The Dallas Mavericks dominated the Los Angeles Clippers in a 144-126 victory, with Luka Doncic leading the way with 44 points on 17-of-21 shooting. The Mavericks used a 32-2 run to erase an 11-point deficit and outscored the Clippers 47-18 in the second quarter. Kyrie Irving contributed 27 points to the win, while Tim Hardaway Jr. and Derrick Jones Jr. also made significant contributions.
Despite Kawhi Leonard’s 26-point effort, the Clippers finished their road trip with a 0-4 record and dropped to 0-5 on the road this season. This was the Clippers’ first game in the in-season tournament, while the Mavericks improved to 1-1. Both teams are part of West Group B.
In another game, the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Detroit Pistons 114-106. Joel Embiid led the way for the 76ers with 33 points and 16 rebounds. Tyrese Maxey had an impressive performance with 29 points, 11 assists, six rebounds, and four steals. Killian Hayes led the Pistons with 23 points, but they suffered their seventh consecutive loss.
The Houston Rockets staged a comeback to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans 104-101. Fred VanVleet hit two crucial 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to secure the victory for the Rockets. Brandon Ingram had a stellar performance for the Pelicans with 31 points, but it wasn’t enough to prevent their fourth consecutive loss.
The Utah Jazz overcame a blown 21-point lead to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 127-121. Jordan Clarkson and Lauri Markkanen each scored 26 points to lead the Jazz to their first win in the in-season tournament. Desmond Bane had a standout performance for the Grizzlies with 37 points, but it wasn’t sufficient to secure the victory.
The Boston Celtics ended their two-game losing streak with a 121-107 win over the Brooklyn Nets. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 28 points, while Jayson Tatum contributed 23 points and 10 rebounds. Lonnie Walker IV was the top scorer for the Nets with 20 points, but they suffered their third loss in four games.
The Minnesota Timberwolves rallied to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 117-110. Karl-Anthony Towns had a double-double with 29 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Timberwolves to their fifth consecutive win. Victor Wembanyama scored 29 points for the Spurs, but they couldn’t secure the victory.
The Los Angeles Lakers snapped their three-game losing streak with a 122-119 win over the Phoenix Suns. LeBron James had a strong performance with 32 points and 11 rebounds, while D’Angelo Russell added 19 points and nine assists. Kevin Durant scored 38 points for the Suns, but they couldn’t extend their two-game winning streak.
The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Washington Wizards 124-117 in their first game of the in-season tournament. Mark Williams had an outstanding game with 21 points and a career-high 24 rebounds. Gordon Hayward and LaMelo Ball also made significant contributions to the Hornets’ victory.
The Sacramento Kings secured a 105-98 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Kevin Huerter and Keegan Murray combined for 52 points to lead the Kings to victory. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 points for the Thunder, but it wasn’t enough to prevent their second consecutive loss in the tournament.
In summary, the NBA in-season tournament featured several exciting games, with the Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers, Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz, Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Hornets, and Sacramento Kings emerging as winners in their respective matchups.
