Hornets Looked Impressive, Defeat Wizards
The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Washington Wizards, 114-106, at Spectrum Center on Tuesday evening.
The Hornets (10-16) and the Wizards (7-16) delivered a tighter-than-expected contest Tuesday, as this game was decided during the final seconds of the contest. The Hornets grabbed the lead first, however, and they jumped ahead by eight points (28-20) following the first quarter, but Washington closed the gap thanks to a 28-25 second quarter. The Hornets upped their lead by eight points after three quarters (82-75), and they would maintain it. Things got even tighter in the final quarters and at one point this game seemed destined for overtime, but Charlotte escaped from the Wizards’ comeback to end with the win. As a result, Charlotte improved to 6-8 at home while Washington fell to 3-10 on the road.
Six of nine Charlotte players reached double figures, but the main scoring presence was Devonte Graham as he finished with 29 points, six assists and two steals. Terry Rozier bounced back from an ugly game the last time out and filled the stat sheet thanks to 17 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Miles Bridges had 16 points, and Bismack Biyombo pulled a strong double-double of 13 points and 15 boards. Cody Zeller had 14 points with 10 boards off the bench.
Four Wizards players scored in double figures, but the main star was Bradley Beal since he finished with 16 points, nine assists and four rebounds. Davis Bertans had some good moments coming off the bench, and he finished with a game-high 32 points while making eight of 12 shots from three-point range. Rui Hachimura had a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds.
The Hornets (10-16) and the Wizards (7-16) delivered a tighter-than-expected contest Tuesday, as this game was decided during the final seconds of the contest. The Hornets grabbed the lead first, however, and they jumped ahead by eight points (28-20) following the first quarter, but Washington closed the gap thanks to a 28-25 second quarter. The Hornets upped their lead by eight points after three quarters (82-75), and they would maintain it. Things got even tighter in the final quarters and at one point this game seemed destined for overtime, but Charlotte escaped from the Wizards’ comeback to end with the win. As a result, Charlotte improved to 6-8 at home while Washington fell to 3-10 on the road.
Six of nine Charlotte players reached double figures, but the main scoring presence was Devonte Graham as he finished with 29 points, six assists and two steals. Terry Rozier bounced back from an ugly game the last time out and filled the stat sheet thanks to 17 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Miles Bridges had 16 points, and Bismack Biyombo pulled a strong double-double of 13 points and 15 boards. Cody Zeller had 14 points with 10 boards off the bench.
Four Wizards players scored in double figures, but the main star was Bradley Beal since he finished with 16 points, nine assists and four rebounds. Davis Bertans had some good moments coming off the bench, and he finished with a game-high 32 points while making eight of 12 shots from three-point range. Rui Hachimura had a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds.
Heat Outlasts Hawks in OT, 135-121
The Miami Heat defeated the Atlanta Hawks in overtime, 135-121, at American Airlines Arena on Tuesday night.
Despite the disparity in the teams' records, the Hawks (6-18) and Heat (18-6) put on an instant classic, with two of the fastest-paced teams in the league fittingly lighting up the scoreboard. After Miami established a 36-30 lead through one, Atlanta outscored its hosts by a 66-57 margin in the middle periods to take a three-point lead into the fourth quarter. The Heat was eventually down by a 107-101 score with 7:06 remaining before finishing regulation on a 16-10 run that culminated in a Jimmy Butler three-pointer that knotted the score at 117-117 and helped lead overtime. Miami then opened the extra period with 16 straight points to seal the hard-fought victory.
De'Andre Hunter paced the Hawks with 28 points, adding four rebounds, three assists and one block. Trae Young followed with 21 points, nine assists and four boards. Jabari Parker managed 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block. Cam Reddish furnished 14 points, eight boards and one assist. Vince Carter contributed 12 points four assists and three rebounds.
Kendrick Nunn led the Heat with 36 points and complemented them with six rebounds, four assists and one steal. Duncan Robinson followed with a career-high 34 points, supplementing them with four assists, three rebounds and one block. Bam Adebayo generated a 30-point, 11-rebound, 11-assist triple-double. Butler totaled 20 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists.
The Hawks remain on the road and tangle with the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night, while the Heat remains home and faces the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
Despite the disparity in the teams' records, the Hawks (6-18) and Heat (18-6) put on an instant classic, with two of the fastest-paced teams in the league fittingly lighting up the scoreboard. After Miami established a 36-30 lead through one, Atlanta outscored its hosts by a 66-57 margin in the middle periods to take a three-point lead into the fourth quarter. The Heat was eventually down by a 107-101 score with 7:06 remaining before finishing regulation on a 16-10 run that culminated in a Jimmy Butler three-pointer that knotted the score at 117-117 and helped lead overtime. Miami then opened the extra period with 16 straight points to seal the hard-fought victory.
De'Andre Hunter paced the Hawks with 28 points, adding four rebounds, three assists and one block. Trae Young followed with 21 points, nine assists and four boards. Jabari Parker managed 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block. Cam Reddish furnished 14 points, eight boards and one assist. Vince Carter contributed 12 points four assists and three rebounds.
Kendrick Nunn led the Heat with 36 points and complemented them with six rebounds, four assists and one steal. Duncan Robinson followed with a career-high 34 points, supplementing them with four assists, three rebounds and one block. Bam Adebayo generated a 30-point, 11-rebound, 11-assist triple-double. Butler totaled 20 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists.
The Hawks remain on the road and tangle with the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night, while the Heat remains home and faces the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
76ers Edge Nuggets, 97-92
The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Denver Nuggets, 97-92, at Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday night.
A matchup between two very evenly matched teams was fittingly close from the opening tip, with the 76ers (18-7) erasing a slim one-point deficit at the end of one quarter to take a five-point lead into halftime over the Nuggets (14-8). Philadelphia managed to add another two points to its advantage in the third period and saw Denver get as close as 95-92 with 18.9 seconds remaining before closing out the win with a pair of Joel Embiid free throws.
Will Barton paced the Nuggets with 26 points, adding seven rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and two steals. Nikola Jokic generated a 15-point, 11-assist double-double that also included seven rebounds and one block. Gary Harris turned in 14 points, five assists, two rebounds and two steals. Paul Millsap furnished 10 points, six boards, three steals and one block. Jamal Murray played only five minutes before suffering a trunk contusion that led to an early exit.
Embiid led the 76ers with 22 points and complemented them with 10 boards, six assists, two steals and one block. Tobias Harris delivered 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one steal. Matisse Thybulle compiled 13 points, five rebounds, one assist and one steal. Al Horford tallied 11 points, nine boards, two assists and two steals. Ben Simmons mustered seven points, nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals.
The Nuggets return home to face the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night, while the 76ers pay a visit to the Boston Celtics on Thursday evening as well.
A matchup between two very evenly matched teams was fittingly close from the opening tip, with the 76ers (18-7) erasing a slim one-point deficit at the end of one quarter to take a five-point lead into halftime over the Nuggets (14-8). Philadelphia managed to add another two points to its advantage in the third period and saw Denver get as close as 95-92 with 18.9 seconds remaining before closing out the win with a pair of Joel Embiid free throws.
Will Barton paced the Nuggets with 26 points, adding seven rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and two steals. Nikola Jokic generated a 15-point, 11-assist double-double that also included seven rebounds and one block. Gary Harris turned in 14 points, five assists, two rebounds and two steals. Paul Millsap furnished 10 points, six boards, three steals and one block. Jamal Murray played only five minutes before suffering a trunk contusion that led to an early exit.
Embiid led the 76ers with 22 points and complemented them with 10 boards, six assists, two steals and one block. Tobias Harris delivered 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one steal. Matisse Thybulle compiled 13 points, five rebounds, one assist and one steal. Al Horford tallied 11 points, nine boards, two assists and two steals. Ben Simmons mustered seven points, nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals.
The Nuggets return home to face the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night, while the 76ers pay a visit to the Boston Celtics on Thursday evening as well.
Trail Blazers Hand Knicks Tenth Straight Loss
By Dan Bruno
The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the New York Knicks, 115-87, at Moda Center on Tuesday evening.
The Trial Blazers took control early on, with a 32-22 lead after one quarter. They pushed their advantage in the second and outscored the visitors by nine in the quarter, to take a 60-41 lead into halftime. The Trial Blazers came out strong again in the third and outscored the Knicks by eight, to push their lead to 27, heading into the final frame. The Knicks had no answers in the fourth, as they fell for their tenth straight loss. This marks the end of a two-game slide for the Trail Blazers.
Damian Lillard led the Trail Blazers with 31 points, six assists and two rebounds, in 29 minutes. Hassan Whiteside totalled 17 points, 15 rebounds, five blocks and two assists, while Carmelo Anthony and Anfernee Simons tallied 16 points each. The Trail Blazers shot 43 percent from the field, including 17-of-41 from long range.
Meanwhile, Julius Randle led the Knicks with 15 points, seven rebounds, three assists and one steal, in 26 minutes. Marcus Morris Sr. added 10 points, while Mitchell Robinson added 14 points and five rebounds. Bobby Portis tallied 11 points and 10 rebounds, in 20 minutes. The Knicks shot 35 percent from the field, including 7-of-38 from deep.
The Knicks (4-20) will look to end their slide as they take on the Warriors in Golden State on Wednesday. The Trail Blazers (10-15) take on the Nuggets in Denver on Thursday.
The Trial Blazers took control early on, with a 32-22 lead after one quarter. They pushed their advantage in the second and outscored the visitors by nine in the quarter, to take a 60-41 lead into halftime. The Trial Blazers came out strong again in the third and outscored the Knicks by eight, to push their lead to 27, heading into the final frame. The Knicks had no answers in the fourth, as they fell for their tenth straight loss. This marks the end of a two-game slide for the Trail Blazers.
Damian Lillard led the Trail Blazers with 31 points, six assists and two rebounds, in 29 minutes. Hassan Whiteside totalled 17 points, 15 rebounds, five blocks and two assists, while Carmelo Anthony and Anfernee Simons tallied 16 points each. The Trail Blazers shot 43 percent from the field, including 17-of-41 from long range.
Meanwhile, Julius Randle led the Knicks with 15 points, seven rebounds, three assists and one steal, in 26 minutes. Marcus Morris Sr. added 10 points, while Mitchell Robinson added 14 points and five rebounds. Bobby Portis tallied 11 points and 10 rebounds, in 20 minutes. The Knicks shot 35 percent from the field, including 7-of-38 from deep.
The Knicks (4-20) will look to end their slide as they take on the Warriors in Golden State on Wednesday. The Trail Blazers (10-15) take on the Nuggets in Denver on Thursday.