Twenty NBA teams saw action on Tuesday in a busy 10-game slate for the Association. Incidentally, two of the league’s glamor teams—both from the State of California—were in action. Let’s take a look at how they fared in this roundup, which also features a wild OT encounter.
Nuggets Handle Warriors as Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray Sit
Aaron Gordon scored a season-high 38 and Russell Westbrook had a triple-double to power the Denver Nuggets (44-25) to a 114-105 wire-to-wire victory over the Golden State Warriors (39-29) at Chase Center.
Gordon finished with 38 points, while Westbrook put up 12 points, 12 rebounds, 16 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks to lead the Nuggets, who played without starters Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. Michael Porter Jr. added 21 points and 10 rebounds as the Nuggets jumped the gun on the Warriors and never trailed.
Jimmy Butler paced Golden State with 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists but could not compensate for a lethargic Steph Curry, who fired 20 but went 6-for-17 and had 7 turnovers.
Up next:
Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers on March 20
Warriors vs. Milwaukee Bucks on March 19
Lakers Top Spurs Behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves proved quite the combo as they led the Los Angeles Lakers (42-25) to a 125-109 rout of the San Antonio Spurs (28-39) at crypto.com Arena.
Reaves led all scorers with 30 points on top of 7 rebounds and 6 assists, while Doncic finished with 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 14 assists. Jordan Goodwin and Dorian Finney-Smith added 15 each, while Jaxson Hayes had a near double-double of 9 points and 11 rebounds.
Stephon Castle paced the Spurs with 23 points to go along his 8 rebounds. Devin Vessell chipped in 17 points and 8 caroms, while Jeremy Sochan put up 15 off the bench before getting ejected in the fourth along with Jarred Vanderbilt after they got into a scuffle.
Up next:
Lakers vs. Nuggets on March 20
Spurs vs. New York Knicks on March 20
Rockets Outlast Depleted Sixers in OT with Fierce Rally
The Houston Rockets (44-25) withstood Quentin Grimes’s career-night to pull out a 144-137 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers (23-45) at Toyota Center.
Grimes fired a career-high 46 points to help the Sixers build a 78-57 advantage going to intermission. But the Rockets wiped out all of those 21 points in the third as they outscored Philly, 45-24, to set up a wild, nip-and-tuck fourth quarter that ended with both teams tied at 131.
Jalen Green scored 30 points for Houston to go along with 7 rebounds and 13 assists. Jabari Smith Jr. also fired 30 as he gave the Rockets a spark off the bench. Dillon Brooks added 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Tari Eason chipped in 21 points and 8 caroms. Jared Butler, meanwhile, scattered 21 points to back up Grimes’ career-night.
Up next:
Rockets vs. Orlando Magic on March 20
Sixers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder on March 18
