Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers continue an upward trend with their seventh win in their last eight games, overcoming the Golden State Warriors in a wild finish in LA.
Simply cold-blooded.
Kevin Durant haunted his former team in the Phoenix Suns, sinking the game-winner of a pulsating Houston Rockets win in a wild eight-game NBA Tuesday slate.
DURANT GAME-WINNER SINKS SUNS; NUGGETS ESCAPE SIXERS IN OT
- Houston Rockets (22-11) def. Phoenix Suns (21-15), 100-97: Kevin Durant haunted his former team Suns, hitting a game-winning three to lift the Rockets to a thrilling bounce-back victory.
[RELATED: NBA: Kevin Durant drills game-winner vs ex-team Suns, Rockets escape in thriller]
- Denver Nuggets (24-12) def. Philadelphia 76ers (19-15), 125-124: Despite missing five starters and eight players in total, Bruce Brown’s heroics powered the Nuggets to a pulsating overtime win over the Sixers.
[RELATED: NBA: Missing eight players, resilient Nuggets survive Sixers in overtime]
- Detroit Pistons (27-9) def. New York Knicks (23-13), 121-90: Cade Cunningham and the Pistons overpowered Jalen Brunson and the visiting Knicks in a clash of the East’s top teams.
[RELATED: NBA: Cade Cunningham, Pistons curbstomp Knicks in battle of top East teams]
- Boston Celtics (23-12) def. Chicago Bulls (17-19), 115-101: Anfernee Simons fired 27 points as the surging Celtics rolled past the Bulls, extending their winning streak to four and picking up 12 victories in their last 15 games.
HORNETS DOMINATE THUNDERING OKC, CLIPPERS RISE ABOVE WARRIORS IN LA
- Charlotte Hornets (13-23) def. OKC Thunder (30-7), 124-97: Brandon Miller and the Hornets handed defending champion Thunder their worst loss of the season, becoming the first Eastern Conference team to topple OKC at home this year.
Miller poured in 28 points, while rookie Kon Knueppel added 23 in a dominant performance on the road.
- LA Clippers (13-22) def. Golden State Warriors (19-18), 103-102: Kawhi Leonard posted 24 points and 12 rebounds as the Clippers held off a late Warriors rally to extend their hot streak.
LA has now won seven of its last eight games in a wild showdown that saw Warriors coach Steve Kerr ejected and Steph Curry foul out for the first time since 2021.
- Toronto Raptors (22-15) def. Atlanta Hawks (17-21), 118-100: Scottie Barnes fell two rebounds shy of a triple-double, posting 18 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds to help the Raptors complete a two-game home sweep of the Hawks.
- Portland Trail Blazers (17-20) def. Utah Jazz (12-23), 137-117: Deni Avdija scored 33 points in just 29 minutes to lead the Trail Blazers to their third-straight win at the expense of the Jazz.
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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.