Austin Reaves exploded for a career-high 38 points in helping the Lakers play spoiler to D’Angelo Russell's LA homecoming.
It was a big scoring night for Anthony Edwards and Austin Reaves, while LaMelo Ball faced his older brother Lonzo for the first time since 2021. | Photos: Timberwolves, Bulls, Lakers
It was a sibling rivalry this NBA Saturday as both LaMelo Ball and brother Lonzo faced off for just the fourth time in their careers.
Elsewhere, Santi Aldama and Austin Reaves dropped buckets en route to setting new career-highs for the Memphis Grizzlies and the LA Lakers respectively.
LAMELO TOPPLES LONZO; NUGGETS SPOIL JIMMY BUTLER RETURN
- Charlotte Hornets (10-28) def. Chicago Bulls (18-24), 136-123: With their other sibling LiAngelo Ball watching from the sidelines, LaMelo and Lonzo faced off for the first time since 2021. But it was the Hornets who came out on top over the Bulls.
- Boston Celtics (34-6) def. Orlando Magic (23-20), 121-94: Jayson Tatum scored 30 points and the hot-shooting Celtics drained 17 threes in a 27-point demolition of the Magic.
- Denver Nuggets (25-16) def. Miami Heat (20-20), 133-113: Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray joined forces in adding woes to the Heat, who welcomed back Jimmy Butler after a seven-game suspension.
[ALSO READ: Back at full-strength, Nuggets assert mastery over Heat despite Jimmy Butler’s return]
- New Orleans Pelicans (11-32) def. Utah Jazz (10-30), 136-123: For the first time this season, the Pelicans won three straight games after battling past the Jazz in a battle between the West’s cellar-dwelling teams.
- Milwaukee Bucks (23-17) def. Toronto Raptors (10-32), 130-112: The streaking Bucks now enter the East top four after grounding the Raptors for a third straight victory.
- God-Mode Greek Freak: Giannis Antetokounmpo muscled his way to a dominating 35-point,13-rebound outing for his 13th straight double-double, as Milwaukee improved to 6-1 in its last seven games.
ANT DAZZLES IN MSG AS ALDAMA, REAVES SET CAREER-HIGHS
- Minnesota Timberwolves (22-19) def. New York Knicks (27-16), 116-99: Julius Randle made a triumphant return to MSG as the Timberwolves pounced on the Karl-Anthony Towns-less Knicks.
- Take a Bow, Ant: Anthony Edwards puts on a show in first visit this season in the Big Apple, firing 36 points on top of 13 rebounds and eight threes in yet another scintillating outing.
- Memphis Grizzlies (27-15) def. San Antonio Spurs (19-21), 140-112: Santi Aldama’s career-game combined with Desmond Bane’s playmaking prowess propelled the Grizzlies for a second in the last three days over the Spurs.
[ALSO READ: Santi Aldama goes for career game in rousing Grizzlies repeat win over Spurs]
- LA Lakers (22-17) def. Brooklyn Nets (14-28), 102-101: Austin Reaves went off for a career-high 38 points in helping the Lakers spoil D’Angelo Russel’s LA homecoming.
- Dallas Mavericks (23-19) def. OKC Thunder (34-7), 106-98: The Mavericks became the first team this season to beat OKC multiple times, snapping the SGA-less Thunder’s five-game missing run.