Josh Giddey’s Oklahoma City Thunder have drawn level with NBA defending champions Denver atop the Western Conference after a 118-112 win over Memphis.
Australian Giddey had 13 points, despite making just one of six from 3-point range, as all of the Thunder’s starting five scored in double figures in Saturday night’s game in Memphis.
Young centre Chet Holmgren had 22 points and 11 rebounds, Jalen Williams had 23 points and six assists and All-Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 20 points.
Desmond Bane, playing in his first game since January 12 due to injury, led the Grizzlies (23-45) with 22 points and seven assists.
The Thunder matched the Nuggets’ season record, improving to 47-20.
“It’s extremely important this late in the season,” Holmgren said of tying for top spot in the conference.
“It’s also good to see all the work we’re putting in is putting us in a good position.”
In Los Angeles, Stephen Curry scored 31 points in his return to Golden State’s lineup and Klay Thompson added 26 off the bench as the Warriors beat the Los Angeles Lakers 128-121 in a pivotal Western Conference matchup.
LeBron James had 40 points and 13 rebounds for the Lakers, who had to play without fellow superstar Anthony Davis for the final three quarters after he suffered an eye injury, described as a contusion.
The Warriors inched ahead of the Lakers by a percentage point into ninth place in the West.
Australian centre Jock Landale came off the bench to score six points and grab three rebounds as his Houston Rockets beat the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers 117-103 for their fifth straight victory.
The Rockets have won seven of their last eight, pulling within three games of the final Western Conference play-in spot.
In Philadelphia, Tyrese Maxey shook off a bloody nose caused by Brandon Miller’s flagrant foul to score 30 points, Kelly Oubre Jr. chipped in 22 and the 76ers withstood a fourth-quarter charge to beat the Charlotte Hornets 109-98.
Buddy Hield had 14 points and Paul Reed added 11 for the 76ers (37-30), who have struggled with an 8-13 record since Joel Embiid’s meniscus injury at the end of January to fall into eighth place in the Eastern Conference.
In other games, the New York Knicks beat Sacramento 98-91, Indiana downed Brooklyn 121-100, Minnesota beat struggling Utah 119-100 and Chicago crushed Washington 127-98.
Source Agencies
