The Los Angeles Clippers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 153-128 at home, and Kawhi Leonard had his night, finishing the game with 45 points.
Bennedict Mathurin added 22 points, Darius Garland 21, and Jordan Miller 14 for the Clippers, who now have a win-loss record of 33-32 and are the first team in NBA history which reached a positive win-loss ratio after being 15 games below him during the season. The Clippers are in eighth place in the Western Conference. Leonard had his fifth game with at least 40 points this season, his second against the Timberwolves.
Minnesota, which lost its third straight game, was led by Anthony Edwards with 36 points and Naz Reid with 18. Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle and Jaylen Clark each had 11 points for the Timberwolves, who fell from third to fifth in the Western Conference after the losing streak.
A modest performance by Karl Matković
New Orleans Pelicans were better than at home with 122-111 Toronto Raptors. They were led to the celebration by Trey Murphy III with 28 points, which is the most in the game, Dejounte Murray added 27 points, and Zion Williamson 19. This is New Orleans’ seventh victory in the last 10 games. Croatian basketball player Karlo Matkovic had a modest effect in his team’s victory. He played 13:27 minutes for the Pelicans, and scored four baskets, three rebounds and one steal. The win marred the return of former Pelicans star Brandon Ingram in his first season with Toronto after spending the previous six in New Orleans. Ingram scored 22 points, while Immanuel Quickley added 25 for Toronto, which lost for the fourth time in five games.
Orlando Magic were 128-122 better than Cleveland Cavaliersand Desmond Bane scored 35 points, including five in the final 18 seconds for the Magic’s fifth straight win. Paulo Banchero scored 25 points with eight rebounds and seven assists, and Tristan da Silva added 23 points for the Magic, who moved into fifth place with the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is fourth, three games ahead of both teams. James Harden finished with 30 points, his most since joining the Cavaliers in a trade from the Los Angeles Clippers, along with five rebounds and eight assists. Donovan Mitchell had 25 points and Keon Ellis 20 off the bench for Cleveland.
New York Knicks after making up for the deficit of 18 points, defeated 134-117 Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City. Jordan Clarkson scored 17 of his season-high 27 points during a decisive run in the final 16 minutes for New York, Jalen Brunson added 28 steals, OG Anunoby 22 points and Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 21 points. Brice Sensabaugh scored 29 points to lead five players in double figures for the Jazz, who lost for the 17th time in their last 22 games.
Denver Nuggets won convincingly 129-93 on their field Houston Rockets closing the gap in the Western Conference standings. The best scorer of the game with 30 points was Jamal Murray, while Nikola Jokic added 16 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds Houston (40-25) entered the evening as the third-ranked team in the West, 1 1/2 games ahead of sixth-place Denver (40-26) and now fifth. Four teams are just one win away from the third seed in the West. Christian Braun scored 19 points, Cameron Johnson added 17 points, and Tim Hardaway Jr. contributed 14 for the Nuggets. Amen Thompson scored 16 points, Josh Okogie had 12, Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. 11 each, and Alperen Sengun finished with 10 points for the Rockets.
Charlotte Hornets were 117-109 better than the home team Sacramento Kingsand Miles Bridges scored nine of his 26 points in a key third-quarter run for the winning team. LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel combined for 11 3-pointers and 54 points for Charlotte. Ball finished with a team-high 30 points, Knueppel added 24 and Brandon Miller 20 for Charlotte, which won for the eighth time in its last 10 games. DeMar DeRozan scored a game-high 39 points for the Kings, who snapped a rare two-game winning streak.
NBA results overview:
Orlando Magic – Cleveland Cavaliers 128-122
New Orleans Pelicans – Toronto Raptors 122-111
(Karlo Matković played 13:27 minutes for the Pelicans, scored four baskets and recorded three rebounds and one steal)
Utah Jazz – New York Knicks 117-134
Denver Nuggets – Houston Rockets 129-93
Sacramento Kings – Charlotte Hornets 109-117
LA Clippers – Minnesota Timberwolves 153-128
EASTERN CONFERENCE
ATLANTIC DIVISION
WL PCT GB
1. Boston Celtics 43 22 .662 —
2. New York Knicks 42 25 .627 2
3. Toronto Raptors 36 29 .554 7
4. Philadelphia 76ers 35 30 .538 8
5. Brooklyn Nets 17 48 .262 26
CENTRAL DIVISION
WL PCT GB
1. Detroit Pistons 46 18 .719 —
2. Cleveland Cavaliers 40 26 .606 7
3. Milwaukee Bucks 27 37 .422 19
4. Chicago Bulls 27 38 .415 19 1/2
5. Indiana Pacers 15 50 .231 31 1/2
SOUTHEAST DIVISION
WL PCT GB
1. Orlando Magic 36 28 .563 —
2. Miami Heat 37 29 .561 —
3. Atlanta Hawks 34 31 .523 2 1/2
4. Charlotte Hornets 34 33 .507 3 1/2
5. Washington Wizards 16 48 .250 20
WESTERN CONFERENCE
PACIFIC DIVISION
WL PCT GB
1. Los Angeles Lakers 40 25 .615 —
2. Phoenix Suns 38 27 .585 2
3. Los Angeles Clippers 33 32 .508 7
4. Golden State Warriors 32 33 .492 8
5. Sacramento Kings 16 51 .239 25
SOUTHWESTERN DIVISION
WL PCT GB
1. San Antonio Spurs 48 17 .738 —
2. Houston Rockets 40 25 .615 8
3. Memphis Grizzlies 23 41 .359 24 1/2
4. New Orleans Pelicans 22 45 .328 27
5. Dallas Mavericks 21 44 .323 27
NORTHWESTERN DIVISION
WL PCT GB
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 51 15 .773 —
2. Denver Nuggets 40 26 .606 11
2. Minnesota Timberwolves 40 26 .606 11
4. Portland Trail Blazers 31 35 .470 20
5. Utah Jazz 20 46 .303 31
(Hina | Photo: X)
