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Thursday night’s NBA slate delivered buzzer-beating drama, offensive explosions, and a few surprise performances. From Rui Hachimura’s game-winning 3-pointer to a wild putback finish in Philly, there was no shortage of excitement across the league. Whether you’re betting on the next matchup or catching up on highlights, here’s everything you need to know from a wild night of hoops.
Lakers 123, Raptors 120
Rui Hachimura buried a corner 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift the Los Angeles Lakers past the Toronto Raptors in a thrilling 123-120 finish. The clutch shot was set up by LeBron James, who dished his 11th assist of the night despite scoring just eight points, ending his 1,297-game double-digit scoring streak.
Austin Reaves led all scorers with 44 points and added 10 assists. Deandre Ayton chipped in 17 points as the Lakers won for the eighth time in nine games. For the Raptors, Scottie Barnes nearly recorded a triple-double with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists. Brandon Ingram had 20 points.
76ers 99, Warriors 98
Philadelphia pulled off a wild finish at home behind VJ Edgecombe’s putback with 0.9 seconds left to beat Golden State. Tyrese Maxey paced the Sixers with 35 points and raced back to block a final shot, sealing the win after Philadelphia blew a 24-point lead.
The Warriors were without Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler III, and Draymond Green exited early. Pat Spencer led Golden State with 16 points, but the short-handed squad couldn’t hold their late surge.
Handicappers Recap
Top-performing teams like Boston and Minnesota continued to reward spread bettors, while the Jazz upset win as a road underdog proved profitable for sharp eyes following SportsHub’s computer picks. Reaves’ 44-point night helped the Lakers cover the spread, and the 76ers’ wild finish offered dramatic value for moneyline bettors. For more insights, check out the leaderboard and explore our expert service plays.
Celtics 146, Wizards 101
Boston put on a scoring clinic in Washington, blowing out the Wizards 146-101 behind 30 points from Derrick White and a perfect 8-for-8 shooting night from Jordan Walsh (22 points). The Celtics scored at least 32 points in every quarter and outscored Washington 80-42 in the second half.
CJ McCollum led the Wizards with 22 points, but Boston’s offensive firepower was simply too much as the Celtics picked up their third straight win.
Timberwolves 125, Pelicans 116
Julius Randle led Minnesota with 28 points, and Naz Reid came off the bench for 19, including 11 in the fourth quarter, as the Timberwolves notched their fourth consecutive win and second straight in New Orleans.
Anthony Edwards, who scored 44 points earlier in the week, was limited to 11 points and committed eight turnovers. Trey Murphy III posted a near triple-double with 21 points, eight assists, and seven boards for New Orleans.
Jazz 123, Nets 110
Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George combined for 59 points as Utah rallied late to defeat Brooklyn. George hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 6:29 left as the Jazz closed the game on a 42-20 run. Utah also shot 50.6% from the floor and earned back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
Brooklyn’s struggles at home continued as they fell to 1-10 in their own building. Noah Clowney had 29 points and Ziaire Williams added 23 in the loss.
FAQ: NBA Thursday Night Wrap-Up
Who hit the buzzer-beater for the Lakers?
Rui Hachimura hit the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer to beat the Raptors.
Why did LeBron James’ scoring streak end?
LeBron had 11 assists but scored just eight points, ending his 1,297-game streak of double-digit scoring.
Which team had the biggest blowout win?
Boston crushed Washington 146-101, outscoring the Wizards by 45 points.
Who had the highest scoring performance of the night?
Austin Reaves led all players with 44 points in the Lakers’ win.
