San Antonio Spurs suffered a heavy home defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies, 140-112, despite Victor Wembanyama’s notable stats. Jimmy Butler returned to the Miami Heat after suspension, contributing 18 points in a loss to the Denver Nuggets. The Boston Celtics bounced back, defeating the Orlando Magic, while the Minnesota Timberwolves triumphed over the New York Knicks. The Oklahoma City Thunder, missing star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, fell to the Dallas Mavericks.
The Spurs Suffer Defeat at Home
The San Antonio Spurs faced a disappointing defeat against the Memphis Grizzlies, losing 140-112 in a game marred by a disastrous finish to the third quarter. Despite Victor Wembanyama’s impressive performance, which included 19 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 6 blocks, the Spurs were unable to recover after a shocking collapse. The last three minutes of the third quarter proved catastrophic, as the Spurs were outscored 40 to 22. They will be looking to rebound as they head to Miami this Sunday at 9 PM French time, before embarking on their trip to Paris for the upcoming “NBA Paris Game,” where they will face the Indiana Pacers on Thursday and Saturday at the Accor Arena in Bercy.
The Grizzlies managed to secure the victory without their star point guard Ja Morant, who is sidelined due to an ankle injury. Santi Aldama stepped up in Morant’s absence, scoring an impressive 29 points and grabbing 8 rebounds.
Jimmy Butler’s Comeback Sparks Heat
After serving a seven-game suspension for “inappropriate conduct,” Jimmy Butler made a triumphant return to the court for the Miami Heat. He humorously announced his comeback with a simple statement, “I’m back,” reminiscent of Michael Jordan’s iconic return in 1995. In his first game back, Butler contributed with 18 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists over 33 minutes, though the Heat unfortunately fell to the Denver Nuggets, 133-113. The Nuggets were fueled by another stellar performance from Nikola Jokic, who recorded a triple-double with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, while Jamal Murray added 30 points to help secure the win.
Reflecting on his return, Butler expressed satisfaction, stating, “It felt good to come back and play with the guys, with whom I have no problem… sooner or later the truth will come out,” hinting at the recent trade rumors surrounding him.
Boston and Minnesota Secure Important Wins
In other NBA action, the Boston Celtics rebounded decisively from their recent loss, dominating the Orlando Magic 121-94. Jayson Tatum led the charge with 30 points, while Kristaps Porzingis and Jaylen Brown chipped in with 23 and 20 points, respectively. The Celtics maintain their position as one of the top teams in the East, sitting at 29-12.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves earned a convincing victory against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, with Anthony Edwards shining bright, scoring 36 points along with 13 rebounds and 7 assists. Rudy Gobert also played a key role with 11 points and 6 rebounds. In a close game, the Los Angeles Lakers narrowly defeated the Brooklyn Nets 102-101, thanks to a career-high 38 points from Austin Reaves, along with a strong performance from LeBron James.
In a matchup without their star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder fell to the Dallas Mavericks 106-98. Despite a strong start, the Thunder were unable to maintain their lead, ultimately succumbing to a late Dallas surge led by Kyrie Irving’s 25 points.