Elsewhere, the Utah Jazz spoiled Trae Young’s first game as a Washington Wizard, while Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs dominated the Detroit Pistons in a potential NBA Finals preview.
Friday’s nine-game NBA slate saw the Timberwolves rise to third in the West, the Nuggets spoil LeBron James’ latest milestone, the Jazz ruin Trae Young’s Wizards debut, and the Spurs dominate the Pistons.
TWOLVES RISES TO WEST NO. 3; SPURS OVERPOWER PISTONS
- Minnesota Timberwolves (40-23) def. Toronto Raptors (35-27), 115-107: Make it five straight wins for Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves after turning back the Raptors.
Edwards scored 22 points as Minnesota overtook the Houston Rockets to claim third place in the Western Conference.
- San Antonio Spurs (45-17) def. Detroit Pistons (45-16), 121-106: In a potential NBA Finals preview, the Spurs overwhelmed the East-leading Pistons behind a monster performance from Victor Wembanyama.
The French phenom wreaked havoc on both ends, racking up 38 points, 16 rebounds, and five blocks in 39 minutes of action.
- Miami Heat (34-29) def. Brooklyn Nets (15-47), 126-110: Kel’el Ware delivered a strong two-way performance with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and seven blocks as the Heat handed the Nets their 10th straight loss.
Miami has now won six of its last eight games and moved five games over .500 for the first time since the first week of December.
- Golden State Warriors (32-30) def. Houston Rockets (38-23), 115-113: Brandin Podziemski and De’Anthony Melton combined for 49 points as the Warriors toppled the Rockets in overtime despite the continued absence of Stephen Curry.
Podziemski led the way with a team-high 26 points, while Melton added 23 as Golden State snapped a two-game skid.
- Chicago Bulls (26-37) def. Phoenix Suns (35-27), 105-103: Collin Sexton fired 30 points as the Suns blew a 12-point lead but hung on to topple the Suns in Phoenix.
CARTER JR. RESCUES MAGIC; NUGGETS SPOIL HISTORIC LEBRON FEAT
- Orlando Magic (33-28) def. Dallas Mavericks (21-41), 115-114: Wendell Carter Jr. delivered the game-winning slam with 1.4 seconds left, lifting the Magic past the returning Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks.
Flagg, who returned after missing the previous eight games with a left midfoot sprain, missed a 14-foot jumper just before Carter’s game-winner as Dallas also failed to get a shot off on its final possession.
- Denver Nuggets (39-24) def. LA Lakers (37-25), 120-113: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and the Nuggets fended off a late LA Lakers rally to spoil another milestone outing from LeBron James.
James earlier surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the all-time leader in field goals made, but Jokic’s 23rd triple-double of the season and Murray’s big scoring night powered Denver to its first back-to-back wins in more than a month.
- Utah Jazz (19-44) def. Washington Wizards (16-46), 122-112: Ace Bailey erupted for a career-high 32 points as the Jazz halted a seven-game skid and dampened Trae Young’s Wizards debut.
Young, who Washington acquired last January in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks, finished with 12 points and six assists in 19 minutes.
- New Orleans Pelicans (20-44) def. Sacramento Kings (14-50), 133-123: Zion Williamson scored 23 points to lead a balanced Pelicans attack as New Orleans handed the Sacramento Kings their 50th loss 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.