The Bucks are back as the best team in the NBA after the Celtics lost to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Monday night.
The Knicks did a great job of frustrating the Celtics all evening as they came out with a 109-94 victory, their sixth straight win to improve to a 36-27 record, good for fifth in the tight Eastern Conference.
Elsewhere, several other Eastern Conference teams also got wins, as the Heat and Magic won on the road, while the Hornets got their second consecutive victory at home.
Monday’s schedule was lean since we only had four games, but SBOTOP basketball fans were still treated to a lot of NBA 2023 highlights.
So, without further ado, continue to read below as we recap the latest from the Association.
Knicks win their sixth straight
The Knicks were coming off five straight wins, and they came out hot against their Atlantic Division rivals, the Celtics. The hosts grabbed an early 27-15 lead, seized full control in the second quarter, and never trailed, maintaining a double-digit lead the entire game.
The Knicks’ defence keyed in on Jayson Tatum, and it worked, especially since the Celtics were without Jaylen Brown, who was unavailable for personal reasons.
Tatum only had 14 points on 6-for-18 shooting from the field. He also went 1-for-9 from three-point land, although he managed to grab seven rebounds and nine assists.
The 2023 All-Star Game MVP was ejected in the fourth quarter when he picked up his second technical foul after his final three-point miss in the fourth, gesturing at halfcourt believing he was fouled by Julius Randle.
While the Celtics couldn’t get much going on offence, the opposite can be said for the Knicks as their stars came to play. Julius Randle and Immanuel Quickley had 23 points apiece, while Jalen Brunson dropped 17.
But Boston won’t have to wait long for a chance at revenge, as they’ll host New York on Sunday.
Heat end their skid against the Sixers
Jimmy Butler came up clutch for the Heat to finally end their four-game losing streak, leading them to a 101-99 win over the Sixers.
The six-time All-Star led the way with 23 points, and he almost had a triple-double with 11 boards and nine dimes. He was also a menace on the defencive end, as he had four steals.
The Heat were about to run away with the victory in the middle of the fourth quarter, but the Sixers mounted a comeback and even took the lead via James Harden’s free throws.
With 1:28 to play, Jimmy Butler restored order for the Heat by finishing an acrobatic layup to give them a 100-99 lead. And then he added a free throw with 8.1 seconds left. James Harden had a chance to win the game for Philadelphia, but he missed his three-point attempt.
Besides Butler, Gabe Vincent, Bam Adebayo, Max Strus, and Victor Oladipo also scored in double digits for Miami with 14, 13, 13, and 11, respectively.
As for the Sixers, Joel Embiid and James Harden combined for 47 points in the losing effort.
Hornets are rolling, but lose their star
The Hornets are surprisingly on a five-game winning streak following their 117-106 win over the Pistons.
Charlotte came out with a huge lead in the first period, but the Pistons fought back in the second half.
After a Killian Hayes layup cut the Hornets’ lead to five points, Terry Rozier and Kelly Oubre Jr. knocked down big shots from the perimeter to push the lead back to double digits.
But the bigger story for the Hornets is the loss of LaMelo Ball, who exited the third period due to a fractured ankle. Ball finished with 18 points on 6-for-7 shooting from three-point range.
With the Hornets no longer in playoff contention, they aren’t expected to rush Ball back. Even with their winning streak, the NBA 2023 odds have Charlotte as a lottery team once again.
Magic sweep season series against Pelicans
Rookie of the Year favourite Paolo Banchero led all scorers with 29 points, as the Magic defeated the Pelicans 101-93.
With the game tied at 91 with four minutes to go, Banchero hit three crucial mid-range jumpers to give the Magic the lead for good, while their defence in the ensuing possessions essentially sealed the deal.
Brandon Ingram had 25 points, six rebounds, and five assists for the Pelicans, who have fallen to the 10th spot in the Western Conference as they’ve struggled ever since Zion Williamson went down with an injury.
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