LOS ANGELES: The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, fueled by 34 factors from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander knocked off Western Convention leaders Minnesota 129-106 on Tuesday (Dec 26) as Detroit’s twenty seventh defeat saddled them with an unwelcome piece of NBA historical past.
The Thunder underscored their standing as Western Convention contenders with a convincing house win over the Timberwolves.
Jalen Williams scored 21 factors, rookie Chet Holmgren and Lu Dort added 20 apiece and Oklahoma Metropolis made 18 three-pointers in a recreation they led by as many as 25 factors.
“I believe we performed collectively on each ends of the ground for essentially the most a part of the night time,” Gilgeous-Alexander stated. “After we try this and belief that, issues go our means often.”
The Thunder linked on higher than 60 p.c of their photographs from the sphere and, regardless of a measurement drawback, had been dominant defensively, harrying the Timberwolves into 24 turnovers.
Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 25 factors. Mike Conley added 17 and Karl-Anthony Cities scored 16.
It was one other dismal night time in Detroit, the place the Pistons’ 118-112 loss to the Brooklyn Nets noticed them set a single-season file for consecutive defeats.
“No one needs one thing like this connected to them,” stated Pistons coach Monty Williams, whose staff hasn’t gained since Oct 28.
Detroit, an iconic franchise that gained NBA titles in 1989, 1990 and 2004, surpassed the 26-game dropping streaks of the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers and the 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers.
They’re closing in on the longest dropping streak ever, the 28-game slide of the 76ers that spanned the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.
Detroit’s Cade Cunningham scored 41 factors, however as soon as once more the Pistons squandered a powerful begin with too many errors.
Detroit nonetheless had their possibilities late, taking a 97-92 lead early within the fourth quarter just for Brooklyn – led by 24 factors from Cameron Johnson and 21 from Mikal Bridges – to reply with a 13-0 scoring run.
As the ultimate moments ticked off, followers at Little Caesars Enviornment had been as soon as once more chanting “Promote the staff!”
“It weighs on us on daily basis,” Cunningham stated. “We have to proceed to lean on one another and proceed to push one another and maintain one another accountable greater than ever now,” he stated.
It was a nail-biter in New Orleans, in the meantime, the place Ja Morant scored 31 factors to steer the Memphis Grizzlies in a 116-115 additional time victory over the Pelicans.
The Grizzlies improved to 4-0 since Morant returned from a 25-game NBA suspension.
Desmond Bane scored 27 factors, his three-pointer with 33.6 seconds left in regulation pulling the Grizzlies inside one level after they trailed by as many as 15.
Jaren Jackson’s free throw tied it, however he missed a second from the foul line and so they went to the additional session, the place Bane’s free throw for a 116-112 lead proved sufficient for the win over a Pelicans staff led by Brandon Ingram’s 24 factors.
“MUST WIN”
In Chicago, DeMar DeRozan scored 25 factors and Andre Drummond added 24 factors and 25 rebounds in his first begin of the season for the Bulls, who beat the Atlanta Hawks 118-113.
Drummond added three steals and two blocks as he obtained the beginning instead of injured Nikola Vucevic and helped the Bulls maintain high-flying Hawk Trae Younger in verify.
Younger completed with 21 factors and 13 assists and noticed his record-equalling streak of seven straight video games with at the very least 30 factors and 10 assists come to an finish.
Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton scored 33 factors and handed out 10 assists within the Pacers’ 123-111 victory over the Rockets in Houston.
Eight Pacers gamers scored in double figures as Indiana halted a three-game dropping streak.
Haliburton, whose seven three-pointers included a go-ahead trey with 1:03 remaining, was delighted to return away with a win in a good recreation that featured 15 lead adjustments.
“We felt like this recreation was sort of a should win for us,” he stated. “That is a very good staff, a very feisty staff, and we simply found out a solution to pull it out right now.”
