Mavericks Destroy Pelicans, 130-84
The Dallas Mavericks defeated the host New Orleans Pelicans, 130-84, at American Airlines Center on Saturday.
Dallas won all four individual quarters in this game, leading by 50 points at times in this 46-point blowout. They did almost all of their damage in the second half, outscoring the Pelicans, 66-32. The Mavericks ended up shooting 54 percent from the field while holding the Pelicans to 36 percent from the field and 3-of-32 from three-point range. In addition, Dallas won the rebounding battle, 55-34, while out-assisting New Orleans, 25-17.
The Pelicans (6-17) were led by J.J. Redick, who amassed 15 points and two rebounds. Jrue Holiday collected 14 points, three rebounds and four assists. Brandon Ingram generated 14 points, four rebounds and two assists. Jaxson Hayes totaled 11 points and five boards while no other player had more than seven points.
The Mavericks (16-6) were led by Luka Doncic, who tallied 26 points, six rebounds and nine assists. Tim Hardaway tallied 13 points, three rebounds and three assists. Kristaps Porzingis accumulated 13 points, five rebounds and two assists. Boban Marjanovic provided 15 points, 16 rebounds, two assists and two blocks off the bench,
On deck for Dallas is a home matchup versus the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. As for New Orleans, they return to action on Monday against the Detroit Pistons.
Dallas won all four individual quarters in this game, leading by 50 points at times in this 46-point blowout. They did almost all of their damage in the second half, outscoring the Pelicans, 66-32. The Mavericks ended up shooting 54 percent from the field while holding the Pelicans to 36 percent from the field and 3-of-32 from three-point range. In addition, Dallas won the rebounding battle, 55-34, while out-assisting New Orleans, 25-17.
The Pelicans (6-17) were led by J.J. Redick, who amassed 15 points and two rebounds. Jrue Holiday collected 14 points, three rebounds and four assists. Brandon Ingram generated 14 points, four rebounds and two assists. Jaxson Hayes totaled 11 points and five boards while no other player had more than seven points.
The Mavericks (16-6) were led by Luka Doncic, who tallied 26 points, six rebounds and nine assists. Tim Hardaway tallied 13 points, three rebounds and three assists. Kristaps Porzingis accumulated 13 points, five rebounds and two assists. Boban Marjanovic provided 15 points, 16 rebounds, two assists and two blocks off the bench,
On deck for Dallas is a home matchup versus the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. As for New Orleans, they return to action on Monday against the Detroit Pistons.
Pacers Defeat Knicks, 104-103
The Indiana Pacers defeated the host New York Knicks, 104-103, at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.
This game came down to the final seconds and it's easy to see when you see that these teams combined to miss 22 of the final 23 shots in regulation. In fact, the Pacers missed their final eight shots while the Knicks missed 14 of their final 15 shots. Julius Randle did have two free-throw attempts to tie the game with 0.1 seconds left but missed the second one to grab Indiana the win. Indiana actually failed to score over the final five minutes but New York scored just five points in that span. In total, there were eight ties and 11 lead changes with neither club leading by more than 11 points. Indiana shot 48 percent from the field and 43 percent from three-point range while holding New York to 41 percent from the field and 32 percent from long range.
The Pacers (15-8) were led by T.J. Warren, who totaled 25 points and four boards. Domantas Sabonis collected 19 points, 15 rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Jeremy Lamb accrued 13 points, four rebounds and two assists. Aaron Holiday got a rare start and finished with 12 points, four rebounds and five assists while Myles Turner had seven points, six rebounds and five blocks. T.J. McConnell led the bench with 11 assists.
The Knicks (4-19) were led by Marcus Morris, who amassed 25 points and three rebounds. Randle generated 16 points, 12 rebounds and three assists before missing that final free-throw. R.J. Barrett accumulated 12 points, nine rebounds and three assists while Mitchell Robinson led the bench with 14 points, seven rebounds, two steals and three blocks.
Indiana returns to action on Monday, playing host to the Los Angeles Clippers. As for New York, they return to action on Tuesday when they travel to face the Portland Trail Blazers.
This game came down to the final seconds and it's easy to see when you see that these teams combined to miss 22 of the final 23 shots in regulation. In fact, the Pacers missed their final eight shots while the Knicks missed 14 of their final 15 shots. Julius Randle did have two free-throw attempts to tie the game with 0.1 seconds left but missed the second one to grab Indiana the win. Indiana actually failed to score over the final five minutes but New York scored just five points in that span. In total, there were eight ties and 11 lead changes with neither club leading by more than 11 points. Indiana shot 48 percent from the field and 43 percent from three-point range while holding New York to 41 percent from the field and 32 percent from long range.
The Pacers (15-8) were led by T.J. Warren, who totaled 25 points and four boards. Domantas Sabonis collected 19 points, 15 rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Jeremy Lamb accrued 13 points, four rebounds and two assists. Aaron Holiday got a rare start and finished with 12 points, four rebounds and five assists while Myles Turner had seven points, six rebounds and five blocks. T.J. McConnell led the bench with 11 assists.
The Knicks (4-19) were led by Marcus Morris, who amassed 25 points and three rebounds. Randle generated 16 points, 12 rebounds and three assists before missing that final free-throw. R.J. Barrett accumulated 12 points, nine rebounds and three assists while Mitchell Robinson led the bench with 14 points, seven rebounds, two steals and three blocks.
Indiana returns to action on Monday, playing host to the Los Angeles Clippers. As for New York, they return to action on Tuesday when they travel to face the Portland Trail Blazers.
Sixers Stifle Visiting Cavaliers
By Dan Bruno
The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers, 141-94, at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday evening.
The Sixers jumped out to a great start, with a 36-18 lead after one quarter. They kept the pressure on in the second and powered their way to a 41-point quarter, to take a 77-36 lead into halftime. The Cavs had no answer in the second half, as they were outscored by five in the third quarter and trailed hopelessly through the fourth. The Sixers remain undefeated, moving to 11-0, at home. This marks the sixth straight loss for the Cavs.
Ben Simmons led the 76ers with 34 points, seven assists, three rebounds, two steals and two blocks, in 26 minutes. Mike Scott followed up with 21 points, six rebounds and two assists, while Trey Burke added 21 points, eight assists, four steals and two rebounds, in 26 minutes off the bench. The Sixers shot 63 percent from the field, including 11-of-26 from long range.
Meanwhile, Darius Garland led the Cavaliers with 17 points, four rebounds and four assists, in 30 minutes. Tristan Thompson followed up with 12 points, four assists and three rebounds, while Jordan Clarkson chipped in 10 points, in 16 minutes off the bench. The Cavs shot 38 percent from the field, including 9-of-35 from long range.
The Cavs (5-17) will look to bounce back as they take on the Celtics in Boston on Monday. The 76ers (16-7) play host to the Raptors on Sunday.
The Sixers jumped out to a great start, with a 36-18 lead after one quarter. They kept the pressure on in the second and powered their way to a 41-point quarter, to take a 77-36 lead into halftime. The Cavs had no answer in the second half, as they were outscored by five in the third quarter and trailed hopelessly through the fourth. The Sixers remain undefeated, moving to 11-0, at home. This marks the sixth straight loss for the Cavs.
Ben Simmons led the 76ers with 34 points, seven assists, three rebounds, two steals and two blocks, in 26 minutes. Mike Scott followed up with 21 points, six rebounds and two assists, while Trey Burke added 21 points, eight assists, four steals and two rebounds, in 26 minutes off the bench. The Sixers shot 63 percent from the field, including 11-of-26 from long range.
Meanwhile, Darius Garland led the Cavaliers with 17 points, four rebounds and four assists, in 30 minutes. Tristan Thompson followed up with 12 points, four assists and three rebounds, while Jordan Clarkson chipped in 10 points, in 16 minutes off the bench. The Cavs shot 38 percent from the field, including 9-of-35 from long range.
The Cavs (5-17) will look to bounce back as they take on the Celtics in Boston on Monday. The 76ers (16-7) play host to the Raptors on Sunday.
Rockets Survive Challenging Suns
By Dan Bruno
The Houston Rockets defeated the visiting Phoenix Suns, 115-109, at Toyota Center on Saturday evening.
The Suns got out to a great start on the road, as they led 31-23 after one quarter. The Rockets turned it around in the second and outscored the Suns 37-21 in the quarter, to take a 60-52 lead by halftime. The Suns put up a fight in the third but could only trim it to a five-point game by the start of the fourth. They came out strong in the fourth and used a 9-4 run to tie it at 87, with eight minutes to go, but the Rockets responded with a 10-2 run, to reestablish a solid lead. The Rockets held on for their second straight win, while the Suns closed out a four-game road trip with a 2-2 record.
James Harden led the Rockets with 34 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block, in 39 minutes. Russell Westbrook tallied 24 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists, three steals and two blocks, while Ben McLemore added 27 points on 10-of-15 shooting, in 30 minutes off the bench. The Rockets shot 45 percent from the field, including 11-of-40 from long range.
Meanwhile, Devin Booker led the Suns with 35 points, five assists, four rebounds and a steal, in 37 minutes. Kelly Oubre Jr. added 19 points and five rebounds, while Dario Saric totalled 13 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Ricky Rubio finished with 10 points, 13 assists, six rebounds and a block. The Suns shot 42 percent from the field, including 11-of-35 from deep.
The Suns (10-12) will look to bounce back as they play host to the Timberwolves on Monday. The Rockets (15-7) play host to the Kings on Monday.
The Suns got out to a great start on the road, as they led 31-23 after one quarter. The Rockets turned it around in the second and outscored the Suns 37-21 in the quarter, to take a 60-52 lead by halftime. The Suns put up a fight in the third but could only trim it to a five-point game by the start of the fourth. They came out strong in the fourth and used a 9-4 run to tie it at 87, with eight minutes to go, but the Rockets responded with a 10-2 run, to reestablish a solid lead. The Rockets held on for their second straight win, while the Suns closed out a four-game road trip with a 2-2 record.
James Harden led the Rockets with 34 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block, in 39 minutes. Russell Westbrook tallied 24 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists, three steals and two blocks, while Ben McLemore added 27 points on 10-of-15 shooting, in 30 minutes off the bench. The Rockets shot 45 percent from the field, including 11-of-40 from long range.
Meanwhile, Devin Booker led the Suns with 35 points, five assists, four rebounds and a steal, in 37 minutes. Kelly Oubre Jr. added 19 points and five rebounds, while Dario Saric totalled 13 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Ricky Rubio finished with 10 points, 13 assists, six rebounds and a block. The Suns shot 42 percent from the field, including 11-of-35 from deep.
The Suns (10-12) will look to bounce back as they play host to the Timberwolves on Monday. The Rockets (15-7) play host to the Kings on Monday.
Jazz Blasts Grizzlies, 126-112
The Utah Jazz defeated the Memphis Grizzlies, 126-112, at Vivint Smart Home Arena on Saturday night.
The Grizzlies (6-16) knew they were overmatched on paper in a road tilt against the Jazz (13-10), but they came swinging out of the gate and built a 36-32 lead after 12 minutes. That surge from the visitors seemed to wake Utah up, as they changed the dynamic of the contest by outscoring Memphis, 37-18, in the second period. That 15-point cushion was enough to sustain them the rest of the way, even as the Grizzlies narrowly outscored the Jazz, 58-57, over the final two periods.
Jaren Jackson, Jr. paced the Grizzlies with 26 points, adding four rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block. Jae Crowder and Grayson Allen followed with matching 13-point, two-rebound tallies. Jonas Valanciunas and Dillon Brooks produced 10 points apiece, with Valanciunas also pulling down six boards.
Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz with 22 points and complemented them with four rebounds and three assists. Rudy Gobert and Bogdan Bogdanovic generated 19 points each, with Gobert adding 11 rebounds and five assists and Bogdanovic pulling down six boards. Royce O'Neale turned in 14 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Joe Ingles mustered a 12-point, 10-assist double-double that also included four steals. Emmanuel Mudiay supplied 11 points, seven assists and three rebounds.
The Grizzlies will next pay a visit to the Golden State Warriors on Monday night, while the Jazz remains home and takes on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night.
The Grizzlies (6-16) knew they were overmatched on paper in a road tilt against the Jazz (13-10), but they came swinging out of the gate and built a 36-32 lead after 12 minutes. That surge from the visitors seemed to wake Utah up, as they changed the dynamic of the contest by outscoring Memphis, 37-18, in the second period. That 15-point cushion was enough to sustain them the rest of the way, even as the Grizzlies narrowly outscored the Jazz, 58-57, over the final two periods.
Jaren Jackson, Jr. paced the Grizzlies with 26 points, adding four rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block. Jae Crowder and Grayson Allen followed with matching 13-point, two-rebound tallies. Jonas Valanciunas and Dillon Brooks produced 10 points apiece, with Valanciunas also pulling down six boards.
Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz with 22 points and complemented them with four rebounds and three assists. Rudy Gobert and Bogdan Bogdanovic generated 19 points each, with Gobert adding 11 rebounds and five assists and Bogdanovic pulling down six boards. Royce O'Neale turned in 14 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Joe Ingles mustered a 12-point, 10-assist double-double that also included four steals. Emmanuel Mudiay supplied 11 points, seven assists and three rebounds.
The Grizzlies will next pay a visit to the Golden State Warriors on Monday night, while the Jazz remains home and takes on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night.