NBA roundup: Nuggets are snuck by Thunder in the last second

NBA roundup: Nuggets are snuck by Thunder in the last second.

NBA roundup: Nuggets are snuck by Thunder in the last second

Published first on Field Level Media Updated December 17, 23.
On Saturday night, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder to a 118-117 victory over the Denver Nuggets. He finished with 25 points, including the game-winning jumper with just 0.9 seconds remaining.

For Oklahoma City, Luguentz Dort scored 13 points, Jalen Williams scored 24, and Chet Holmgren had 17 points, 11 rebounds, and nine blocks.

For the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic finished with 24 points and 12 assists, while Michael Porter Jr. finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Jamal Murray added 15 points, and Aaron Gordon scored 16.

The Thunder fought late to grab a victory after trailing by eight. With 1:38 remaining, Gilgeous-Alexander made a three-point play, Williams made a jump shot and dunk, and Holmgren also made a dunking basket to trim Oklahoma City’s deficit to 113–11.

Blazers 120, Mavericks 131

As visiting Dallas defeated Portland, Luka Doncic scored his 61st career triple-double with 40 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists.

With 25 points from Tim Hardaway Jr., 18 points each from Dante Exum and Derrick Jones Jr., and 10 points from Markieff Morris, Dallas won for the fifth time in its last six games.

Portland was led by Anfernee Simons, who finished with 33 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. Scoot Henderson scored 13 points, Jerami Grant finished with 27, and Duop Reath scored 11. The Blazers dropped their sixth straight game after falling behind by as many as 18 points in the third quarter.

With 33 points from Damian Lillard and a season-high 31 from Bobby Portis, Milwaukee extended their franchise-long losing streak to 23 games when they visited Detroit.

Milwaukee scored the opening seven points of the game and never looked back. The Bucks then went on runs of 15-6 and 14-2 in the first quarter to establish a commanding early lead.

With 25 points apiece, Cade Cunningham and Bojan Bogdanovic lead Detroit. In addition to his 12 points, Marvin Bagley III pulled down a team-high seven rebounds.

Hornets 82, Sixers 135.

Joel Embiid led Philadelphia to a decisive victory over Charlotte, scoring 42 points in only three quarters.

Embiid recorded 15 defensive rebounds, two blocked shots, and went 18-for-23 from the field and 6-for-6 on free throws. Philadelphia’s winning streak reached six games as Tyrese Maxey scored 21 points and had seven assists, Tobias Harris scored 15 points, and former Hornet Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 12 points off the bench.

The Hornets, who have lost four straight, were led by Bryce McGowens with twelve points and Brandon Miller with fourteen. Charlotte allowed more than thirty points in three different quarters while shooting seven for thirty-five (20%) from three-point range.

Hawks 120, Cavaliers 127

Cleveland defeated visiting Atlanta with a game-high 25 points and 14 rebounds from Jarrett Allen.

Cleveland ended a three-game losing streak with 22 points and 13 assists from Donovan Mitchell. Dean Wade contributed 16 points, and Isaac Okoro scored 18.

With 35 points and 10 assists, Trae Young led the Hawks, followed by Dejounte Murray with 21 points. Atlanta, which has dropped six of its last seven games, saw 18 points from De’Andre Hunter.

Bulls 116, Heat 118

Miami defeated Chicago with a step-back jumper from Jimmy Butler over Coby White at the buzzer.

For the Heat, Kevin Love scored 22 points on 6-for-10 shooting from outside the arc, while Butler finished with a game-high 28 points.

For the Bulls, DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points, while Patrick Williams chipped in with 25. Williams was given a benching 92 seconds into the match after receiving two consecutive fast foul calls. He opened the game without scoring, but he quickly got rolling with a 13-point second quarter.

Pacers 109, Timberwolves 127

With Karl-Anthony Towns grabbing 12 rebounds and scoring 40 points on 15 of 25 shots, Minnesota easily defeated Indiana in Minneapolis.

With 37 points from 14/23 shooting, including 7/10 from beyond the arc, Anthony Edwards helped Minnesota win its 19th game of the season to begin the season. Coming off the bench, Naz Reid finished with 17 points.

Indiana was led by 17 points apiece from Bruce Brown and Aaron Nesmith, but they lost for the second straight night. Isaiah Jackson and Myles Turner each had 12 points in the end.