Victor Wembanyama’s streak of at least one shutout per game ended at 101 games, but San Antonio was pleased he played at all after his status was downgraded to “questionable” on Monday. Wembanyama finished the game with 12 points.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the most effective for Oklahoma City with 33 points, while Jalen Williams added 17.
San Antonio has won 14 of its last 17 games to climb into second place in the Western Conference. The Thunder have lost three of their last five after opening the season 24-1. The fourth defeat of the current champions this season was also by far their heaviest, since the previous three were with a difference of two, two and five points.
The Thunder’s second loss of the season was against the Spurs in the semifinals of the NBA Cup on December 13 in Las Vegas (111:109).
The rematch again brought an uncertain battle between the two first-placed teams of the Western Conference. The game saw 15 lead changes and 13 ties before San Antonio pulled away late in the third quarter. Wembanyama and Spurs rookie Dylan Harper led the home side’s second-half surge. Harper scored just four points, but had a season-high five steals and ten assists.
Los Angeles Lakers basketball players, without the injured Luka Dončić, were defeated 132:108 on the road in Phoenix and suffered their second consecutive defeat. The third quarter was decisive, which the team from Arizona won with 45:29 and gained a 26-point lead before the last quarter.
The return of Austin Reaves, who scored 17 points, but already earned four personal fouls in the first half, did not help the Lakers this time. The most effective was the 40-year-old veteran LeBron James with 23 points, while Deandre Ayton recorded a double-double performance of 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Los Angeles suffered its ninth loss in the 28th game of the season, but still holds first place in the Pacific Division and fourth place in the West. At Phoenix, Dillon Brooks scored 25 points, while Devin Booker made a key contribution with 21 points and 11 assists, with which he played the team from Arizona.
A narrow victory was recorded by Dallas, who beat Denver at home with 131:130. The Texans already had a 21-point advantage in the first half, but Denver did not give up, and Peyton Watson missed the shot for the victory of the team from Colorado with the sound of the siren.
Rookie Cooper Flagg led Dallas with 33 points, while Anthony Davis added 31. For Denver, Jamal Murray had 31 points and 14 assists, while Jokic scored two points less with 14 assists as well.
The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the defending champion New York Knicks 115-104, who were defeated for only the second time in the last ten games. Minnesota is also in a good streak, which won for the tenth time in the last 12 matches. Anthony Edwards scored as many as 38 points in Minnesota’s victory, while Karl-Anthony Towns on the other side had 40 points and 13 rebounds.
– results:
Charlotte Hornets – Washington Wizards 126:109
Philadelphia 76ers – Brooklyn Nets 106:114
Atlanta Hawks – Chicago Bulls 123:126
Cleveland Cavaliers – New Orleans Pelicans 141:118
Indiana Pacers – Milwaukee Bucks 94:111
Miami Heat – Toronto Raptors 91:112
Dallas Mavericks – Denver Nuggets 131:130
Minnesota Timberwolves – New York Knicks 115:104
San Antonio Spurs – Oklahoma City Thunder 130:110
Phoenix Suns – Los Angeles Lakers 132:108
Utah Jazz – Memphis Grizzlies 128:137
Portland Trail Blazers – Orlando Magic 106:110
Sacramento Kings – Detroit Pistons 127:136
LA Clippers – Houston Rockets 128:108
– east:
Detroit Pistons 24 6 80.0
New York Knicks 20 9 69.0
Boston Celtics 18 11 62.1
Toronto Raptors 18 13 58.1
Philadelphia 76ers 16 12 57.1
Orlando Magic 17 13 56.7
Cleveland Cavaliers 17 14 54.8
Miami Heat 15 15 50.0
Atlanta Hawks 15 16 48.4
Chicago Bulls 14 15 48.3
Milwaukee Bucks 12 18 40.0
Charlotte Hornets 10 20 33.3
Brooklyn Nets 9 19 32.1
Indiana Pacers 6 24 20.0
Washington Wizards 5 23 17.9
– west:
Oklahoma City Thunder 26 4 86.7
San Antonio Spurs 22 7 75.9
Denver Nuggets 21 8 72.4
Los Angeles Lakers 19 9 67.9
Minnesota Timberwolves 20 10 66.7
Houston Rockets 17 10 63.0
Phoenix Suns 16 13 55.2
Golden State Warriors 15 15 50.0
Memphis Grizzlies 14 16 46.7
Portland Trail Blazers 12 18 40.0
Dallas Mavericks 12 19 38.7
Utah Jazz 10 19 34.5
LA Clippers 8 21 27.6
New Orleans Pelicans 8 23 25.8
Sacramento Kings 7 23 23.3
(Vijesti.ba / Fena)
