Aaron Nesmith scored a team high 24 points and helped Indiana Pacers collect a victory 111-109 over Sacramento Kings on Monday in Indianapolis.
Obi Toppin added 19 points and seven returns from the bench for Indiana (44-31), who won their seventh match in nine attempts, and did so after wandering 16 during the third quarter. Tyrese haliburton chipped in 18 points and 11 assists. Indiana is fourth in the eastern conference, two matches before Idle Detroit Pistons.
Sacramento (36-39) was paced by Demar Derozan’s 31 points and eight assists and referee’s Sabonis 25-point, 16-Rebound production. Zach Lavine made 20 for Kings, who has dropped six of its last seven and is 10th Western Conference, a game up on the Idle Phoenix Suns for the last Play-in tournament.
With Kings that led 98-95, Haliburton received five straight, including a stiff triple with 1:17 left and returned the lead to Indiana for the first time since the second quarter. After forcing a violation of the Sacramento shot watch, Pascal Siakam’s 3-pointer with 36 seconds left a lead of 103-98. Nesmith Iceled the game with a couple of free throw with less than five seconds left.
Thunder 145, Bulls 117
Isaiah Joe led the road with a seasonal high change 31 points when Oklahoma City beat visited Chicago for his 10th victory in a row.
Thunder is 28-1 against eastern conference opponents this season and sets a record for most winnings outside the conference in NBA history. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 27 points on 9-AV-14 shooting from the field. He added 12 assists in just 27 minutes of action when he put out the fourth quarter with the result well in his hand.
Bulls took their second loss in a row and fell to the 10th Eastern Conference. The game was the first in Oklahoma City for Josh Giddey since he was traded at Bulls in exchange for Caruso during the low season. Giddey got a great ovation and finished 6 out of 15 for 15 points, with 10 assists and eight returns.
Celtics 117, Grizzlies 103
Al Horford came from the bench to get 26 points and take eight returns when the visit Boston extended his winning line to nine matches by beating Memphis.
Horford made six 3 points in the victory, giving Boston (56-19) six wins during his sex games. Celtics has won eight in a row on the road in total and is 32-7 records in road games this season. Jayson Tatum added 25 points and 14 returns in the victory. Boston’s Derrick White finished with 14 points and scored three 3 points, the other of which set a franchise record for most 3-points made during one season (246).
Yes Morant got a team high 26 points for Grizzlies, who received 20 points and 15 returns from Jaren Jackson Jr. Santi Aldama threw in 21 points. Memphis (44-31) has lost six of its last seven matches. Grizzlies is 0-2 since the fired head coach Taylor Jenkins and called Tuomas Iisalo Interim’s head coach.
Nets 113, Mavericks 109
Keon Johnson scored 24 points when they visit Brooklyn stunned streaky Dallas in a back and forth thriller.
Deangelo Russell added 18 points for Nets, which secured consecutive wins for the first time since he won three directly from February 7-12.
Daniel Gafford led Mavericks in points with 17 points in his return from a knee injury that suffered on February 10. Dallas’ Kyy Thompson and Spencer Dinwiddie missed each 3-point attempt that would have put their team on top in the last seven seconds.
Clippers 96, Magic 87
Ivica Zubac finished with 18 points and 20 returns, Norman Powell and Kawhi Leonard each scheduled, and Los Angeles delivered one of their best defensive performances of the season on the way to a victory at Orlando.
The 87 points were the second final clippers (43-32) allowed this season, and they kept the magic to 30-76 shooting (39.5 percent) from the floor. Los Angeles covered a 3-1 road trip.
Orlandos Paolo Banchero led all scorers with 26 points even though I shot 1-for-8 from 3-points. Franz Wagner added 21 points for The Magic, who had won four of the previous Give Games.
Lakers 104, Rockets 98
Bench player Gabe Vincent and Dorian Finy-Smith emptied each six 3 points while scored 20 points, which led to Los Angeles to a victory over visiting Houston.
Vincent matched its season high for Treys and Finy-Smith established a season at its best for 3-points. Luka Doncic added 20 points, nine assists and six returns for Lakers, who won his second straight match and their third in the past four. LeBron James chipped in 16 points and eight returns.
Amen Thompson scored 20 points and Dillon Brooks added 16 for the second place Rockets, who led third place Denver Nuggets with 1 1/2 matches and fourth place Lakers with 2 1/2 matches in the Western Conference race.
Heat 120, Wizards 94
Bam Adebayo scored 28 points, took 12 returns and pulled out five assists to lead Miami Heat over Washington Wizards.
The heat won their fifth match in a row as they try to improve their position for the upcoming Eastern Conference Play-in tournament. Miami’s Tyler Herro contributed 27 points on 9-of-19 shooting, although he went a perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line and amounted to five returns, five assists and three steals.
The last place guides dropped their third in a row. Jordan Poole led the magicians with a game high 35 points on 10-for-17 shooting, including 7-for-13 success from 3-points.
Hornets 110, Jazz 106
Miles Bridges published 26 points, 10 returns and eight assists to lead the host Charlotte over Utah and snap a five-game losing line in the process.
Hornet’s center Mark Williams chipped in an 18-point, 13-Rebound effort and four other players made in double numbers for Charlotte.
Keyonte George had 20 points for jazz, which lost for the 16th time in 17 matches and beat the 60 loss brand for the first time in team history. With 17 points, seven dimes and three steals, beginner Isaiah Collier John Stockton broke the Franchise beginner.
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