Monday’s eight-game NBA slate mostly had routs, but there were a couple of dandies, like the Los Angeles Lakers barely escaping the Utah Jazz and the Atlanta Hawks surviving the Charlotte Hornets. With that being said, let’s dive into the day’s notable action:
Lakers Escape Jazz for Fourth Straight Win
The Los Angeles Lakers (12-4) had to sweat it out in the endgame but pulled through with a 108-106 victory over the Utah Jazz (5-11) at Delta Center.
Luka Doncic led the way with 33 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who appeared headed for an easy victory after a 13-0 run gave them a 98-85 lead halfway thru the fourth quarter. Austin Reaves added 22 points and 10 assists, while LeBron James had 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists in only his second game this season.
Keyonte George paced the Jazz with 27 points and 8 assists but missed what would’ve been the game-winning three at the buzzer. Lauri Markkanen chipped in 20 points and 7 rebounds in Utah’s second straight loss to the Lakers.
Hawks Clip Hornets Behind Jalen Johnson’s Near Triple-Double
Jalen Johnson put up 28 points, 8 rebounds, and 11 assists to lead the Atlanta Hawks (11-7) to a 113-110 triumph over the Charlotte Hornets (4-13) at State Farm Arena.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 23 points and 5 rebounds, along with a game-saving steal on Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel. Dyson Daniels chipped in 22 points and 9 rebounds and Onyeka Okongwu had 20 points and 7 boards for the Hawks, who have now won seven of their last nine games.
Knueppel had 28 points to continue his impressive rookie season for the Hornets. Collin Sexton added 22 points, while Miles Bridges delivered 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, but airballed the game-tying three—the last of his eight misses from downtown against only one make.
Celtics Overcome Magic for Fourth Win in Five Games
The Boston Celtics (9-8) rode a torrid second quarter on their way to a 138-129 trouncing of the Orlando Magic (10-8) at TD Garden.
Jaylen Brown had 35 points and 8 assists for the Celtics, who outscored the Magic, 48-30, in the second quarter to take an 80-57 halftime lead. Payton Pritchard added 19 points and 8 assists, while Anfernee Simons chipped in 23 off the bench. Josh Minott also came off the bench to spark Boston, firing 12 of his 16 in the second as the Celtics shot 81.8% for the quarter.
Jett Howard led the Magic with 30 points and 7 rebounds off the bench. Desmond Bane and Franz Wagner had 18 and 15, respectively, for Orlando, who played minus Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr., Goga Bitadze, and Jalen Suggs.
Complete Scoreboard (November 24, 2025)
Heat defeated 76ers, 127-117
Celtics defeated Magic, 138-129
Raptors defeated Nets, 119-109
Suns defeated Spurs, 111-102
Hawks defeated Hornets, 113-110
Cavs defeated Clippers, 120-105
Thunder defeated Blazers, 122-95
Lakers defeated Jazz, 108-106
