Nuggets, Knicks Dominate; Thunder-Celtics Headline Action-Packed Wednesday
Nikola Jokić delivered a historic night and a clutch finish. His 23 points, 17 rebounds and 17 assists helped Denver edge Phoenix 125-123.
Jokić’s late-game masterclass
Jokić recorded a triple-double just 11 seconds into the third quarter. That mark was one of 29 triple-doubles he has this season.
He buried an elbow floater with 11.5 seconds remaining. The shot sealed Denver’s third straight win over the Suns.
Phoenix opened with a 35-point first quarter. Denver erased the deficit with a 21-8 run to close the half.
Mitchell’s dagger lifts Cleveland
Donovan Mitchell scored 42 points on 14-of-22 shooting in a 136-131 win over Orlando. He poured in 26 points in the second half.
Mitchell’s driving floater with 14 seconds left extended a three-point lead. James Harden added 26 points and seven assists.
Paolo Banchero finished with 36 points, five rebounds and five assists. Cleveland improved to 11-4 when Mitchell and Harden share the court.
Knicks surge, Hornets heat up
Jalen Brunson finished with 32 points and seven assists in New York’s 121-116 victory. He scored 15 points in the fourth quarter.
The Knicks posted their seventh straight win. Seven players scored in double figures for New York.
Charlotte exploded for a 134-90 win over Sacramento. Coby White scored 27 off the bench and made six threes.
The Hornets hit 26 triples, tying a franchise record. LaMelo Ball made six threes and moved past Dell Curry for second-most threes in franchise history.
Tonight’s national TV slate
Twelve games tip off tonight. ESPN airs two matchups: Hawks at Pistons at 7 ET, and Rockets at Wolves at 9:30 ET.
Detroit is 4-0 since Cade Cunningham’s lung injury. Jalen Duren has averaged 25.8 points and 9.8 rebounds in Cunningham’s absence.
Atlanta is 13-1 in its last 14 games. The Hawks average 123.6 points per game during that run.
Wolves vs. Rockets preview
Minnesota is 3-1 since Anthony Edwards’ knee injury. Bones Hyland now averages 20 points per game off the bench.
Houston drew 40 points from Kevin Durant and a 33-13-10 night from Alperen Şengün in a recent outing. The Rockets seek a bounce-back result.
Thunder-Celtics defensive rematch
OKC and Boston meet again tonight at 7:30 ET on League Pass. The matchup pits two elite defenses against each other.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averages 31.5 points per game. Jaylen Brown scores 28.5 per contest.
Jalen Williams returned and scored 18 points in limited minutes. Jayson Tatum has averaged 19.1 points and 8.9 rebounds since his return.
OKC leads the league with a 106 defensive rating. Boston has the second-best mark of 107.2 since February 1.
Wembanyama fuels Spurs’ surge
Victor Wembanyama posted 26 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks in a recent win over Miami. It marked another monster performance.
San Antonio has won six in a row and 22 of its last 24. Wembanyama’s play has sparked MVP discussions.
The Spurs visit Memphis tonight at 8 ET on League Pass. San Antonio pursues a seventh straight victory.
League notes and schedule highlights
- Mac McClung became the G League’s all-time leading scorer across Tip-Off, regular season, and playoffs. He passed Renaldo Major (5,299).
- Denver remains fourth in the West, a half-game ahead of Minnesota. Phoenix sits seventh, four games back of the sixth seed.
- Cleveland trails New York by 2.5 games for third in the East. Orlando holds the eighth slot in a multi-team tiebreaker.
Other League Pass and national matchups
- Paul George returns as Philadelphia hosts Chicago at 7 ET on League Pass.
- Heat at Cavaliers airs at 7:30 ET. Lakers visit Indiana at 7 ET after losing to Detroit.
- Later games include Mavericks at Nuggets, Nets at Warriors and Raptors at Clippers.
Filmogaz.com will follow tonight’s action. Expect full recaps and game analysis after the final buzzer.
Keywords to note in coverage include Nuggets and Knicks. The Thunder-Celtics rematch frames an action-packed Wednesday for viewers.
