Magic Hold On To Defeat Knicks
The Orlando Magic defeated the New York Knicks, 111-106, at Amway Center on Thursday.
The Magic (31-43) enjoyed a solid start and a strong finish to get past the Knicks (42-33) in front of their fans. The Magic got off to a strong start, jumped to a 24-22 score in the first quarter, and made it an eight-point game at the halftime break. However, the Knicks responded in the third quarter and outscored Orlando by eight points (30-22), meaning the game was tied after three quarters. The Magic looked better in the final minutes, and the game was close until the final seconds, but Orlando held on and secured the victory after a 36-31 score in the final 12 minutes. With the win, the Magic moved to 18-19 at home. Meanwhile, the Knicks fell to 22-16 on the road.
Paolo Banchero led the way for the Magic and finished with 21 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks. Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr. each had 16 points. Wagner also had six assists, three rebounds and two steals, while Carter Jr. also pulled down eight boards. Cole Anthony ended with 18 points and six rebounds coming off the bench. Moritz Wagner delivered 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Immanuel Quickley and Quentin Grimes each posted 25 points and five rebounds for the Knicks. Quickley also had seven assists and two steals, while Grimes chipped in with six dimes and three steals. Julius Randle notched 23 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks. R.J. Barrett recorded 10 points, three assists and two rebounds.
The Magic (31-43) enjoyed a solid start and a strong finish to get past the Knicks (42-33) in front of their fans. The Magic got off to a strong start, jumped to a 24-22 score in the first quarter, and made it an eight-point game at the halftime break. However, the Knicks responded in the third quarter and outscored Orlando by eight points (30-22), meaning the game was tied after three quarters. The Magic looked better in the final minutes, and the game was close until the final seconds, but Orlando held on and secured the victory after a 36-31 score in the final 12 minutes. With the win, the Magic moved to 18-19 at home. Meanwhile, the Knicks fell to 22-16 on the road.
Paolo Banchero led the way for the Magic and finished with 21 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks. Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr. each had 16 points. Wagner also had six assists, three rebounds and two steals, while Carter Jr. also pulled down eight boards. Cole Anthony ended with 18 points and six rebounds coming off the bench. Moritz Wagner delivered 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Immanuel Quickley and Quentin Grimes each posted 25 points and five rebounds for the Knicks. Quickley also had seven assists and two steals, while Grimes chipped in with six dimes and three steals. Julius Randle notched 23 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks. R.J. Barrett recorded 10 points, three assists and two rebounds.
Cavaliers Edge Nets, 116-114
The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Brooklyn Nets, 116-114, at Barclays Center on Thursday night.
The Cavaliers (47-28) came into the contest looking to gather more late-season momentum at the expense of their struggling opponent, but they encountered a Nets (39-34) team playing with urgency that led them by one at halftime. Brooklyn had expanded its advantage to six points by the start of the fourth quarter, but Cleveland clawed back from a 109-100 deficit with 3:32 remaining by finishing the contest on a 16-5 run capped off by an Isaac Okoro game-winning three-pointer with 1.1 seconds remaining.
Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 31 points, adding six rebounds, one assist and one block. Evan Mobley posted a 26-point, 16-rebound double-double that included three assists, four blocks and one steal. Darius Garland supplied 13 points, eight assists, one rebound and three steals. Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert generated matching 12-point, two-assist contributions, with Allen adding 10 rebounds. Okoro netted 11 points.
Mikal Bridges paced the Nets with 32 points, supplementing them with six rebounds and one assist. Spencer Dinwiddie turned in 25 points, 12 assists, four rebounds and one steal. Joe Harris recorded 15 points and three rebounds, while Royce O'Neal furnished 12 points, eight boards, two assists and one steal. Nic Claxton registered 11 points, nine rebounds, two assists, three blocks and one steal.
The Cavaliers return home and host the Houston Rickets on Sunday evening, while the Nets hit the road and tangle with the Miami Heat on Saturday night.
The Cavaliers (47-28) came into the contest looking to gather more late-season momentum at the expense of their struggling opponent, but they encountered a Nets (39-34) team playing with urgency that led them by one at halftime. Brooklyn had expanded its advantage to six points by the start of the fourth quarter, but Cleveland clawed back from a 109-100 deficit with 3:32 remaining by finishing the contest on a 16-5 run capped off by an Isaac Okoro game-winning three-pointer with 1.1 seconds remaining.
Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 31 points, adding six rebounds, one assist and one block. Evan Mobley posted a 26-point, 16-rebound double-double that included three assists, four blocks and one steal. Darius Garland supplied 13 points, eight assists, one rebound and three steals. Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert generated matching 12-point, two-assist contributions, with Allen adding 10 rebounds. Okoro netted 11 points.
Mikal Bridges paced the Nets with 32 points, supplementing them with six rebounds and one assist. Spencer Dinwiddie turned in 25 points, 12 assists, four rebounds and one steal. Joe Harris recorded 15 points and three rebounds, while Royce O'Neal furnished 12 points, eight boards, two assists and one steal. Nic Claxton registered 11 points, nine rebounds, two assists, three blocks and one steal.
The Cavaliers return home and host the Houston Rickets on Sunday evening, while the Nets hit the road and tangle with the Miami Heat on Saturday night.
Pelicans Roll Past Hornets In New Orleans
By Dan Bruno
The New Orleans Pelicans defeated the visiting Charlotte Hornets, 115-96, at Smoothie King Center on Thursday evening.
The Pelicans jumped out to a great start with a, 37-24, lead after one quarter. The Hornets came out stronger in the second and managed to trim it to a five-point game by halftime. Both sides came out strong in the third, but the hosts maintained a comfortable advantage and took a seven-point lead into the final quarter. The Pelicans took no chances in the fourth and outscored the visitors by 12 points in the frame to close out their third straight win.
Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with 30 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and a steal, in 34 minutes. Jonas Valanciunas added 20 points, 19 rebounds, three assists and a steal, while CJ McCollum totaled 20 points, two rebounds, three assists and a steal. The Pelicans shot 45.9 percent from the field, including 11-of-34 from deep.
Meanwhile, P.J. Washington led the Hornets with 18 points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal. Svi Mykhailiuk followed up with 15 points, two rebounds and a steal, while Nick Richards added nine points and 14 rebounds. The Hornets shot 45.8 percent from the field, including 9-of-37 from long range.
The Hornets (23-50) will look to bounce back as they clash with the Mavericks in Dallas on Friday. The Pelicans (35-37) take on the Clippers in L.A. on Saturday.
The Pelicans jumped out to a great start with a, 37-24, lead after one quarter. The Hornets came out stronger in the second and managed to trim it to a five-point game by halftime. Both sides came out strong in the third, but the hosts maintained a comfortable advantage and took a seven-point lead into the final quarter. The Pelicans took no chances in the fourth and outscored the visitors by 12 points in the frame to close out their third straight win.
Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with 30 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and a steal, in 34 minutes. Jonas Valanciunas added 20 points, 19 rebounds, three assists and a steal, while CJ McCollum totaled 20 points, two rebounds, three assists and a steal. The Pelicans shot 45.9 percent from the field, including 11-of-34 from deep.
Meanwhile, P.J. Washington led the Hornets with 18 points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal. Svi Mykhailiuk followed up with 15 points, two rebounds and a steal, while Nick Richards added nine points and 14 rebounds. The Hornets shot 45.8 percent from the field, including 9-of-37 from long range.
The Hornets (23-50) will look to bounce back as they clash with the Mavericks in Dallas on Friday. The Pelicans (35-37) take on the Clippers in L.A. on Saturday.
Clippers Defeat Thunder, 127-105
The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder, 127-105, at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday.
While there were 10 ties and nine lead changes through the opening 30 minutes, Los Angeles went on a 51-21 run in the second half to complete their blowout win. They outscored Oklahoma City, 73-51, in the second half. The Clippers shot 56 percent from the field and 49 percent from three-point range while holding the Thunder to 45 percent from the field and 33 percent from long range. LA also out-rebounded OKC, 50-45, while out-assisting them, 34-24. The Clips bench outscored the Thunder's bench, 51-30.
The Thunder (36-37) were led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, collecting 30 points, four rebounds, three assists and three blocks. Josh Giddey generated 18 points, three rebounds and four assists. Jalen Williams amassed 16 points, three rebounds and four assists, while Jaylin Williams had eight points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals.
The Clippers (39-35) were led by Kawhi Leonard, collecting 32 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals, shooting 13-of-15 from the field. Russell Westbrook tallied 24 points, two rebounds and seven assists. Ivica Zubac amassed six points, 10 rebounds and two blocks. Bones Hyland led the bench with 16 points, four rebounds and seven assists.
Oklahoma City plays the second half of a B2B on Friday, facing the Los Angeles Lakers on the road. As for the Clippers, they return to action on Saturday in a home matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans.
While there were 10 ties and nine lead changes through the opening 30 minutes, Los Angeles went on a 51-21 run in the second half to complete their blowout win. They outscored Oklahoma City, 73-51, in the second half. The Clippers shot 56 percent from the field and 49 percent from three-point range while holding the Thunder to 45 percent from the field and 33 percent from long range. LA also out-rebounded OKC, 50-45, while out-assisting them, 34-24. The Clips bench outscored the Thunder's bench, 51-30.
The Thunder (36-37) were led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, collecting 30 points, four rebounds, three assists and three blocks. Josh Giddey generated 18 points, three rebounds and four assists. Jalen Williams amassed 16 points, three rebounds and four assists, while Jaylin Williams had eight points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals.
The Clippers (39-35) were led by Kawhi Leonard, collecting 32 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals, shooting 13-of-15 from the field. Russell Westbrook tallied 24 points, two rebounds and seven assists. Ivica Zubac amassed six points, 10 rebounds and two blocks. Bones Hyland led the bench with 16 points, four rebounds and seven assists.
Oklahoma City plays the second half of a B2B on Friday, facing the Los Angeles Lakers on the road. As for the Clippers, they return to action on Saturday in a home matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans.