Coast-to-coast: Red-hot Spurs, Cavs, Pistons maintain strong form after All-Star

In the first gameday after the All-Star break, the Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, and Detroit Pistons stayed red-hot, extending their respective winning streaks in a 10-game Friday slate.

SPURS, CAVS, PISTONS STAY SHARP POST ALL-STAR BREAK

• San Antonio Spurs (39-16) def. Phoenix Suns (32-24), 121-94: Returning from the All-Star break, Victor Wembanyama dominated with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and five blocks to give the Spurs their seventh consecutive win.

San Antonio’s latest win moved the Spurs to within 2.5 games of defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder for the best record in the Western Conference.

• Cleveland Cavaliers (35-21) def. Brooklyn Nets (15-39), 112-84: Donovan Mitchell and James Harden combined for 33 points as the red-hot Cavaliers cruised to a sixth straight victory after crushing the Nets. 

Since trading for Harden, the Cavs are 4-0 and now tied with the New York Knicks for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.

• Detroit Pistons (41-13) def. New York Knicks (35-21), 126-111: Thanks to Cade Cunningham’s masterful performance, the surging Pistons completed a regular-season sweep of the Knicks for the first time since the 2018-19 season.

Cunningham finished with 42 points, 13 assists, eight rebounds, and five threes, becoming the first player in franchise history to record those numbers in a single game. 

[RELATED: NBA: Cade Cunningham drops 42-8-13 statline as surging Pistons dominate Knicks]

• LA Clippers (26-28) def. Denver Nuggets (35-20), 115-114: With Bennedict Mathurin tying his career-high of 38 points, the Clippers outlasted the Nuggets as Jamal Murray missed a late free throw that would have sent the game to overtime.

[RELATED: NBA: Bennedict Mathurin ties career-high 38 in cardiac Clippers escape vs Nuggets]

• Orlando Magic (29-25) def. Sacramento Kings (12-45), 131-94: Paolo Banchero scored 30 points as the Magic handed the Kings a franchise-worst 15th consecutive loss with a commanding rout.

Banchero led four Orlando players with four or more 3-pointers as the Magic set a franchise single-game record with 26 triples.

• Houston Rockets (34-20) def. OKC Thunder (26-30), 105-101: Behind 35 points from Kevin Durant, the Rockets survived a late Hornets push in Charlotte to regain their winning ways. 
  

[RELATED: NBA: Kevin Durant fires 35 as Rockets nip Hornets in thriller]

• Boston Celtics (36-19) def. Golden State Warriors (29-27), 121-110: Jaylen Brown’s sixth triple-double fueled a convincing Celtics victory over the Warriors in Kristaps Porzingis’ first game with Golden State.

[RELATED: NBA: Jaylen Brown trip-dub help Celtics spoil Kristaps Porzingis Warriors debut]

• Atlanta Hawks (27-30) def. Philadelphia 76ers (30-25), 117-107: Jalen Johnson recorded 32 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, helping the Hawks snap a three-game skid at the Sixers’ expense. 

• Washington Wizards (15-39) def. Indiana Pacers (15-41), 112-105: Washington struck first in their two-game homestand, with seven Wizards reaching double figures to defeat the Pacers and halt a three-game losing streak.

• Toronto Raptors (33-23) def. Chicago Bulls (24-32), 110-101: Brandon Ingram torched the Bulls with 31 points, helping the Toronto Raptors hand the free-falling Chicago team a seventh successive loss. 

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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.