Coast-to-coast: Pistons, Twolves win in tense duels; Warriors, Cavs rally in Q4

A loaded 10-game NBA Tuesday saw the Pistons and the Timberwolves win heated duels, the Cavaliers and the Warriors storm back from double-digit fourth-quarter deficits, and the Trail Blazers stay hot to rise in the West Play-In picture.

PISTONS, TWOLVES WIN CHIPPY DUELS

• Detroit Pistons (39-13) def. Charlotte Hornets (25-29), 110-104: In a tension-filled game that saw five players ejected and Charlotte head coach Charles Lee tossed, the East-leading Detroit Pistons ended the Hornets’ nine-game winning streak.

[RELATED: NBA: Cade Cunningham, Pistons end Hornets’ nine-game winning run in heated duel]

• Minnesota Timberwolves (33-22) def. Atlanta Hawks (26-29), 138-116: Anthony Edwards poured in 21 of his 30 points before halftime, fueling a dominant second quarter that carried the Timberwolves past the Hawks.

The game turned chippy early in the fourth when Mouhamed Gueye appeared to trip Naz Reid, leading to an altercation that resulted in ejections for both players.

• New Orleans Pelicans (15-40) def. Sacramento Kings (12-43), 120-94: The Pelicans handed the reeling Kings a franchise-worst 13th straight loss, cruising to a 26-point rout to make it back-to-back wins. 

• Utah Jazz (15-37) def. Miami Heat (28-27), 115-111: Jaren Jackson Jr. and six teammates in double figures powered Utah’s comeback from a 15-point hole to down the Heat and halt a two-game slide.

[RELATED: NBA: Jaren Jackson Jr. gets first win with Jazz after 15-point comeback vs Heat]

• Brooklyn Nets (15-37) def. Chicago Bulls (24-30), 123-115: Nic Claxton scored a career-high 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Nets, without Michael Porter Jr., blew a 15-point lead but held on to beat the Bulls.

WARRIORS; CAVS COMPLETE GUTSY 4Q COMEBACKS 

• Cleveland Cavaliers (33-21) def. Denver Nuggets (34-20), 119-117: Donovan Mitchell finished with 32 points and calmly knocked down two free throws with 0.9 seconds remaining, lifting the Cavaliers to a comeback win over the Nuggets in Denver after erasing a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit.

[RELATED: NBA: Cavs complete 4Q comeback vs Nuggets behind clutch Donovan Mitchell FTs]

• Golden State Warriors (29-25) def. Memphis Grizzlies (20-32), 114-113: With 19 seconds remaining, Gui Santos’ go-ahead layup capped a stunning Warriors comeback from 10 points down in the final 4:17 to shock the Grizzlies.

• Portland Trail Blazers (26-28) def. Philadelphia 76ers (30-23), 135-118: Behind a career-high 30 points from Toumani Camara, the Trail Blazers crushed the Sixers to secure their third straight win.

Portland now rises to ninth in the Western Conference, three games behind the Warriors for the eight spot. 

• Orlando Magic (28-24) def. Milwaukee Bucks (21-30), 118-99: Desmond Bane and Anthony Black combined for 51 points, lifting the Magic to a  third consecutive win after dominating the visiting Bucks. 

• OKC Thunder (40-13) def. LA Lakers (32-19), 119-110: Still without injured MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder snapped a two-game skid by holding off a Lakers team missing superstar Luka Doncic.

[RELATED: NBA: Sans SGA, Thunder cool off Luka-less Lakers to end mini skid]

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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.