NBA scores, highlights: Lakers win in LeBron's Cleveland return; Struggling Warriors lose fourth straight
There were a whopping 13 games on Wednesday night
It was an eventful NBA night right before Thanksgiving as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in LeBron James' return to Cleveland while the Golden State Warriors lost their fourth straight game as they were blown out by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
For the first time in the Steve Kerr era, the Warriors have lost four straight games.
Meanwhile, James Harden scored 43 points in the Houston Rockets' close win over the Detroit Pistons while the Western Conference-leading Memphis Grizzlies held off the San Antonio Spurs in controversial fashion.
Here's everything you need to know about Wednesday's NBA action.
NBA Scores for Wednesday, Nov. 21
- Philadelphia 76ers 121, New Orleans Pelicans 120 (Box Score)
- Charlotte Hornets 127, Indiana Pacers 109 (Box Score)
- New York Knicks 117, Boston Celtics 109 (Box Score)
- Toronto Raptors 124, Atlanta Hawks 108 (Box Score)
- Milwaukee Bucks 143, Portland Trail Blazers 100 (Box Score)
- Denver Nuggets 103, Minnesota Timberwolves 101 (Box Score)
- Houston Rockets 126, Detroit Pistons 124 (Box Score)
- Los Angeles Lakers 109, Cleveland Cavaliers 105 (Box Score)
- Chicago Bulls 124, Phoenix Suns 116 (Box Score)
- Dallas Mavericks 119, Brooklyn Nets 113 (Box Score)
- Memphis Grizzlies 104, San Antonio Spurs 103 (Box Score)
- Sacramento Kings 119, Utah Jazz 110 (Box Score)
- Oklahoma City Thunder 123, Golden State Warriors 95 (Box Score)
NBA schedule for Thursday, Nov. 22
*No games scheduled
LeBron leads comeback win in return to Cleveland
Capped by a 16-3 run late in the fourth quarter, the Lakers came back to defeat the Cavs in LeBron's return to Cleveland.
The King👑leads his squad to victory in his return to Cleveland! 😎
— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 22, 2018
📊: 32 PTS | 7 AST | 14 REB pic.twitter.com/41vSTL8vuh
Harden scores 43 points versus Pistons
Check out Harden's 43-point night as the Rockets outlasted the Pistons.
The Beard went off tonight. 🔥
— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 22, 2018
📊: 43 PTS | 9 AST | 7 REB | 4 STL#Rockets pic.twitter.com/4HucRu6OZb
Giannis dominates while Bucks score 143 points
Giannis Antetokounmpo made another strong case for MVP with this performance as the Bucks knocked off the Blazers.
Giannis dominated the paint as the @Bucks dominated the Trail Blazers, 143-100! 😳
— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 22, 2018
📊: 33 PTS | 16 REB | 9 AST#FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/Vr5BgWVqiZ
Kawhi leads NBA-best Raptors to a win over Hawks
Watch as Kawhi Leonard leads the Raptors to their league-high 15th win of the season.
.@Klow7 played well (21 PTS, 12 REB, 17 AST) in the Raptors' win tonight over the Hawks! 👀#WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/DLcOnqweFK
— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 22, 2018
Warriors suffer fourth straight loss in blowout defeat to Thunder
For the first time since Kerr became head coach in 2014-15, Golden State has lost four straight games following their defeat to the Thunder. They're now 2-5 without Stephen Curry and have upcoming games against the 12-6 Trail Blazers on Friday and Kings on Saturday. Both games will be played without Curry.
Russell Westbrook posted his 105th career triple-double and first of the season as he notched 11 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds in the Thunder victory. Dennis Schroder posted 32 points and a career-high five treys.
It is the first time since 2013 that the Warriors have lost four straight games after going 450 straight contests without losing that many in a row.
Don't jump with @Yg_Trece! 💪#ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/o4AIibRVmu
— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 22, 2018
Diallo suffers nasty leg injury on fall
Just days after Caris Levert suffered his gruesome ankle injury and a year after Gordon Hayward broke his leg in a nasty sight, the Thunder's Hamidou Diallo has suffered his own bad leg injury. WARNING: Video is a bit graphic.
Hamidou Diallo was stretchered off the court tonight after taking a hard fall that saw his leg get caught under him on the way down.... prayers out to the OKC Thunder rookie 🙏 pic.twitter.com/8ld3rPu8dH
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) November 22, 2018
LeBron slams one on fastbreak
As the Lakers looked to make a late run in the fourth quarter versus the Cavaliers, LeBron slammed one home to bring the Quicken Loans Arena to its feet.
KCP & LBJ turn defense into offense for the @Lakers!#LakeShow 91#BeTheFight 96
— NBA (@NBA) November 22, 2018
Midway through Q4 on ESPN pic.twitter.com/iNUqW36S7m
Carter dunks it for 25K career points versus former team
Vince Carter officially reached 25,000 career points -- against his former team. As the Hawks concluded their game versus the Raptors on Wednesday night, the future Hall of Famer reached 25K points with this slam dunk.
"Vince DUNKS IT... FOR 25,000!"
— NBA (@NBA) November 22, 2018
With the slam, Vince Carter is the 22nd player in @NBAHistory to surpass 25,000 career points!#TrueToAtlanta #ThisIsWhyWePlay pic.twitter.com/J4ljvBwa4O
Lonzo throws down biggest dunk of the season
We don't see this enough out of Lonzo Ball, but we should probably see it more often. Check out this slam dunk by the second-year point guard as he takes it to the rack.
Lonzo Ball PUNCHES it home! 👀🔨#LakeShow 53#BeTheFight 58
— NBA (@NBA) November 22, 2018
WATCH on ESPN pic.twitter.com/VpCM87TOLG
Smith dunks over Allen
Dennis Smith Jr. may be 6-foot-3 and Jarrett Allen may be 6-foot-10, but it didn't seem to matter on this play. Check out this slam dunk posterizer by the Mavericks guard.
.@Dennis1SmithJr has some major HOPS! 😱💥#MFFL pic.twitter.com/Kxl3yduneU
— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 22, 2018
LeBron hits long-range 3
LeBron is hitting on just under 40 percent of his three-point attempts this season and just under 50 percent of his three-point attempts in the month of November? How is he able to do this? With shots like this.
LBJ showing off the jump-shot and the vision!
— NBA (@NBA) November 22, 2018
He's up to 11 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST on ESPN#LakeShow 35#BeTheFight 37 pic.twitter.com/ra8zjvRKLQ
Griffin slams it over Capela
Clint Capela is supposed to be one of the best shot-blockers in all of the NBA, but he sure had no chance on this slam dunk by the Pistons' Blake Griffin.
"There's some elevation for you"
— FOX Sports Detroit (@FOXSportsDet) November 22, 2018
👀#DetroitBasketball pic.twitter.com/Zaw2zNHvgE
Vonleh abuses Smart on block
Noah Vonleh is one athletic guy, but he just completely embarrassed Marcus Smart on one sequence. Not only did Vonleh block Smart's layup attempt, he made the guard fall down hard.
.@NoahVonleh: the Demon of Defense 😈 pic.twitter.com/PH8BBPQUNI
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) November 22, 2018
Lonzo hooks up Kuzma for easy dunk
The story of the Lakers' matchup versus the Cavaliers may have been LeBron's return, but it was Lonzo's pass that led directly to Kyle Kuzma's dunk that highlighted the beginning of the game.
Lonzo and Kuzma get it done in the two-man game!#LakeShow 17#BeTheFight 16
— NBA (@NBA) November 22, 2018
5:15 left in the 1st on ESPN pic.twitter.com/2lfPOtgEKI
LeBron receives massive ovation from Cleveland
It's safe to say that Cavalier fans miss LeBron. As the four-time MVP was introduced in Cleveland, the Quicken Loans Arena gave massive support to their former franchise player and hometown son.
LeBron James receives a warm welcoming back in Cleveland!
— NBA (@NBA) November 22, 2018
WATCH the action on ESPN pic.twitter.com/qUV7x0BNmF
LeBron returns to Cleveland ... again
LeBron James' first trip back to Cleveland after he left for the Heat back in 2010 was an absolutely vicious environment. This time around though, when he returns for his first trip as a member of the Lakers, things shouldn't be quite as nasty. Still, it will be an interesting atmosphere when he leads the Lakers against his former squad.
Blazers battle Bucks in meeting of top teams
Fresh off yet another win on Tuesday night, the Western Conference-leading Trail Blazers will travel to Milwaukee for a matchup with the second-place team in the East, the Bucks. It should be a fascinating game, as both teams are among the top 10 in the league in both offensive and defensive efficiency, and there will be all sorts of star power in the court, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.
















