In Friday’s six-game slate that featured three of the top seven teams record-wise, two struggling teams managed to make the headlines by breaking out of their slump.
Take a look:
Pelicans Win Against Suns as Brandon Ingram, Herb Jones Return
Reinforced by the return of Brandon Ingram and Herb Jones, the New Orleans Hornets stunned the Phoenix Suns, 126-124, at the Smoothie King Center to snap a nine-game losing streak.
Ingram led the way for the Pelicans (5-18) with 29 points. CJ McCollum added 25 but missed a free throw with three ticks left to give the Suns (12-9) a chance to tie or win with a trey. Jones, who had 12 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals, capped his return with a game-saving block on a Devin Booker jumper.
Booker had 28 while Bradley Beal chipped in 24 for the Suns, who were without Kevin Durant.
(Up next: Pelicans vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, Suns vs. Miami Heat on December 8)
Warriors Snap Five-Game Losing Streak with Win Over Rockets
Behind a career-high 33 points from Jonathan Kuminga, the Golden State Warriors finally won one on Friday, outlasting the Houston Rockets, 99-93, at Chase Center to snap their five-game swoon.
Four of Kuminga’s 33 markers came off of two crucial layups with 1:04 remaining as the Warriors (13-8) held off the Rockets (15-8) even without Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. Andrew Wiggins added 23 for Golden State despite initially being questionable.
Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with 16 points and 8 rebounds. Dillon Brooks added despite starting out 1-for-6 from the field.
(Up next: Warriors vs. Timberwolves on December 7 and Rockets vs. Los Angeles Clippers on December 9)
Cavs Make a Statement with Home Triumph vs. Nuggets
The Cleveland Cavaliers continued their winning ways on Friday, besting the Denver Nuggets, 126-114, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse to become the first team in the NBA to get to 20 wins.
Four Cavs finished with at least 20 points against the Nuggets, with Donovan Mitchell leading the way with 28 points and 6 dimes. Darius Garland added 24 points, while Caris LeVert had 21 points and 6 assists off the bench.
Nikola Jokic dropped another triple-double for the Nuggets with 27 points, 20 rebounds, and 11 assists. Michael Porter Jr. added 24 points and 7 rebounds.
(Up next: Cavs vs. Charlotte Hornets, Nuggets vs. Washington Wizards on December 8)
