Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the scoring with 27 factors because the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder returned to profitable methods with a 127-101 loss to the struggling Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.
Gilgeous-Alexander – who missed Friday’s loss to Dallas with a wrist damage – added 10 assists and 4 steals to his level whole in a wire-to-wire residence victory for the Western Convention leaders .
The Thunder took management of the competition in a frantic first quarter, outscoring Brooklyn 39-19 and opening a 29-point lead late within the recreation earlier than cruising to victory.
The win prolonged the Thunder’s lead on the high of the Western Convention to six.5 video games over second-place Houston. Oklahoma Metropolis leads the convention with a 35-7 report.
The Denver Nuggets remained amongst OKC’s chasing pack with a 113-100 defeat in opposition to the Orlando Magic in Florida.
Denver star Nikola Jokic notched his 18th triple-double of the season within the win, ending with 20 factors, 14 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals and three blocks.
The Nuggets trailed by 10 factors halfway via the second quarter, however Denver took management within the third, outscoring Orlando 39-25 earlier than extending its result in 24 factors within the fourth quarter.
The win prolonged Denver’s street profitable streak to 6 video games. The Nuggets at the moment are 26-16 and in fourth place within the West.
In the meantime, in Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo had a 30-point recreation for the third time in his final 4 outings, scoring 34 factors in a 123-109 victory over the injury-hit Philadelphia 76ers.
Damian Lillard completed with 25 factors, together with 16 in a fourth-quarter scoring flurry as Milwaukee closed out the victory.
The Sixers’ Tyrese Maxey led the sport with 37 factors, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient to maintain Philadelphia from sliding to its sixth straight loss, with star ahead Joel Embiid among the many lacking because of damage.
“There have been so many guys damage — give them credit score, they held on,” Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers mentioned of the Sixers.
Milwaukee improved to 24-17 with Sunday’s victory and is fourth within the Japanese Convention standings, 11 video games behind chief Cleveland (35-6).
In the meantime, in Miami, the Warmth improved to 21-20 on the season with a 128-107 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Kel’el Ware led Miami’s scoring with 25 factors off the bench, whereas guard Duncan Robinson offered offensive help with 21 factors.
But it surely was one other disappointing outing from Miami’s unstable star Jimmy Butler.
Butler, who was suspended for seven video games earlier this month for indicating he wished to depart the franchise, completed with simply eight factors on 3-of-7 taking pictures.
In Los Angeles, Norman Powell scored 22 factors and James Harden and Ivica Zubac added 21 factors every because the Clippers topped the Los Angeles Lakers 116-102.
LeBron James, 40, led the Lakers with 25 factors, however the Clippers nonetheless remained in management after taking the lead within the first quarter and holding a snug double-digit benefit for many of the recreation.
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