Coast-to-coast: Twolves overtake Lakers as West #5; Hornets set franchise record

Charlotte kept rolling on the road, Jonathan Kuminga shined in his Atlanta debut, the Timberwolves jumped past the Lakers for fifth in the West, and Dejounte Murray returned from a 13-month absence in a busy 11-game NBA slate.

HORNETS WIN EIGHT STRAIGHT ON ROAD; KUMINGA SHINES IN HAWKS DEBUT 

• Charlotte Hornets (32-26) def. Chicago Bulls (24-35), 131-99: Brandon Miller scored 23 points, Kon Knueppel added 21, as the Hornets set a franchise record with their eighth consecutive road win.

Charlotte, winners of 12 of their last 15 games, drained 25 three-pointers, falling just one short of tying another franchise mark.

• Atlanta Hawks (29-31) def. Washington Wizards (16-41), 119-98: Jonathan Kuminga scored a season-high 27 points in his Atlanta debut, leading the Hawks to a 21-point rout of the Wizards.

Trae Young, in attendance but sidelined with injury, returned to Atlanta for the first time since being traded and was honored with a tribute video.

[RELATED: NBA: Jonathan Kuminga dazzles in Hawks debut vs Wizards sans Trae Young]

• Philadelphia 76ers (32-26) def. Indiana Pacers (15-44), 135-114: Tyrese Maxey erupted for 32 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds in just three quarters, spearheading the 76ers’ commanding rout of the lowly Pacers.

Joel Embiid added 27 points, while rookie VJ Edgecombe chipped in 23 as Philadelphia won back-to-back games after dropping four straight.

• Dallas Mavericks (23-36) def. Brooklyn Nets (15-42), 123–114: Marvin Bagley, Brandon Williams, and Klay Thompson led a solid Mavs bench mob in taking down the Nets. 

The trio accounted for 58 of Dallas’ 61 bench points for a second successive win after losing 10 straight.

• Milwaukee Bucks (25-31) def. Miami Heat (31-28), 128-117: Kevin Porter Jr. stuffed the stat sheet with 32 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists as the Bucks continued to thrive without Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf).

Ryan Rollins added 21 points for Milwaukee, which won seven of its last nine games and snapped the Heat’s three-game winning streak.

TIMBERWOLVES RISE IN WEST; CLUTCH CARTER JR. LIFTS MAGIC

• Minnesota Timberwolves (36-23) def. Portland Trail Blazers (28-31), 124-121: Anthony Edwards scored 34 points, and with the Lakers falling to the Magic, the Timberwolves moved up to No. 5 in the Western Conference after holding off the Trail Blazers.

• Orlando Magic (30-26) def. LA Lakers (34-22), 110-109: Wendell Carter Jr.’s clutch putback with 6.4 seconds remaining sealed a nail-biting Magic road reversal of Luka Doncic ,LeBron James and the Lakers.

[RELATED: NBA: Clutch Wendell Carter Jr. basket seals dramatic Magic escape vs Lakers]

• New Orleans Pelicans (17-42) def. Golden State Warriors (30-28), 113-109: Dejounte Murray made a winning return in his first game back in 13 months, helping the Pelicans defend home court against the Stephen Curry-less Warriors.

[RELATED: NBA: Dejounte Murray makes triumphant return as Pelicans repulse Warriors]

• Boston Celtics (38-19) def. Phoenix Suns (33-21), 97-81: Derrick White delivered an all-around performance as the Celtics extended their winning streak to four with a road victory over the Suns.

Without Jaylen Brown, White finished with 22 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists as Boston won nine of its last 10 games.

• Cleveland Cavaliers (37-22) def. New York Knicks (37-22), 109-94: In a clash between Eastern contenders, Donovan Mitchell and James Harden combined for 43 points as the Cavaliers toppled the Knicks to get back on track. 

[RELATED: NBA: No season sweep for Knicks as Cavaliers win battle of East contenders]

• OKC Thunder (45-14) def. Toronto Raptors (34-24), 116-107: Isaiah Joe poured in 19 of his 22 points during a blistering third quarter, propelling the Thunder past the Raptors. 

Cason Wallace led all scorers with 27 points, while Alex Caruso and Lu Dort combined for 31 markers to give defending champion OKC its third consecutive win.

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.