Wizards Win Pivotal Game Against Raptors
The Washington Wizards defeated the Toronto Raptors, 119-108, at Capital One Arena on Thursday.
The Wizards (30-32) and the Raptors (31-33) are vying for a spot in the Play-In Tournament, but Washington prevailed here and moved just two games below the .500 mark in what was a strong performance across the board against a resilient Toronto team. The Wizards got off to a strong start and quickly jumped out to a 24-20 lead in the first quarter, bolstering that advantage to nine points following a 35-30 score in the second 12 minutes. The Wizards didn’t slow things down in the second half and made it a double-digit game by the time the third quarter ended, and they’d close the game out with ease in the fourth quarter. The Wizards moved to 15-13 at home with the win, while the Raptors fell to 11-20 away from home.
Kyle Kuzma led the way for the Wizards with 30 points, five rebounds and five assists, while Kristaps Porzingis chipped in with 25 points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Daniel Gafford posted 18 points, five boards and two assists, and Bradley Beal contributed 15 points with five boards and five assists. Delon Wright chipped in with seven points, 11 assists, six boards and three steals. Corey Kispert posted 10 points off the bench.
OG Anunoby recorded 26 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals, while Jakob Poeltl notched 23 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks. Fred VanVleet had 14 points, seven assists and three rebounds, and Pascal Siakam had 13 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.
The Wizards (30-32) and the Raptors (31-33) are vying for a spot in the Play-In Tournament, but Washington prevailed here and moved just two games below the .500 mark in what was a strong performance across the board against a resilient Toronto team. The Wizards got off to a strong start and quickly jumped out to a 24-20 lead in the first quarter, bolstering that advantage to nine points following a 35-30 score in the second 12 minutes. The Wizards didn’t slow things down in the second half and made it a double-digit game by the time the third quarter ended, and they’d close the game out with ease in the fourth quarter. The Wizards moved to 15-13 at home with the win, while the Raptors fell to 11-20 away from home.
Kyle Kuzma led the way for the Wizards with 30 points, five rebounds and five assists, while Kristaps Porzingis chipped in with 25 points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Daniel Gafford posted 18 points, five boards and two assists, and Bradley Beal contributed 15 points with five boards and five assists. Delon Wright chipped in with seven points, 11 assists, six boards and three steals. Corey Kispert posted 10 points off the bench.
OG Anunoby recorded 26 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals, while Jakob Poeltl notched 23 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks. Fred VanVleet had 14 points, seven assists and three rebounds, and Pascal Siakam had 13 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.
Mavericks Outlast 76ers, 133-126
The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 133-126, at American Airlines Center on Thursday night.
The two teams came out of the locker room with a hot hand, leading to a wild first quarter the Mavericks (33-31) emerged from with a slim 38-37 lead. Dallas managed to up its advantage over the 76ers (40-22) by another three points going into halftime and then appeared to be in clear control after outscoring Philadelphia by a 39-24 margin in the third. However, the visitors, who got Joel Embiid back after a one-game absence due to a foot injury, battled back to get within five with 31 seconds remaining before being shut out the rest of the way.
Embiid led the 76ers with 35 points, adding eight rebounds, one assist and two steals. Tyrese Maxey delivered 29 points, two rebounds, two assists and one steal. James Harden generated a 27-point, 13-assist double-double that included four rebounds. De'Anthony Melton supplied 12 points, seven boards, six assists and five steals. Tobias Harris totaled 10 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Luka Doncic paced the Mavericks with a 42-point, 12-assist double-double that included four rebounds and one steal. Kyrie Irving registered 40 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals. Reggie Bullock posted 15 points, three boards and one assist. Christian Wood poured in 10 points.
The 76ers remain on the road visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night, while the Mavericks remain home and host the Phoenix Suns on Sunday afternoon.
The two teams came out of the locker room with a hot hand, leading to a wild first quarter the Mavericks (33-31) emerged from with a slim 38-37 lead. Dallas managed to up its advantage over the 76ers (40-22) by another three points going into halftime and then appeared to be in clear control after outscoring Philadelphia by a 39-24 margin in the third. However, the visitors, who got Joel Embiid back after a one-game absence due to a foot injury, battled back to get within five with 31 seconds remaining before being shut out the rest of the way.
Embiid led the 76ers with 35 points, adding eight rebounds, one assist and two steals. Tyrese Maxey delivered 29 points, two rebounds, two assists and one steal. James Harden generated a 27-point, 13-assist double-double that included four rebounds. De'Anthony Melton supplied 12 points, seven boards, six assists and five steals. Tobias Harris totaled 10 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Luka Doncic paced the Mavericks with a 42-point, 12-assist double-double that included four rebounds and one steal. Kyrie Irving registered 40 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals. Reggie Bullock posted 15 points, three boards and one assist. Christian Wood poured in 10 points.
The 76ers remain on the road visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night, while the Mavericks remain home and host the Phoenix Suns on Sunday afternoon.
Spurs Notch Second Straight Win
By Dan Bruno
The San Antonio Spurs defeated the visiting Indiana Pacers, 110-99, at AT&T Center on Thursday evening.
The Pacers got out to a strong start with a, 29-21, lead after one quarter. They maintained a cushion through the second, but the Spurs trimmed it to a two-point game by halftime. The hosts carried the momentum into the third and outscored the Pacers, 31-16, to claim a 13-points advantage heading into the final frame. The visitors had no answers down the stretch, as the Spurs closed out their second straight win.
Jeremy Sochan led the Spurs with 22 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and two steals, in 31 minutes. Zach Collins tallied 18 points, six rebounds, five assists and two blocks, while Devonte' Graham finished with 18 points, six rebounds, four assists and a steal. The Spurs shot 45.9 percent from the field, including 10-of-32 from deep.
Meanwhile, Buddy HIeld led the Pacers with 27 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals, in 34 minutes. Chris Duarte followed up with 18 points, nine rebounds and two assists, while Myles Turner logged 14 points, two rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals. The Pacers shot 45.6 percent from the field, including 8-of-23 from long range.
The Pacers (28-36) will look to bounce back as they take on the Bulls in Chicago on Sunday. The Spurs (16-47) play host to the Rockets on Saturday.
The Pacers got out to a strong start with a, 29-21, lead after one quarter. They maintained a cushion through the second, but the Spurs trimmed it to a two-point game by halftime. The hosts carried the momentum into the third and outscored the Pacers, 31-16, to claim a 13-points advantage heading into the final frame. The visitors had no answers down the stretch, as the Spurs closed out their second straight win.
Jeremy Sochan led the Spurs with 22 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and two steals, in 31 minutes. Zach Collins tallied 18 points, six rebounds, five assists and two blocks, while Devonte' Graham finished with 18 points, six rebounds, four assists and a steal. The Spurs shot 45.9 percent from the field, including 10-of-32 from deep.
Meanwhile, Buddy HIeld led the Pacers with 27 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals, in 34 minutes. Chris Duarte followed up with 18 points, nine rebounds and two assists, while Myles Turner logged 14 points, two rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals. The Pacers shot 45.6 percent from the field, including 8-of-23 from long range.
The Pacers (28-36) will look to bounce back as they take on the Bulls in Chicago on Sunday. The Spurs (16-47) play host to the Rockets on Saturday.
Warriors Defeat Clippers, 115-91
The Golden State Warriors defeated the visiting Los Angeles Clippers, 115-91, at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday.
While there were nine ties and 12 lead changes in the first half, Golden State rode a 42-16 third quarter to this blowout win. They also outscored Los Angeles, 28-19, in the fourth quarter, with the Clippers missing 18 of their first 19 threes in the second half. The Warriors shot 42 percent from the field and 30 percent from three-point range (14-of-46) while holding the Clippers to 36 percent from the field and 21 percent from long range (9-of-43). Golden State also out-rebounded Los Angeles, 64-54, while outscoring them in fastbreak points, 19-4. They out-assisted LA, 25-19.
The Clippers (33-32) were led by Kawhi Leonard, collecting 21 points, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Mason Plumlee provided 12 points, 20 rebounds and two assists. Paul George generated 11 points, five rebounds and five assists. Eric Gordon scored 16 points, while Russell Westbrook had eight points and six assists.
The Warriors (33-30) were led by Jordan Poole, compiling 34 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Klay Thompson tallied 19 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two steals. Draymond Green accrued 11 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, while Kevon Looney amassed 11 points and eight boards. Jonathan Kuminga led the bench with 19 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks.
Both teams play the second half of a back-to-back set on Friday, with Golden State playing host to the New Orleans Pelicans and LA traveling to face the Sacramento Kings.
While there were nine ties and 12 lead changes in the first half, Golden State rode a 42-16 third quarter to this blowout win. They also outscored Los Angeles, 28-19, in the fourth quarter, with the Clippers missing 18 of their first 19 threes in the second half. The Warriors shot 42 percent from the field and 30 percent from three-point range (14-of-46) while holding the Clippers to 36 percent from the field and 21 percent from long range (9-of-43). Golden State also out-rebounded Los Angeles, 64-54, while outscoring them in fastbreak points, 19-4. They out-assisted LA, 25-19.
The Clippers (33-32) were led by Kawhi Leonard, collecting 21 points, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Mason Plumlee provided 12 points, 20 rebounds and two assists. Paul George generated 11 points, five rebounds and five assists. Eric Gordon scored 16 points, while Russell Westbrook had eight points and six assists.
The Warriors (33-30) were led by Jordan Poole, compiling 34 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Klay Thompson tallied 19 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two steals. Draymond Green accrued 11 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, while Kevon Looney amassed 11 points and eight boards. Jonathan Kuminga led the bench with 19 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks.
Both teams play the second half of a back-to-back set on Friday, with Golden State playing host to the New Orleans Pelicans and LA traveling to face the Sacramento Kings.