The NBA played a five-game slate on Sunday, and the day was full of blowouts. The league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers were among the big winners, with the Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors, and Cleveland Cavaliers also notching wins.
Cavs Beat Grizzlies with Strong Finish
The Cleveland Cavaliers (9-5) outscored the Memphis Grizzlies (4-10) by 16 in the fourth quarter to pull out a 108-100 victory at Rocket Arena.
Donovan Mitchell powered the Cavs with 30 points, including 14 over a four-minute stretch in the payoff period. Evan Mobley added 22 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 blocks, while Jarrett Allen had 16.
Jaren Jackson Jr. paced the Grizzlies with 26 points, but Ja Morant could muster only 7 points as he had to exit the game after just six minutes due to right calf soreness.
Thunder Rout Hornets as MVP Sits Entire Fourth
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 33 points and 7 assists in three quarters to power the Oklahoma City Thunder (13-1) to a 109-96 rout of the Charlotte Hornets (4-9) at Spectrum Center.
Chet Holmgren backed up the reigning MVP with 25 points and 8 rebounds, Isaiah Hartenstein added 16 markers and 12 boards, and Ajay Mitchell had 14 off the bench to help OKC add to their league-best ledger.
Miles Bridges had 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists for the Hornets, who were still within 55-52 after intermission, only to fall behind big after getting outscored 32-18 in the third.
Raptors Make Easy Work of Pacers
Seven players scored in double figures to help the Toronto Raptors (8-5) beat the Indiana Pacers (1-12), 129-112, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl top-scored for the Raptors with 22 apiece. Brandon Ingram chipped in 19, Scottie Barnes added 14, and Immanuel Quickley had 12 as all five Toronto starters finished in double digits. Sandro Mamukelashvili and Collin Murray-Boyles came away with 12 and 10, respectively, off the bench. The Raptors have now won three straight and seven of their last eight.
Pascal Siakam had 30 points to lead the depleted Pacers, who have now lost seven straight.
Lakers Decimate Bucks Behind Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic made some magic at Fiserv Forum to lead the Los Angeles Lakers (10-4) to an emphatic 119-95 rout of the Milwaukee Bucks (8-6).
Doncic finished with 41 points on top of 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks to lead the Lakers’ charge. Austin Reaves had 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Deandre Ayton continued to be superb for the Purple and Gold, finishing with 20 points and 10 boards.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 32 points and 10 boards for the Bucks. AJ Green added 15.
Nuggets Upend Wolves Behind Tim Hardaway Jr.
Tim Hardaway Jr. and Nikola Jokic teamed up to power the Denver Nuggets (10-2) past the Minnesota Timberwolves (8-5), 123-112, at Target Center.
Hardaway and Jokic were at their best in the second half, when the Nuggets outscored the Wolves, 68-52. Statistics for the game were still unavailable as of publishing as the NBA’s courtside statistics system froze in the third quarter.
The Nuggets won despite missing two key starters in Christian Braun, who is out for six weeks due to a sprained left ankle, and Cam Johnson, who is dealing with a right biceps strain.
