Trae Younger’s sensational three-pointer lifted the Atlanta Hawks to a 124-121 victory over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday as Boston defeated Denver in a battle of the final two NBA champions.
On the finish of an in depth sport, the Salt Lake Metropolis crowd roared when Collin Sexton scored a three-pointer to convey the Jazz inside 121-121 with 4 seconds remaining.
They gave the impression to be heading into extra time when Younger fired his gorgeous shot from the half-court line – the third buzzer-beater of his profession in keeping with the Hawks.
Younger completed the sport with 24 factors and 20 assists, serving to the Hawks enhance to 19-18 regardless of Lauri Markkanen’s 35 factors for the Jazz.
In Denver, Jayson Tatum scored 29 factors and Kristaps Porzingis added 25 because the defending champion Boston Celtics triumphed 118-106 over the 2023 defending champions Denver, who had been with out the three-time MVP. NBA Nikola Jokic because of sickness.
Porzingis scored 15 factors within the first quarter to mark Boston’s robust begin, however their 37-25 lead evaporated within the second quarter and it was tied 57-57 at halftime.
Russell Westbrook scored 26 factors to steer six Denver gamers in scoring in double figures. However the Celtics used a 15-0 fourth-quarter run to place the sport away.
In New Orleans, Anthony Edwards scored 32 factors and 9 rebounds to steer the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 104-97 victory over the Pelicans, spoiling the return of Pels star Zion Williamson after a two-month damage absence.
Williamson scored 22 factors with six rebounds, 4 assists and three steals. Dejounte Murray led New Orleans with 29 factors, however CJ McCollum had a tough night time, scoring simply 5 factors on 14 taking pictures.
Quentin Grimes was Dallas’ unlikely hero because the injured Mavericks outscored LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers 118-97 to finish a five-game shedding streak.
Grimes got here off the bench to attain 23 factors and seize 9 rebounds, hitting six of the Mavericks’ 18 three-pointers.
Dallas, final season’s Western Convention champion, was 1-5 since shedding Luka Doncic to a calf pressure on Christmas Day. Nonetheless with out the Slovenian star, they introduced on Monday that Kyrie Irving could be out for a while because of a decrease again sprain.
Down by six within the second quarter, the Mavs closed the primary half on an 11-0 run to take a 55-50 lead and by no means trailed within the second half.
– Hornets cease skidding –
Anthony Davis scored 21 factors and pulled down 12 rebounds for the Lakers and James added 18 factors, 10 rebounds and eight assists.
However Dallas outscored the Lakers 44-33 and, with 11 offensive rebounds, had 15 second-chance factors to the Lakers’ seven.
PJ Washington scored 22 factors, Spencer Dinwiddie added 19 and Klay Thompson scored 13 for Dallas, which moved the Lakers from fifth place within the Western Convention.
“We knew we needed to get again on monitor,” Grimes instructed TNT. “I got here out with the proper mindset after shedding 5 video games in a row, it feels so good to get again on monitor.”
In Charlotte, the Hornets ended their 10-game shedding streak with a 115-104 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
LaMelo Ball scored 32 factors and grabbed 10 rebounds and Miles Bridges scored 21 factors for the Hornets, who outscored the Suns 37-17 within the second quarter to take management.
Devin Booker scored 39 factors and dished out 10 assists, and Kevin Durant scored 26 factors for Phoenix, however the Suns have misplaced 5 of their final six.
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