Mar 10, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) and forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and guard Damian Lillard (0) on the court during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Clippers held off a late surge by the Golden State Warriors to secure a dramatic 102-99 victory. Norman Powell led the Clippers with 23 points, including five three-pointers, as the team improved to 8-7 on the season. Despite a 15-point lead late in the second quarter, the Clippers faced a relentless comeback from the Warriors, led by Stephen Curry with 26 points and Andrew Wiggins with 22. A missed buzzer-beater three from Gary Payton II sealed the Warriors’ fate. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue praised his team’s composure in holding off the Western Conference leaders.
Lillard’s Late Heroics Lift Bucks Over Rockets
Damian Lillard returned from a concussion layoff to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a thrilling 101-100 win against the Houston Rockets. Lillard’s driving layup with 3.9 seconds remaining capped off his 18-point, 10-assist performance and snapped Houston’s five-game winning streak. Brook Lopez top-scored for Milwaukee with 27 points, while Giannis Antetokounmpo added 20. Despite a late push by the Rockets, Lillard’s clutch finish ensured the Bucks improved to 5-9, while Houston slipped from their recent strong form.
Wagner Sparks Magic to Victory Over Depleted Suns
Franz Wagner’s 32-point display propelled the Orlando Magic to a 109-99 win over the short-handed Phoenix Suns. The Suns, without Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Jusuf Nurkic, struggled and suffered their fourth consecutive loss, dropping to 9-6 after an 8-1 start. Orlando’s Anthony Black contributed 20 points off the bench, while Goga Bitadze added 17. Suns coach Mike Budenholzer urged resilience amidst the team’s injury challenges, stating, “You’ve got to keep your head up. This group is resilient.”
Heat Dominate Struggling 76ers
Jimmy Butler’s stellar 30-point, 10-rebound, five-assist effort led the Miami Heat to a commanding 106-89 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Tyler Herro added 18 points for Miami, who capitalized on the Sixers’ faltering form despite their early 19-point lead. Philadelphia, now 2-11 and at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, saw Joel Embiid manage just 11 points in another disappointing outing. Miami’s consistency left the Sixers searching for answers in what has been a challenging season.
