In other games, Jalen Johnson powered the Hawks’ sixth straight win, Giannis Antetokounmpo lifted the Bucks out of their skid, and the Magic cooled off the Timberwolves.
A six-game NBA slate featured the champion Thunder hitting the 50-win mark, gutsy road comebacks by the Nets and Clippers, and the Hawks stretching their winning streak to six.
THUNDER REACH 50 WINS; CLIPPERS, NETS COMPLETE COMEBACKS
- OKC Thunder (50-15) def. Golden State Warriors (32-31), 104-97: The defending champion Thunder became the first team this season to reach 50 wins after fending off the undermanned Warriors.
Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 27 points for his 125th consecutive game with at least 20 points, moving within one of tying Wilt Chamberlain’s all-time record of 126 straight outings.
[RELATED: NBA: Thunder first to 50 wins this season as SGA nears a Wilt Chamberlain record]
- Brooklyn Nets (16-47) def. Detroit Pistons (45-17), 107-105: Behind a stunning 23-point comeback, the Nets snapped a 10-game losing skid after shocking the East-leading Pistons.
Michael Porter Jr. posted a 30-point, 13-rebound double-double as Brooklyn handed Detroit its first three-game losing streak of the season.
[RELATED: NBA: Nets snap 10-game losing skid with 23-point comeback vs Pistons]
- LA Clippers (31-32) def. Memphis Grizzlies (23-39), 123-120: Behind Kawhi Leonard’s 28 points and a strong fourth quarter from Darius Garland, the Clippers stormed back from 19 points down to beat the Grizzlies.
Darius Garland scored 11 of his 21 points in the final frame for LA, which found a way to win despite hitting only four threes throughout the game.
- Atlanta Hawks (33-31) def. Philadelphia 76ers (34-29), 125-116: Jalen Johnson stuffed the stat sheet as the Hawks toppled the Sixers to claim their sixth straight win.
Johnson finished with 35 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 24 markers of his own.
- Milwaukee Bucks (27-35) def. Utah Jazz (19-45), 113-99: Giannis Antetokounmpo had 27 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists as the Bucks snapped a four-game skid after piling more woes on the struggling Jazz.
- Orlando Magic (34-28) def. Minnesota Timberwolves (40-24), 119-92: Desmond Bane scored 30 points, while Paolo Banchero added 25 points and 15 rebounds to help the Magic snap the Timberwolves’ five-game winning streak.
A 29-13 fourth quarter paved the way for Orlando’s third consecutive win as the Magic leapfrogged Miami for sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
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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.