The Boston Celtics narrowly defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves with a score of 118-115, led by Jayson Tatum's impressive performance of 33 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds. Derrick White contributed significantly with 26 points, while Sam Hauser stepped up in place of the injured Jaylen Brown, sinking five 3-pointers for a total of 15 points. On the Timberwolves' side, Julius Randle led with 27 points, supported by Naz Reid's 20 points off the bench.
In a thrilling finish, the Timberwolves were down by eight points with two minutes remaining but had a chance to tie the game. Anthony Edwards' last-second 3-pointer, however, fell short, sealing the Celtics' victory.
Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers triumphed over the Miami Heat, 128-115, thanks to Tyrese Haliburton's stellar 33 points and 15 assists. Myles Turner added 21 points, while the Pacers displayed an impressive shooting percentage of 53% throughout the game. The Heat's top scorer was Kel’el Ware with 25 points, but Jimmy Butler had another quiet night, scoring only nine points and missing the fourth quarter.
The Oklahoma City Thunder continued their remarkable form, winning their franchise-record 13th consecutive regular-season game by defeating the Los Angeles Clippers, 116-98. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 29 points and eight assists, helping his team recover from a 16-point deficit at one point in the game. The Thunder showcased their resilience, scoring 42 points in the third quarter alone.
Lastly, the Brooklyn Nets edged out the Milwaukee Bucks, 113-110, with Cam Johnson scoring 26 points and Cam Thomas adding 24. The Nets held a commanding lead but faced a fierce comeback from the Bucks, who scored 20 consecutive points late in the game. Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 27 points and 13 rebounds but couldn't secure the win as he missed a crucial drive in the closing moments.
