An exciting Friday night in the NBA saw Anthony Edwards light it up from beyond the arc, Anthony Davis dominate for the Lakers, and Zion Williamson propel the short-handed Pelicans to victory. Here’s a look at the top performances and game highlights.
Timberwolves Edge Nuggets in Thriller
Anthony Edwards had a stellar night, scoring 29 points and shooting 7-for-14 from 3-point range to lift the Minnesota Timberwolves over the Denver Nuggets, 119-116, in Minneapolis. The Wolves notched their third win in four games, with Julius Randle contributing 23 points, seven assists, and six rebounds. Rudy Gobert added a double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds.
For the Nuggets, Aaron Gordon posted a game-high 31 points with 11 rebounds, while Nikola Jokic was just shy of a triple-double, finishing with 26 points, 13 assists, and nine rebounds. Michael Porter Jr. also had 26 points. Denver played the final quarter without Jamal Murray, who entered concussion protocol after colliding with Randle in the third.
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Celtics Rebound Against Hornets
Jayson Tatum poured in 32 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Boston Celtics to a 124-109 win over the Charlotte Hornets. Jaylen Brown added 25 points, and Derrick White contributed 17, helping Boston bounce back from their only loss of the season, an overtime setback to Indiana.
The Hornets were led by LaMelo Ball, who scored 31 points, while Tre Mann added 23. The game marked a significant challenge for Charlotte’s first-year head coach Charles Lee, who previously served as an assistant for Boston.
Thunder Remain Unbeaten, Crush Trail Blazers
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 137-114 rout of the Portland Trail Blazers with 30 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Jalen Williams chipped in 22 points, four assists, and four steals as Oklahoma City extended their unbeaten run to five games and their dominance over Portland to 13 consecutive wins.
Portland struggled despite Jerami Grant’s 17 points and double-digit efforts from Deandre Ayton and Rayan Rupert, who each had 14 points.
Cavaliers Stay Perfect with Win Over Magic
The Cleveland Cavaliers improved to 6-0, matching their best start since 2016-17, with a 120-109 victory over the Orlando Magic. Darius Garland led the charge with 25 points, and Donovan Mitchell added 22. Evan Mobley contributed a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Orlando’s Jalen Suggs scored a career-high 28 points in a losing effort, as the Magic played without Paolo Banchero, who is out with a torn oblique.
Knicks Dominate Pistons Behind Brunson’s Big Night
Jalen Brunson erupted for 36 points in just three quarters, leading the New York Knicks to a commanding 128-98 win over the Detroit Pistons. Brunson was efficient, shooting 14-for-22 and adding five assists. Karl-Anthony Towns, fresh off a 44-point game, had 21 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists, while OG Anunoby matched Towns with 21 points.
Cade Cunningham paced Detroit with 22 points, but the Pistons couldn’t stop the Knicks from winning their 16th straight game against them.
Kings Outlast Hawks, Extend Atlanta’s Skid
De’Aaron Fox scored a game-high 31 points as the Sacramento Kings defeated the Atlanta Hawks 123-115, handing Atlanta their fourth consecutive loss. DeMar DeRozan added 27 points for Sacramento, while Domantas Sabonis posted a double-double with 15 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists.
Trae Young led the Hawks with 25 points and 12 assists, and Garrison Mathews provided a spark off the bench with 23 points, but it wasn’t enough to snap Atlanta’s losing streak.
Cam Thomas Shines Again as Nets Top Bulls
Cam Thomas continued his hot start to the season, scoring 32 points to lead the Brooklyn Nets to a 120-112 victory over the Chicago Bulls. Thomas has scored 30 or more points in three of Brooklyn’s six games. The Nets closed the game strong, outscoring the Bulls 16-8 in the final minutes.
Nikola Vucevic had 28 points and 11 rebounds for Chicago, while Zach LaVine and Coby White each added 21 points. The Bulls’ cold shooting in the fourth quarter, including 6-for-23 from the field and 2-for-11 from deep, sealed their third straight loss.
Davis and LeBron Lead Lakers Over Raptors
Anthony Davis had a monster game with 38 points and 11 rebounds, while LeBron James added 27 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds to power the Los Angeles Lakers to a 131-125 win over the Toronto Raptors. Austin Reaves chipped in 20 points, and D’Angelo Russell had 19.
The Raptors were led by RJ Barrett, who tallied 33 points and 12 assists, and Gradey Dick, who scored a career-high 31 points. However, Toronto’s losing streak extended to four games.
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Williamson Lifts Short-Handed Pelicans Past Pacers
Zion Williamson recorded 34 points and 10 assists, and Brandon Ingram added 26 points as the New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Indiana Pacers 125-118. Rookie Jordan Hawkins stepped up with 23 points for the injury-ravaged Pelicans, who were without key players like Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, Herbert Jones, and Trey Murphy III.
For the Pacers, Ben Sheppard scored 20 points, Bennedict Mathurin had 19, and Pascal Siakam added 16, but Indiana fell for the fourth time in five games.
