"Spurs overcome 17-point deficit to narrowly defeat Blazers in NBA recap"
Victor Wembanyama sank two foul shots with just 2.4 seconds left on the clock, leading the San Antonio Spurs to a 118-116 comeback victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night despite being down by 17 points in the fourth quarter.
Wembanyama was perfect from the free-throw line, going 10-for-10 and finishing the game with 28 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Devin Vassell came off the bench to score 23 points, while Julian Champagnie had 19 points and Jeremy Sochan added 15 for the Spurs, who made an impressive 24-4 run in the final quarter to overcome the Blazers.
Jerami Grant matched his personal best of eight 3-pointers and scored 32 points, but it wasn't enough to save Portland from their fifth consecutive loss and their ninth defeat in their last 11 games. Anfernee Simons also had a strong performance with 30 points and seven assists, while Deni Avdija contributed 19 points off the bench.
In another game, the Phoenix Suns defeated the Utah Jazz 134-126 in Salt Lake City. Devin Booker led the Suns with 34 points, while Kevin Durant returned from an injury absence to score 30 points for Phoenix, who snapped a three-game losing streak at the end of a four-game road trip. Tyus Jones added 19 points and 11 assists, and former Jazz player Royce O'Neale chipped in with 17 points.
The Cleveland Cavaliers survived a tough challenge from the Washington Wizards, winning 115-105. Donovan Mitchell led the way for the Cavaliers with 20 points, while Darius Garland, Caris LeVert, and Jarrett Allen combined for 24 free throws. Garland finished with a team-high 24 points, Allen had 21, and LeVert made 8-of-12 free throws for 14 points. Bilal Coulibaly was the top scorer for the Wizards with a career-high-tying 27 points, along with six rebounds, five assists, and two blocks.
The Indiana Pacers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 121-107 on the road, with Tyrese Haliburton scoring 32 points for Indiana. Pascal Siakam added 23 points and eight rebounds, while Obi Toppin had 20 points and eight boards off the bench. Joel Embiid, who has missed significant time this season due to injuries and suspension, exited the game late in the second quarter and did not return after taking a blow to the face. He finished with 12 points and five assists in just 17 minutes. Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 22 points, while Kelly Oubre Jr. had 12 points and 13 rebounds.
The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 97-87, with Anthony Edwards scoring 23 points for Minnesota. Julius Randle led the Lakers with 21 points, while Jaden McDaniels scored 18 points and Rudy Gobert had a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Anthony Davis also had a double-double for the Lakers with 23 points and 11 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Timberwolves, who won for the fifth time in their last six games.
The Memphis Grizzlies beat the Brooklyn Nets 135-119, with Ja Morant leading the way for Memphis with 28 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds. Desmond Bane added 21 points and eight assists, while Santi Aldama made five 3-pointers and had 20 points off the bench. Dorian Finney-Smith scored 19 points for the Nets, who committed 18 turnovers and lost for the fifth time in their last six games.
The Denver Nuggets defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 120-98, with Jamal Murray scoring 20 points in his return from a hamstring injury. Michael Porter Jr. added 17 points for the Nuggets, while Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon, and Peyton Watson each had 14 points. Kevin Porter Jr. and Norman Powell each scored 16 points for the Clippers, who lost their third consecutive game.
The Chicago Bulls beat the Charlotte Hornets 109-95, with Ayo Dosunmu leading the way for the Bulls with 19 points. Josh Giddey had a strong all-around performance for the Hornets with 17 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and four steals, but it wasn't enough to overcome Chicago's stingy defense. Brandon Miller led all scorers with 21 points for Charlotte, but he struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 3-for-15
