Box Score Breakdown for Sunday, March 17, 2024
Bucks outpace Suns in matinee offensive showcase
The Milwaukee Bucks took down the Phoenix Suns, 140-129, at Fiserv Forum in Sunday's matinee.
Bradley Beal led the Suns with 28 points, four rebounds and seven assists. Grayson Allen contributed 25 points, three rebounds and eight assists, while Devin Booker added 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Royce O’Neale led the bench with 16 points, five rebounds and three assists. Kevin Durant filled the stat sheet with 11 points, nine rebounds, four assists, two blocks and three steals.
Damian Lillard led the Bucks with 31 points, five rebounds and 16 assists. Bobby Portis led the bench with a season-high 31 points along with 10 rebounds, two assists and three steals. Khris Middleton finished with 22 points, three rebounds and seven assists. Jae Crowder added 18 points, two rebounds and three steals, while Malik Beasley tallied 17 points, three rebounds and three assists.
The Heat overcame a two-point first-quarter deficit to take a 10-point lead into halftime, but the Pistons then limited them to 19 third-quarter points to reduce their deficit to three. A hotly contested fourth quarter then culminated in a Bam Adebayo three-pointer from the top of the key at the buzzer, giving Miami the hard-fought victory. The two teams were close across most major statistical categories, but the Heat did enjoy a massive 50-34 advantage in points in the paint and were whistled for just 11 fouls compared to Detroit's 19.
Duncan Robinson's 30 points, which he complemented with five assists and four rebounds, led the Heat. Adebayo generated a 20-point, 17-rebound double-double that included three assists and one steal. Terry Rozier furnished 17 points, nine assists, six rebounds and one steal. Jaime Jaquez delivered 15 points, four assists, three rebounds, one steal and one block.
Evan Fournier's 18 points, which he partly supplemented with three steals, led the Pistons. Cade Cunningham recorded 17 points, nine assists, four rebounds, one steal and one block. Simone Fontecchio turned in 13 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Isaiah Stewart posted 12 points, six rebounds, one assist and one block. Jalen Duren generated an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double that included one assist and one block.
After remaining within three of the Nuggets in the first half, the Mavericks' 26-18 advantage in the third quarter gave them a five-point edge into the final period. Denver's 20-4 run after going down by 13 with 6:50 remaining netted them a late lead, but Luka Doncic's game-tying three-pointer set up an eventual Kyrie Irving left-handed floater at the buzzer for the victory. The visitors took the loss despite a 42.9 percent - 25.7 percent three-point shooting advantage and only eight turnovers, with the home squad's respective 59-37 and 62-38 edges in rebounding and points in the paint playing a part.
Jamal Murray's 23 points, which he partly supplemented with seven assists, led the Nuggets. Michael Porter furnished 20 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks. Nikola Jokic generated a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double that included seven assists and two steals. Aaron Gordon registered 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists and one block.
Doncic's 37 points, which he partly complemented with nine rebounds, led the Mavericks. Irving delivered 24 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, three steals and one block. Dereck Lively recorded 14 points, eight boards and two blocks. Derrick Jones turned in nine points, eight rebounds and one assist.
A 35-26 third quarter carried Orlando to this win, maintaining a double-digit lead for the entirety of the fourth quarter. They led for all but a few minutes, getting their lead up to 20 points at times. The Magic shot 51 percent from the field and 31 percent from three-point range while holding the Raptors to 44 percent from the field and 26 percent from long range.
Jordan Nwora led Toronto with 18 points and seven rebounds off of the bench. Gary Trent Jr led the starters with 15 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals. Immanuel Quickley compiled 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Paolo Banchero led Orlando with 29 points, six rebounds and five assists. Franz Wagner amassed 22 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Moritz Wagner led the bench with 14 points and four rebounds.
The Boston Celtics defeated the Washington Wizards on Sunday.
The Celtics didn’t have problems to defeat the Wizards. The win moved Boston to 3-0 in the head-to-head against Washington. Boston set the tone of the game early and raced to a 45-27 score in the first quarter, not looking back the rest of the way to secure a blowout win.
Jayson Tatum and Sam Hauser led the way for the Celtics with 30 points and six rebounds each. Tatum also added six assists and three steals. Al Horford, Luke Kornet and Payton Pritchard each had 14 points. Pritchard also dished out 13 assists.
Jordan Poole was the best player for the Wizards with 31 points. Justin Champagnie was the only other starter who posted double-digit points after adding 14 points. Anthony Gill delivered 13 points.
Neither team led by more than 11 points, taking an overtime session to decide a winner. There were 11 ties and 14 lead changes in total, with the Spurs riding a 12-5 overtime session to their comeback victory. San Antonio shot 91 percent from the free-throw line (21-of-23), while Brooklyn shot just 68 percent (13-of-19). They also out-rebounded them, 62-54.
Cam Thomas led the Nets with 31 points, three rebounds and five assists. Dennis Schroder totaled 19 points, three rebounds and seven assists. Mikal Bridges tallied 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists, while Nic Claxton had 11 points and 14 boards.
Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 33 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and seven blocks. Devin Vassell collected 25 points and eight assists. Keldon Johnson led the bench with 24 points and five rebounds.
The Hawks took a 26-point cushion into the fourth and held on to end a three-game slide. This also marks the second straight loss for the Clippers.
Dejounte Murray led the Hawks with 21 points on 7-for-14 shooting, two rebounds, 10 assists and two steals, in 34 minutes. De'Andre Hunter followed up with 20 points, two rebounds, two assists and a block. Jalen Johnson tallied 18 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks, while Clint Capela logged 15 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, a steal and two blocks. The Hawks shot 48.8 percent from the field, including 17-for-34 from deep.
Meanwhile, Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 28 points on 8-for-17 shooting, two rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block, in 37 minutes. Paul George followed up with 26 points, six rebounds, four assists and a block. James Harden finished with nine points, six rebounds, nine assists, a steal and a block, while Ivica Zubac chipped in six points, six rebounds and a block.