Thunder Outlasts Pelicans, 122-116
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the New Orleans Pelicans, 122-116, at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Thursday evening.
To say the Pelicans (22-27) faced an uphill battle Thursday would have been one of the bigger understatements of the season. Already down perennial MVP candidate Anthony Davis (finger), New Orleans was further decimated by the absences of Julius Randle (ankle), Nikola Mirotic (calf) and E'Twaun Moore (rest). Nevertheless, the Pels came out swinging versus the Thunder (30-18), battling them to a 28-28 draw through the first 12 minutes. OKC did gain some distance by outscoring the visitors by a 70-54 margin during the middle periods, but the Pelicans managed to keep things interesting by getting as close as 121-116 with 1:38 remaining. However, they were unable to score the remainder of the way, and Darius Miller's misfire on a 27-foot three-point attempt with 2.4 seconds remaining sealed the win for the home squad.
Jrue Holiday paced the Pelicans with a 22-point, 13-assist double-double that also included nine rebounds, four steals and one block. Miller followed with 21 points, seven rebounds, two assists and one block. Jahlil Okafor turned in 18 points and eight boards. Cheick Diallo furnished 16 points, four boards, one steal and one block. Elfrid Payton stepped up with a 15-point, 12-assist double-double that also featured four rebounds, two blocks and one steal. Frank Jackson supplied 12 points, two assists and one rebound.
Russell Westbrook led the Thunder with a 23-point, 17-rebound, 16-assist triple-double that also included two steals. Paul George matched Westbrook's scoring total and added 11 rebounds, seven assists, one steal and one block. Steven Adams generated 20 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and one steal. Terrance Ferguson and Jerami Grant contributed matching 14-point, three-rebound tallies. Dennis Schroder led the bench with 10 points.
The Pelicans head back home to face the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday evening, while the Thunder remain home for an interconference showdown with the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday evening.
To say the Pelicans (22-27) faced an uphill battle Thursday would have been one of the bigger understatements of the season. Already down perennial MVP candidate Anthony Davis (finger), New Orleans was further decimated by the absences of Julius Randle (ankle), Nikola Mirotic (calf) and E'Twaun Moore (rest). Nevertheless, the Pels came out swinging versus the Thunder (30-18), battling them to a 28-28 draw through the first 12 minutes. OKC did gain some distance by outscoring the visitors by a 70-54 margin during the middle periods, but the Pelicans managed to keep things interesting by getting as close as 121-116 with 1:38 remaining. However, they were unable to score the remainder of the way, and Darius Miller's misfire on a 27-foot three-point attempt with 2.4 seconds remaining sealed the win for the home squad.
Jrue Holiday paced the Pelicans with a 22-point, 13-assist double-double that also included nine rebounds, four steals and one block. Miller followed with 21 points, seven rebounds, two assists and one block. Jahlil Okafor turned in 18 points and eight boards. Cheick Diallo furnished 16 points, four boards, one steal and one block. Elfrid Payton stepped up with a 15-point, 12-assist double-double that also featured four rebounds, two blocks and one steal. Frank Jackson supplied 12 points, two assists and one rebound.
Russell Westbrook led the Thunder with a 23-point, 17-rebound, 16-assist triple-double that also included two steals. Paul George matched Westbrook's scoring total and added 11 rebounds, seven assists, one steal and one block. Steven Adams generated 20 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and one steal. Terrance Ferguson and Jerami Grant contributed matching 14-point, three-rebound tallies. Dennis Schroder led the bench with 10 points.
The Pelicans head back home to face the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday evening, while the Thunder remain home for an interconference showdown with the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday evening.
Warriors Defeat Wizards, 126-118
The Golden State Warriors defeated the host Washington Wizards, 126-118, at Capital One Arena on Thursday.
While the first 10 minutes of this game was competitive, that was the only time Golden State felt in jeopardy. In fact, they won that quarter, 37-28 and held the lead for the final three quarters. Golden State's offense was unstoppable, as they shot 57 percent from the field while recording 34 assists. Rim protection was also huge, with the Warriors tripling up the Wizards in blocks, 6-2. Most of Golden State's damage was done in the paint, as they outscored Washington down low, 70-48.
The Warriors (34-14) were led by Stephen Curry, as he tallied 38 points, four rebounds and three assists. Kevin Durant collected 21 points, two rebounds, five assists, two steals and three blocks. Draymond Green accumulated seven points, 15 rebounds and seven assists. DeMarcus Cousins totaled 17 points, six rebounds and three assists in 24 minutes.
The Wizards (20-27) were led by Trevor Ariza, as he amassed 27 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals. Tomas Satoransky accrued 20 points, three rebounds, 10 assists and three steals. Thomas Bryant generated 14 points, five rebounds and four assists while Bradley Beal finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds and three assists.
On deck for Washington is a road matchup versus the Orlando Magic on Friday. As for Golden State, they return to action on Saturday when they travel to face the Boston Celtics.
While the first 10 minutes of this game was competitive, that was the only time Golden State felt in jeopardy. In fact, they won that quarter, 37-28 and held the lead for the final three quarters. Golden State's offense was unstoppable, as they shot 57 percent from the field while recording 34 assists. Rim protection was also huge, with the Warriors tripling up the Wizards in blocks, 6-2. Most of Golden State's damage was done in the paint, as they outscored Washington down low, 70-48.
The Warriors (34-14) were led by Stephen Curry, as he tallied 38 points, four rebounds and three assists. Kevin Durant collected 21 points, two rebounds, five assists, two steals and three blocks. Draymond Green accumulated seven points, 15 rebounds and seven assists. DeMarcus Cousins totaled 17 points, six rebounds and three assists in 24 minutes.
The Wizards (20-27) were led by Trevor Ariza, as he amassed 27 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals. Tomas Satoransky accrued 20 points, three rebounds, 10 assists and three steals. Thomas Bryant generated 14 points, five rebounds and four assists while Bradley Beal finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds and three assists.
On deck for Washington is a road matchup versus the Orlando Magic on Friday. As for Golden State, they return to action on Saturday when they travel to face the Boston Celtics.
Trail Blazers Take Care Of Business In Phoenix
By Dan Bruno
The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the host Phoenix Suns, 120-106, at Talking Stick Resort Arena on Thursday evening.
The contest got out to a competitive start, as the teams traded bucket through the first, with the Suns emerging with a 31-30 lead by the end of the quarter. The Trail Blazers pulled ahead through the second, where they outscored the Suns by five, to take a 56-52 lead by halftime. The Trail Blazers carried the momentum into the third, where they outscored the Suns by eight, to push their lead to 12, heading into the final frame. The Suns kept battling, but could not trim the deficit through the fourth, as the Trail Blazers cruised to their 30th win of the season.
Damian Lillard led the Trail Blazers with 24 points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks, in 29 minutes. C.J. McCollum added 20 points, three rebounds, two assists and one steal, while Jake Layman finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal. The Blazers shot 47 percent from the field, including 12-of-26 from long range.
Meanwhile, Devin Booker led the Suns with 27 points on 9-of-20 shooting, three assists, one rebound and one steal, in 30 minutes. Kelly Oubre Jr. followed up with 18 points, seven assists, six rebounds, three blocks and two steals, while Dragan Bender added 17 points, three rebounds and three steals. The Suns shot 41 percent from the field, including 13-of-38 from long range.
The Suns (11-39) will look to bounce back as they play host to the Nuggets on Friday. The Trail Blazers (30-20) play host to the Hawks on Saturday.
The contest got out to a competitive start, as the teams traded bucket through the first, with the Suns emerging with a 31-30 lead by the end of the quarter. The Trail Blazers pulled ahead through the second, where they outscored the Suns by five, to take a 56-52 lead by halftime. The Trail Blazers carried the momentum into the third, where they outscored the Suns by eight, to push their lead to 12, heading into the final frame. The Suns kept battling, but could not trim the deficit through the fourth, as the Trail Blazers cruised to their 30th win of the season.
Damian Lillard led the Trail Blazers with 24 points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks, in 29 minutes. C.J. McCollum added 20 points, three rebounds, two assists and one steal, while Jake Layman finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal. The Blazers shot 47 percent from the field, including 12-of-26 from long range.
Meanwhile, Devin Booker led the Suns with 27 points on 9-of-20 shooting, three assists, one rebound and one steal, in 30 minutes. Kelly Oubre Jr. followed up with 18 points, seven assists, six rebounds, three blocks and two steals, while Dragan Bender added 17 points, three rebounds and three steals. The Suns shot 41 percent from the field, including 13-of-38 from long range.
The Suns (11-39) will look to bounce back as they play host to the Nuggets on Friday. The Trail Blazers (30-20) play host to the Hawks on Saturday.
Wolves Down Lakers, 120-105
The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 120-105, at Staples Center on Thursday.
It was a slow start for the visiting Timberwolves (24-24) on Thursday, as they went into the locker room at half time trailing a Lakers (25-24) team that was without both LeBron James (groin) and Lonzo Ball (ankle). However, after taking a narrow league into the final period, Minnesota poured it on the home team over the final 12 minutes, winning the fourth quarter, 36-23, and leaving no doubt.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the way for Minnesota with yet another double-double of 27 points and 12 rebounds in 31 minutes, while Andrew Wiggins was close behind with 23 points of his own on top of eight rebounds in 37 minutes. Additionally, with Jeff Teague (foot) out of the lineup, Jared Bayless saw 30 minutes at point guard off the bench and put together an impressive performance, as he finished with 16 points and eight rebounds in 30 minutes as a reserve.
As for the Lakers, the loss was their third in a row as they continue to slid out of the playoff picture without James. All five starters scored in double figures, with Brandon Ingram's 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting leading the way, but the team as a whole couldn't buy a shot from behind the arc (shooting 28.6 percent) or take care of the basketball (19 turnovers). Kyle Kuzma, who was been a reliable offensive option as of late, really struggled to get anything going on that end of the floor, as he shot 0-of-4 from three and 4-of-12 overall en route to scoring just 10 points in 28 minutes.
With this win, Minnesota took a 2-1 lead in the season series between these two teams.
It was a slow start for the visiting Timberwolves (24-24) on Thursday, as they went into the locker room at half time trailing a Lakers (25-24) team that was without both LeBron James (groin) and Lonzo Ball (ankle). However, after taking a narrow league into the final period, Minnesota poured it on the home team over the final 12 minutes, winning the fourth quarter, 36-23, and leaving no doubt.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the way for Minnesota with yet another double-double of 27 points and 12 rebounds in 31 minutes, while Andrew Wiggins was close behind with 23 points of his own on top of eight rebounds in 37 minutes. Additionally, with Jeff Teague (foot) out of the lineup, Jared Bayless saw 30 minutes at point guard off the bench and put together an impressive performance, as he finished with 16 points and eight rebounds in 30 minutes as a reserve.
As for the Lakers, the loss was their third in a row as they continue to slid out of the playoff picture without James. All five starters scored in double figures, with Brandon Ingram's 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting leading the way, but the team as a whole couldn't buy a shot from behind the arc (shooting 28.6 percent) or take care of the basketball (19 turnovers). Kyle Kuzma, who was been a reliable offensive option as of late, really struggled to get anything going on that end of the floor, as he shot 0-of-4 from three and 4-of-12 overall en route to scoring just 10 points in 28 minutes.
With this win, Minnesota took a 2-1 lead in the season series between these two teams.