Suns Mount Impressive Comeback To Defeat Mavericks
The Phoenix Suns defeated the Dallas Mavericks, 109-101, at American Airlines Center on Thursday night.
The Suns (34-9) remain one of the best teams in The Association and delivered another quality performance to get past Luka Doncic and the Mavericks (26-19), as they were forced to mount an impressive fourth-quarter comeback to get past their rivals. Dallas enjoyed a better start, though, and they jumped out to a 26-22 lead in the first quarter, and they would bolster that advantage to eight points following a 27-23 score in the second quarter. The third quarter ended with a 29-29 score in the third quarter, meaning Dallas still held a comfortable lead with only 12 minutes left on the clock. However, Phoenix came out of nowhere to mount an impressive comeback. The Suns won the final quarter by a 35-19 score and that allowed them to flip the script admirably and earn the victory, as they remain the only team in the league with single-digit losses midway through the season.
Devin Booker led the Suns in this game with a 28-point effort that also included six assists and five rebounds, while Chris Paul completed a double-double with 20 points and 11 assists that also included five rebounds. Jae Crowded delivered 13 points and three rebounds, while Mikal Bridges ended with 12 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Cameron Payne cooperated with 12 points coming off the bench.
Luka Doncic led the Mavericks with 28 points, eight assists and eight rebounds, but that was not enough. Kristaps Porzingis had a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson chipped in with 19 points and five rebounds. No other starter ended with double-digit points for the Mavericks. Tim Hardaway ended with 11 points coming off the bench. Maxi Kleber had nine points and five boards.
The Suns (34-9) remain one of the best teams in The Association and delivered another quality performance to get past Luka Doncic and the Mavericks (26-19), as they were forced to mount an impressive fourth-quarter comeback to get past their rivals. Dallas enjoyed a better start, though, and they jumped out to a 26-22 lead in the first quarter, and they would bolster that advantage to eight points following a 27-23 score in the second quarter. The third quarter ended with a 29-29 score in the third quarter, meaning Dallas still held a comfortable lead with only 12 minutes left on the clock. However, Phoenix came out of nowhere to mount an impressive comeback. The Suns won the final quarter by a 35-19 score and that allowed them to flip the script admirably and earn the victory, as they remain the only team in the league with single-digit losses midway through the season.
Devin Booker led the Suns in this game with a 28-point effort that also included six assists and five rebounds, while Chris Paul completed a double-double with 20 points and 11 assists that also included five rebounds. Jae Crowded delivered 13 points and three rebounds, while Mikal Bridges ended with 12 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Cameron Payne cooperated with 12 points coming off the bench.
Luka Doncic led the Mavericks with 28 points, eight assists and eight rebounds, but that was not enough. Kristaps Porzingis had a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson chipped in with 19 points and five rebounds. No other starter ended with double-digit points for the Mavericks. Tim Hardaway ended with 11 points coming off the bench. Maxi Kleber had nine points and five boards.
Pelicans Hand Knicks Third Straight Loss
By Dan Bruno
The New Orleans Pelicans defeated the host New York Knicks, 102-91, at Madison Square Garden on Thursday evening.
The Pelicans jumped out to a good start with a, 27-17, lead after one quarter. The Knicks came out stronger in the second and trimmed six points off the deficit, to make it a four-point game by halftime. The Pelicans picked up their play again in the third and outscored the hosts by 20 points in the quarter, to take a 24-point lead into the final frame. The Knicks put up a fight through the fourth, but it was too little, too late, as they fell short for a third straight loss.
Jonas Valanciunas led the Pelicans with 18 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks and a steal, in 33 minutes. Josh Hart followed up with 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and a steal, while Devonte' Graham and Brandon Ingram chipped in 15 points each. The Pelicans shot 50 percent from the field, including 11-of-28 from deep.
Meanwhile, Mitchell Robinson led the Knicks with 17 points, 15 rebounds and a block, in 30 minutes. RJ Barrett added 17 points, six rebounds, two assists and a block, while Immanuel Quickley chipped in 14 points, four rebounds, five assists and three steals, off the bench. The Knicks shot 38 percent from the field, including 9-of-38 from long range.
The Knicks (22-24) will look to bounce back as they play host to the Clippers on Sunday. The Pelicans (17-28) play host to the Pacers on Monday.
The Pelicans jumped out to a good start with a, 27-17, lead after one quarter. The Knicks came out stronger in the second and trimmed six points off the deficit, to make it a four-point game by halftime. The Pelicans picked up their play again in the third and outscored the hosts by 20 points in the quarter, to take a 24-point lead into the final frame. The Knicks put up a fight through the fourth, but it was too little, too late, as they fell short for a third straight loss.
Jonas Valanciunas led the Pelicans with 18 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks and a steal, in 33 minutes. Josh Hart followed up with 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and a steal, while Devonte' Graham and Brandon Ingram chipped in 15 points each. The Pelicans shot 50 percent from the field, including 11-of-28 from deep.
Meanwhile, Mitchell Robinson led the Knicks with 17 points, 15 rebounds and a block, in 30 minutes. RJ Barrett added 17 points, six rebounds, two assists and a block, while Immanuel Quickley chipped in 14 points, four rebounds, five assists and three steals, off the bench. The Knicks shot 38 percent from the field, including 9-of-38 from long range.
The Knicks (22-24) will look to bounce back as they play host to the Clippers on Sunday. The Pelicans (17-28) play host to the Pacers on Monday.
Pacers Defeat Warriors in OT, 121-117
The Indiana Pacers defeated the host Golden State Warriors in overtime, 121-117, at Chase Center on Thursday.
There were 13 ties and 15 lead changes in this game, taking an overtime session to determine a winner. In fact, neither team ever grabbed a double-digit lead, with Justin Holiday knocking down a game-tying three at the end of regulation to get into overtime. Golden State started the extra frame with five straight points but Indiana responded with a 10-0 run to grab the win. Golden State missed their final four three-point attempts in the closing 30 seconds, with all of the being game-tying shots. The Pacers shot 15-of-35 from three-point range while the Warriors hit just 9-of-42. In addition, Indiana won the turnover battle, 20-13
The Pacers (17-29) played this game without four starters but were led by Chris Duarte and his 27 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Justin Holiday amassed 16 points, five rebounds and three assists. Goga Bitadze had 13 points, nine rebounds and five assists before getting ejected. Isaiah Jackson led the bench with 15 points, six rebounds and three steals.
The Warriors (32-13) were led by Stephen Curry, collecting 39 points, five rebounds and eight assists. Kevon Looney totaled 13 points, 15 rebounds, three assists and two steals. Klay Thompson accrued 12 points and two rebounds on 6-of-17 shooting. Andrew Wiggins had just 11 points on 5-of-15 from the field. Andre Iguodala led the bench with four points, five rebounds, four assists and four blocks.
Golden State has to play the second half of a back-to-back set on Friday, facing the Houston Rockets. As for Indiana, they stay on the road to play the Phoenix Suns on Saturday for their next outing.
There were 13 ties and 15 lead changes in this game, taking an overtime session to determine a winner. In fact, neither team ever grabbed a double-digit lead, with Justin Holiday knocking down a game-tying three at the end of regulation to get into overtime. Golden State started the extra frame with five straight points but Indiana responded with a 10-0 run to grab the win. Golden State missed their final four three-point attempts in the closing 30 seconds, with all of the being game-tying shots. The Pacers shot 15-of-35 from three-point range while the Warriors hit just 9-of-42. In addition, Indiana won the turnover battle, 20-13
The Pacers (17-29) played this game without four starters but were led by Chris Duarte and his 27 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Justin Holiday amassed 16 points, five rebounds and three assists. Goga Bitadze had 13 points, nine rebounds and five assists before getting ejected. Isaiah Jackson led the bench with 15 points, six rebounds and three steals.
The Warriors (32-13) were led by Stephen Curry, collecting 39 points, five rebounds and eight assists. Kevon Looney totaled 13 points, 15 rebounds, three assists and two steals. Klay Thompson accrued 12 points and two rebounds on 6-of-17 shooting. Andrew Wiggins had just 11 points on 5-of-15 from the field. Andre Iguodala led the bench with four points, five rebounds, four assists and four blocks.
Golden State has to play the second half of a back-to-back set on Friday, facing the Houston Rockets. As for Indiana, they stay on the road to play the Phoenix Suns on Saturday for their next outing.