Joel Embiid put on a spectacular performance, scoring 51 points and grabbing 12 rebounds to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to victory. The Sixers continue to impress with their strong play. On the other hand, the Los Angeles Clippers extended their winning streak to nine games, establishing themselves as the hottest team in the NBA at the moment.
MAVERICKS 111 - CLIPPERS 120
The Clippers matched the Orlando Magic's impressive nine-game winning streak this season. Despite missing Paul George due to illness, the Clippers have won 14 of their last 17 games. Kawhi Leonard (30 points and 10 rebounds), James Harden (17 points and 11 assists), and Norman Powell (21 points) were standout performers for the Clippers. Seven out of the eight players used by coach Tyronn Lue scored in double digits.
Luka Doncic had an off night for the Mavericks, scoring 28 points but struggling with his shooting. He went 9 for 25 from the field, including 2 for 11 from beyond the arc, and 8 for 14 from the free-throw line.
SIXERS 127 - TIMBERWOLVES 113
Embiid had a phenomenal game, recording his seventh career game with over 50 points. He played a crucial role in the Sixers' victory over the Western Conference leaders, the Timberwolves, who had only lost one of their last ten games. Embiid has now achieved 12 consecutive games with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds.
Anthony Edwards (27 points and 7 rebounds) and Karl-Anthony Towns (23 points and 13 rebounds) stood out for the Timberwolves.
BULLS 124 - LAKERS 108
The Lakers' struggles continue since winning the NBA In-Season Tournament. They have only won one out of their last five games and suffered another defeat against the Bulls, who are riding a wave of success with seven wins in their last ten games.
DeMar DeRozan led the Bulls with 27 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists, while LeBron James came close to a triple-double with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists. Anthony Davis, who was dealing with ankle problems, contributed 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Lakers.
KINGS 119 - CELTICS 144
After a tough loss against the Golden State Warriors, the Celtics bounced back with an impressive victory over the Kings despite missing Jayson Tatum and Al Horford. Five Celtics players scored over 20 points, with Jaylen Brown and Derrick White leading the way with 28 points each. Jrue Holiday narrowly missed a triple-double with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 10 assists, while Kristaps Porzingis shined with 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 blocks. De'Aaron Fox was the top scorer for the Kings with 29 points.
RAPTORS 104 - NUGGETS 113
Nikola Jokic secured the Nuggets' fifth win in six games with an impressive performance, scoring 31 points, grabbing 15 rebounds, and dishing out 6 assists. Scottie Barnes was the standout player for the Toronto Raptors, contributing 30 points and 10 rebounds. However, it wasn't enough to secure the victory against a Nuggets starting lineup where every member scored in double digits.
NETS 102 - KNICKS 121
The Knicks secured a victory in Brooklyn for the first time in two years. Julius Randle (26 points and 7 rebounds), Donte DiVincenzo (23 points and 8 rebounds, including 5 three-pointers), and Jalen Brunson (16 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists) led the charge for the Knicks. Cam Johnson and Cam Thomas led the Nets' offense with 20 points each, but the team struggled with their shooting, making only 36.6% of their field goal attempts. Mikal Bridges (15 points on 4 for 21 shooting) and Spencer Dinwiddie (10 points on 3 for 11 shooting) had a tough night.
MAGIC 106 - HEAT 115
The Miami Heat emerged victorious in another matchup between neighboring Florida teams, even in the absence of Jimmy Butler. Tyler Herro had an outstanding game, scoring 28 points, grabbing 8 rebounds, and dishing out 7 assists. Mexican-American player Jaime Jaquez Jr. also contributed with 10 points. Cole Anthony was the top scorer for the Orlando Magic, scoring 20 points.
ROCKETS 127 - HAWKS 134
Trae Young led the Hawks' attack with 30 points and 14 assists against the Houston Rockets. Jabari Smith Jr. (34 points and 13 rebounds) and Fred VanVleet (32 points and 15 assists) were standout performers for the Rockets, who had only lost one home game prior to this.
CAVALIERS 124 - JAZZ 116
Despite missing key players Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley due to illness and injury, the Cleveland Cavaliers managed to secure a victory against the Utah Jazz. Reserves Sam Merrill (27 points) and Caris LeVert (23 points and 7 assists) led the way for Cleveland. Lauri Markkanen (26 points and 10 rebounds) stood out for the Jazz, although they fell short in their comeback attempt.
PACERS 144 - HORNETS 113
After a rough stretch following the NBA In-Season Tournament, the Indiana Pacers bounced back with a dominant victory over the Charlotte Hornets. Buddy Hield led the charge with 25 points, and seven Pacers players scored in double digits. Terry Rozier (25 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists) put up a fight for the Hornets, but it wasn't enough to halt their six-game losing streak.