Porzingis, Knicks Outlast Ball, Lakers in Overtime
As Lonzo Ball's rookie season remains under the spotlight due to his father, he underwent his first battle with the "unicorn" from New York, Kristaps Porzingis, on Tuesday night, which just enhanced his spotlight in MSG. It was Porzingis who got the best of the matchup with 37 points and 11 rebounds in the New York Knicks' 113-109 overtime win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Porzingis shot 14-of-26 from the floor, helping his team finish at 47 percent as a team, as they got back over .500 at 14-13. Of those 14 victories, 13 of those have come at Madison Square Garden for the Knicks, who also got big plays down the stretch from Michael Beasley. The veteran had 13 points, including the tiebreaking shot and an assist in overtime. On the other end, Ball had 17 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, but scored just two points in the fourth quarter and overtime. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 24 points to lead the Lakers, who had won two in a row. Kyle Kuzma had 19 points off the bench, but Los Angeles fell to six games under .500 overall, and five games below .500 on the road. LaVar Ball was in attendance with his sons, LiAngelo and LaMelo, but could not will their blood to victory, as Lonzo's rookie struggles continue.
Sixers Get Past Timberwolves in Overtime
It was a doubleheader of overtime action on Tuesday night, the latter featuring the team that has "trusted the process" on their way to success. Joel Embiid had 28 points to lead his Philadelphia 76ers back over .500 with a 118-112 overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Embiid hit two free throws with 14.8 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, as he was returning to action after he missed the previous two games with back tightness. He would go on to score seven points in overtime, while J.J. Reddick added 24 points, and went a perfect 11-for-11 from the free throw line. Those numbers helped overcome Jimmy Butler's 38-point night, as the former Chicago Bull also hit two big three-pointers in the final 30 seconds of regulation, both of which gave his team the lead at the time. He had 14 points in the fourth quarter alone. Karl-Anthony Towns added his 22nd double-double of the season with 17 points and 15 rebounds, but the Timberwolves struggled as a team from the floor. They finished the night just 5-for-29 from beyond the arc, including 1-for-13 in the first half. The Sixers' road record got back to .500 with the victory, as the Timberwolves have already suffered five of their 12 losses on their home floor.
Devils Put an End to Kings' Win Streak
The Los Angeles Kings have kept themselves at the top of the Pacific Division with their recent win streak, but the differential between them and the second-place Golden Knights remain close. The New Jersey Devils didn't do the Kings any favors on Tuesday night by snapping the eight-game win streak with a 5-1 victory at home. Taylor Hall scored twice for the Devils, who also put an end to their own two-game losing streak. Brian Boyle, Travis Zajac, and Brian Gibbons all scored for the Devils, who handed the Kings their first loss since November 24th. They fell to the Arizona Coyotes, 3-2, in overtime on that night, and since then, put together the longest winning streak in the NHL this season. They haven't lost in regulation since a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Winnipeg Jets on November 22nd. Torrey Mitchell was the only one to find the back of the net for the Kings, who also got 21 saves from Jonathan Quick. The Kings came in to the game 4-2-2 against the Devils since winning the 2012 Stanley Cup in six games over New Jersey, but could not use that success to motivate them on this night. Mitchell's goal came with 7:56 left in the third period, which helped the Kings avoid getting shut out for the first time this season.
As Lonzo Ball's rookie season remains under the spotlight due to his father, he underwent his first battle with the "unicorn" from New York, Kristaps Porzingis, on Tuesday night, which just enhanced his spotlight in MSG. It was Porzingis who got the best of the matchup with 37 points and 11 rebounds in the New York Knicks' 113-109 overtime win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Porzingis shot 14-of-26 from the floor, helping his team finish at 47 percent as a team, as they got back over .500 at 14-13. Of those 14 victories, 13 of those have come at Madison Square Garden for the Knicks, who also got big plays down the stretch from Michael Beasley. The veteran had 13 points, including the tiebreaking shot and an assist in overtime. On the other end, Ball had 17 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, but scored just two points in the fourth quarter and overtime. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 24 points to lead the Lakers, who had won two in a row. Kyle Kuzma had 19 points off the bench, but Los Angeles fell to six games under .500 overall, and five games below .500 on the road. LaVar Ball was in attendance with his sons, LiAngelo and LaMelo, but could not will their blood to victory, as Lonzo's rookie struggles continue.
Sixers Get Past Timberwolves in Overtime
It was a doubleheader of overtime action on Tuesday night, the latter featuring the team that has "trusted the process" on their way to success. Joel Embiid had 28 points to lead his Philadelphia 76ers back over .500 with a 118-112 overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Embiid hit two free throws with 14.8 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, as he was returning to action after he missed the previous two games with back tightness. He would go on to score seven points in overtime, while J.J. Reddick added 24 points, and went a perfect 11-for-11 from the free throw line. Those numbers helped overcome Jimmy Butler's 38-point night, as the former Chicago Bull also hit two big three-pointers in the final 30 seconds of regulation, both of which gave his team the lead at the time. He had 14 points in the fourth quarter alone. Karl-Anthony Towns added his 22nd double-double of the season with 17 points and 15 rebounds, but the Timberwolves struggled as a team from the floor. They finished the night just 5-for-29 from beyond the arc, including 1-for-13 in the first half. The Sixers' road record got back to .500 with the victory, as the Timberwolves have already suffered five of their 12 losses on their home floor.
Devils Put an End to Kings' Win Streak
The Los Angeles Kings have kept themselves at the top of the Pacific Division with their recent win streak, but the differential between them and the second-place Golden Knights remain close. The New Jersey Devils didn't do the Kings any favors on Tuesday night by snapping the eight-game win streak with a 5-1 victory at home. Taylor Hall scored twice for the Devils, who also put an end to their own two-game losing streak. Brian Boyle, Travis Zajac, and Brian Gibbons all scored for the Devils, who handed the Kings their first loss since November 24th. They fell to the Arizona Coyotes, 3-2, in overtime on that night, and since then, put together the longest winning streak in the NHL this season. They haven't lost in regulation since a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Winnipeg Jets on November 22nd. Torrey Mitchell was the only one to find the back of the net for the Kings, who also got 21 saves from Jonathan Quick. The Kings came in to the game 4-2-2 against the Devils since winning the 2012 Stanley Cup in six games over New Jersey, but could not use that success to motivate them on this night. Mitchell's goal came with 7:56 left in the third period, which helped the Kings avoid getting shut out for the first time this season.
