NBA 2023–24 roundup: Pistons and Jaden Ivey startle Kings

With a game-winning 37 points, Jaden Ivey guides the Detroit Pistons to an incredible triumph over the Sacramento Kings.
The Detroit Pistons defeated the Sacramento Kings 133-120 on Wednesday night. Marcus Sasser and Alec Burks each made clutch 3-pointers late in the game, and Jaden Ivey scored 19 of his career-high 37 points in a stellar fourth quarter.

Ivey made 13 of 23 field goals and 5 of 7 three-pointers. He contributed six rebounds and seven assists. With 20 points and 15 rebounds, Jalen Duren helped the Pistons win for just the sixth time this year. Last month, the Kings crushed the Pistons 131-110 in Detroit.

In the opening minute of the fourth quarter, Sacramento led 101-97 courtesy to a career-high 30 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists from Domantas Sabonis. However, Ivey seized control. The second-year guard tied the Pistons at 103 points apiece with six consecutive points. With 5:54 remaining, he made two more 3-pointers, the second of which gave Detroit a 114-109 lead.

With 3:14 remaining, Ivey made another 3-pointer to give the team a 121-113 lead. A possible Sacramento comeback was thwarted by 3-pointers from Sasser (25 points) and Burks (18 points) on succeeding possessions.

HEAT 116, SPURS 104

With his 16th career triple-double, Jimmy Butler helped host Miami defeat San Antonio.

In 34 minutes, Butler finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists, and a game-high three steals while committing no turnovers. For the Heat, Tyler Herro finished with a game-high 24 points, six rebounds, and seven assists. Bam Adebayo added 20 points on 10-for-14 shooting.

Star freshman Victor Wembanyama led San Antonio, which has lost five straight games, with 18 points, a game-high 13 rebounds, three assists, and one block. He finished the game with seven of thirteen points, three of five from beyond the arc, and his 25th double-double of the year.

CELTICS 125, HAWKS 117

Boston overcame visiting Atlanta thanks to a game-high 31 points from Kristaps Porzingis, who converted 13 of 19 field goal tries.

Derrick White of the Celtics finished with 21 points after making four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. With 25 points, Saddiq Bey was the Hawks’ leader. Jalen Johnson finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds, while Trae Young finished with 20 points and 10 assists.

Bogdan Bogdanovic’s 3-pointer with 1:17 remaining brought Atlanta within five points, 120-115, but Porzingis’ three-pointer with 19.4 seconds remaining gave the Celtics an eight-point advantage and sealed the victory.

RAPTORS123, HORNETS 117

With 23 points by RJ Barrett, Toronto finished the game with a 9-0 run, defeating the home team Charlotte for the tenth time in a row.

Barrett has been managing his workload after returning from a knee injury, so he did not play Monday night against New Orleans. However, the Raptors needed Barrett’s offense to end a three-game losing streak. Barrett contributed to Toronto’s overall 53.1 percent shooting by going 9 for 15 from the field.

Immanuel Quickley and Scottie Barnes of Toronto each had 18 points. For the second straight game, Miles Bridges scored 45 points to lead the Hornets, surpassing the 40-point threshold.

CAVALIERS 114, WIZARDS 106

Cleveland upset Washington with a game-high forty points from Donovan Mitchell.

Cleveland expanded their lead in the NBA’s longest running winning streak to seven games with the addition of 22 points from Evan Mobley on 9 of 10 field goal attempts. The Cavaliers’ Darius Garland scored thirteen points, while Jarrett Allen added twelve points and a team-high nine rebounds.

With 28 points, Kyle Kuzma led the Wizards, and Corey Kispert added 23 points off the bench. With 14 points and 13 rebounds, Daniel Gafford led Washington, which has lost four games in a row.

WARRIORS 127, 76ERS 104

Golden State defeated Philadelphia, the home team, which has dropped seven of its last eight games, behind the 21 points and ten rebounds of Andrew Wiggins.

For the Warriors, Lester Quinones stepped in with 13 points, while Klay Thompson and Jonathan Kuminga both scored 18 points. In twenty-five minutes, Stephen Curry managed just nine points.

Joel Embiid (knee) was sidelined by the struggling Sixers for the fourth straight game. De’Anthony Melton (back), Robert Covington (knee), and Nicolas Batum (hamstring) were also out. With 17 points, Ricky Council IV led Philadelphia.

PELICANS 117, CLIPPERS 106

Visiting New Orleans defeated Los Angeles to extend their winning streak to four games. CJ McCollum scored 25 points, while Zion Williamson contributed 21 points and 10 assists.

In the first game of a four-game road trip, Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with 15 points and 8 rebounds. The last three road games have been won by them. For New Orleans, Herbert Jones and Trey Murphy III each scored thirteen points.

After a 6-1 road trip, the Clippers’ four-game winning streak came to an end when James Harden scored 19 points and Norman Powell added 18. Los Angeles is currently a half-game behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference, having begun the evening in a four-way tie for first place.