The NBA delivered a dramatic Saturday night packed with stellar performances, milestone achievements, and off-court controversy. Amen Thompson nearly recorded a triple-double to lead the Houston Rockets past the Dallas Mavericks, while rookie Cooper Flagg set a new benchmark with his fifth 30-point game of the season.
Joel Embiid scored 40 points to carry the Philadelphia 76ers to a win over the New Orleans Pelicans, just hours after teammate Paul George was suspended for 25 games for violating the league’s anti-drug policy. The Charlotte Hornets extended their winning streak to six games behind Brandon Miller’s 26-point effort, and the Indiana Pacers held off the Atlanta Hawks in a high-scoring thriller, highlighted by Pascal Siakam’s late-game heroics and Jalen Johnson’s eighth triple-double of the season.
Amen Thompson Stars as Houston Holds Off Flagg and Dallas
Amen Thompson delivered an all-around performance, finishing just shy of a triple-double as the Houston Rockets edged the Dallas Mavericks 111–107 in a thrilling contest on Saturday night.
Thompson tallied 21 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, and his alley-oop dunk with under two minutes remaining gave Houston a four-point cushion. Dallas responded with back-to-back baskets from rookie Cooper Flagg and Naji Marshall to level the score at 105 with about a minute to play.
Alperen Sengun restored Houston’s lead with a layup with 28.6 seconds left. After Flagg missed a shot in the lane, the Rockets secured the rebound, and Tari Eason sealed the win with a dunk, making it 111–107 with 14.4 seconds remaining. Flagg’s final 3-point attempt rattled off the rim to end the game.
Flagg led all scorers with 34 points and 12 rebounds for Dallas, coming off a historic 49-point outing against Charlotte on Thursday — an NBA record for points by a teenager. The 19-year-old No. 1 pick recorded his fifth 30-point game of the season.
Jabari Smith Jr. contributed 19 points for Houston, while Sengun added a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds.
Houston extended its lead to 11 midway through the fourth quarter before Klay Thompson drained consecutive 3-pointers to spark a Dallas rally. The Mavericks later pulled within two points after a late surge led by Flagg, but the Rockets held firm in the closing moments.
The Rockets entered the final quarter ahead 87–82 after Dallas closed the third on a 13–5 run, setting the stage for a tense finish.
Joel Embiid Scores 40 as 76ers Defeat Pelicans Amid Paul George Suspension
Joel Embiid poured in 40 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 124-114 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night, just hours after teammate Paul George was suspended for 25 games for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy.
The league did not disclose the substance involved, but George issued a statement to ESPN admitting he took something “improper.”
Without George, the 76ers struggled to pull away from the 13-win Pelicans until the closing minutes.
Tyrese Maxey scored 18 points, hitting one of four 3-pointers that gave Philadelphia a 117-111 lead. Embiid and VJ Edgecombe followed with back-to-back 3s to push the score to 123-113. Embiid, hearing chants of “M-V-P! M-V-P!” at the free-throw line with 11.3 seconds left, sank his first attempt to reach the 40-point mark.
Kelly Oubre Jr. added 19 points, and Philadelphia finished the night making 17 3-pointers, sending a positive signal as the team faces a playoff push without George.
For the Pelicans, Saddiq Bey led with 34 points while Zion Williamson contributed 11.
The game coincided with the 25th anniversary celebration of Allen Iverson and the 76ers’ improbable run to the NBA Finals. Iverson attended along with former team president Pat Croce and ex-general manager Billy King. Philadelphia ultimately fell to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games during that Finals appearance.
Philadelphia has not advanced past the second round of the Eastern Conference since 2001, and George’s suspension only adds to the challenge of breaking that streak this season.
Hornets Extend Win Streak to Six with 111-106 Victory Over Spurs
Brandon Miller led the Charlotte Hornets with 26 points as Charlotte held off the San Antonio Spurs 111-106 on Saturday, extending their winning streak to six games.
Collin Sexton added 21 points, hitting all five of his 3-point attempts off the bench, while LaMelo Ball contributed 16 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists.
The Spurs rallied late, cutting a 17-point third-quarter deficit to two, but could not regain the lead. Dylan Harper led San Antonio with 20 points, and Victor Wembanyama finished with 16. Miller’s clutch free throws in the final seconds sealed the win.
Charlotte dominated the second quarter 35-17, and despite a snowstorm delaying tip-off, the Hornets maintained momentum for their longest streak in nearly a decade.
Pacers Outlast Hawks 129-124 Despite Jalen Johnson’s Triple-Double
Andrew Nembhard scored 26 points, Pascal Siakam added 25, and the Indiana Pacers held off the Atlanta Hawks 129-124 on Saturday night in a thrilling matchup at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Indiana maintained a narrow lead for much of the second half, holding a 103-100 advantage entering the fourth quarter.
The game remained tight down the stretch until Siakam sank a critical 12-foot jumper with 18.6 seconds left, giving the Pacers a 127-123 lead they would not relinquish.
Aaron Nesmith contributed 23 points, while Nembhard added 10 assists. Siakam was highly efficient, shooting 11 of 15 from the field. Despite committing 23 turnovers, Indiana secured its seventh win in the last 12 games, a sharp turnaround after a 6-31 start to the season.
Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson recorded his eighth triple-double of the season with 33 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. Nickeil Alexander-Walker chipped in 21 points, but the Hawks dropped their second consecutive game.
The Pacers’ strong performance was highlighted by a 45-point second quarter, their highest-scoring half of the season. Indiana shot 58% from the field, including 11 of 20 from three-point range. Nembhard paced the Pacers with 21 points at halftime, while Johnson had 21 for Atlanta.
Indiana continues to impress this season despite the absence of star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who is sidelined after tearing his right Achilles tendon in Game 7 of last year’s NBA Finals.
Source: NBA
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