Jazz Holds On To Get Past Cavaliers
The Utah Jazz defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 109-108, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Sunday afternoon.
The Jazz (16-7) and the Cavaliers (13-11) played a tight contest and it ended being a back-and-forth game that was only decided in the final seconds. The Jazz jumped out to a 32-29 score in the first quarter and were on top early on, but they didn't step the foot off the gas and also won the second quarter by a 28-26. Holding a five-point lead at the break, the Jazz also outscored the Cavs by a 31-27 score in the third quarter and were leading by nine points with just 12 minutes left. Cleveland turned things around in the second half and were up by one point with less than two minutes left, but a one-handed dunk from Rudy Gobert was the defining play of the contest. Utah closed things out in the final seconds and secured the victory, extending their winning streak to four games.
Donovan Mitchell led the way for Utah with 35 points and six assists, while Rudy Gobert pulled down 20 boards while scoring just six points. Mike Conley posted 11 points, six assists and four steals, while Bojan Bogdanovic chipped in with 16 points and three assists. Royce O'Neale posted 12 points and six rebounds, and Rudy Gay contributed 15 points and eight boards off the bench.
Darius Garland led the way for the Cavaliers with 31 points while adding five assists, four rebounds and four steals. Jarrett Allen posted 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Evan Mobley also had a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds. Lauri Markkanen recorded nine points and five rebounds. Ricky Rubio had 15 points and Cedi Osman had 11 points, both off the bench.
The Jazz (16-7) and the Cavaliers (13-11) played a tight contest and it ended being a back-and-forth game that was only decided in the final seconds. The Jazz jumped out to a 32-29 score in the first quarter and were on top early on, but they didn't step the foot off the gas and also won the second quarter by a 28-26. Holding a five-point lead at the break, the Jazz also outscored the Cavs by a 31-27 score in the third quarter and were leading by nine points with just 12 minutes left. Cleveland turned things around in the second half and were up by one point with less than two minutes left, but a one-handed dunk from Rudy Gobert was the defining play of the contest. Utah closed things out in the final seconds and secured the victory, extending their winning streak to four games.
Donovan Mitchell led the way for Utah with 35 points and six assists, while Rudy Gobert pulled down 20 boards while scoring just six points. Mike Conley posted 11 points, six assists and four steals, while Bojan Bogdanovic chipped in with 16 points and three assists. Royce O'Neale posted 12 points and six rebounds, and Rudy Gay contributed 15 points and eight boards off the bench.
Darius Garland led the way for the Cavaliers with 31 points while adding five assists, four rebounds and four steals. Jarrett Allen posted 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Evan Mobley also had a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds. Lauri Markkanen recorded nine points and five rebounds. Ricky Rubio had 15 points and Cedi Osman had 11 points, both off the bench.
Hornets Outlast Hawks, 130-127
The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Atlanta Hawks, 130-127, at State Farm Arena on Sunday evening.
The Hornets (14-11) came into the contest dealing with quite the personnel shortage, as the starting backcourt of LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier, along with top center Mason Plumlee, were all in COVID-19 protocols. Charlotte appeared undeterred in the first half, however, jumping out to a 68-61 halftime lead in a fast-paced first half for both clubs. The visitors then maintained the hot hand through intermission, matching the host Hawks (12-12) bucket for bucket in the third before holding off Atlanta in a wild fourth quarter with the help of key buckets from Miles Bridges, Kelly Oubre and P.J. Washington.
Bridges led the way for the Hornets with 32 points, complementing them with four rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block. Oubre turned in 28 points, three boards, two assists and one steal. Cody Martin furnished 19 points, six boards, four assists and two steals. Gordon Hayward and Ish Smith generated matching 18-point, five-rebound tallies, with Smith also dishing out seven assists. Washington contributed a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double that included one assist, two steals and one block.
John Collins paced the Hawks with a 31-point, 12-rebound double-double that included four assists. Kevin Huerter supplied 28 points, three assists and two rebounds. Trae Young posted a 25-point, 15-assist double-double that included four rebounds and one steal. Danilo Gallinari delivered 17 points, four rebounds and three assists. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarott went for 12 points, four boards, two assists and two blocks. Clint Capela mustered eight points and 14 rebounds.
The Hornets head back home and host the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night, while the Hawks hit the road and visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night as well.
The Hornets (14-11) came into the contest dealing with quite the personnel shortage, as the starting backcourt of LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier, along with top center Mason Plumlee, were all in COVID-19 protocols. Charlotte appeared undeterred in the first half, however, jumping out to a 68-61 halftime lead in a fast-paced first half for both clubs. The visitors then maintained the hot hand through intermission, matching the host Hawks (12-12) bucket for bucket in the third before holding off Atlanta in a wild fourth quarter with the help of key buckets from Miles Bridges, Kelly Oubre and P.J. Washington.
Bridges led the way for the Hornets with 32 points, complementing them with four rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block. Oubre turned in 28 points, three boards, two assists and one steal. Cody Martin furnished 19 points, six boards, four assists and two steals. Gordon Hayward and Ish Smith generated matching 18-point, five-rebound tallies, with Smith also dishing out seven assists. Washington contributed a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double that included one assist, two steals and one block.
John Collins paced the Hawks with a 31-point, 12-rebound double-double that included four assists. Kevin Huerter supplied 28 points, three assists and two rebounds. Trae Young posted a 25-point, 15-assist double-double that included four rebounds and one steal. Danilo Gallinari delivered 17 points, four rebounds and three assists. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarott went for 12 points, four boards, two assists and two blocks. Clint Capela mustered eight points and 14 rebounds.
The Hornets head back home and host the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night, while the Hawks hit the road and visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night as well.
Raptors Top Wizards For Second Straight Win
By Dan Bruno
The Toronto Raptors defeated the visiting Washington Wizards, 102-90, at Scotiabank Arena on Sunday evening.
The Raptors got out to a great start at home with a, 23-12, lead after one quarter. They kept the pressure on in the second, where they poured in 40 points and added another 10 points to their lead to make it a 21-point game by halftime. The Wizards came out stronger in the third and managed to trim the deficit to 16 points, heading into the final frame. The visitors kept pushing in the fourth, but the Raptors maintained control and closed out their second straight win, while this marks the second consecutive loss for the Wizards.
Pascal Siakam led the Raptors with 31 points, six rebounds and three assists, in 36 minutes. Chris Boucher followed up with 14 points and six rebounds, while Precious Achiuwa tallied 10 points, 14 rebounds, two assists and a steal. The Raptors shot 45 percent from the field, including 8-of-23 from long range.
Meanwhile, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope led the Wizards with 26 points on 8-of-9 shooting, including 4-of-4 from long range. Bradley Beal added 14 points and seven assists, while Montrezl Harrell totaled six points, 14 rebounds, two assists and a block. The Wizards shot 41 percent from the field, including 8-of-25 from deep.
The Wizards (14-10) will look to bounce back as they take on the Pacers in Indiana on Monday. The Raptors (11-13) play host to the Thunder on Wednesday.
The Raptors got out to a great start at home with a, 23-12, lead after one quarter. They kept the pressure on in the second, where they poured in 40 points and added another 10 points to their lead to make it a 21-point game by halftime. The Wizards came out stronger in the third and managed to trim the deficit to 16 points, heading into the final frame. The visitors kept pushing in the fourth, but the Raptors maintained control and closed out their second straight win, while this marks the second consecutive loss for the Wizards.
Pascal Siakam led the Raptors with 31 points, six rebounds and three assists, in 36 minutes. Chris Boucher followed up with 14 points and six rebounds, while Precious Achiuwa tallied 10 points, 14 rebounds, two assists and a steal. The Raptors shot 45 percent from the field, including 8-of-23 from long range.
Meanwhile, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope led the Wizards with 26 points on 8-of-9 shooting, including 4-of-4 from long range. Bradley Beal added 14 points and seven assists, while Montrezl Harrell totaled six points, 14 rebounds, two assists and a block. The Wizards shot 41 percent from the field, including 8-of-25 from deep.
The Wizards (14-10) will look to bounce back as they take on the Pacers in Indiana on Monday. The Raptors (11-13) play host to the Thunder on Wednesday.
Rockets Defeat Pelicans, 118-108
The Houston Rockets defeated the visiting New Orleans Pelicans, 118-108, at Toyota Center on Sunday.
Houston outscored New Orleans in all four quarters of this game, holding the lead for the final three quarters. They actually got their lead up to 15 points at times, leading by at least five points for the entirety of the second half. The Rockets shot 49 percent from the field and 43 percent from three-point range while holding the Pelicans to 43 percent from the field and 26 percent from long range. In addition, Houston recorded 24 assists to New Orleans 19 assists. With that said, the Pelicans outproduced the Rockets in steals, blocks, points in the paint, fastbreak points, rebounds and turnovers.
The Pelicans (7-19) were led by Brandon Ingram and his 40 points, five rebounds and four assists. Jonas Valanciunas amassed 17 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three blocks. DeVonte' Graham totaled nine points, three rebounds and four assists, while Wily Hernangomez led the bench with 10 points, 14 rebounds and two steals.
The Rockets (7-16) were led by Eric Gordon, tallying 23 points and five assists. Christian Wood collected 23 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Garrison Mathews accrued 13 points and seven rebounds while Jae'Sean Tate tallied 11 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Alperen Sengun led the bench with 10 points and four boards.
Both teams return to action on Wednesday against tough competition, with New Orleans playing host to the Denver Nuggets and Houston remaining home to play the Brooklyn Nets.
Houston outscored New Orleans in all four quarters of this game, holding the lead for the final three quarters. They actually got their lead up to 15 points at times, leading by at least five points for the entirety of the second half. The Rockets shot 49 percent from the field and 43 percent from three-point range while holding the Pelicans to 43 percent from the field and 26 percent from long range. In addition, Houston recorded 24 assists to New Orleans 19 assists. With that said, the Pelicans outproduced the Rockets in steals, blocks, points in the paint, fastbreak points, rebounds and turnovers.
The Pelicans (7-19) were led by Brandon Ingram and his 40 points, five rebounds and four assists. Jonas Valanciunas amassed 17 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three blocks. DeVonte' Graham totaled nine points, three rebounds and four assists, while Wily Hernangomez led the bench with 10 points, 14 rebounds and two steals.
The Rockets (7-16) were led by Eric Gordon, tallying 23 points and five assists. Christian Wood collected 23 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Garrison Mathews accrued 13 points and seven rebounds while Jae'Sean Tate tallied 11 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Alperen Sengun led the bench with 10 points and four boards.
Both teams return to action on Wednesday against tough competition, with New Orleans playing host to the Denver Nuggets and Houston remaining home to play the Brooklyn Nets.