NBA Scores: Nikola Vucevic’s huge night time helps Bulls get proper towards Warriors

As the climate is cooling down (or the rain or snow is coming down) across the nation in mid-January, the motion inside NBA arenas is heating up.

Three completely different gamers notched 40 factors of their Sunday contests whereas some groups eked out shut wins to assist them within the standings drastically.

Knicks coast previous Pistons, 117-104, after huge first quarter

Julius Randle scored 13 of his 42 factors through the opening body as New York outscored Detroit 39-22. The Pistons outscored the Knicks by 4 the remainder of the way in which, however the early gap was an excessive amount of to beat with out key items like Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren.

Randle, along with his 42 and 15 rebounds, was the star of the night time, however Jalen Brunson supplied some much-needed help with 27 factors on 17 pictures. Jaden Ivey and Saddiq Bey led the Pistons in scoring with 21 every.

Clippers suffocate Rockets late, 121-100

For about 37 and a half minutes, this recreation was hotly contested with neither squad discovering a lot respiratory room; with 10:28 remaining within the recreation, it was even tied at 92. Clippers proceeded to rattle off 11 straight, ending on a 29-8 run. Terance Mann scored 31 factors (12-16 FG) whereas Kawhi Leonard added 30 of his personal.

Bulls get proper with 132-118 win over Warriors

The second 40-point recreation of Sunday got here from an unlikely supply — Nikola Vucevic, who tied his profession excessive with 43 factors (18-31 FG). It’s simply the fourth 40-point recreation of Vucevic’s profession and first since he was traded to Chicago. He additionally posted 13 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals in his 39 minutes because the Bulls obtained a win after three straight losses.

I’m unsure what number of gamers are on the record of those that really feel like a frigid capturing night time after they shoot 8-15 from the sphere and 3-10 from three, however that’s the place we’re with Steph Curry, who completed with simply 20 factors. He additionally had a season-high eight turnovers as Golden State turned the ball over 13 extra occasions than Chicago’s 10.

OKC lands play-in spot (for now) with 112-102 win over Nets

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey every scored 28 because the Thunder struck late. At the beginning of the fourth, OKC trailed by 5, however Giddey opened the quarter on a 7-3 scoring run by himself as his workforce outscored the Nets 37-22 within the fourth.

Without MVP candidate Kevin Durant for the previous two video games, Brooklyn is 0-2 with out him and off to their first shedding streak since October. Kyrie Irving, again to being a primary choice for now, struggled and completed with simply 15 factors on 7-20 capturing (1-7 from three).

Kings overwhelm Spurs, 132-119

Sacramento didn’t have a single quarter with fewer than 30 factors and have been capable of defend effectively sufficient within the second half to tug away; they excelled within the third quarter particularly, outscoring San Antonio 39-26 within the body. Four Kings scored a minimum of 18, led by 29 (8-11 FG) from Harrison Barnes.

Nuggets escape Magic, 119-116, behind Jokic’s game-winning three

Is there something Nikola Jokic can’t do? In this recreation, he posted one other triple double — 17 factors, 10 rebounds, and 14 assists — and stepped again to hit the game-winning three with simply 0.2 seconds left on the clock.

Orlando had a stellar second half, outscoring Denver 62-47 over most of the ultimate 24 minutes, proper up till Jokic’s three saved the Nuggets. Markelle Fultz led the Magic in scoring with 20 (8-10 FG) whereas including in seven rebounds and 6 assists.

No Luka, huge downside as Mavs fall 123-140 to Blazers

The league’s third 40-point recreation did come from a possible supply, although unlikely effectivity. In 37 minutes, Damian Lillard posted 40 factors on 10-17 capturing, 4-9 from three, and 16-16 on the line. We’re additionally not to this point faraway from Thursday’s 50-point outing, so Dame’s on an actual heater proper now.

Even with out Luka Doncic, the Mavs didn’t wrestle a lot with creating offense; three gamers completed with a minimum of 20 factors — Spencer Dinwiddie (28), Jaden Hardy (25) and Christian Wood (23). Dallas shot 46.1%, which is respectable by all means, however Portland’s 50.6% simply barely outpaced them.

Philly’s duo outduels LA’s duo in 113-112 win

Joel Embiid and James Harden mixed for 59 factors, 18 rebounds, and 17 assists whereas LeBron James and Russell Westbrook mixed for 55 factors, 22 rebounds, and 21 assists. Just when it appeared like Westbrook was having a Kodak second in a Laker uniform, the hero ball tendencies obtained the very best of him on the ultimate possession.

The win catapults the Sixers larger within the East standings (as much as #4 and half a recreation from #2) whereas the Lakers fall deeper beneath the playoff and play-in image (sitting at #13 and 1.5 video games again from #10 and three.0 video games again of #6).