Welcome to another night of NBA basketball. We had seven games on the docket, and all sorts of thrilling action. Two lengthy winning streaks were snapped, both games of the national TV doubleheader went down to the wire, and there were plenty of high-level individual performances.
Check out all the action below.
NBA scores for Tuesday, March 20
- Raptors 93, Magic 86 (Box Score)
- Pelicans 115, Mavericks 105 (GameTracker)
- Timberwolves 123, Clippers 109 (GameTracker)
- Celtics 100, Rockets 99 (Box Score)
- Hawks 99, Jazz 94 (Box Score)
- Pistons 115, Suns 88 (Box Score)
- Rockets 115, Trail Blazers 111 (Box Score)
Harden drops 42, Rockets end Blazers' streak
Two of the Western Conference's best teams met on Tuesday night in a national TV showdown, and James Harden stole the show. The MVP candidate put on MVP performance, dropping 42 points, six rebounds and seven assists to push the Rockets to a 115-111 victory. The big win for Houston extended its lead atop the Western Conference standings, and also snapped the Blazers' winning streak at 13 games.
🚀#Rockets take it in Portland for their 6th straight win!🚀@HoustonRockets end the @trailblazers long win streak, defeating them 115-111.
— NBA (@NBA) March 21, 2018
Harden: 42 PTS, 7 AST, 6 REB, 5 3PM
Chris Paul: 22 PTS, 8 REB, 6 AST, 5 3PM
Aminu: 22 PTS, 8 REB, 4 AST pic.twitter.com/BuamwRbiCi
Morris hits game-winner for Celtics
The shorthanded Celtics shocked the Thunder on Tuesday night, courtesy of a game-winning 3-pointer from Marcus Morris in the closing seconds. They were also helped by the Thunder missing three of four free throws in the two possessions before Morris hit his shot. Morris finished with 21 points in the game.
The Marcus Morris game winning triple! 🎯🎯🎯#Celtics pic.twitter.com/xATCOD5agw
— NBA (@NBA) March 21, 2018
The @Celtics come from behind late to defeat the @okcthunder in a wild finish in Boston! pic.twitter.com/vRdFzo66nK
— NBA (@NBA) March 21, 2018
Timberwolves get big win over Clips
Karl-Anthony Towns dropped 30 points and 10 rebounds, Andrew Wiggins went for 27, and Jeff Teague and Jamal Crawford each added 20 points. The win was a vital one for the Wolves, who occupy eighth place and are currently fighting for their playoff lives in the crowded Western Conference.
Davis and Rondo lead Pels to crucial win
Anthony Davis put the Pelicans on his back yet again, finishing with 37 points and eight rebounds, while Rajon Rondo stepped up to add 19 points, 14 assists and nine rebounds as the Pels took down the Mavs. The Pels are currently in a tie for fifth place in the West, but are now just one game back of the Thunder for fourth.
Anthony Davis and Rajon Rondo help the @PelicansNBA keep pace in the West, defeating the @dallasmavs 115-105! #DoItBig
— NBA (@NBA) March 21, 2018
AD: 37 PTS, 8 REB
Rajon: 19 PTS, 14 AST, 9 REB
Dirk: 19 PTS pic.twitter.com/jG81PKJfNw
Schroder's career night snaps Utah's winning streak
The Utah Jazz had won nine consecutive games going into Tuesday night's matchup with the lowly Hawks. And now, thanks to a career-high 41 points form Dennis Schroder, that winning streak is over. Schroder had 17 of his 41 in the fourth quarter, as the Hawks won, 99-94.
The @ATLHawks go into Utah and end the @utahjazz win streak behind a career high 41 PTS (17 in the 4th) for Dennis Schroder!
— NBA (@NBA) March 21, 2018
ATL: 99 | UTA: 94
Dedmon: 15 PTS, 15 REB
Gobert: 15 PTS, 16 REB
Mitchell: 24 PTS, 6 REB#TrueToAtlanta pic.twitter.com/Ws9VTqtZ1Y
Gordon goes 360
Aaron Gordon has thrown down plenty of incredible dunks in his career, and he added another one to the highlight reel Tuesday, going 360 on the Raptors.
Air Gordon! 🌪️#PureMagic pic.twitter.com/saBC3SQk1l
— NBA (@NBA) March 20, 2018
Capela hammers it home
The Rockets big man gets a lot of dunks courtesy of his backcourt, and he usually throws them down with authority. This effort against the Trail Blazers was no different.
Clint Capela with authority! 🔨#Rockets pic.twitter.com/l1JMq4SRvN
— NBA (@NBA) March 21, 2018
Tatum throws it down, then does it again
Jayson Tatum got past the defense and rose up for an emphatic slam in the first quarter vs. the Thunder.
.@jaytatum0 takes Russ off the dribble and slams it home! 👀 pic.twitter.com/JrAXAUBsNU
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) March 21, 2018
And apparently he had so much fun with the first dunk, that he decided to throw down another one in the second quarter.
Another one for the rook! 💪#Celtics #NBARooks
— NBA (@NBA) March 21, 2018
📺: @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/zJprIxxAef
Griffin says no
Blake Griffin usually makes highlight plays on the offensive end, but against the Suns, he did so on defense, chasing down Josh Jackson for a huge block.
Blake Griffin chases down the play!#DetroitBasketball pic.twitter.com/AtvKR9Nd8Q
— NBA (@NBA) March 21, 2018
Rondo to AD for the oop
Rajon Rondo is one of the best passers in the league, and he showed it off on this connection with Anthony Davis.
Eye contact, spin, JAM!
— NBA (@NBA) March 21, 2018
Rondo ➡️ AD #DoItBig pic.twitter.com/6RCv08ppw1
Boban barely jumps, but gets block then dunk anyway
Boban Marjanovic is so tall he barely even needs to leave his feet to get the job done on both ends of the floor. First, he got the rejection, then he slammed one home on the other end.
Boban on both ends! #ItTakesEverything pic.twitter.com/WDz3q8Zy3Z
— NBA (@NBA) March 21, 2018
McGrady inducted into Magic Hall of Fame
Tracy McGrady is one of the greatest players in Magic history, and was rewarded Tuesday with an induction into the team's Hall of Fame. So here's a brief highlight reel of some of his best moments.
Congrats to Tracy McGrady as he receives induction into the @OrlandoMagic Hall of Fame! #PureMagic pic.twitter.com/XeXCuYo3ss
— NBA (@NBA) March 20, 2018
And-ones:
- Kyrie Irving will travel to get a second opinion on his ailing left knee.
- The Pistons are reportedly interested in hiring Chauncey Billups for a front-office role.
- DeMar DeRozan (left thigh contusion) is out against the Magic.