In New York, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 126-101 victory over the Knicks with 39 points in 29 minutes. Isaiah Joe also made a significant contribution with 31 points, 23 of which came in the first half. The Thunder’s strong performance came after their 15-game winning streak was ended by the Cleveland Cavaliers in their previous game. Oklahoma City dominated the Knicks from the start, building a commanding lead of 70-43 by halftime.
Meanwhile, in Indianapolis, the Pacers defeated the Golden State Warriors 108-96, behind stellar performances from Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, who each scored 25 points. Haliburton also recorded 10 assists, while Siakam grabbed 10 rebounds. The Warriors, missing key players like Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, were led by Buddy Hield with 17 points. Despite a brief comeback attempt by the Warriors in the second half, the Pacers maintained control of the game.
Elsewhere, the New Orleans Pelicans secured a 123-115 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, with CJ McCollum shining with 38 points in the absence of Zion Williamson and Herb Jones. The 76ers, playing without Joel Embiid, received strong performances from Paul George and Tyrese Maxey. In Boston, Domantas Sabonis’s dominant display of 23 points and a career-high 28 rebounds propelled the Sacramento Kings to a 114-97 victory over the Celtics. DeMar DeRozan and Malik Monk also made key contributions to the Kings’ sixth consecutive win.
Lastly, the Milwaukee Bucks narrowly defeated the Orlando Magic 109-106 in a closely contested game.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s dominant performance of 41 points and 14 rebounds propelled the Milwaukee Bucks to victory over the Orlando Magic, who saw Paolo Banchero return with an impressive 34-point showing after a prolonged absence due to injury. Damian Lillard contributed 29 points for the Bucks, sealing the win with crucial free throws in the final seconds.
Making his comeback after suffering a right oblique tear on October 30, Banchero showcased his versatility with seven rebounds and three assists alongside his scoring prowess, sinking 5 of 8 attempts from beyond the arc in just 27 minutes of play. Cole Anthony chipped in with 18 points and seven rebounds for the Magic, while Tristan da Silva notched a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Off the bench, Bobby Portis provided valuable support for Milwaukee with 11 points and seven rebounds. In another game, the Chicago Bulls dominated the Washington Wizards with a 138-105 victory, fueled by Zach LaVine’s 33-point performance. Nikola Vučević added 23 points and 13 rebounds, while Coby White and Jalen Smith each contributed 15 points.
Chicago avenged an earlier loss to the Wizards with a strong showing, led by LaVine’s first-half scoring outburst that set the tone for the game. Jordan Poole led Washington with 22 points, followed by Jared Butler’s 18 points as the Wizards struggled to contain the Bulls’ offensive firepower.
In a clash between the Denver Nuggets and Brooklyn Nets, Nikola Jokic’s return to action was a triumphant one as he recorded a triple-double with 35 points, 15 assists, and 12 rebounds. Russell Westbrook also notched a triple-double with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, marking his 202nd career milestone.
Jokic’s 145th career triple-double and Westbrook’s 202nd showcased their remarkable skill and consistency on the court. Ben Simmons made his first appearance for Brooklyn since January 1, contributing 10 points and six assists in a losing effort. Keon Johnson and Tyrese Martin led the Nets’ scoring with 22 and 19 points, respectively.
Denver’s decisive victory over Brooklyn was highlighted by a strong second-quarter run that gave them the lead for good, followed by a dominant start to the second half with a 25-9 surge. Although the Nets mounted a late comeback in the fourth quarter, narrowing the gap to 97-92, Denver ultimately pulled away to secure the win.
These matchups showcased the resilience and talent of the teams involved, setting the stage for more exciting basketball action in the upcoming games.
