The NBA delivered high-scoring showdowns and standout performances on Tuesday night, with several teams bouncing back from recent struggles and star players making big impacts. From blowouts to tightly contested finishes, here’s a look at how the league’s top teams fared.
Heat Hold On After Late Surge to Beat Suns
Miami Heat 127, Phoenix Suns 121
Bam Adebayo scored 29 points and Norman Powell added 27 as the Miami Heat squandered a 20-point lead before regrouping late to beat the Phoenix Suns 127–121.
Powell drilled a go-ahead 3-pointer with 48 seconds left, and Andrew Wiggins sealed the win at the free-throw line after a flagrant foul on Phoenix’s Dillon Brooks. Adebayo also moved into second place on Miami’s all-time scoring list, passing Alonzo Mourning.
Dillon Brooks and Grayson Allen each scored 25 for Phoenix, while Devin Booker finished with 24 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.
Rockets Close Strong in Back-and-Forth Win Over Bulls
Houston Rockets 119, Chicago Bulls 113
Kevin Durant scored 28 points and Alperen Şengün posted 23 points and 11 assists as the Houston Rockets pulled away late in a 119–113 win over the Chicago Bulls.
With 35 lead changes, the game stayed tight until Houston went on a decisive 7–2 run in the final minutes. Jabari Smith Jr. scored 10 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, while Amen Thompson added 23.
Tre Jones led Chicago with a career-high 34 points, but the Bulls dropped their fourth game in five outings.
Timberwolves Overwhelm Bucks Despite Missing Stars
Minnesota Timberwolves 139, Milwaukee Bucks 106
Julius Randle scored 29 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves never trailed in a 139–106 blowout of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Minnesota, playing without Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, shot a season-best 59.8% from the field and hit 22 3-pointers. The Timberwolves led 76–45 at halftime, the largest road halftime lead in franchise history.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 25 points for Milwaukee, which allowed its highest point total of the season.
Murray, Watson Lead Nuggets Over Pelicans
Nuggets 122, Pelicans 116
Jamal Murray scored 35 points and dished nine assists, and Peyton Watson added 31 as the Denver Nuggets beat the New Orleans Pelicans. Watson hit the go‑ahead jumper with under a minute to play after Trey Murphy III’s layup had tied the game at 114. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 18 for Denver, while Murphy led New Orleans with 31.
Gilgeous-Alexander Leads Thunder Past Spurs
Oklahoma City Thunder 119, San Antonio Spurs 98
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points as the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder earned their first win in four tries against the San Antonio Spurs with a 119–98 victory.
Jalen Williams added 20 points, and Gilgeous-Alexander extended his streak of 20-point games to 111, the second-longest in NBA history. Oklahoma City improved to a league-best 34–7.
Stephon Castle scored 20 points and Victor Wembanyama added 17 for San Antonio.
Lakers Roll Past Hawks to Snap Skid
Los Angeles Lakers 141, Atlanta Hawks 116
LeBron James finished with 31 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers snapped a three-game losing streak with a 141–116 win over the Atlanta Hawks.
Luka Dončić added 27 points and 12 assists as the Lakers shot nearly 62% from the field and built a 32-point second-half lead. Los Angeles hit 19 3-pointers after struggling from deep the night before.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 26 points for Atlanta, while CJ McCollum had 25.
Warriors Cruise Past Short-Handed Blazers
Golden State Warriors 119, Portland Trail Blazers 97
Jimmy Butler scored 16 points and Stephen Curry handed out 11 assists as the Golden State Warriors pulled away early for a 119–97 win over the injury-depleted Portland Trail Blazers.
Curry struggled from the field but controlled the game as Golden State built a season-best 26-point halftime lead. De’Anthony Melton scored a season-high 23 points off the bench.
Shaedon Sharpe led Portland with 19 points, but the Blazers were without leading scorer Deni Avdija.
