Ben Simmons has made his first free-throw since November because the Brooklyn Nets’ bid for a franchise-record NBA successful streak got here crashing down in Chicago.
The Nets’ 121-112 defeat to the Bulls ended a 12-game successful run, leaving them two wins wanting equalling their all-time longest streak.
DeMar DeRozan (22 factors), Patrick Williams (22) and Nikola Vucevic (21) led the scoring for the Bulls, with Vucevic’s double-double together with 13 rebounds.
The Nets’ loss got here regardless of a game-high 44 factors from Kevin Durant – his third 40-point haul of the season – and 25 from Kyrie Irving, whereas Simmons completed with seven factors and 9 rebounds.
Simmons was 1-of-4 from the charity stripe, the place he has struggled all season and had gone 0-of-9 in the course of the Nets’ successful streak.
Fellow Australian Josh Giddey was additionally on the shedding facet as Oklahoma Metropolis had been crushed 126-115 by the Magic in Orlando.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returned from sickness with 33 factors for the Thunder, whereas Giddey added 16 factors in a help act to go together with his 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
However the Magic had been too sturdy and had eight scorers in double figures, led by Paolo Banchero, who had 25 factors, eight rebounds and 7 assists.
Orlando had been broke a three-game shedding streak regardless of being with out 4 suspended gamers.
The Thunder’s disappointing show got here one evening after they belted the NBA-leading Boston Celtics in a record-breaking efficiency.
“Consistency is one thing we have to get higher at,” Giddey stated.
“Final evening we beat one of many higher groups within the league comfortably, after which we are available in right here and lose by 15.”
Elsewhere, James Harden’s 26 factors and De’Anthony Melton’s go-ahead three-pointer late in time beyond regulation helped the Philadelphia 76ers overcome Joel Embiid’s absence in a 129-126 win over Indiana.
Embiid had been taking part in with a sore decrease again and sat out with a left foot damage, suffered earlier this week.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 30 factors, 10 assists and a season-high 21 rebounds for his second triple-double of the season because the Milwaukee Bucks beat Toronto 104-101 in time beyond regulation.
New Orleans registered a 119-108 win over struggling Houston behind 28 factors from CJ McCollum within the Pelicans’ first sport since studying star energy ahead Zion Williamson can be sidelined for about three weeks with a hamstring damage.
Jalen Brunson scored a career-high 38 factors to assist the New York Knicks squeeze previous San Antonio 117-114.
Julius Randle had 25 factors and 13 rebounds for the Knicks.
Evan Mobley hit a 14-foot jumper with 4 seconds left on the clock to assist the Cleveland Cavaliers rating a 90-88 comeback win over Phoenix.
Donovan Mitchell supplied the help for Mobley and completed with 20 factors, two nights after turning into the seventh participant in historical past to attain 70 or extra in a single sport.
