"Clippers Make NBA History with Dominant Win Against Nets: Recap"
Kawhi Leonard achieved a season-high 23 points and the Los Angeles Clippers achieved their biggest victory margin in franchise history by dominating the Brooklyn Nets 126-67 on Wednesday night.
James Harden also contributed 21 points, 11 assists, and six rebounds for the Clippers, who surpassed their previous 50-point victory (138-88) over the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 10, 2022. The team's largest lead during the game was 64 points, tying for the 10th largest margin in NBA history.
In just his fourth game of the season, Leonard shot 8 of 11 from the field in 24 minutes. He had been sidelined due to knee issues until earlier this month.
The Nets also suffered their largest defeat in franchise history, surpassing a 52-point loss (139-87) to the Houston Rockets on Oct. 18, 1978, when the team was known as the New Jersey Nets. Brooklyn's 67 points were also the lowest scored in an NBA game this season.
Knicks 125, 76ers 119 (OT)
Jalen Brunson scored a career-high 38 points and Josh Hart recorded a triple-double as the New York Knicks narrowly defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in overtime.
Mikal Bridges added 23 points and OG Anunoby contributed 17 for the Knicks, who had lost five of their previous seven games. The team was without center Karl-Anthony Towns (thumb), giving Hart the opportunity to rack up 10 points, 17 rebounds, 12 assists, and four steals.
Philadelphia has now lost four consecutive games, all without Joel Embiid (foot). Tyrese Maxey led the team with 33 points, while Paul George scored 26 for the 76ers.
Raptors 110, Celtics 97
RJ Barrett led the way with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists as the Toronto Raptors defeated the Boston Celtics at home.
Scottie Barnes also had a strong performance with 18 points and nine assists for the Raptors, who have now won two games in a row for the third time this season. Jakob Poeltl added 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Gradey Dick and Davion Mitchell contributed 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Payton Pritchard came off the bench to score 20 points for the struggling Celtics, who have lost three of their last five games. Kristaps Porzingis had 18 points and eight rebounds, Jrue Holiday scored 12 points, and Al Horford and Jaylen Brown each added 10 points.
Lakers 117, Heat 108
Anthony Davis and LeBron James each scored 22 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a comeback victory over the Miami Heat at home.
Rui Hachimura also had a strong performance with 23 points, while Max Christie added 16 for the Lakers, who snapped a three-game losing streak. The team had two games postponed due to deadly wildfires in the Los Angeles area.
Tyler Herro led the Heat with 34 points on a hot shooting night, going 12 of 18 from the field and 7 of 12 from 3-point range. Haywood Highsmith and Nikola Jovic each contributed 12 points for Miami, who have now lost four of their last six games since Jimmy Butler was suspended for seven games.
Pelicans 119, Mavericks 116
Dejounte Murray scored 30 points and Trey Murphy III added 24, including a game-saving blocked shot, as the New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Dallas Mavericks at home.
With the Pelicans up by one near the end, New Orleans turned the ball over and the Mavericks' Spencer Dinwiddie drove to the basket, but Murphy blocked his shot and made two free throws with 1.5 seconds left. The Pelicans held on for their third win in four games.
Daniel Gafford led the Mavericks with 27 points and 12 rebounds, while Jaden Hardy scored 21. Dinwiddie also had a strong performance with 20 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Pelicans.
Rockets 128, Nuggets 120
Jalen Green scored 34 points and Alperen Sengun had 20 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists as the Houston Rockets defeated the Denver Nuggets on the road.
