There were eight games on tap around the NBA on Monday, and it was hard to choose just three. In the end, we settled for these three for different reasons. Take a look:
Cavs Survive Clippers, Net 60th Win of Season
The Cleveland Cavaliers (60-15) won their 60th game of the season with a 127-122 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers (42-32) at Rocket Arena. It is the first time the franchise has breached the 60-win mark without LeBron James.
Jarrett Allen led three Cavs with at least 20 points, firing a team-high 25 points on top of 12 rebounds. Frontcourt partner Evan Mobley added 22 points and 3 blocks, while Donovan Mitchell had 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Norman Powell fired a game-high 34 points, while James Harden had 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists. Ivica Zubac chipped in 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Clippers, who fell behind by 17 going to the fourth and saw their comeback just fall short.
Up next:
Cavs vs. Knicks on April 3
Clippers vs. Magic on April 1
Hawks Bamboozle Bucks with Ferocious Scoring Outburst
Rookie Zaccharie Risacher exploded for a career-high 36 points and Dyson Daniels set a franchise record to power the Atlanta Hawks (36-38) to a 145-124 drubbing of the Milwaukee Bucks (40-34) at Fiserv Forum.
Daniels finished with 22 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 steals to become the Hawks’ single-season leader in total steals. He and Risacher also played a starring role as Atlanta turned a 44-37 first quarter deficit into 118-92 lead after outscoring the Bucks 81-48 in the middle quarters.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led all scorers with 31 points, followed by 28 from Kevin Porter Jr. off the bench. Kyle Kuzma added 25, including 14 in Milwaukee’s blistering first quarter that saw the team go 17-for-20 from the field and 5-for-7 from a distance.
Up next:
Hawks vs. Portland Trail Blazers on April 2
Bucks vs. Phoenix Suns on April 2
Wolves Rally Past Pistons in Fight-Marred Game
The Minnesota Timberwolves (43-32) bucked a slow start against the Detroit Pistons (42-33) to notch a crucial win, 123-104, at Target Center, where things got extra spicy.
Julius Randle spearheaded the Wolves’ comeback with 26 points and 8 rebounds, while Anthony Edwards added 25 markers. Rudy Gobert controlled the paint with 19 points and 25 rebounds, and Mike Conley chipped in 17. Malik Beasley had 27 points for the Pistons, who were without All-Star Cade Cunningham.
The game was marred by a fracas in the second quarter—just as the Wolves were starting to mount a comeback—when Naz Reid confronted Pistons rookie Ron Holland II after the latter’s foul. Donte DiVincenzo and Isaiah Stewart got involved as coaches from both teams stormed the court to break up the tussle. Reid, DiVincenzo, Holland, Stewart, and Marcus Sasser were ejected, along with Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff and Wolves assistant Pablo Prigioni.
Up next:
Wolves vs. Denver Nuggets on April 2
Pistons vs. Oklahoma City Thunder on April 3
Daily Fantasy: 'YUN OH! NANDITO NA ANG PBA
