Coast-to-coast: Hornets win eighth straight; Warriors, Lakers stage comebacks

The Charlotte Hornets climbed into the East Play-In picture with their eighth straight victory, headlining an NBA slate that also saw Nickeil Alexander-Walker deliver in the clutch as well as the Lakers and Warriors stage gritty comebacks. 

HORNETS STAY HUMMING; ALEXANDER-WALKER GAME-WINNER SINKS JAZZ

• Charlotte Hornets (24-28) def. Houston Rockets (24-28), 109-99: Behind Kon Knueppel and LaMelo Ball’s combined 44 points, the surging Hornets down the Rockets to extend their winning streak to eight games.

The victory marks Charlotte’s longest streak since a nine-game run in the 1998–99 season. With the Bulls’ earlier loss, the Hornets also enter the East Play-In picture.  

• Atlanta Hawks (26-27) def. Utah Jazz (16-36), 121-119: Nickeil Alexander-Walker drilled the game-winning basket with 1.3 seconds left as the Hawks edged the visiting Jazz in a pulsating finish. 

[RELATED: NBA: Nickeil Alexander-Walker sinks game-winner as Hawks squeak past Jazz]

• Washington Wizards (14-36) def. Detroit Pistons (37-13), 126-117: After a busy trade deadline, Will Riley led a balanced Wizards attack in shocking the East no. 1 Detroit Pistons. 

[RELATED: NBA: Undermanned Wizards shock East-leading Pistons after trade deadline]

• Orlando Magic (26-24) def. Brooklyn Nets (13-37), 118-98: Jalen Suggs recorded his first career triple-double with  15 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, helping the Magic hand the Nets their third successive defeat. 

WARRIORS, LAKERS COMPLETE COMEBACKS

• LA Lakers (30-19) def. Philadelphia 76ers (31-21), 101-97: Austin Reaves took over and unloaded 35 points, helping the Lakers buck Luka Doncic’s early exit to rally past the Sixers. 

[RELATED: NBA: Reaves drops 35 as Lakers rally past Sixers despite Doncic early exit]

• Golden State Warriors (28-24) def. Phoenix Suns (31-21), 101-97: With Stephen Curry sidelined, Pat Spencer fired a career-high 20 points as the Warriors erased a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to shock the Suns.

• San Antonio Spurs (35-16) def. Dallas Mavericks (19-32), 135-123: Victor Wembanyama filled the stat sheet with 20 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three blocks as the Spurs spoiled another big night from rookie standout Cooper Flagg.

[RELATED: NBA: Wemby, Spurs foil Flagg-led Mavericks in first Dallas game since AD trade]

• Toronto Raptors (31-22) def. Chicago Bulls (24-28), 123-107: Brandon Ingram unloaded 33 points, pushing the Raptors past the new-look Bulls for a bounce-back win. 

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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.