The Association’s nine-game slate on Monday saw a few teams continuing their winning ways. The Sacramento Kings, for instance, scored their seventh straight victory with a win over the Chicago Bulls, while the Phoenix Suns netted their third straight victory at the expense of the Charlotte Hornets. The league’s longest active winning streak, though, got snapped on Monday, and that game leads today’s notables:
Pacers Stun Cavs with Complete Team Effort
The Indiana Pacers stunned the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers, 108-93, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse behind a balanced team effort and strong second half.
Down 51-40 at halftime, the Pacers (22-18) turned the game around with a 37-18 third quarter before pulling away for good with a 31-22 finishing kick. Andrew Nembhard led six Pacers in double figures with 19 points, while Pascal Siakam added 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Myles Turner had 18 points and 10 boards.
Darius Garland finished with 20 points and 7 assists for the Cavs (33-5), who lost for just the fifth time this season. Evan Mobley added 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Donovan Mitchell had 19.
Up next:
Rematch on January 15
Knicks Rout Bucks Behind Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns
Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns combined for 74 huge points to lead the New York Knicks (26-14) to a 140-106 shellacking of the Milwaukee Bucks (20-17) at Madison Square Garden.
Brunson finished with 44 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Towns put up 30 points, 18 boards, and 4 dimes. OG Anunoby and Josh Hart chipped in 11 apiece, while Cameron Payne added 18 off the New York bench.
Giannis Antetokuonmpo had 24 points and 13 boards for the Bucks but missed six of his ten free throws. Damian Lillard scattered 22 but was just 8-for-17.
Up next:
Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons on January 14
Bucks vs. Sacramento Kings on January 15
Celtics Beat Pelicans—Barely
The Boston Celtics needed one last defensive stand to fend off the pesky New Orleans Pelicans, 120-119, at TD Garden.
Nursing a 120-119 lead, the Celtics (28-11) turned the ball over with Derrick White getting called for a five-second infraction. CJ McCollum had the chance to give the Pelicans (8-32) the win, but he could not get his contested lay-up to go in.
Jayson Tatum’s 38 points and 11 boards led the Celtics, who also got 19 points and 11 rebounds from Kristaps Porzingis. Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans’ upset bid with 30 points and 6 boards, with Dejounte Murray adding 26 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists. McCollum had 13 but was just 5-for-15 from the field.
Up next:
Celtics vs. Toronto Raptors on January 16
Pelicans vs. Chicago Bulls on January 15
