A loaded 11-game NBA Thursday also featured the Houston Rockets guaranteeing at least a play-in spot, the LA Lakers rising to no. 3, and the Phoenix Suns entering the West Play-in picture.
Cade Cunningham called game in Miami, while the OKC Thunder are back on the NBA summit and the Houston Rockets stayed humming. | Photos: Thunder, Pistons, Rockets
The Oklahoma City Thunder are now in sole possession of the best overall record in the NBA on the same night the Houston Rockets assured themselves at least a play-in spot, the LA Lakers climbed back to the third spot, and the Phoenix Suns joining the West-Play party.
CLUTCH CADE CUNNINGHAM STRIKES; THUNDER NOW OWN BEST OVERALL RECORD
- Detroit Pistons (39-31) def. Miami Heat (29-40), 116-13: Cade Cunningham drilled the buzzer-beating triple off the glass in a pulsating Pistons road escape over the Heat, who absorbed a ninth straight loss.
- Cade 🤝 Luka Magic 🤝 Big O: Cunningham tallied 25 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists for his ninth triple-double of the season, becoming just the third player after Oscar Robertson and Luka Doncic to tally at least 4,300 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 1,400 assists through their first 200 career games.
- OKC Thunder (57-12) def. Philadelphia 76ers (23-46), 133-100: No Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, no problem for West no. 1 Thunder dominated the 76ers to snatch the best overall record from the Cavaliers side--who lost a close one in Sacramento.
[ALSO READ: SGA-less Thunder deliver 33-point beating to Sixers, wrest NBA-best overall record]
- San Antonio Spurs (29-39) def. New York Knicks (43-25), 120-105: Sandro Mamukelashvili dropped a career-high 34 points, including near-perfect 13-of-14 shooting from the field on top of seven threes in just 19 minutes, to fuel the Spurs’ most impressive win so far without injured star Victor Wembanyama. He did so in just under 20 minutes of play.
- Utah Jazz (16-54) def. Washington Wizards (15-53), 128-112: In a battle between the East and West’s bottom teams, the Jazz finally broke free from a 10-game losing skid after foiling the Wizards.
- New Orleans Pelicans (19-51) def. Minnesota Timberwolves (32-38), 119-115: Zion William went to work with 28 points to help the Pelicans snap out of a three-game skid in a rare road dub over the Timberwolves.
ROCKETS CLINCH AT LEAST PLAY-IN SPOT; SUNS ENTER WEST PLAY-IN PICTURE
- Houston Rockets (45-25) def. Orlando Magic (32-38), 116-108: Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun combined for 48 points, helping the Rockets claimed at least a play-in spot behind a season-best eight-game winning streak.
- Phoenix Suns (33-37) def. Chicago Bulls (29-40), 127-121: Devin Booker exploded for 41 points — his fourth 40-point game of the season — and the Suns beat the Bulls to enter the West Play-in territory.
- LA Lakers (43-25) def. Denver Nuggets (44-26), 120-108: Thanks to Luka Doncic's hot start, the Lakers regained the West no. 3 spot behind a ninth-straight home victory at the Nuggets’ expense.
[ALSO READ: Luka Doncic’s hot start fuels Lakers past depleted Nuggets to reclaim West no. 3]
- Indiana Pacers (39-29) def. Dallas Mavericks (33-37), 135-131: Andrew Nembhard hit the go-ahead triple with under 14 seconds left as the Pacers came through in clutch anew to occupy solo fourth in the East.
- Sacramento Kings (33-37) def. Chicago Bulls (29-40), 123-119: The Kings leaned on the clutch plays from DeMar DeRozan and Malik Monk to hand the Cavaliers their first three-game losing skid since January.
- Portland Trail Blazers (31-39) def. Memphis Grizzlies (43-27), 115-99: Deni Avdija punched through a strong 31-point, 16-rebound double-double that led to a third successive Trail Blazers victory.