SGA’s 51-Point Explosion Leads Thunder Past Rockets
Final Score: Oklahoma City Thunder 137, Houston Rockets 128
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued his historic season, dropping 51 points, seven assists, and five rebounds to lead the Thunder to their 50th win of the season.
Key Stats:
- SGA (51 points, 18-of-30 FG, 5-of-9 3PT)
- Fourth 50-point game this season, ninth 40+ point game (both NBA highs)
- Thunder become first Western Conference team to hit 50 wins before any other team reaches 40 since the 2004-05 Miami Heat
Houston put up a fight, but SGA’s scoring outburst proved to be too much as Oklahoma City won its fourth straight game and 13th in its past 15.
Warriors Roll Past Hornets in Curry’s Hometown
Final Score: Golden State Warriors 119, Charlotte Hornets 101
Buddy Hield led the Warriors with 22 points, while Stephen Curry (21 points) shined in his hometown as Golden State cruised past Charlotte.
Key Warriors Performances:
- Brandin Podziemski (19 points, 11 rebounds)
- Draymond Green (16 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists)
- Jimmy Butler III (13 points)
- Seven Warriors players made at least one three-pointer
Charlotte dropped its seventh straight game, despite Miles Bridges’ 35 points and LaMelo Ball’s 25.
Hawks Edge Grizzlies on LeVert’s Buzzer-Beater
Final Score: Atlanta Hawks 132, Memphis Grizzlies 130
Caris LeVert hit a reverse layup at the buzzer, spoiling Desmond Bane’s first career triple-double and handing Memphis its third straight loss.
Hawks’ Notable Performances:
- LeVert (25 points, 21 in the second half, game-winning shot)
- Zaccharie Risacher (27 points, team-high)
- Onyeka Okongwu (16 points, 12 rebounds)
- Trae Young (12 points, 15 assists)
Bane’s monster night (35 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) wasn’t enough for Memphis, which lost for the sixth time in its last eight games.
Trail Blazers Handle Shorthanded 76ers
Final Score: Portland Trail Blazers 119, Philadelphia 76ers 102
Anfernee Simons scored 34 points, and both Shaedon Sharpe (20 points, 11 rebounds) and Donovan Clingan (13 points, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks) recorded double-doubles as the Blazers improved to 4-1 on their road trip.
Philadelphia’s Struggles:
- 10th loss in their last 11 games
- Joel Embiid (knee), Paul George (groin), and Kelly Oubre Jr. (illness) all out
- Tyrese Maxey exited with a back contusion
- Andre Drummond (season-high 25 points, 18 rebounds) was the lone bright spot
Pistons Dominate Jazz for 10th Win in 11 Games
Final Score: Detroit Pistons 134, Utah Jazz 106
Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 29 points, nine assists, and four steals, powering the Pistons to another dominant victory.
Key Detroit Performances:
- Jalen Duren (16 points, 12 rebounds, 4 blocks)
- Detroit led by 23 at halftime
Utah’s Kyle Filipowski (25 points, 8 rebounds) and Collin Sexton (16 points) tried to keep it close, but the Jazz wrapped up their homestand with a 3-6 record.
Heat Lock Down Wizards in Fourth-Quarter Surge
Final Score: Miami Heat 106, Washington Wizards 90
Bam Adebayo posted 19 points and 15 rebounds, while Duncan Robinson added 17 points, leading the Heat to their third win in four games.
Game-Changing Moment:
- Pelle Larsson fueled Miami’s decisive 12-0 fourth-quarter run
The Wizards shot just 3-of-23 in the second quarter, finishing at 36.9 percent from the field. Khris Middleton led Washington with 16 points.
Kings Dominate Mavericks as Irving Goes Down
Final Score: Sacramento Kings 122, Dallas Mavericks 98
Zach LaVine (22 points, 8-of-12 FG, 4-of-5 3PT) and DeMar DeRozan (20 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists) led the Kings as they took advantage of Kyrie Irving’s first-quarter knee injury.
Dallas’ top six scorers were reserves:
- Kai Jones (21 points, 9 rebounds)
- Naji Marshall (18 points, 6 assists)
- Spencer Dinwiddie & Max Christie (10 points each)
The Mavs struggled without their starters, falling behind early and never recovering.
Looking Ahead
- Can Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continue his scoring tear and keep the Thunder rolling?
- Will Kyrie Irving’s knee injury impact the Mavericks’ playoff hopes?
- Can the Pistons’ red-hot streak continue?
Stay tuned for more NBA highlights and analysis as the playoff race heats up!
