An overwhelming Ja Morant crushed the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday while the Milwaukee Bucks, with Giannis Antetokounmpo back after his recent injuries, continue unstoppable in the East and chained their fifteenth straight victory.
Grizzlies 121, Lakers 109
Two stats buried the Lakers in Memphis: their 26 turnovers (to just 7 by the Grizzlies) and Morant’s 28 third-quarter points incredible (most single-quarter scoring by a player this season).
The explosive point guard finished with a triple-double (39 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists) while Anthony Davis led the Lakers without the injured LeBron with 28 points and 19 rebounds.
The Spanish Santi Aldama had 6 points, 3 rebounds and an assist in 15 minutes with Memphis.
Bucks 118, Nets 104
With 33 points and 15 rebounds from an Antetokounmpo already recovered from his wrist and knee problems, the Bucks beat a regressing Nets who have lost three straight and five in their last six games.
Mikal Bridges (31 points) was the top scorer for the New Yorkers.
Pacers 124, Mavericks 122
Kyrie Irving missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer and the Pacers claimed victory in Dallas on Tyrese Haliburton’s 32 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists.
Luka Doncic, on the day he turned 24, shone with 39 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists but the Mavericks have gone 3-5 since Irving landed in Dallas.
Dominican Chris Duarte played 6 minutes for the Pacers, missing both shots he attempted and dishing out an assist.
Nuggets 133, Rockets 112
Nikola Jokic (14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists) became the sixth player in NBA history to reach 100 triple-doubles and led, without even having to play the fourth quarter, the comfortable victory of the Nuggets against some sunken Rockets and who have suffered 10 straight losses.
Tari Eason and Jalen Green (17 points per head) led a Rockets in which the Spanish Usman Garuba contributed 3 points, 7 rebounds and an assist in 14 minutes and had the best +/- differential of his team (+13).
Spurs 102, Jazz 94
After a desperate streak of 16 straight losses, the Spurs claimed victory again -they had not done so since January 17- by beating the Jazz at home.
Keldon Johnson (25 points) was the standout for San Antonio and Lauri Markkanen (28 points and 10 rebounds) led the Jazz with 35.3% shooting from the field and 20 turnovers.
Mexican Juan Toscano-Anderson played 7 minutes for the Jazz in which he added a rebound and missed all three shots he attempted.
Timberwolves 108, Clippers 101
Third game with Russell Westbrook and third loss in a row for a Clippers who bled to death with 24 turnovers against the Wolves.
Jaden McDaniels (20 points) led six Minnesota players with double figures and Paul George (25 points) was the top scorer for some Clippers in which Westbrook was close to triple-double (14 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists). .
Warriors 123, Blazers 105
Jordan Poole (29 points and 6 assists), Klay Thompson (23 points and 8 rebounds) and Donte DiVincenzo (21 points) shaped the Warriors’ balanced attack in their victory over the Blazers thanks to a 36-23 final quarter. .
After impressing with 71 points on Sunday against the Rockets, Damian Lillard was this time with 25 points and 7 assists.
Raptors 104, Bulls 98
Already without the Spanish Juancho Hernangómez in their ranks, the Raptors beat the Bulls in a confrontation between contenders for the play-in from the East thanks to 20 points and 8 rebounds from Pascal Siakam.
Nikola Vucevic (23 points) stood out in Chicago.
Kings 123, Thunder 117
The Kings, increasingly powerful in the West, achieved their fourth consecutive victory while the Thunder, with many doubts after the All-Star, chained their fourth loss in a row.
Harrison Barnes (29 points and 9 rebounds) and Domantas Sabonis (22 points, 13 rebounds and 9 assists) led a quintet from Sacramento with all their members above 10 points while Jalen Williams (27 points and 8 assists) led the offense for the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-less Thunder.
Wizards 119, Hawks 116
Quin Snyder made his debut on the Atlanta bench with a defeat against the Wizards by a great Bradley Beal (37 points and 7 assists).
Bring Young (31 points and 7 assists) could not give victory to some Hawks with seven players over ten points.
– Classifications:
. Eastern Conference:
.1. Milwaukee Bucks 44-17
.2. Boston Celtics 44-18
.3. Philadelphia 76ers 39-21
.4. Cleveland Cavaliers 39-25
.5. New York Knicks 36-27
.6. Brooklyn Nets 34-27
.7. Miami Heat 33-29
.8. Atlanta Hawks 31-31
.9. Toronto Raptors 31-32
10.Washington Wizards 29-32
11. Chicago Bulls 28-34
12. Indiana Pacers 28-35
13. Orlando Magic 26-36
14. Charlotte Hornets 20-43
15. Detroit Pistons 15-47
. Western Conference:
.1. Denver Nuggets 44-19
.2. Memphis Grizzlies 37-23
.3. Sacramento Kings 36-25
.4. Phoenix Suns 33-29
.5. Golden State Warriors 32-30
.6. Los Angeles Clippers 33-31
.7. Dallas Mavericks 32-31
.8. Minnesota Timberwolves 32-32
.9. Utah Jazz 31-32
10. New Orleans Pelicans 30-32
11. Portland Trail Blazers 29-32
12. Los Angeles Lakers 29-33
13. Oklahoma City Thunder 28-33
14. San Antonio Spurs 15-47
15. Houston Rockets 13-48
NEXT DAY (Wednesday, March 1)
Charlotte Hornets – Phoenix Suns
Detroit Pistons – Chicago Bulls
Miami Heat – Philadelphia 76ers
New York Knicks – Brooklyn Nets
Boston Celtics – Cleveland Cavaliers
Milwaukee Bucks – Orlando Magic
Oklahoma City Thunder – Los Angeles Lakers
Houston Rockets – Memphis Grizzlies
Portland Trail Blazers – New Orleans Pelicans.