The East-leading Pistons held off a late OKC Thunder rally in a clash of top teams, while the Denver Nuggets shifted into high gear in the second half to overpower the Boston Celtics.
The San Antonio Spurs continued their unstoppable run, posting their first 10-game win streak in a decade as Thursday’s six-game NBA slate also saw the Pistons conquer the Thunder, the Bucks survive a frenetic finish over the Cavs, and the Nuggets end the Celtics’ four-game winning streak.
SPURS WIN 10 STRAIGHT; BUCKS, NUGGETS, PISTONS DEFEND HOMECOURT
- San Antonio Spurs (42-16) def. Toronto Raptors (34-25), 110-107: Behind a balanced attack, the surging Spurs came from behind to beat the Raptors and post their first 10-game winning streak in a decade.
Devin Vassell led the way with 21 points, De'Aaron Fox added 20, and Victor Wembanyama contributed 12 points and five blocked shots, as Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, and Julian Champagnie combined for 38 markers.
[RELATED: Red-hot Spurs stage gutsy 4Q comeback vs Raptors to claim 10th straight win]
- Milwaukee Bucks (26-31) def. Cleveland Cavaliers (37-23), 118-116: In a thrilling finish, Kevin Porter Jr.’s late heroics lifted the Bucks past a short-handed Cavaliers, though not without drama.
Cleveland seemed to tie the game on Jarrett Allen’s basket at the buzzer, but officials ruled time had expired that allowed Milwaukee to snatch the win.
[RELATED: NBA: Bucks survive undermanned Cavs with Jarrett Allen buzzer-beater waived off]
- Detroit Pistons (43-14) def. OKC Thunder (45-15), 124-116: Jalen Duren recorded 29 points and 15 rebounds, while Cade Cunningham added 29 points and 13 assists as the Pistons toppled the short-handed defending champion Thunder in a potential Finals preview.
[RELATED: NBA: Pistons stop short-handed Thunder in battle of conference leaders]
- Denver Nuggets (37-22) def. Boston Celtics (38-20), 103-84: Nikola Jokic poured in 30 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and dished out six assists, leading a second-half surge that propelled the Nuggets to snap the Celtics’ four-game winning streak.
[RELATED: NBA: Nikola Jokic, Nuggets overcome Jamal Murray early exit to cool off Celtics]
- Golden State Warriors (31-28) def. Memphis Grizzlies (21-36), 133-112: Led by Will Richardson’s 21 points, the Warriors had eight players reach double figures in a 21-point rout of the Grizzlies to get back on track.
- Houston Rockets (36-21) def. Sacramento Kings (13-47), 128-97: Reed Sheppard and Alperen Sengün starred as the Rockets secured their most lopsided victory of the season at the Kings’ expense.
Sheppard made a career-high seven 3-pointers and scored 28 points, while Sengün recorded 26 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists for his third triple-double of the season.
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.