Exciting vecher in the NBA brought several outstanding individual releases. Canadian Jamal Murray stood out the most, scoring 52 points and leading Denver to a 135:120 victory over the Indiana Pacers away from home.
Denver, which lost its previous four home games, now recorded its eighth road win.
Murray, whose performance was questionable after injuring his right wrist on Monday, hit threes almost without fail. He made 10 of 11 three-point shots, shooting 19/25 from the field overall, marking his fifth game with 50 or more points, including two in overtime.
Serbian center Nikola Jokić was also excellent, adding 24 points, eight rebounds and 13 assists for Denver. The Nuggets finished the second quarter with a 22:3 streak and controlled the game until the end.
The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Detroit Pistons 113:109, but they paid dearly for that triumph. Two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is injured. The Greek fell without contact in the third minute of the game. Sam left the field, but it was later confirmed that it was an injury to his right calf.
The injury has fueled speculation about Antetokounmpo’s possible departure from Indiana, with reports that he will use the time to think about his future.
The Bucks’ turnaround was led by Kevin Porter Jr. scored 26 points, Ryan Rollins scored 22, while AJ Green scored 11 of his 19 points in the final quarter.
San Antonio’s De’Aaron Fox scored 31 points, including two key free throws with 1.4 seconds left, to lead the Spurs to a 114-112 victory over the Magic in Orlando.
Six Spurs players finished with double-digit performance, and San Antonio celebrated without the injured French super talent Victor Wembanyama and current rookie of the year Stephon Castle.
The Los Angeles Clippers ended their five-game losing streak with a 115:92 victory over the Hawks in Atlanta, thereby at least somewhat moving away from the negative atmosphere after the sudden termination of cooperation with veteran Chris Paul.
James Harden scored 27 points with nine assists, while Kawhi Leonard added 21 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Clippers, who reached just their sixth win of the season.
– results:
Cleveland Cavaliers – Portland Trail Blazers 110:122
Indiana Pacers – Denver Nuggets 120:135
Orlando Magic – San Antonio Spurs 112:114
Atlanta Hawks – LA Clippers 92:115
New York Knicks – Charlotte Hornets 119:104
Chicago Bulls – Brooklyn Nets 103:113
Houston Rockets – Sacramento Kings 121:95
Milwaukee Bucks – Detroit Pistons 113:109
Dallas Mavericks – Miami Heat 118:108
– east:
Detroit Pistons 17 5 77.3
Toronto Raptors 15 7 68.2
New York Knicks 14 7 66.7
Miami Heat 14 8 63.6
Orlando Magic 13 9 59.1
Boston Celtics 12 9 57.1
Cleveland Cavaliers 13 10 56.5
Atlanta Hawks 13 10 56.5
Philadelphia 76ers 11 9 55.0
Milwaukee Bucks 10 13 43.5
Chicago Bulls 9 12 42.9
Charlotte Hornets 6 16 27.3
Brooklyn Nets 5 16 23.8
Indiana Pacers 4 18 18.2
Washington Wizards 3 17 15.0
– west:
Oklahoma City Thunder 21 1 95.5
Los Angeles Lakers 15 5 75.0
Houston Rockets 14 5 73.7
San Antonio Spurs 15 6 71.4
Denver Nuggets 15 6 71.4
Minnesota Timberwolves 13 8 61.9
Phoenix Suns 13 9 59.1
Golden State Warriors 11 11 50.0
Memphis Grizzlies 9 13 40.9
Portland Trail Blazers 9 13 40.9
Utah Jazz 7 13 35.0
Dallas Mavericks 8 15 34.8
LA Clippers 6 16 27.3
Sacramento Kings 5 17 22.7
New Orleans Pelicans 3 19 13.6
(Vijesti.ba / FENA)
