The NBA’s nine-game slate on Monday featured a couple of marquee matchups, a rivalry game, and the league’s best team record-wise. We chose three notables for this recap. Take a look:
Lakers Repeat Over Clippers, Move to Second in West
Luka Doncic and LeBron James powered the Los Angeles Lakers (38-21) to a 108-102 triumph over interstate rivals Los Angeles Clippers (32-28) at Intuit Dome.
Doncic put up 29 points—including 10 of the Lakers’ first 15 points—on top of 6 rebounds and 9 assists. James added 17 points, 9 assists, and a chase-down block of Kris Dunn’s lay-up attempt that would’ve cut the Lakers’ lead to 107-104 with 30 seconds remaining.
Kawhi Leonard fired a season-high 33 points to go along with his 10 rebounds as he led a furious Clippers rally that nearly erased the 21-point cushion the Lakers built in the third. Kris Dunn added 15 points, while James Harden had 13 markers and 8 dimes.
This is the Lakers second win in a row over the Clippers and 16th in their last 19.
Up next:
Lakers vs. New Orleans Pelicans on March 5
Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns on March 5
Celtics Hold Off Nuggets as Eight Cs Score at Least 8
A balanced offensive attack helped the Boston Celtics (43-18) hold off Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets (39-22), 110-103, at TD Garden.
Jaylen Brown led the way with 22 points and 8 assists, Al Horford chipped in 19 points and 8 boards, and Jayson Tatum put up 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists. Derrick White added 17, including a foul-line floater that gave the Cs a 104-99 cushion with time down to 53.1 ticks. Big man Neemias Queta provided a spark coming off the Boston bench with 8 points and 10 boards.
Boston’s balanced offense proved enough to fend off the Nuggets, who drew big games from their starters. Jokic, in particular, was superb, finishing with 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 9 assists. Jamal Murray added 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists, while Christian Braun had 24 points.
With the loss, the Nuggets dropped to no. 3 in the West as the Lakers move up to no. 2 with their win over the Clippers.
Up next:
Celtics vs. Portland Trail Blazers on March 6
Nuggets vs. Sacramento Kings on March 6
Wolves Rout Suns as Anthony Edwards Outplays ‘Idol’ Kevin Durant
Anthony Edwards exploded for 44 big points to help the Minnesota Timberwolves (33-29) rout the Phoenix Suns (28-33) at Footprint Center.
Edwards added 5 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 blocks for the Wolves, who outscored the Suns 55-38 in the middle quarters to build an 83-72 lead going to the final period. Julius Randle chipped in 20 points and 6 boards, while Donte DiVincenzo came off the bench to score 24 points on eight triples.
Kevin Durant topscored for Phoenix with 26 points to go along with his 10 boards and 4 dimes. Bradley Beal and Devin Booker had 18 and 17, respectively, but had 10 of the Suns’ 20 turnovers.
Up next:
Wolves vs. Philadelphia 76ers on March 5
Suns vs. Clippers on March 5
