totaled nine points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three blocks, while Khris Middleton led the bench with 22 points, five rebounds and three assists.
The Lakers (25-31) were led by Dennis Schroder, finishing with 25 points, two rebounds and 12 assists. Anthony Davis collected 23 points, 16 rebounds and two assists. Troy Brown Jr generated 11 points, eight rebounds and two assists, while Austin Reaves led the bench with 18 points, four rebounds and two assists.
Milwaukee has to play the second half of a back-to-back set on Friday, staying on the road to play the Los Angeles Clippers. As for the Lakers, they return to action on Saturday in a road matchup with the Golden State Warriors.