Detroit and Miami bowed out early in the playoffs last April, and Toronto even failed to reach the postseason at all. Yet one month into the season, all three have surged to the top three positions in the East.
No one could have predicted that the Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, and Miami Heat would be playing this well so early in the season.
Yet, one month in, all three teams are putting the rest of the league on notice—especially in the Eastern Conference.
WHITE-HOT PISTONS, RAPTORS, HEAT CONTINUE WINNING WAYS
- Detroit Pistons (15-2) def. Indiana Pacers (2-15), 122-117: With 24 points, 11 boards, and six dimes from Cade Cunningham, the East no. 1 Pistons survived the Pacers to tie a franchise-record 13-game winning streak.
[ALSO READ: East-leading Pistons survive Pacers to match franchise’s longest winning streak at 13]
- Toronto Raptors (13-5) def. Cleveland Cavaliers (11-6), 110-99: Brandon Ingram fired 15 of his season-high 37 points in the third quarter of a solid Raptors disposal of the Cavs, collecting their eight successive win.
Toronto is riding its longest winning streak since the 2019–20 season, going 12–1 in their last 13 games and sitting alone in second place in the East, just behind the Pistons.
- Miami Heat (12-6) def. Dallas Mavericks (5-14), 106-102: Tyler Herro fired 24 points in his long-awaited season debut, helping the Heat notch their fifth consecutive win.
Even with a packed schedule of three games in four days, Miami brushed off fatigue to occupy the East third spot.
- New York Knicks (10-6) def. Brooklyn Nets (3-14), 113-100: Karl Anthony-Towns went off with a 37-point, 12-rebound double-double to propel the Knicks past cross-town rivals Nets.
The win marked New York’s 12th straight victory over Brooklyn, having not lost to the Nets since January 2023.
- New Orleans Pelicans (3-15) def. Chicago Bulls (8-10), 115-103: Zion Williamson tied a season-high with 29 points, helping the Pelicans snap a nine-game losing skid at the Bulls’ expense.
NUGGETS RECLAIM WEST NO. 2; KINGS EDGE TWOLVES IN OT
- Denver Nuggets (13-4) def. Memphis Grizzlies (5-14), 125-115: Jamal Murray scored 29 points and Peyton Watson added 27, as the Nuggets tamed the Grizzlies to reclaim solo second in the West.
Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic puts up a casual 17-point, 16-assist, 10-rebound outing to record his league-leading 10th triple-double of the season.
- Sacramento Kings (5-13) def. Minnesota Timberwolves (10-7), 110-107: Despite Anthony Edwards lighting up the night with 41 points, DeMar DeRozan’s season-high 33 proved decisive as the Kings pulled out an overtime win over the Timberwolves.
- Houston Rockets (11-4) def. Phoenix Suns (11-7), 114-92: Sans Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson stepped up with 28 points as the Rockets dominated the Suns to claim their 11th win in the last 13 games.
- Golden State Warriors (10-9) def. Utah Jazz (5-12), 134-117: Behind a rampaging 21-0 spurt and Stephen Curry’s 31-point outburst, the Warriors snapped a three-game slide after a convincing home dub against the Jazz.
[ALSO READ: Stephen Curry-powered Warriors ride 21-0 Q2 run to crush Jazz, snap three-game slide]
- Portland Trail Blazers (8-10) def. Milwaukee Bucks (8-10), 115-103: Jerami Grant’s 35-point outburst in just 31 minutes carried the Trail Blazers to a solid victory over the Bucks, who were still without superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
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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.