“Canadian Air Show: Vučević’s Double-Double, Markkanen Outshines Dončić and LeBron”
Gilges-Alexander made a pivotal impact in the final moments, securing another victory for the leader. Photo: Reuters
Last night featured 15 intense NBA games with several captivating matchups and outstanding performances, but once again, two remarkable Canadians shone the brightest. Jamal Murray propelled Denver to a victory over Portland, scoring 55 points (132:121), while Shai Gilges-Alexander excelled in the fourth quarter to lead Oklahoma past Miami (115:101).
Following a disappointing outing against Detroit, Chicago improved their game against the same opponent, with Nikola Vučević recording another double-double (21 points, 13 rebounds), yet the Bulls fell short once more (128:110).
Luka Dončić played his second game with the LA Lakers, yet again facing Utah, but this time, he and LeBron James had to congratulate one of the less formidable teams this season (131:119). Lauri Markkanen excelled, leading the Salt Lake team to victory with 32 points.
The most telling sign of Jamal Murray’s performance is that he recorded the third-best scoring game in Denver’s history, following David Thompson’s 73 points in 1978 and Nikola Jokić’s 56 points in December.
This was a career game for him, hitting seven three-pointers out of 15 attempts, while Jokić added another triple-double to his tally with 26 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Gilges-Alexander once again proved vital when the game was on the line, guiding Oklahoma to its seventh consecutive win, maintaining its status as the top team in the league.
Interestingly, Miami had a lead until the final quarter, before Oklahoma surged ahead with a 24-0 run, fueled by 14 points from the impressive Canadian.
SGA wrapped up the game with 32 points and nine rebounds, while Bam Adebayo countered with 27 points and 15 rebounds.
Oklahoma stands at 44-9, closely trailed by Cleveland in the East at 44-10. The Cavs triumphed over Toronto 131-108 the night before, with Donovan Mitchell leading the way with 21 points. Ohio’s team has won eight of its last nine games.
In their second consecutive match against Detroit, Chicago scored 32 points in the first quarter alone, exceeding their entire first-half score from the previous game (29), but ultimately they suffered their fourth straight loss.
Alongside Vučević, the standout for the Bulls was Ayo Dosunmu with 23 points, while Cade Cunningham shone on the opposing side with 29 points.
LeBron James and Luka Dončić played their second game together after the Slovenian joined the Lakers following a noteworthy trade, but this time, the celebration eluded them.
The Lakers’ six-game winning streak ended, with Luka scoring 16 points against Utah this time and LeBron finishing with 18.
The top player for the California team was Rui Hachimura with 19, while Markkanen was complemented on the opposing side by Jordan Clarkson with 21 points.
With Doncic out and Anthony Davis injured, Kyrie Irving had a stellar outing, scoring 42 points in Dallas’ triumph over Golden State (111:107).
Results
Chicago – Detroit 110:128
Oklahoma – Miami 115:101
Washington – Indiana 130:134
Orlando – Charlotte 102:86
Boston – San Antonio 116:103
New York – Atlanta 149:148
Brooklyn – Philadelphia 100:96
Toronto – Cleveland 108:131
Minnesota – Milwaukee 101:103
New Orleans – Sacramento 111:119
Houston – Phoenix 119:111
Utah – LA Lakers 131:119
Denver – Portland 132:121
Dallas – Golden State 111:107
LA Clippers – Memphis 128:114
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