NBA Roundup: Toronto Raptors Break 15 Games Losing Streak, Bucks Struggle

With superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks sidelined, Gary Trent Jr. finished 7 of 15 from 3-point range en route to 31 points, and the visiting Toronto Raptors ended the second-longest losing run in franchise history on Friday with a 117-111 victory.

Before Milwaukee, Toronto had lost 15 games in a row, just two short of the longest losing streak in team history. Nonetheless, Immanuel Quickley flirted with a triple-double by grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing out nine assists, while RJ Barrett scored 25 points and 25 points, respectively.

With 19 seconds left, Quickley grabbed the final rebound after Khris Middleton missed a 3-point shot that would have given Milwaukee the lead.

The Bucks have dropped their last three games, all against teams who are out of the running for the playoffs. After rejoining the starting lineup, Damian Lillard finished with 36 points and six assists.

MAVERICKS 108, WARRIORS 106

With 4.5 seconds left, P.J. Washington made a game-winning basket to help Dallas fend off visiting Golden State despite Luka Doncic’s absence.

The Mavericks, having won their single game in ten, defeated Golden State 104-100 on Tuesday. Kyrie Irving finished with 26 points and Washington, who shot 5-for-8 from outside the arc, scored a game-high 32 points.

With a team-high 28 points from Stephen Curry, the Warriors’ six-game winning streak came to an end. Thompson had 16 points, but at the buzzer, he missed a 3-pointer to seal the victory.

SUNS 97, TIMBERWOLVES 87

With 23 points and eight rebounds from Grayson Allen, Phoenix never trailed and defeated Minnesota to tie for the top spot in the Western Conference.

The Suns, who have won 11 of their last 16 games, added 22 points, six rebounds, and six assists from Kevin Durant. With 11 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals, Jusuf Nurkic made a contribution.

Only Minnesota’s third loss in a 12-game streak came from Anthony Edwards, who finished with 17 points and 8 rebounds. With 13 more points from Nickeil Alexander-Walker, the Timberwolves and the idle Denver Nuggets were tied.

PACERS 126, THUNDER 112

Indiana defeated Oklahoma City thanks to a 21-point performance from Pascal Siakam.

Tyrese Haliburton broke Mark Jackson’s Pacers franchise record for assists in a season with 11 assists. With 714, Haliburton surpasses Jackson’s total from 1997–1998.

For the first time this season, the Thunder have lost three straight games. Luguentz Dort led them with 22 points, and Kenrich Williams chipped in with 18 points off the bench. Josh Giddey made 14 points and 12 assist contributions.

CLIPPERS 131, JAZZ 102

Terance Mann scored 19 points, James Harden recorded a triple-double, and Los Angeles defeated visiting Utah to solidify its hold on fourth place in the Western Conference.

In lieu of Kawhi Leonard (knee) this week, Harden finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists to help the Clippers move to 2-1. In their previous six games, they have triumphed five times.

The Jazz (29-48), who have dropped 14 of their previous 15 games and have lost 11 straight, were led by Talen Horton-Tucker’s 17 points. Leading rebounder John Collins (back), leading scorer Lauri Markkanen (shoulder), and leading assist producer Jordan Clarkson (pelvis) were all out for Utah.

TRAIL BLAZERS 108, WIZARDS 102

Deandre Ayton led visiting Portland to win against Washington with a game-high 34 points and 13 rebounds.

Ayton, who made 13 of 25 shots from the floor and 8 of 9 attempts from the free-throw line, recorded his third consecutive double-double. Off the bench, Dalano Banton finished with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists. After going winless for ten games in a row, the Trail Blazers have won two straight.

Jordan Poole scored 20 points and nine assists, while Deni Avdija of Washington finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds. The Wizards have tied the team record for season losses after dropping five of their past six games.

CELTICS 101, KINGS 100

With 7.4 seconds remaining, Xavier Tillman’s pull-up jumper gave Boston the victory over visiting Sacramento.

The fourth quarter saw the Celtics lead by as much as 19, but a 16-1 run by the opposition, which included two 3-pointers from De’Aaron Fox and another from Harrison Barnes, kept things intriguing.

For the Kings, who have dropped four of their last six games and are tied with the Lakers for eighth place in the Western Conference, Fox tallied a game-high forty points and sank seven 3-pointers.

BULLS 108, KNICKS 100

Ayo Dosunmu scored 24 points and Avonte Green scored 25 points to lead host Chicago against New York. It was Green’s first career double-double, with 13 rebounds and 25 points.

In the race for the No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference and home-court advantage in a play-in bracket match, the Bulls surged ahead of the Atlanta Hawks by one game. The Orlando Magic and the Knicks were still tied for fourth place in the East.

Jalen Brunson of New York recorded his third consecutive double-double with 35 points and 11 assists, but the Bulls never fell behind. For Chicago, double-doubles came from DeMar DeRozan (20 points, 10 assists), Nikola Vucevic (16 points, 13 rebounds), and Andre Drummond (10 points, 16 rebounds).

HEAT 119, ROCKETS 104

Miami defeated Houston with a game-high 22 points from Jimmy Butler and 17 points from Tyler Herro, who made his comeback.

Herro made his Heat debut after sitting out 23 games, playing 25 minutes. His foot issue caused him to miss twenty games.

Jalen Green led the Rockets, who dropped their fourth straight game despite only shooting 2-for-9 from three-point range, with 21 points. In total, he made 6 of 18 shots.

HORNETS 124, MAGIC 115

In the first half, rookie Brandon Miller scored 32 points while shooting 10 of 10 from the field for Charlotte, who achieved a remarkable victory over visiting Orlando.

The Hornets won for the second time in eleven games behind double-figure scoring from Miles Bridges (23 points) and Grant Williams (18 points).

The Magic ended a three-game winning streak with 32 points from Paolo Banchero and 22 points from Franz Wagner.

GRIZZLIES 108, PISTONS 90

Trey Jemison helped Memphis defeat visiting Detroit with a total of 17 points, 13 rebounds, and three blocks.

With 17 points of her own, Maozinha Pereira helped the Grizzlies win their third straight game.

The Pistons, who have lost three straight and eleven of twelve, were led by Jaden Ivey, who scored 31 points.

SPURS 111, PELICANS 109

Victor Wembanyama came one assist short of a triple-double, Devonte’ Graham scored twenty points, and visiting San Antonio upset fading New Orleans.

The Spurs defeated the Pelicans for the first time this season after three losses. Wembanyama finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists, while five teammates had at least 14 points.

With CJ McCollum scoring 31 points and Jonas Valanciunas scoring 26, New Orleans lost their fifth game in a row.