Spurs Extend Winning Streak to Four, Harden Debuts with Cavaliers
The San Antonio Spurs continued their impressive form, securing a fourth consecutive victory with a 138-125 win over the Dallas Mavericks. Leading the charge was 21-year-old Stephon Castle, who delivered a career-best performance, recording a remarkable triple-double of 40 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists. Victor Wembanyama contributed 16 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocked shots for the Spurs.
Elsewhere, the Oklahoma City Thunder suffered a home defeat against the Houston Rockets, 112-106, while playing without their MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams due to injury. The Rockets gained the upper hand in the third quarter and managed to maintain their lead, despite a strong effort from Kevin Durant, who scored 20 points and provided 4 assists. Durant’s mid-range jumper with 1:04 remaining put his team ahead by six points. Tari Eason led the Rockets with 26 points, while Cason Wallace added 23. Despite the loss, the Thunder remain at the top of the Western Conference standings.
In his debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers, James Harden made a significant impact, helping his new team to a 132-126 victory over the Sacramento Kings. After a slow start, Harden came alive in the fourth quarter, finishing with 23 points and 8 assists. He provided crucial support to Donovan Mitchell, who led the Cavaliers with 35 points, and Jarrett Allen, who contributed 29 points and 10 rebounds.
The Los Angeles Lakers also secured a win, defeating the Golden State Warriors 105-99, thanks to a strong performance from LeBron James, who scored 20 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and dished out 10 assists.
In Philadelphia, Joel Embiid continued his dominant form, scoring 33 points and adding 9 rebounds, leading the 76ers to a 109-101 victory over the Phoenix Suns. Embiid, who has battled knee injuries throughout his career, appears to be finding his rhythm, as does his team, which currently holds sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
The Charlotte Hornets extended their winning streak to nine games with a 126-119 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Miles Bridges led the Hornets with 26 points, while Jalen Johnson put up a strong performance for the Hawks, scoring 31 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, and dishing out 8 assists. The Hornets are currently tenth in the Eastern Conference.
The Spurs’ victory over the Mavericks marked their second win against Dallas in 48 hours, following a 135-123 win on Thursday night where Wembanyama scored 29 points and 11 rebounds, despite a 30-plus point performance from Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg. Castle’s 40-point triple-double fueled the Spurs’ surge, solidifying their position as a rising force in the Western Conference.
