Gilgeous-Alexander Drops 40 as Thunder Dominate Nuggets in Statement Win
Thunder Roll Over Nuggets as SGA Drops 40
The Oklahoma City Thunder continued their dominance, extending their winning streak to seven games with a 127-103 rout over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was unstoppable, scoring 40 points to lead the West’s top team to another statement victory.
The Thunder have now won 16 of their last 18 games and snapped Denver’s two-game winning streak. The loss dropped the Nuggets to third place in the Western Conference, just behind the Los Angeles Lakers.
Despite the loss, Nikola Jokic nearly posted another triple-double, finishing with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists after coming off a historic 30-20-20 performance in his previous outing.
The teams will meet again in Oklahoma City for another highly anticipated rematch.
Harden and Leonard Lift Clippers Over Kings in Overtime Thriller
The Los Angeles Clippers edged the Sacramento Kings 111-110 in overtime, thanks to a buzzer-beating game-winner by Kawhi Leonard. James Harden led the charge with 29 points, while Ivica Zubac contributed 22 points and 14 rebounds.
The Clippers were without head coach Tyronn Lue (back pain), and assistant Brian Shaw stepped in to guide the team to a clutch win.
DeMar DeRozan dropped 31 points and 10 assists, while Zach LaVine added 30 for the Kings, but their late-game heroics weren’t enough to prevent their second loss in seven games.
Suns Top Mavericks in Key Western Conference Battle
The Phoenix Suns tightened the West playoff race, securing a 125-116 win over the shorthanded Dallas Mavericks.
Devin Booker led the Suns with 24 points, while Kevin Durant flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 21 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists.
Klay Thompson paced Dallas with 26 points, but the Mavericks have now lost five straight and saw injuries pile up as Brandon Williams (hamstring) and Dwight Powell (head) exited early.
Morant and Bane Dominate as Grizzlies Hold Off Pelicans
Ja Morant scored 32 points, and Desmond Bane added 30, as the Memphis Grizzlies edged the New Orleans Pelicans 107-104.
New Orleans played without Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum, but Trey Murphy III stepped up with 27 points. Jose Alvarado added 11 points and 11 assists, but the Pelicans couldn’t close the gap late.
Timberwolves Blow Past Spurs Behind Edwards’ 25
The Minnesota Timberwolves cruised to a 141-124 win over the San Antonio Spurs, powered by Anthony Edwards’ 25 points on 10-for-15 shooting.
Naz Reid added 20 off the bench, while Julius Randle came close to a triple-double with 14 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds.
De’Aaron Fox scored 22 points to lead San Antonio, but the Spurs dropped their seventh game in nine outings.
76ers Bench Steps Up to Sink Jazz
Philadelphia’s reserves scored a staggering 78 points, helping the 76ers beat the Utah Jazz 126-122.
Quentin Grimes led all starters with 25 points, but the bench powered the win, highlighted by:
- Lonnie Walker IV (25 points, 11 rebounds)
- Jared Butler (15 points)
- Adem Bona (14 points, 15 rebounds)
Utah suffered its 12th straight road loss, despite Keyonte George’s 25 points and Kyle Filipowski’s 25-point effort.
Pistons Snap Losing Streak with Win Over Trail Blazers
Cade Cunningham scored 28 points, and Tobias Harris chipped in 20 and nine rebounds, as the Detroit Pistons defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 119-112.
Detroit completed a two-game sweep over Portland this season, as Jalen Duren contributed 18 points and 12 rebounds.
Despite Anfernee Simons’ 34-point night, the Blazers have now lost four of their last five.
Cavaliers Extend Win Streak to 14, Handle Bucks
The Cleveland Cavaliers continued their dominance, winning their 14th straight game with a 112-100 road victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Max Strus led eight Cavs in double figures with 17 points, while Donovan Mitchell (15 points) and Evan Mobley (13 points) added support.
Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 30 points and nine rebounds, but the Bucks dropped their second straight game as Damian Lillard added 22 points.
Final Thoughts
The Thunder and Cavaliers are the hottest teams in the NBA right now, both extending their winning streaks in dominant fashion. The Mavericks and Kings are struggling, while teams like the Suns, Clippers, and Timberwolves continue to make noise in the West.
With the playoff race heating up, every game is crucial, and rematches like Thunder vs. Nuggets could shape the standings in the weeks ahead.
