Jazz Complete Comeback, Secure Road Win Over Hawks
The Utah Jazz defeated the Atlanta Hawks, 111-106, at State Farm Arena on Thursday evening.
The Jazz (17-11) managed to defeat the Hawks (6-23) despite the fact they didn't play very well for most of the game, and only managed to turn things around in the final 12 minutes of action. Atlanta jumped to a 30-28 lead after the first quarter, and they extended their advantage to four points following a 26-24 second quarter. Utah began their turnaround in the third quarter (31-28), but they completed the comeback in the final 12 minutes of action where a 28-22 score gave Utah a huge win on the road even if they weren't at their best. With the win, Utah improved to 6-8 away while the Hawks fell to 3-11 at home.
Donovan Mitchell led the way for the Jazz since he ended with 30 points, five rebounds and five assists, while Rudy Gobert delivered another strong double-double after chipping in with 20 points and 13 boards. Joe Ingles had 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Bojan Bogdanovic added 19 points and nine rebounds. Emmanuel Mudiay contributed 10 points and four rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench.
Trae Young was the Hawks’ top player since he had 30 points, eight assists and five boards. Kevin Huerter contributed 17 points, while Cam Reddish had 14 points, four rebounds and three steals. Jabari Parker was one of Atlanta’s top scorers despite coming off the bench, as the power forward contributed 23 points, nine rebounds and five assists despite playing just 24 minutes while coming off the bench.
The Jazz (17-11) managed to defeat the Hawks (6-23) despite the fact they didn't play very well for most of the game, and only managed to turn things around in the final 12 minutes of action. Atlanta jumped to a 30-28 lead after the first quarter, and they extended their advantage to four points following a 26-24 second quarter. Utah began their turnaround in the third quarter (31-28), but they completed the comeback in the final 12 minutes of action where a 28-22 score gave Utah a huge win on the road even if they weren't at their best. With the win, Utah improved to 6-8 away while the Hawks fell to 3-11 at home.
Donovan Mitchell led the way for the Jazz since he ended with 30 points, five rebounds and five assists, while Rudy Gobert delivered another strong double-double after chipping in with 20 points and 13 boards. Joe Ingles had 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Bojan Bogdanovic added 19 points and nine rebounds. Emmanuel Mudiay contributed 10 points and four rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench.
Trae Young was the Hawks’ top player since he had 30 points, eight assists and five boards. Kevin Huerter contributed 17 points, while Cam Reddish had 14 points, four rebounds and three steals. Jabari Parker was one of Atlanta’s top scorers despite coming off the bench, as the power forward contributed 23 points, nine rebounds and five assists despite playing just 24 minutes while coming off the bench.
Bucks Handle Lakers, 111-104
The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 111-104, at Fiserv Forum on Thursday night.
The Bucks (25-4) knew they had one of the biggest tests of the season in front of them in the form of the Lakers (24-5), which were getting Anthony Davis back from a one-game absence due to an ankle injury. However, Milwaukee set a dominant tone early, establishing a 23-17 lead after one quarter that had grown to 65-46 by halftime courtesy of a 42-point second period. While Los Angeles managed to shave 11 points from its deficit during the third quarter, the home squad hung tough in the final 12 minutes by essentially matching them bucket for bucket on the way to a tough home win.
Davis led the way for the Lakers with 36 points, adding 10 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and one steal. LeBron James followed with a 21-point, 12-rebound, 11-assist triple-double. Danny Green matched James' scoring and added four rebounds and a block. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope furnished 18 points, three assists, one rebound and one steal.
Giannis Antetokounmpo paced the Bucks with a 34-point, 11-rebound double-double that also included seven assists, one steal and one block. George Hill delivered 21 points, three rebounds and one assist. Khris Middleton delivered 15 points, six boards and two assists. Wesley Matthews totaled 13 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block. Brook Lopez supplied 10 points, four rebounds, two assists, four steals and three blocks.
The Lakers head back home to take on the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night, while the Bucks pay a visit to the New York Knicks on Saturday night.
The Bucks (25-4) knew they had one of the biggest tests of the season in front of them in the form of the Lakers (24-5), which were getting Anthony Davis back from a one-game absence due to an ankle injury. However, Milwaukee set a dominant tone early, establishing a 23-17 lead after one quarter that had grown to 65-46 by halftime courtesy of a 42-point second period. While Los Angeles managed to shave 11 points from its deficit during the third quarter, the home squad hung tough in the final 12 minutes by essentially matching them bucket for bucket on the way to a tough home win.
Davis led the way for the Lakers with 36 points, adding 10 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and one steal. LeBron James followed with a 21-point, 12-rebound, 11-assist triple-double. Danny Green matched James' scoring and added four rebounds and a block. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope furnished 18 points, three assists, one rebound and one steal.
Giannis Antetokounmpo paced the Bucks with a 34-point, 11-rebound double-double that also included seven assists, one steal and one block. George Hill delivered 21 points, three rebounds and one assist. Khris Middleton delivered 15 points, six boards and two assists. Wesley Matthews totaled 13 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block. Brook Lopez supplied 10 points, four rebounds, two assists, four steals and three blocks.
The Lakers head back home to take on the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night, while the Bucks pay a visit to the New York Knicks on Saturday night.
Spurs Use Strong Second Half To Earn Home Win
By Dan Bruno
The San Antonio Spurs defeated the visiting Brooklyn Nets, 118-105, at AT&T Center on Thursday evening.
The Nets got out to a great start on the road with an early 12-2 run and held on to take a six-point game by the end of the quarter. The Nets stayed in control and held a double-digit lead for much of the second, but the Spurs brought it back to a six-point game by halftime. The Nets stayed solid to start the third and held a 10-point lead with just over four minutes left in the quarter, but the Spurs closed the quarter on a 19-7 run, to take a two-point lead into the final frame. The Spurs pushed the momentum into the fourth and quickly built a nine-point lead. They stayed on top the rest of the way, while the Nets made it a two-point game with five minutes to go, the Spurs outscored the visitors by 11 points in the fourth quarter, to secure their eighth home win.
Patty Mills led the Spurs with 27 points on 8-of-14 shooting, in 26 minutes off the bench. LaMarcus Aldridge totalled 20 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, four blocks and a steal, while Dejounte Murray and Derrick White chipped in 13 points each. The Spurs shot 45 percent from the field, including 13-of-33 from deep.
Meanwhile, Spencer Dinwiddie led the Nets with 41 points and five assists, in 34 minutes. Jarrett Allen added 19 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, a block and a steal, while DeAndre Jordan tallied three points, 11 rebounds and a steal, off the bench. The Nets shot 42 percent from the field, including 7-of-36 from long range.
The Nets (15-13) will look to bounce back as they play host to the Hawks on Saturday. The Spurs (11-16) play host to the Clippers on Saturday.
The Nets got out to a great start on the road with an early 12-2 run and held on to take a six-point game by the end of the quarter. The Nets stayed in control and held a double-digit lead for much of the second, but the Spurs brought it back to a six-point game by halftime. The Nets stayed solid to start the third and held a 10-point lead with just over four minutes left in the quarter, but the Spurs closed the quarter on a 19-7 run, to take a two-point lead into the final frame. The Spurs pushed the momentum into the fourth and quickly built a nine-point lead. They stayed on top the rest of the way, while the Nets made it a two-point game with five minutes to go, the Spurs outscored the visitors by 11 points in the fourth quarter, to secure their eighth home win.
Patty Mills led the Spurs with 27 points on 8-of-14 shooting, in 26 minutes off the bench. LaMarcus Aldridge totalled 20 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, four blocks and a steal, while Dejounte Murray and Derrick White chipped in 13 points each. The Spurs shot 45 percent from the field, including 13-of-33 from deep.
Meanwhile, Spencer Dinwiddie led the Nets with 41 points and five assists, in 34 minutes. Jarrett Allen added 19 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, a block and a steal, while DeAndre Jordan tallied three points, 11 rebounds and a steal, off the bench. The Nets shot 42 percent from the field, including 7-of-36 from long range.
The Nets (15-13) will look to bounce back as they play host to the Hawks on Saturday. The Spurs (11-16) play host to the Clippers on Saturday.
Rockets Defeat Clippers, 122-117
The Houston Rockets defeated the host Los Angeles Clippers, 122-117, at Staples Center on Thursday.
While there were nine lead changes in the first 15 minutes of this game, Los Angeles rode a 41-27 second quarter to a big halftime lead. Houston then responded with a 36-18 third quarter to take a three-point lead going into the fourth quarter. The Rockets started that fourth quarter on an 11-2 run but the Clippers responded with a 22-4 run of their own to take a six-point lead with five minutes remaining. Houston then scored 15 unanswered points with less than two minutes remaining and never gave up the lead from there. All of those runs ultimately led to 14 lead changes in this game. The key for Houston was their shooting, connecting on 50 percent of their shots.
The Rockets (19-9) got a season-high from Russell Westbrook, who collected 40 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. James Harden tallied 28 points, 10 assists and two steals. Clint Capela totaled 16 points, eight rebounds and four steals while P.J. Tucker amassed 10 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks.
The Clippers (21-9) were led by Paul George, who accumulated 34 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks. Kawhi Leonard finished with 25 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Patrick Beverley accrued 10 points, seven assists and four steals while Montrezl Harrell led the bench with 19 points and six boards. Beverley and Lou Williams were both ejected.
Both teams return to action on Saturday, with Houston traveling to face the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles playing the San Antonio Spurs on the road as well.
While there were nine lead changes in the first 15 minutes of this game, Los Angeles rode a 41-27 second quarter to a big halftime lead. Houston then responded with a 36-18 third quarter to take a three-point lead going into the fourth quarter. The Rockets started that fourth quarter on an 11-2 run but the Clippers responded with a 22-4 run of their own to take a six-point lead with five minutes remaining. Houston then scored 15 unanswered points with less than two minutes remaining and never gave up the lead from there. All of those runs ultimately led to 14 lead changes in this game. The key for Houston was their shooting, connecting on 50 percent of their shots.
The Rockets (19-9) got a season-high from Russell Westbrook, who collected 40 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. James Harden tallied 28 points, 10 assists and two steals. Clint Capela totaled 16 points, eight rebounds and four steals while P.J. Tucker amassed 10 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks.
The Clippers (21-9) were led by Paul George, who accumulated 34 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks. Kawhi Leonard finished with 25 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Patrick Beverley accrued 10 points, seven assists and four steals while Montrezl Harrell led the bench with 19 points and six boards. Beverley and Lou Williams were both ejected.
Both teams return to action on Saturday, with Houston traveling to face the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles playing the San Antonio Spurs on the road as well.