It was an action-packed Friday across the NBA, with high-stakes finishes, historic milestones, and plenty of late-game drama. Here’s a look at how the night unfolded:
Celtics Hold Off Short-Handed Raptors
Payton Pritchard led the Boston Celtics with 28 points and eight assists as they held off the injury-depleted Toronto Raptors, 125–117. Jaylen Brown added 25 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, while Boston hit 14 3-pointers and shot 54% from the field to pull away in the second half. Toronto, missing starters Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes along with Jakob Poeltl, got 19 points each from RJ Barrett and Ja’Kobe Walter, but the Raptors couldn’t snap their three-game skid. The Celtics extended their hot stretch, winning five of six.
76ers Top Magic in Low-Scoring Night
Tyrese Maxey poured in 29 points and added three steals, and Joel Embiid contributed 22 points and nine rebounds as the Philadelphia 76ers outlasted the Orlando Magic 103–91 in a game dominated by poor shooting from long range. The teams combined to make just 8 of 57 3-pointers. Paul George chipped in 18 points and nine rebounds for Philadelphia, who have now won four straight on the road. Desmond Bane led Orlando with 23 points, but the Magic, missing Tristan da Silva and Jalen Suggs, could never get over the hump.
Pelicans Snap Nine-Game Losing Streak
Trey Murphy III scored 35 points, Zion Williamson added 31, and rookie Derik Queen recorded a triple-double as the New Orleans Pelicans routed the Washington Wizards 128–107. Queen finished with 14 points, 16 rebounds, and 12 assists in his return to the D.C. area. Washington, playing without newly acquired Trae Young, saw Kyshawn George and Tristan Vukcevic lead with 15 points each. After falling behind by 21 in the third, New Orleans closed the game on a 21–5 run to seal the victory.
James Harden scored 31 points and Kawhi Leonard added 26 to lead the Los Angeles Clippers past the Brooklyn Nets, 121–105. Jordan Miller made a strong debut off the bench with 21 points, and John Collins contributed 16. The Clippers set the tone early, opening the game on an 8–0 run and never looking back, while Brooklyn’s rookie-heavy lineup struggled to keep up.
Toumani Camara had 26 points, Kenrich Williams hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:07 left, and the Oklahoma City Thunder overcame a 21-point second-half deficit to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 117–116. Ajay Mitchell added 23 points, and Aaron Wiggins scored 16. Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis with 23 points, but the Grizzlies’ six losses in seven games continued. Alex Caruso’s late block on Cedric Coward helped preserve the dramatic Thunder comeback.
Dyson Daniels recorded a triple-double (17 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists), and the Atlanta Hawks used a strong fourth quarter to defeat the Denver Nuggets 110–87 in their first game since trading Trae Young. Jalen Johnson scored 29 points, and Deni Avdija added 20. Denver, missing Nikola Jokic, Jonas Valanciunas, Jamal Murray, and Spencer Jones, mounted a brief comeback in the fourth quarter but could not overcome Atlanta’s depth and resilience.
Suns Outlast Knicks in Tight Finish
Devin Booker scored 31 points and Dillon Brooks added 27 as the Phoenix Suns held off the New York Knicks 112–107. Royce O’Neale and Mark Williams combined for 22 points off the bench, and Phoenix outscored New York 36–12 in the final 12 minutes. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 27 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns added 15 points and 12 rebounds, but the Suns’ late scoring runs and clutch free-throw shooting proved decisive.
Warriors Dominate Kings Behind Curry
Stephen Curry scored 27 points and handed out a season-high 10 assists as the Golden State Warriors rolled to a 137–103 win over the Sacramento Kings. Jimmy Butler added 15 points, six assists, and six rebounds as the Warriors finished with 39 assists. DeMar DeRozan led Sacramento with 24 points, but the Kings struggled from deep, shooting just 7-for-27 on 3-pointers. Golden State has now scored at least 120 points in each of its last seven wins.
Trail Blazers Rally Past Rockets
Toumani Camara led Portland with 25 points as the Trail Blazers extended their winning streak to five games, topping the Houston Rockets 111–105. Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija each added 20 points. Kevin Durant had 30 points and 12 rebounds, passing Wilt Chamberlain for seventh place on the NBA’s career scoring list, but Portland’s fourth-quarter surge and clutch free throws from Avdija and Camara secured the victory.
Bucks Hold Off Lakers in Final Minute
Giannis Antetokounmpo made two clutch defensive plays on consecutive possessions to help the Milwaukee Bucks rally past the Los Angeles Lakers 105–101. Kevin Porter Jr. scored 22 points and hit four key free throws in the final 40 seconds. Giannis blocked LeBron James’ layup and then stole the ball from him, securing Milwaukee’s fifth win in seven games. LeBron finished with 26 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds, while Luka Dončić struggled with 24 points on 8-of-25 shooting and fouled out late.
