Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points to help the Oklahoma City Thunder defeat the visiting Denver Nuggets 127-103 on Sunday, their seventh straight win.
The teams that started the day in the top two spots in the Western Conference played their first of two consecutive games in Oklahoma City. As a result of the defeat, the Nuggets fell to third place, one percentage point behind the Lakers.
The Nuggets’ two-game winning streak was ended by the West-leading Thunder, who have won 16 of their previous 18 games. Alexander had his 11th 40-point performance of the season, which was an NBA best.
Following an incredible performance in Friday’s overtime victory over Phoenix (31 points, 21 rebounds, and 22 assists), Nikola Jokic almost missed recording his 30th triple-double of the year. He finished with three blocks, nine assists, 13 rebounds, and 24 points.
Kings 110, Clippers 111 (OT)
Los Angeles strengthened its playoff aspirations by rallying for a victory against visiting Sacramento at Inglewood, California, with James Harden scoring 29 points and Kawhi Leonard adding 17 points, including the game-winning shot at the overtime buzzer.
For the eighth time in the last ten games, the Clippers were without their top scorer, Norman Powell, due to a hamstring injury. Ivica Zubac scored 22 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, while Derrick Jones Jr. also had 17. Additionally, Los Angeles was managed by assistant coach Brian Shaw after head coach Tyronn Lue was sidelined due to back pain.
The Kings lost for the second time in seven games and dropped to 8-6 since Zach LaVine joined the team on February 5. DeMar DeRozan scored 31 points and dished out 10 assists, while LaVine added 30 points.
The Mavericks 116, Suns 125
Devin Booker scored 24 points as Phoenix defeated Dallas, who were badly outplayed.
With 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists from Kevin Durant, 19 points from Bradley Beal, and 17 points from Grayson Allen off the bench, 11th-place Phoenix got within 1 1/2 games of 10th-place Dallas in the Western Conference. Naji Marshall surpassed his previous career-high performance of 29 points against the Memphis Grizzlies two nights prior with a total of 34.
Klay Thompson scored 26 points for the Mavericks, who lost for the fifth time in a row and had their injury problem worsen as Dwight Powell (head) and Brandon Williams (hamstring) missed the fourth quarter.
Pelicans 104, Grizzlies 107
Memphis held on to overcome host New Orleans thanks to 32 points from Ja Morant, 30 from Desmond Bane, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists.
The Grizzlies, who have been without their top scorer Jaren Jackson Jr. (ankle) for the third straight game, added 12 points from Scotty Pippen Jr.
Jordan Hawkins and Kelly Olynyk both scored 12 points, Trey Murphy III scored 27 points, Karlo Matkovic had 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Jose Alvarado finished with 11 points and 11 assists for the Pelicans. CJ McCollum, the fourth-leading scorer, and Zion Williamson were rested by New Orleans.
Spurs 124, Timberwolves 141.
Minnesota defeated San Antonio in Minneapolis because to 25 points from Anthony Edwards (10 for 15 shooting).
Minnesota won its fifth straight game with 20 points from Naz Reid, who went 8 for 15 from the bench. Donte DiVincenzo scored 17 points off the bench, and Julius Randle came close to a triple-double with 14 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds.
San Antonio was led by De’Aaron Fox, who scored 22 points on 8-for-12 shooting, including 4 for 6 from beyond the arc. The Spurs lost for the seventh time in their last nine games, with Harrison Barnes scoring 15 points.
Jazz 122, 76ers 126
Philadelphia defeated visiting Utah because to a strong effort from its reserves and 25 points from Quentin Grimes.
The Sixers bench produced 78 points, led by Lonnie Walker IV (25), Jared Butler (15), and Adem Bona (14), even though Grimes scored more points than the other four starters combined. Walker grabbed eleven rebounds, and Bona had fifteen.
Despite Kyle Filipowski’s career-high 25 points, Utah suffered its 12th straight road defeat. Isaiah Collier contributed 13 points and 10 assists, and Keyonte George scored 25 points for the Jazz.
Trail Blazers 112 and Pistons 119
Detroit defeated host Portland thanks to 28 points from Cade Cunningham and 20 points and nine rebounds from Tobias Harris.
Detroit ended a two-game losing streak with 18 points and 12 rebounds from Jalen Duren and 13 points and 7 rebounds from Tim Hardaway Jr. Malik Beasley scored 10 points and Dennis Schroder added 12 as the Pistons swept the Trail Blazers in two games this season.
Portland’s Anfernee Simons scored 34 points, his third 30-point performance in the previous four games. With 25 points from Jerami Grant, the Trail Blazers suffered their fourth straight loss in five games. Portland was outscored 54-41, with Shaedon Sharpe adding 12 points and Scoot Henderson scoring 15.
Bulls 100, Cavaliers 112
Cleveland defeated Milwaukee, with Max Strus scoring 17 points to lead eight Cavaliers who scored nine points or more.
The Cavaliers had won 14 straight games, just one less than their season-long winning run. Jarrett Allen scored 11, Evan Mobley and Darius Garland each contributed 13, and Donovan Mitchell scored 15. Strus had nine rebounds, the most on the squad.
With 30 points and nine rebounds, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks, who suffered their second straight defeat. Kyle Kuzma scored 14 points, while Damian Lillard added 22.
