The Knicks and Cavs played the game of the night earlier, but the Clippers and 76ers gave them a run for the money. The third quarter was where three teams ran their opponents off the floor, and one team had to win in the Lakers vs. Suns game.
Lakers (6-8) defeat Suns (5-10) - 100-93
The Lakers ended a three-game losing streak on Monday night as they concluded their four-game road trip in Phoenix. Both the Lakers and Suns struggled in the opening frame; each team shot under 35 percent from the field. While the Los Angeles Lakers held a one-point lead after the first quarter, Phoenix came back to take a one-point lead of their own at halftime.
Suns' guard Devin Booker shot 9-15 on his way to 22 first-half points.
The Lakers took the edge back with a one-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. With 7:25 left in the game, Phoenix tied the score at 81 after a Dragan Bender layup, but the Suns were never able to reclaim the lead. Lakers’ guard Jordan Clarkson came off-the-bench to score 25 points. Devin Booker finished with 36 on 14-27 shooting.
Timberwolves (8-5) defeat Jazz (6-8) - 109-98
With an injury to starting center Rudy Gobert, the Jazz are going to struggle to defend the paint. And that aspect showed itself right away against the Timberwolves. Power forward Taj Gibson and center Karl Anthony Towns combined to score 18 points and grab nine rebounds in the first quarter, helping Minnesota to a 33-14 lead.
Utah battled back somewhat, outscoring the Timberwolves by four in the second quarter, but that was as close as it got. Minnesota blitzed Utah in the third quarter, ultimately securing a 21-point victory. All five Timberwolves’ starters scored in double-figures, and Towns led the way with 24 points and 13 rebounds. Rookie guard Donovan Mitchell had 24 points for the Jazz.
Trailblazers (7-6) defeat Nuggets (8-6) - 99-82
Denver came into the matchup having won five of their last six games, while Portland had lost two close games in a row. The score between the teams remained relatively close in the first period, but the Trailblazers jumped out to a 14-point lead with 5:24 left in the half. However, the Nuggets made a run to cut that deficit to five heading into halftime.
But it was all Portland in the third quarter as they outscored Denver by 13 to take an 18-point lead. The margin extended to as much as 23 before it settled at 17. Both C.J. McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic scored 17 points for the Trailblazers. Paul Milsap and Jamal Murray each had 18 points for Denver.
Warriors (10-3) defeat Magic (8-5) - 110-100
Kevin Durant missed a Warriors’ game last Wednesday with a minor injury, which Golden State had no problem winning. Monday night, the Warriors were without the services of Steph Curry, who sat out with a thigh bruise. It’s no secret how talented this Golden State team is, but anytime something happens to one of their superstars, it’s a wonder how they’ll come out and play.
Against the Magic, the score bounced back in forth in the first half. Orlando held a two-point edge after the first quarter, but the Warriors tied the game by halftime.
Like the Warriors so often do, they went on an immediate third-quarter run. With 7:12 left in the period, Golden State was up by ten and they extended that lead to 13 by the end of the quarter. Up 20, the Warriors’ removed their starters with 4:39 left in the game. Durant led the way for Golden State with 21 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists. Center Nikola Vucevic scored 20 for the Magic.
76ers (7-6) defeat Clippers (5-8) - 109-105
This highly entertaining game featured big-time performances by the 76ers’ young talent. While Joel Embiid (32 points, 16 rebounds) and Ben Simmons (22 points, 12 rebounds) were fantastic, it was Robert Covington (31 points) who helped Philadelphia secure the victory over the Clippers in Los Angeles.
He scored seven points in the final 33 seconds.
The Clippers had a two-point advantage heading into the final quarter and got up by as much as six, but Philadelphia stayed right with them. The 76ers finally took the lead on a Covington three-pointer and never gave it up. Lou Williams had 31 points for the Clippers, while Blake Griffen finished with 29.
