Box Score Breakdown for Tuesday, March 19, 2019
76ers make late push to hold off hometown Hornets
The contest came down to the wire, with the Hornets' Nicolas Batum missing a tip-in with approximately one second remaining and Tobias Harris drained a pair of subsequent free throws for the 76ers win. Philadelphia shot 50.0 percent and the two teams combined for just 16 turnovers.
Ben Simmons' 28 points, which he partly supplemented with eight rebounds, led the 76ers. J.J. Redick followed with a 27-point, 10-rebound double-double that also included eight assists. Jimmy Butler's line included 23 points and nine assists. Tobias Harris generated a 22-point, 11-rebound double-double. James Ennis III mustered 14 points.
Jeremy Lamb's 26-point, 11-rebound double-double paced the Hornets. Kemba Walker turned in 21 points and four rebounds. Frank Kaminsky totaled 14 points, while Dwayne Bacon managed 13. Batum supplied nine points and four rebounds. Miles Bridges furnished 10 boards.
At this point, 31 points and 10 assists may seem like a pedestrian night for James Harden. However, with his 30th point on Tuesday, the reigning MVP made history. Harden became the first player since Michael Jordan in 1987 to score 30 or more points against every NBA opponent in a single season. His historic night came on 8-of-18 shooting from the field and 11-of-12 shooting from the free-throw line. Behind Harden's team-high scoring effort, the Rockets delivered an efficient night. The team finished shooting over 51 percent from the floor and hit 19 three-pointers in the win.
For Atlanta, rookie point guard Trae Young continued his recent tear. Young led his team with 21 points and 12 assists. It was the fourth straight game in which Young scored 20 or more. Sophomore big man John Collins also delivered a gem, scoring 20 points to go with 10 rebounds.
The Lakers whittled down an early deficit to three by halftime. The Bucks added 15 points to the lead in the third before cruising to victory during a low-scoring fourth. The visitors shot 38.4 percent while committing 19 turnovers.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's 35 points led the Lakers. Kyle Kuzma's line totaled 17 points. Rajon Rondo and Reggie Bullock pitched in matching 13-point tallies, with Rondo also dishing out 10 assists and pulling down six rebounds. JaVale McGee mustered six points but hauled in 11 boards.
Khris Middleton's 30 points, which he partly supplemented with 10 rebounds, led the Bucks. Brook Lopez tallied 28 points, nine rebounds, four blocks and three steals. Nikola Mirotic registered 23 points and six rebounds. Eric Bledsoe managed 14 points, eight boards and seven assists. Patrick Connaughton's contributions included 13 points and eight rebounds.
The "Splash Brothers" had a big night in Minnesota on Tuesday, combining for 64 points and 12 three-pointers. Steph Curry led all scorers with 36 points, 22 of which came in the third quarter. Overall, it was an efficient night for the Warriors, as they knocked down 19 three-pointers and shot over 48 percent from the field. Golden State was effective despite the absence of star center DeMarcus Cousins, who was sidelined by an ankle injury.
For the Timberwolves, Karl-Anthony Towns delivered a massive double-double. Towns finished with 26 points and 21 rebounds, both team highs. All five Minnesota starters scored in double figures, including Andrew Wiggins, who tallied 20 points and six assists. Still, the Timberwolves could only muster 40.4 percent shooting from the floor in Tuesday's loss.
This marked the biggest comeback by any team all season, as Brooklyn overcame a 25-point fourth quarter deficit. In fact, they outscored the Kings, 45-18, in the fourth quarter and took their only second-half lead with less than a second remaining. The Kings ended up going 0-of-15 outside of the key in the fourth quarter while the Nets connected on 7-of-10 from three-point range.
D'Angelo Russell scored a career-high 44 points, to go along with four rebounds, 12 assists and four steals. Jarrett Allen totaled 13 points and seven rebounds. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson hit the game-winning lay-up and finished with 14 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Marvin Bagley III was spectacular for the Kings, as he led the bench with 28 points and seven rebounds on 12-of-15 shooting. De'Aaron Fox led the starters with 27 points, four rebounds and nine assists. Harrison Barnes amassed 17 points and seven boards.
A 25-16 first quarter really set the tone in this game, as Los Angeles held the lead for the final three quarters. Taking care of the ball was the difference in the game, with the Clippers winning the turnover differential, 20-13, That allowed Los Angeles to win the points off turnover differential, 22-9 and the fastbreak scoring battle, 19-6.
Bojan Bogdanovic led the Pacers with 19 points, five rebounds and two assists. Myles Turner accumulated 11 points, five rebounds and five blocks. Tyreke Evans led their bench with 19 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Domantas Sabonis provided 13 points, 16 rebounds and six assists off the bench as well.
Danilo Gallinari led the Clippers with 24 points and three assists. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander accrued 17 points, three rebounds and three assists. Montrezl Harrell led the bench with 20 points and 12 boards while Lou Williams totaled 11 points and nine assists.