A stacked nine-game NBA Tuesday saw triumphant homecomings, as the Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers, and Houston Rockets continue their winning ways to start to the season.
Myles Turner, DeAndre Ayton, and Norman Powell returned to places they once called home and came away victorious as the Los Angeles Lakers, Detroit Pistons, and Houston Rockets continued their winning ways on a busy nine-game NBA Tuesday slate.
TURNER, AYTON, POWELL MARK WINNING HOMECOMINGS
- Milwaukee Bucks (5-2) def. Indian Pacers (1-6), 117-115: Giannis Antetokounmpo capped off a 33-point, 13-rebound, five-assist outing with a cold-blooded jumper as time expired, sealing a dramatic Bucks’ win in Myles Turner’s Indy homecoming.
[ALSO READ: NBA: Clutch Giannis Antetokounmpo hits game-winner as Bucks nip injury-hit Pacers]
- LA Lakers (6-2) def. Portland Trail Blazers (4-3), 123-115: DeAndre Dayton dominates in his Portland return, racking up a solid 29-point, 10-rebound double-double in pacing the Lakers’ fourth-straight win.
- Miami Heat (4-3) def. LA Clippers (3-3), 120-119: Normal Powell fired 21 points in his first game back in Los Angeles, helping the Heat hand the Clippers their first home loss in a thriller.
- Denver Nuggets (4-2) def. Sacramento Kings (2-5), 130-124: Nikola Jokic fired a season-high 33 points as the Nuggets handed former teammate Russell Westbrook a rough welcome back in Denver, while staying unbeaten at home at 3-0.
[ALSO READ: Jokic-led Nuggets stay perfect at home, beat Kings to spoil Westbrook Denver return]
JUSUF NURKIC RESCUES JAZZ; ROCKETS, PISTONS STAY HOT
- Utah Jazz (3-4) def. Boston Celtics (3-5), 105-103: In Boston, Jusuf Nurkic sank a last-gasp putback with 0.6 seconds remaining, completing Utah’s gutsy comeback against the Celtics.
After Keyonte George missed a turnaround jumper, Nurkic outmuscled Neemias Queta to grab the offensive rebound and finished with a quick right-hand hook that swished through, helping the Jazz snap a three-game losing streak.
- Detroit Pistons (5-2) def. Memphis Grizzlies (3-5), 114-106: Cade Cunningham erupted for 19 of his 33 points in the final period, guiding the Pistons to a third-straight win while putting a damper on Ja Morant’s return from suspension for the Grizzlies.
- Houston Rockets (4-2) def. Dallas Mavericks (2-5), 110-102: Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, and Alperen Sengun powered Houston with a combined 74 points, pushing the Rockets past the Mavericks and into their fourth consecutive win after opening the season 0–2.
- New York Knicks (4-3) def. Washington Wizards (1-6), 119-102: Karl-Anthony Towns reached a personal milestone while pouring in a season-high 33 markers, helping the Knicks roll to a fourth-straight home victory dominating the Wizards.
Towns also eclipsed 15,000 career points with a left-handed layup early in the second quarter, becoming the 25th active player to reach the mark.
- Minnesota Timberwolves (4-3) def. Brooklyn Nets (0-7), 125-109: Julius Randle recorded his first career triple-double in a Timberwolves jersey, helping Minnesota pounce on the still-winless Nets squad.
Still without injured star Anthony Edwards, Randle filled the stat sheet with 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Timberwolves rolled to back-to-back wins following consecutive losses.
—
Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.