Kyrie Irving powered the Dallas Mavericks to a 106-98 victory over the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. The Mavericks snapped the Thunder’s momentum, who were fresh off a dominant win over Cleveland, handing Oklahoma City just their seventh loss of the season.
Dallas coach Jason Kidd praised the team’s ability to recover from the third-quarter slump:
“We stayed the course, stayed together, and in the fourth quarter, we did what we needed to do. Tonight was a great test for us.”
Dallas improved to 23-19, while Oklahoma City maintains its league-best 34-7 record.
Jokic Leads Denver in Blowout Win Over Miami
In Denver, Nikola Jokic recorded his 17th triple-double of the season, propelling the Nuggets to a 133-113 victory over the Miami Heat. Jokic finished with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, while Jamal Murray led scoring with 30 points.
- Miami’s Struggles: Jimmy Butler returned from a seven-game suspension to score 18 points, but the Heat couldn’t contain Denver’s balanced offense, with seven Nuggets players scoring in double digits.
Celtics Bounce Back with Win Over Magic
Boston Celtics cruised to a 121-94 victory over the Orlando Magic, rebounding from a tough loss to Toronto earlier in the week.
- Tatum’s Brilliance: Jayson Tatum delivered 30 points, shooting 12-of-21 with six rebounds and four assists.
- Supporting Cast: Kristaps Porziņģis added 23 points, while Jaylen Brown contributed 20, including a flawless 9-of-9 from the free-throw line.
- Eastern Conference Standings: Boston remains in second place with a 29-12 record, trailing Cleveland.
Other Results
- Milwaukee Bucks 130, Toronto Raptors 112: Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 35 points and Damian Lillard added 26, giving Milwaukee their third straight win.
- Minnesota Timberwolves 116, New York Knicks 99: Anthony Edwards erupted for 36 points, hitting 8-of-13 from three-point range.
- Memphis Grizzlies 140, San Antonio Spurs 112: Santi Aldama scored 29 points off the bench, overpowering a strong defensive effort by Victor Wembanyama, who recorded six blocks and 12 rebounds.
This thrilling night of basketball showcased standout performances and decisive victories across the league.
