The march through the 2018-19 NBA regular season continued on Thursday night as a pair of nationally televised games between likely playoff teams highlighted the league's four-game schedule.
The Portland Trail Blazers got things started on Thursday night with a 128-114 win over the Orlando Magic. Damian Lillard set a franchise record with 34 points in the second half after scoring just seven points in the first half.
While that was one major storyline, the Oklahoma City Thunder's collapse versus the Boston Celtics was a whole other story. The Celtics overcame a 24-point halftime deficit and went on a 16-1 scoring run to keep the Thunder winless at 0-4. Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons remain undefeated as they convincingly defeated the winless Cleveland Cavaliers. Andre Drummond had a game to remember as he scored 26 points and grabbed 22 rebounds.
And to top it all off, the Los Angeles Lakers ended the Denver Nuggets' undefeated start to the season, going on a 19-4 run in the fourth quarter to get the home win at Staples Center.
Here's everything you need to know about what went down during Thursday night's four-game slate.
NBA scores for Thursday, Oct. 25
- Detroit Pistons 110, Cleveland Cavaliers 103 (Box Score)
- Portland Trail Blazers 128, Orlando Magic 114 (Box Score)
- Boston Celtics 101, Oklahoma City Thunder 95 (Box Score)
- Los Angeles Lakers 121, Denver Nuggets 114 (Box Score)
LeBron, Lakers hand Nuggets first loss
The Los Angeles Lakers ended the Denver Nuggets' undefeated start to their season, handing them a 121-114 loss on Thursday night. LeBron James posted the 74th triple-double of his career and his first as a Laker with a stat line of 28 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. Kyle Kuzma aided in the effort with a 22-point performance as the Lakers went on a 19-4 run in the fourth quarter, which proved to be the difference in the game.
Kuz slams it home on a breakaway!#LakeShow (📺: @SpectrumSN & TNT) pic.twitter.com/7wfhQEcvE4
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 26, 2018
Kuzma nails buzzer-beater to end first half
The Los Angeles Lakers entered halftime with a 58-57 lead over the Denver Nuggets. LeBron James' 14-point, eight-assist, six-rebound stat line led the way, but it was Kyle Kuzma who made sure to end the first half on a bright note for the Lakers, as he nailed this buzzer-beating 3-pointer.
.@kylekuzma from deep to end the half! 🚨#LakeShow pic.twitter.com/mLWIvTG24P
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) October 26, 2018
Celtics have huge comeback win
The Boston Celtics overcame a 24-point halftime deficit to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder, 101-95, on Thursday night. The Celtics used a 16-1 scoring run and nine 3-pointers in the third quarter to keep the Thunder winless on the season.
Money. pic.twitter.com/bkb7zUST7F
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 26, 2018
Lillard sets Blazers record
Everybody in the NBA is scoring these days. As the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Orlando Magic on Thursday night, Damian Lillard scored 34 points in the second half -- a new franchise record for points in a half. He finished with 41 points for the game.
Damian Lillard goes off for 41 PTS (34 in the second half), 7 REB, 6 AST in the @trailblazers road win! #RipCity #KiaTipOff18 pic.twitter.com/QG45y9ydyt
— NBA (@NBA) October 26, 2018
Tatum posterizes George
There's an eight-year difference between Jayson Tatum and Paul George, but that doesn't mean anything to the 20-year-old forward. The Boston Celtics young gun took it to the Oklahoma City Thunder veteran on this slam dunk following a steal at the end of the first quarter.
OK then, @jaytatum0! 🔨#CUsRise pic.twitter.com/BYSiIqkcx3
— NBA TV (@NBATV) October 26, 2018
Thunder take early 11-2 lead over Celtics
The Oklahoma City Thunder made sure to race out to an early lead over the Boston Celtics. In a matchup of two top-tier teams, it was the Thunder who impressed early, capped off by this Russell Westbrook assist to Steven Adams early on in the game.
🔥 start.
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) October 26, 2018
Thunder takes quick 11-2 lead pic.twitter.com/q0zhmYckio
Thunder make lineup change versus Celtics
The Oklahoma City Thunder fielded a different starting lineup for their matchup versus the Boston Celtics tonight. Instead of Patrick Patterson being in the first unit, Jerami Grant took his place.
Billy Donovan made one change to last game's starting lineup: Jerami Grant starts in place of Patrick Patterson. Other starters: George, Adams, Ferguson, Westbrook
— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) October 25, 2018
Blake spins and slams
Blake Griffin may have scored 50 points on Tuesday, but he didn't look tired at all against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The former All-Star is already up to 16 points in the first half after this spin, which led to a slam dunk.
First, we spin ... then, we slam. #PistonsNow
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) October 26, 2018
📺 @FOXSportsDet pic.twitter.com/3ea8AEjtWJ
Nurkic dunks over two Magic players
As the Portland Trail Blazers battled the Orlando Magic, Nurkic dropped the hammer on two Magic players on his way to the hoop.
"Nurkic drops the hammer!" 🔨#RipCity #KiaTipOff18 pic.twitter.com/986kFtRXCE
— NBA (@NBA) October 25, 2018
Sexton sets up Nance with no-look pass
Collin Sexton pulled off the highlight of the first half. As the winless Cleveland Cavaliers looked to knock off the undefeated Detroit Pistons, the rookie point guard pulled off a sweet, no-look pass which led to a dunk by Larry Nance Jr.
Dunks so nice, he did it twice 😏#BeTheFight pic.twitter.com/H8pEJGL05G
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) October 25, 2018
Vucevic carries Magic early
It would seem we're having a battle of the centers. Both Nikola Vucevic and Jusuf Nurkic nearly single-handedly carried their squads through the first quarter. Vucevic has started 5-of-6 from the field while scoring 11 of the Orlando Magic's first 17 points.
Nikola Vucevic answers and has 11 PTS of his own! #PureMagic pic.twitter.com/2YBeRrbPBL
— NBA (@NBA) October 25, 2018
Nurkic gets off to quick start
Jusuf Nurkic came out to play tonight. As the Portland Trail Blazers look to steal a win in Orlando versus the Magic, the 7-foot center scored eight of his team's first 13 points as he has started 4-of-5 from the field.
8 PTS for Jusuf Nurkic early in the 1st!#RipCity #KiaTipOff18 pic.twitter.com/Jwxw3GzHNT
— NBA (@NBA) October 25, 2018