Rudy Gobert dominated the paint with 17 points and 12 rebounds as the Minnesota Timberwolves cruised to a commanding 109-80 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Minneapolis. Gobert’s strong performance marked Minnesota’s second consecutive win.
Julius Randle contributed 18 points, while bench players Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 15 points each. Donte DiVincenzo chipped in with 11 points and nine assists in a balanced team effort.
The Lakers struggled offensively, with D’Angelo Russell leading the way with 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting. Anthony Davis posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while LeBron James had an uncharacteristically tough outing, scoring just 10 points on 4-for-16 shooting.
Hawks 124, Pelicans 112
De’Andre Hunter celebrated his 27th birthday in style, scoring 22 points and helping the Atlanta Hawks secure their fourth straight win, defeating the New Orleans Pelicans. Atlanta reached the .500 mark for the first time since late October.
Jalen Johnson had a standout game with 19 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, providing critical support for the Hawks’ winning streak.
Despite missing key players, including Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, the Pelicans were led by CJ McCollum’s 29 points. Yves Missi added an impressive double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to stop Atlanta.
Celtics 108, Heat 89
Jaylen Brown led the Boston Celtics with 29 points and seven rebounds in a 108-89 win over the Miami Heat, extending Boston’s home winning streak to five games. Payton Pritchard added 25 points, hitting five shots from beyond the arc, while Jayson Tatum contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Derrick White also impressed with 19 points, eight assists, and six rebounds in a team effort that outclassed the Heat. Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr. both scored 19 points for Miami, which was without Jimmy Butler (knee) and suffered its second loss in as many days.
Bulls 128, Nets 102
Josh Giddey’s all-around brilliance propelled the Chicago Bulls to a 128-102 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. Giddey recorded his first triple-double of the season, with 20 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists, leading the Bulls to snap a two-game losing streak.
Nikola Vucevic added a team-high 21 points and 10 rebounds for Chicago. Brooklyn’s offensive struggles continued, with Dennis Schroder leading the starters with just 16 points, while rookie Dariq Whitehead topped the scoring chart for the Nets with 18 points off the bench.
The Nets’ inability to produce a 20-point scorer among their starters for the second time in three games highlighted their ongoing challenges.
