NBA Notes March 23rd
The NBA had an exciting day on March 23rd. Multiple games featured star players, close scores, and upsets. Here are the highlights from some of the action:
Bucks Fly Past Lakers
The Milwaukee Bucks dominated the Los Angeles Lakers in a 112-97 victory in Milwaukee. Giannis Antetokounmpo, the reigning MVP, led the Bucks with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists. Khris Middleton, the team's second-leading scorer, added 20 points and six rebounds.
LeBron James, the leading scorer for the Lakers, had 25 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. However, he was the only Lakers player to score over 20 points. The team's other star, Anthony Davis, struggled with only 18 points and nine rebounds.
The Bucks led by 12 points at halftime, and the Lakers could not recover in the second half. Milwaukee shot 47.8% from the field and 32.1% from three-point range. The Lakers shot 43.8% from the field and 31.8% from three-point range.
Bulls Defeat Raptors in Overtime
The Chicago Bulls upset the Toronto Raptors in a thrilling 122-113 overtime victory in Chicago. Zach LaVine, the Bulls' leading scorer, had 22 points and 13 rebounds. Nikola Vucevic, the team's newest addition, had 22 points and 13 rebounds as well.
The Raptors were without their leading scorer, Kyle Lowry, due to a toe infection. Pascal Siakam led the Raptors with 22 points and 13 rebounds. Fred VanVleet added 27 points and 13 assists.
The Bulls had a chance to win in regulation, but LaVine missed a potential game-winning three-pointer. In overtime, Chicago outscored Toronto 15-6 to seal the victory.
Magic Stun Nets
The Orlando Magic shocked the Brooklyn Nets in a 121-113 victory in Orlando. Dwayne Bacon led the Magic with 20 points. Wendell Carter Jr. had a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
The Nets were without their superstar players, Kevin Durant and James Harden, due to injury. However, they still had Kyrie Irving, who led the Nets with 43 points and six assists. Joe Harris added 16 points and nine rebounds.
The Magic led by as many as 18 points in the third quarter, but the Nets rallied to tie the game in the fourth quarter. However, Orlando went on a 16-6 run to end the game and secure the win.
Other Notes
The Boston Celtics defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 120-107 in Boston. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 23 points and 7 rebounds. Ja Morant led the Grizzlies with 26 points and five assists.
The Phoenix Suns defeated the Miami Heat 110-100 in Phoenix. Devin Booker led the Suns with 23 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. Bam Adebayo led the Heat with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Detroit Pistons 124-101 in Portland. Damian Lillard led the Trail Blazers with 27 points and six assists. Jerami Grant led the Pistons with 30 points and six rebounds.
The Utah Jazz defeated the Chicago Bulls 113-106 in Utah. Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz with 26 points and seven assists. Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 27 points, nine rebounds, and four assists.
The New York Knicks defeated the Washington Wizards 131-113 in New York. Julius Randle led the Knicks with 37 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Russell Westbrook led the Wizards with 25 points, seven rebounds, and 14 assists.
The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the San Antonio Spurs 98-85 in Los Angeles. Paul George led the Clippers with 36 points and seven rebounds. DeMar DeRozan led the Spurs with 19 points, six rebounds, and six assists.
Conclusion
March 23rd was an exciting day for the NBA, with multiple games featuring star players, close scores, and upsets. The Milwaukee Bucks dominated the Los Angeles Lakers, the Chicago Bulls upset the Toronto Raptors in overtime, and the Orlando Magic shocked the Brooklyn Nets. There were also victories for the Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz, New York Knicks, and Los Angeles Clippers. With the playoffs approaching, every game is crucial for teams fighting for a spot in the postseason.