With a whopping 11 games on Tuesday's schedule, this was one of the busiest nights of the NBA season. And with how closely contested the playoff races are in each conference, there was plenty on the line with 22 of the league's 30 teams take the floor.
The Nets were officially eliminated from playoff contention after their loss to the Raptors and the Timberwolves got a huge win to keep themselves in the tight playoff race out west. Karl-Anthony Towns had an incredible game with 37 points. Meanwhile, the Nuggets did some serious damage to their playoff hopes with a loss to the Lakers. Denver sits in 10th place and Los Angeles finally got some revenge for all the trash talk with Jamal Murray.
Scores for Tuesday, March 13
All times Eastern
- Indiana Pacers 101, Philadelphia 76ers 98 (box score)
- Minnesota Timberwolves 116, Washington Wizards 111 (box score)
- Dallas Mavericks 110, New York Knicks 97 (box score)
- Oklahoma City Thunder 119, Atlanta Hawks 107 (box score)
- Toronto Raptors 116, Brooklyn Nets 102 (box score)
- L.A. Clippers 112, Chicago Bulls 106 (box score)
- New Orleans Pelicans 119, Charlotte Hornets 115 (box score)
- San Antonio Spurs 108, Orlando Magic 72 (box score)
- Utah Jazz 110, Detroit Pistons 79 (box score)
- Cleveland Cavaliers 129, Phoenix Suns 107 (box score)
- Los Angeles Lakers 112, Denver Nuggets 103 (box score)
Towns and the Wolves knock off the Wizards
The Wizards and Timberwolves play in different conferences, but this game still had big playoff implications. Each team is locked in a closely contested fight for playoff seeding. In the end, it was the Wolves who came out on top. A big part of this was the play of Karl-Anthony Towns. He scored 37 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.
The @Timberwolves use a big 4th quarter to come back and beat the @WashWizards 116-111 in DC!
— NBA (@NBA) March 14, 2018
KAT led the way with a season-high 37 PTS, 10 REB, 3-3 from distance.#AllEyesNorth pic.twitter.com/g94jTLPDuF
The play that stole the game for the Wolves however came from Jeff Teague. He picked the Wizards' pocket and sealed it.
.@jeffteague comes away with the HUGE steal to seal the win for the @Timberwolves! pic.twitter.com/rSrjlPQEfN
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 14, 2018
LeBron brings out the windmill
LeBron James did some mean stuff to Phoenix on Tuesday. Perhaps none of it was as mean as this windmill dunk.
LeBron James TAKES FLIGHT! ✈️🔄🔨#AllForOne pic.twitter.com/6qjhDQUMmj
— NBA (@NBA) March 14, 2018
Westbrook reaches 100 career triple-doubles
Russell Westbrook averaged a triple-double last season. He isn't going to do that by the end of this one, but he did reach the milestone of 100 career triple-doubles. He did so with 32 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds against the Hawks.
🔥 There it is
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) March 14, 2018
32p/12a/10r
Russ’ 100th career triple-double. #WhyNot? pic.twitter.com/QhkqYTMVqR
Thomas puts Jokic on skates
Isaiah Thomas had a big finish to the Lakers victory over the Nuggets and that included a nasty crossover against Nikola Jokic.
IT TIME! 😳⌚️#LakeShow pic.twitter.com/AFXALXon1b
— NBA (@NBA) March 14, 2018
Smith Jr. brings out the windmill
Dennis Smith Jr. brought out a windmill dunk on a fast break. Insane athleticism like this is why he was in the All-Star slam dunk contest.
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) March 14, 2018
Ball chases down the Nuggets
Lonzo Ball fed off the energy inside the Lakers' arena for an incredible chase-down block.
.@ZO2_ with the BIG rejection! 🚫 pic.twitter.com/Zj0vsWT8Rc
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 14, 2018
LeBron makes an insane pass
LeBron James attempts and sees passes that no other passer would dare try. This ball he slung to Kyle Korver is a good example of that.
LeBron whips it across for Korver's 3rd trey!#AllForOne pic.twitter.com/FhCdNjAKCx
— NBA (@NBA) March 14, 2018
Smith benched
J.R. Smith has been moved to the bench for the Cavaliers. He's taking it in stride, but doesn't seem happy about the lack of communication in the process of it.
"We didn't talk," JR Smith told ESPN of his benching. "(Tyronn Lue) sent me a text (Monday) and I told him, 'No problem.' I didn't know that it was a 'talk.' ... I'm not upset about it. I just wish there would have been more dialogue, I guess."
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 14, 2018
Nets' Russell goes nuts in the first quarter
D'Angelo Russell had an amazing shooting performance in the first quarter against the Raptors. He made seven 3-pointers and scored 24 points before going to the bench. He finished with 32 in a 14-point loss.
😱 7-8 from 3, 24 points in the 1st Q 😱
— NBA (@NBA) March 14, 2018
D'Angelo is going ATOMIC right now! #WeGoHard pic.twitter.com/AHGGPySFhe
Embiid Euro steps to the rim
Joel Embiid showed off his incredible footwork on this Euro step to the rim. He had everybody fooled on this one.
😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/k7II1Evibw
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 14, 2018
Aldridge returns to lineup
LaMarcus Aldridge was back in the Spurs' lineup Tuesday after sitting out Monday's loss to Houston, and scored 24 points on 11-of-17 shooting in 26 minutes. He played 26 minutes in his initial return Saturday.
LaMarcus Aldridge (knee) will return to the lineup tonight against Orlando. After playing 26 minutes in his return this past Saturday, sat out on Sunday. He is not listed on the injury report. Rudy Gay will be moved back to the bench. #puremagic #nba #spurs
— Preston Ellis (@PrestonEllis) March 13, 2018
Randle brings the hammer
Julius Randle threw down a monstrous dunk despite having two Nuggets defenders in the paint. Great play by him.
.@J30_RANDLE comin' through! 😤 pic.twitter.com/9iJ5G9WcaX
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 14, 2018
Hornets forget about Davis
Somehow the Hornets forgot to put a man on Anthony Davis and that just gave him a wide open lane to throw down a dunk.
And that ladies and gentleman is what you call a SLAM DUNK! #DoItBig pic.twitter.com/BX5aF6nfMa
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 14, 2018
Collins throws down powerful putback
John Collins has two goals in life: to rebound the basketball and dunk the basketball. He did both of those things in this powerful slam.
Cleanup on #Aisle20 🛒 pic.twitter.com/C3GbHQFU83
— FOX Sports: Hawks (@HawksOnFSSE) March 13, 2018
Oubre Jr. throws one down
Kelly Oubre Jr. had an open lane to the rim and he turned that into a highlight smash dunk.
LOOK OUT BELOW.
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) March 13, 2018
K.O. 💪#WizWolves pic.twitter.com/XPQIvQv69g
Embiid and Simmons run two-man game
Joel Embiid was on the perimeter and saw an open path to the rim. He took it and Ben Simmons made sure to find him for the dunk.
6'10" Simmons in the post and 7'0" Embiid on the perimeter, because why not? pic.twitter.com/7zwT6ODr5r
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 13, 2018
Grant throws down a thunderous dunk
Jerami Grant got way up there and threw down an incredible dunk. Look at how far back he extends.
Just another casual @JeramiGrant dunk... 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Hi1nLgGtVJ
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) March 14, 2018
Walker finds Howard on the lob
Kemba Walker drew in the entire defense on this pick-and-roll, creating a wide-open lane for Dwight Howard to slam home an alley-oop.
KEMBA ➕ DWIGHT 👉🏼 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Yf7rl24vF4
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) March 14, 2018
And-ones:
- Kawhi Leonard (quad) will reportedly not make his return to the Spurs lineup Thursday night, after all.
- The Celtics are reportedly unsure whether Marcus Smart (thumb) will play again this season.
- Aaron Gordon (concussion) will not be available for the Magic on Tuesday night vs. the Spurs.
- Kyrie Irving (knee) and Jaylen Brown (concussion) will both sit out Wednesday.
- Al Horford is questionable for Wednesday due to illness.
- Jarrett Allen is out for Tuesday's game with a sore left foot.
- Dante Exum (shoulder) has been recalled from the G-League and could return from rehab in the near future.
- Cody Zeller is out Tuesday with knee soreness.
- Isaiah Taylor (ankle) will play Tuesday for the Hawks.
- Avery Bradley will reportedly miss the rest of the regular season after surgery to his adductor.