Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler and Co. keep DeMar DeRozan well below the 30-point mark, causing the Bulls superstar to narrowly miss a record set by Michael Jordan. Karl Anthony Towns stops a Cavaliers comeback and the Nets are dealt with by a rookie.
Cleveland Cavaliers (36-25) – Minnesota Timberwolves (33-29) 122:127 (BOXSCORE)
- From the line of three in Cleveland, things have been going easy for Karl-Anthony Towns lately! Barely a week after his triumph in the 3-point contest, he scored from a central position, to put the Wolves ahead with 12 seconds to go. Cedi Osman, who had previously equalized from downtown in attack, clearly missed the Cavs’ last chance.
- Overall, Towns played an unremarkable game with 17 points (1/4 3P), 4 rebounds and 3 assists, but his buddy D’Angelo Russell turned it up a bit (23, 4/8 3P). Minnesota shared the burden on many shoulders: Five Wolves scored at least 15 points, including Anthony Edwards (4 rebounds, assists and steals each) and Jaden McDaniels (5/7 3P) with 17 points each.
- The Cavaliers got off to a better start and quickly led by as much as 14 points in the first quarter, but lost that lead just as quickly. Minnesota took the lead in the second quarter and didn’t give it away, meanwhile the Wolves led by +23. However, little fell for Minnesota early in the fourth quarter, allowing the Cavs to fight their way up and make the closing stages exciting.
- This was partly due to Kevin Love, who gave his former team 26 points (5/10 3P), with him also convincing Osman (21, 5/9 3P, 5 Assists) coming off the bench. Jarrett Allen had 10 field throws for 21 points and 8 rebounds, Brandon Goodwin (17, 12 assists) cut a fine figure as one of the few remaining guards in the absence of Darius Garland, Caris Levert, Rajon Rondo and Collin Sexton. Evan Mobley recorded a double-double (15, 10 rebounds).
Orlando Magic (15-47) – Indiana Pacers (21-42) 119:103 (BOXSCORE)
- Good reaction from Jalen Suggs to his absolute horror game with 6 turnovers and 6 fouls in just 14 minutes against the Rockets: Against the Pacers he made a solid game with 14 points with 5/9 FG and 10 assists with 2 turnovers. However, Markelle Fultz made the much bigger comeback, appearing in an NBA game for the first time since January 6, 2021! Coming off the bench in just under 16 minutes with 10 points (5/7 FG) and 6 assists his season debut was absolutely successful.
- Wendell Carter Jr. already had his double-double (21, 8/10 FG, 12 rebounds) at the break, Mo Bamba followed suit with 15 and 10 rebounds. Franz Wagner contributed 15 points (6/10), 3 assists and 2 steals in just under 27 minutes, while Moritz missed his seventh straight game with a rib injury.
- Indiana grabbed the first lead and dominated the first half but only took a paltry lead at the break (+1). Then Orlando quickly took over and was already leading by +15 in the third quarter, Indiana was no longer within reach. The Pacers had no answer to the Magic’s size and were dominated on points in the zone (28:54) and points at second chance (7:18).
- Tyrese Haliburton put up resistance with 23 points (7/13 FG) and 7 assists, but also managed 6 of the 21 Pacers turnovers. Buddy Hield had 18 points and 6 assists with the same shooting rate, Jalen Smith got all 14 points in the first half. Goga Bitadze and Duane Washington Jr. each contributed 11 points coming off the bench.
Brooklyn Nets (32-30) – Toronto Raptors (33-27) 97:133 (BOXSCORE)
- After their statement win over the Bucks, the Nets, without Kyrie Irving, gave the stage entirely to the Raptors, with Scottie Barnes fronting the show. Toronto’s top rookie hit every one of his ten field shots for 24 first-half points, no less impressive with his 7 offensive rebounds and 4 steals before the break. He then held back and only took three throws, only leveling his previous career high (28 points).
- Barnes could easily afford the relaxed second half, as his team was already leading 72:48 at the break and then didn’t let the gap shrink to less than 20 points. Toronto overran the Nets with 17 steals for 32 fast break points (to 9) and 47.4 percent (18/38) from Downtown.
- Precious Achiuwa assisted with 20 points (3/5 3P), 8 rebounds and 4 assists, while Malachi Flynn only needed 11 throws for 18 points and 5 assists. After Yuta Watanabe has been best known since last season as a player on the wrong side of Anthony Edwards’ poster dunk, he was at least able to get his revenge a little: In the fast break, he landed a smashing dunk over Kessler Edwards in the ring.
- On the other side, LaMarcus Aldridge was the top scorer coming off the bench with 15 points, followed by Cam Thomas (4/12) and Bruce Brown (5 offensive rebounds) with 14 points each. Steve Nash was entered into the health logs hours before the game began, with his assistant Jacque Vaughn deputizing on the touchline.
