The excitement in the NBA continued at full speed following the All-Star break, as last night delivered standout individual performances, surprising upsets, and historic milestones across arenas in the United States.
Warriors Beat Nuggets Despite Jokić’s Historic Night (128–117)
Nikola Jokić produced a performance for the history books, but it wasn’t enough for the Denver Nuggets. The Serbian center recorded a dominant triple-double with 25 points, 20 rebounds, and 12 assists — his 19th of the season.
However, the Golden State Warriors secured the win even without Stephen Curry. Brandin Podziemski led with 18 points and 15 rebounds, while Moses Moody added 23 points.
Celtics Dominate Lakers in Classic Rivalry (111–89)
The storied rivalry ended in a commanding win for the Boston Celtics over the Los Angeles Lakers. Jaylen Brown scored 32 points and Payton Pritchard added 30 to overpower the Lakers.
LeBron James finished with 20 points and reached the historic milestone of 43,000 career points, while Luka Dončić contributed 25 in the loss.
Thunder Stun Cavaliers Without Star Duo (121–113)
Despite missing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, the Oklahoma City Thunder impressed against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Isaiah Joe scored 22 points, hitting six three-pointers, while Chet Holmgren added 17 points and 15 rebounds.
Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and Sam Merrill each scored 20 for Cleveland, but Oklahoma City’s 21 made three-pointers proved decisive.
LaMelo Ball Drains 10 Threes vs. Wizards (129–112)
LaMelo Ball put on a show in Washington, knocking down a career-high 10 three-pointers and scoring 37 points as the Charlotte Hornets completed a season sweep (4–0) over the Washington Wizards. Charlotte exploded in the third quarter, hitting 12 of 14 attempts from beyond the arc.
Raptors Shock Bucks in Wisconsin (122–94)
The Toronto Raptors stunned the Milwaukee Bucks on the road. Immanuel Quickley scored 32 points and Brandon Ingram added 22 in a convincing win.
Milwaukee continues to struggle without Giannis Antetokounmpo, who missed his 11th straight game. Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. led the Bucks with 21 points each.
Mavericks End Losing Streak in Indianapolis (134–130)
The Dallas Mavericks snapped a 10-game losing streak with a win over the Indiana Pacers. Khris Middleton scored 25 points and P.J. Washington added 23.
Pascal Siakam returned for Indiana with 30 points, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a third consecutive loss.
Hawks Rally Past Nets (115–104)
Jalen Johnson posted 26 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a comeback victory over the Brooklyn Nets after trailing by 11 in the fourth quarter.
C.J. McCollum scored 16 points in his debut following the Trae Young trade, while Michael Porter Jr. led Brooklyn with 18.
Maxey Explodes as 76ers Cruise Past Timberwolves (135–108)
Tyrese Maxey scored 39 points to power the Philadelphia 76ers past the Minnesota Timberwolves. Philadelphia made 21 three-pointers and snapped its losing streak despite still being without injured Joel Embiid.
Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 28 points.
Trail Blazers Lock Down Suns (92–77)
The Portland Trail Blazers delivered a defensive masterclass against the Phoenix Suns, holding them to a season-low 77 points. Donovan Clingan dominated inside with 23 points and 13 rebounds as Portland continues to trouble stronger opponents.
Knicks Edge Bulls in Chicago (105–99)
Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 28 points and 11 rebounds to lead the New York Knicks to their second straight win over the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls led late, but Towns and Jalen Brunson calmly sealed the victory.
Magic Survive Leonard’s Heroics in Inglewood (111–109)
The Orlando Magic narrowly defeated the Los Angeles Clippers in a dramatic finish. Desmond Bane scored 36 points for Orlando.
Kawhi Leonard returned despite an ankle injury and poured in 37 points, but Benedict Mathurin missed a potential game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer.
