Cleveland matched their all-time scoring record in regulation with a dominant 149-128 victory over Miami on Friday night. Former Heat player Max Strus led the charge with 29 points, while several other NBA games featured dramatic finishes and standout performances.
The Cleveland Cavaliers matched their franchise record for most points scored in a regulation game, overwhelming the Miami Heat 149-128 on Friday night behind a spectacular performance from former Miami player Max Strus.
Strus torched his former team for 29 points, connecting on eight three-pointers and grabbing eight rebounds in just 23 minutes coming off the bench. Jarrett Allen contributed 18 points and 10 rebounds in his first game back from a right knee injury, while Evan Mobley posted 23 points and 10 rebounds for Cleveland.
James Harden delivered his best performance since joining from the Los Angeles Clippers, recording 17 points and a season-high 14 assists. The victory marked Cleveland’s fifth win in their last six contests.
Miami struggled throughout, with Jaime Jaquez Jr. leading the way with 20 points and Bam Adebayo adding 14 points and 16 rebounds. The loss dropped the Heat out of a three-way tie for eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings with Charlotte and Orlando. Miami has managed just one victory since March 14, going 1-6 during that stretch.
Clippers 114, Pacers 113
Kawhi Leonard delivered a clutch jumper with just 0.4 seconds remaining to give Los Angeles a thrilling road victory over Indiana. The Clippers overcame a 24-point deficit to secure their fourth consecutive win, with Leonard finishing with 28 points and Darius Garland contributing 30.
Indiana’s struggles continued as they suffered their 18th defeat in 19 games, despite 26 points from Aaron Nesmith and 20 from Obi Toppin.
Nuggets 135, Jazz 129
Nikola Jokic recorded another triple-double with 33 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists as Denver rallied past Utah for their fifth straight victory. Cameron Johnson hit the decisive three-pointer in the final minute, while Jamal Murray added 31 points and 14 assists.
Utah led for most of the second half but couldn’t hold on, suffering their eighth loss in nine games despite 25 points from Kyle Filipowski and 24 from Cody Williams.
Celtics 109, Hawks 102
Payton Pritchard exploded for a game-high 36 points and seven rebounds to help Boston snap Atlanta’s three-game winning streak. Pritchard shot 13-of-23 from the field, including 6-of-11 from beyond the arc, while Jayson Tatum chipped in 26 points, 12 rebounds and five assists.
Atlanta couldn’t overcome a late deficit despite 29 points from Jalen Johnson and 21 from CJ McCollum.
Thunder 131, Bulls 113
Oklahoma City used a devastating 22-0 second-half run to erase an eight-point deficit and defeat Chicago. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 25 points as they won their 13th game in 14 attempts.
The loss eliminated Chicago from play-in tournament contention, marking their 19th defeat in 24 games.
Other Results:
Toronto defeated New Orleans 119-106 behind Scottie Barnes’ 23 points and 12 assists. Dallas snapped a five-game losing streak with a 100-93 win over Portland, led by Marvin Bagley III’s 26 points. Houston beat Memphis 119-109 as Kevin Durant recorded 25 points and 10 assists. Los Angeles Lakers extended Brooklyn’s losing streak to 10 games with a 116-99 victory, with Luka Doncic scoring 41 points. Golden State overcame Washington 131-126 behind Kristaps Porzingis’ 28 points.