An Anthony Davis-less Pelicans team picks up a win in Toronto after the Raptors collapse in the fourth. Elsewhere, the Thunder and Spurs both have blowout wins as part of a shortened NBA schedule.
Let’s get to the games:
Pelicans 95 (20-20) – Raptors 93 (26-14)
After dominating in the first half, the Pelicans started the second by giving up a 14-point lead. As the game went on, it only got worse, as the Raptors would go up by 12 before New Orleans fought back, finishing with a Tyreke Evans layup with 1.6 seconds left to get the two point win. Evans had 26 points with 5 assists and 5 rebounds for the Pelicans who were without Anthony Davis. Alexis Ajinca helped spur the comeback off the bench with 22 and 6 rebounds. For the Raptors, DeMar DeRozen has played well since his return, tonight scoring 22 points, while Amir Johnson had 14 with 10 boards, and Grevis Vasquez had 16 and nine assists off the bench.
Thunder 127 (20-20) – Magic 99 (15-29)
The Thunder have some games to make up in the West in order to make the playoffs, and tonight’s blowout of the Magic will go a long way towards putting them in the right mindset for this six-game road trip. Oklahoma City never trailed, and led by as many as 39 points after scoring 79 in the first half alone. The Thunder were led by Kevin Durant with 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Russell Westbrook added 17 and 6 assists. Serge Ibaka and Dion Waiters both scored 16 in a game in which everyone the Thunder dressed scored. For the Magic, Victor Oladipo had 23 with 5 assists, while Elfrid Payton had 19 and 8 assists. Nikola Vucevic added 16 and 7 rebounds on a slow night for the impressive big man.
Jazz 69 (14-27) – Spurs 89 (26-16)
Kawhi Leonard has been a huge part of the noticeable change in the Spurs the past few days. He has contributed on both ends of the floor, and generally given the team another level of energy and excitement. Tonight, he was part of a blowout of the Jazz, in which Utah shot only 33%, and scored only 27 first-half points. For the Spurs, Leonard finished with 12 points and 9 rebounds, while Tiago Splitter had 14. Danny Green, another key part of the Spurs on both ends of the floor, had 13 with 6 rebounds. The Jazz were led by Rudy Gobert, who had 13 points and 18 rebounds off the bench in 29 minutes. Gordan Heyward also added 10 and Derrek Favors had 9 points and 13 rebounds.