The NBA took a break on Friday for Thanksgiving but was back in a vengeance with a 10-game slate—including a few with NBA Emirates Cup implications. We recap these games:
Lakers Knocked Off NBA Emirates Cup with Loss to Thunder
The inaugural NBA Cup champions won’t be defending their title anymore. This was after Los Angeles dropped a 101-93 defeat against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the crypto.com Arena. The loss officially knocked the Purple and Gold out of contention.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way for the Thunder with 36 points, including 15 huge ones in the fourth quarter, when the Lakers took the lead a couple of times down the stretch. His triple gave OKC some breathing room, 95-91, after the Lakers cut the lead to one a final time with 1:35 remaining.
(Up next: Thunder vs. Houston Rockets on Monday, Lakers vs. Utah Jazz also on Monday)
Celtics Keep NBA Emirates Cup Hopes Alive
The Boston Celtics kept their hopes of advancing in the NBA Emirates Cup with a 138-129 triumph over the Chicago Bulls at United Center.
Boston once again leaned on its three-point shooting, with Peyton Pritchard drilling 7 of the team’s 22 triples. Pritchard himself starred on a personal 11-0 run in the fourth that gave the Cs the lead for good. He finished with 29 points. Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 35 points and 14 rebounds, while Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis added 21 apiece.
(Up next: Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, Bulls vs. Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday)
Hawks Shock Cavs Again to Clinch Group C
For the second day in a row, the Atlanta Hawks got the better of the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers, chalking up a 117-101 victory over the NBA’s best at State Farm Arena.
Trae Young was sensational once more, finishing with 21 points and 11 assists for the Hawks, who clinched Group C at the NBA Emirates Cup with their second straight win over the Cavs. Jalen Johnson added 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists, while De’Andre Hunter scored 23.
(Up next: Hawks vs. Charlotte Hornets on Sunday, Cavs vs. Celtics on Monday)
Magic Takes Lead in Group A with Win Over Nets
The Orlando Magic moved closer to topping Group A of the NBA Emirates Cup with a 123-100 victory over the Brooklyn Nets at Madison Square Garden.
Franz Wagner was superb once more for the Magic, finishing with a game-high 29 points on top of 8 rebounds and 8 assists. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope broke out of a slump, adding 19 points on 4-for-5 shooting from downtown. Wendell Carter Jr. and Jalen Suggs scored 12 apiece.
(Up next: Nets vs. Magic rematch on Monday)
