Pacers Top Rockets In Tight Contest
The Indiana Pacers defeated the Houston Rockets 108-104 on Wednesday at Orlando.
The Pacers (44-28) and the Rockets (44-27) played a tightly-contested affair Wednesday, as both teams needed the win to put themselves closer towards earning the fourth seed in their respective Conferences. The Rockets got off to a better start, though, as they led by as much as 15 points in a first quarter that saw them lead 33-29 following the first 12 minutes of action. Indiana would turn things around in the second quarter, however, and built a one-point lead at the break following a 22-17 second quarter. The second half saw both teams going back-and-forth, but the Pacers would pull away for good in the final minutes of the fourth. Indiana led by as much as 14 points before the Rockets attempted a comeback, but their efforts fell short and Indiana ended winning by a slim four-point differential.
Justin Holiday and Myles Turner led the Pacers with 18 points each, although Turner posted a strong effort on the glass with 12 rebounds as well. Victor Oladipo notched 16 points, six rebounds and five assists. Edmond Summer thrived off the bench and registered 17 points with four rebounds and four assists. Doug McDermott enjoyed 25 minutes off the bench and responded with a 16-point, four-assist performance.
James Harden was Houston's most dominant player, as he ended with 45 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists while shooting 13-of-21 from the field, including 7-of-14 from three-point range. Eric Gordon, who returned to action following his injury in the Rockets' first bubble game, posted 13 points with four rebounds. Robert Covington played at center and notched 11 points with seven rebounds. Jeff Green added 14 points in 30 minutes off the bench.
The Pacers (44-28) and the Rockets (44-27) played a tightly-contested affair Wednesday, as both teams needed the win to put themselves closer towards earning the fourth seed in their respective Conferences. The Rockets got off to a better start, though, as they led by as much as 15 points in a first quarter that saw them lead 33-29 following the first 12 minutes of action. Indiana would turn things around in the second quarter, however, and built a one-point lead at the break following a 22-17 second quarter. The second half saw both teams going back-and-forth, but the Pacers would pull away for good in the final minutes of the fourth. Indiana led by as much as 14 points before the Rockets attempted a comeback, but their efforts fell short and Indiana ended winning by a slim four-point differential.
Justin Holiday and Myles Turner led the Pacers with 18 points each, although Turner posted a strong effort on the glass with 12 rebounds as well. Victor Oladipo notched 16 points, six rebounds and five assists. Edmond Summer thrived off the bench and registered 17 points with four rebounds and four assists. Doug McDermott enjoyed 25 minutes off the bench and responded with a 16-point, four-assist performance.
James Harden was Houston's most dominant player, as he ended with 45 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists while shooting 13-of-21 from the field, including 7-of-14 from three-point range. Eric Gordon, who returned to action following his injury in the Rockets' first bubble game, posted 13 points with four rebounds. Robert Covington played at center and notched 11 points with seven rebounds. Jeff Green added 14 points in 30 minutes off the bench.
Raptors Edge 76ers, 125-121
The Toronto Raptors defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 125-121, in an NBA seeding game in Orlando on Wednesday evening.
Both teams came in looking to get some solid work in before the start of the postseason, and the 76ers (42-30), despite having several key names on their injury report pre-game, ended up playing with what passes for their normal starting five in the absence of Ben Simmons (knee). Philadelphia jumped out to a 32-25 lead through one and still held a seven-point edge at halftime before Toronto erased that deficit during the third quarter and headed into the final period ahead by two. Philly would come back to take as much as a 10-point lead with just under five minutes remaining before the Raptors finished on a 17-6 run over the final 2:59 to secure the win.
Kyle Lowry and Chris Boucher co-led the Raptors with 19 points, with Boucher also pulling down nine rebounds and recording four blocks. Norman Powell poured in 17 points, while Pascal Siakam furnished 15 points, nine rebounds, four assists and one block. Marc Gasol totaled 11 points, five boards, one assist, two steals and one block. Fred VanVleet supplied 10 points, six assists and two rebounds.
Tobias Harris played through an ankle issue to lead the 76ers with 22 points, complementing them with six boards, five assists and two blocks. Furkan Korkmaz registered 21 points, five boards, four assists and two steals. Raul Neto managed 17 points, five assists, one rebound, one steal and one block. Mike Scott compiled 12 points, five rebounds and two assists, while Josh Richardson and Matisse Thybulle contributed 10 points apiece.
The Raptors wrap up their seeding game schedule against the Denver Nuggets on Friday afternoon, while the Philadelphia 76ers have their final tuneup for the postseason against the Houston Rockets on Friday night.
Both teams came in looking to get some solid work in before the start of the postseason, and the 76ers (42-30), despite having several key names on their injury report pre-game, ended up playing with what passes for their normal starting five in the absence of Ben Simmons (knee). Philadelphia jumped out to a 32-25 lead through one and still held a seven-point edge at halftime before Toronto erased that deficit during the third quarter and headed into the final period ahead by two. Philly would come back to take as much as a 10-point lead with just under five minutes remaining before the Raptors finished on a 17-6 run over the final 2:59 to secure the win.
Kyle Lowry and Chris Boucher co-led the Raptors with 19 points, with Boucher also pulling down nine rebounds and recording four blocks. Norman Powell poured in 17 points, while Pascal Siakam furnished 15 points, nine rebounds, four assists and one block. Marc Gasol totaled 11 points, five boards, one assist, two steals and one block. Fred VanVleet supplied 10 points, six assists and two rebounds.
Tobias Harris played through an ankle issue to lead the 76ers with 22 points, complementing them with six boards, five assists and two blocks. Furkan Korkmaz registered 21 points, five boards, four assists and two steals. Raul Neto managed 17 points, five assists, one rebound, one steal and one block. Mike Scott compiled 12 points, five rebounds and two assists, while Josh Richardson and Matisse Thybulle contributed 10 points apiece.
The Raptors wrap up their seeding game schedule against the Denver Nuggets on Friday afternoon, while the Philadelphia 76ers have their final tuneup for the postseason against the Houston Rockets on Friday night.
Muscala Sinks Heat With Late Three
By Dan Bruno
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Miami Heat, 116-115, on Wednesday at Orlando.
The Heat got out to a strong start and pushed their lead to 18, before taking a 42-29 lead into the second quarter. The Thunder responded in the second and cut it to a four-point game by halftime. The Heat reclaimed control through the third, where they outscored the Thunder by 14 points to take an 18-point lead into the final frame. They pushed their lead to 22 early in the quarter but the Thunder mounted a massive run, outscoring the Heat 34-11 the rest of the way, topped off with the go-ahead three from Mike Muscala for the win.
Muscala played just 10 minutes and finished with six points and five rebounds. Darius Bazley led the Thunder with 21 points, nine rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting. The Thunder shot 44 percent from the field, including 16-of-42 from distance.
Meanwhile, Tyler Herro led the Heat with 30 points on 9-of-16 shooting in 38 minutes of action. Goran Dragic totaled 16 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals, while Duncan Robinson added 19 points, three assists and two rebounds. The Heat shot 49 percent from the field, including 14-of-42 from long range
The Heat will be back in action on Friday, as they take on the Pacers in their last contest of the season. The Thunder face the Clippers on Friday, also for their final game of the season.
The Heat got out to a strong start and pushed their lead to 18, before taking a 42-29 lead into the second quarter. The Thunder responded in the second and cut it to a four-point game by halftime. The Heat reclaimed control through the third, where they outscored the Thunder by 14 points to take an 18-point lead into the final frame. They pushed their lead to 22 early in the quarter but the Thunder mounted a massive run, outscoring the Heat 34-11 the rest of the way, topped off with the go-ahead three from Mike Muscala for the win.
Muscala played just 10 minutes and finished with six points and five rebounds. Darius Bazley led the Thunder with 21 points, nine rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting. The Thunder shot 44 percent from the field, including 16-of-42 from distance.
Meanwhile, Tyler Herro led the Heat with 30 points on 9-of-16 shooting in 38 minutes of action. Goran Dragic totaled 16 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals, while Duncan Robinson added 19 points, three assists and two rebounds. The Heat shot 49 percent from the field, including 14-of-42 from long range
The Heat will be back in action on Friday, as they take on the Pacers in their last contest of the season. The Thunder face the Clippers on Friday, also for their final game of the season.
Clippers Defeat Nuggets, 124-111
The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Denver Nuggets, 124-111, in Orlando on Wednesday.
While Denver led by eight points at the half, Los Angeles rode a 74-53 second half to their victory. A lot of that has to do with the fact that the Nuggets rested their starters in the fourth quarter, being outscored 34-19. Prior to that resting, there were 13 ties and 15 lead changes in total, with neither team leading by more than eight points. Los Angeles' largest lead was actually the final 13-point margin. The Clippers recorded 11 steals while winning the turnover battle, 12-7.
The Clippers (48-23) were led by Paul George, who tallied 27 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals. Kawhi Leonard totaled 26 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Ivica Zubac generated 15 points, 12 rebounds and two assists. Lou Williams led the bench with 23 points, two rebounds and seven assists.
The Nuggets' (46-26) leading scorer came off the bench, with Jerami Grant providing 25 points and six rebounds. Nikola Jokic led the starters with 17 points, seven rebounds and 12 assists on 7-of-11 from the field. Michael Porter Jr. had 11 points, five rebounds and two assists while Jamal Murray amassed 10 points, three rebounds and six assists.
Both teams have one more game remaining in the bubble, with Denver facing the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles playing the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday.
While Denver led by eight points at the half, Los Angeles rode a 74-53 second half to their victory. A lot of that has to do with the fact that the Nuggets rested their starters in the fourth quarter, being outscored 34-19. Prior to that resting, there were 13 ties and 15 lead changes in total, with neither team leading by more than eight points. Los Angeles' largest lead was actually the final 13-point margin. The Clippers recorded 11 steals while winning the turnover battle, 12-7.
The Clippers (48-23) were led by Paul George, who tallied 27 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals. Kawhi Leonard totaled 26 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Ivica Zubac generated 15 points, 12 rebounds and two assists. Lou Williams led the bench with 23 points, two rebounds and seven assists.
The Nuggets' (46-26) leading scorer came off the bench, with Jerami Grant providing 25 points and six rebounds. Nikola Jokic led the starters with 17 points, seven rebounds and 12 assists on 7-of-11 from the field. Michael Porter Jr. had 11 points, five rebounds and two assists while Jamal Murray amassed 10 points, three rebounds and six assists.
Both teams have one more game remaining in the bubble, with Denver facing the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles playing the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday.