Wizards Hold Off Short-Handed Warriors
For most of Tuesday's game the Washington Wizards took full advantage of the Golden State Warriors losing Kevin Durant to an early injury. They built a 19-point lead on the NBA's best team in the first quarter, but it got close late, as the Wizards hung on for a 112-108 victory. Durant left with a knee injury just 93 seconds into the game, as the Warriors could not complete the comeback, despite Steph Curry's 25 points. Durant hyperextended his knee when teammate Zaza Pachulia fell into him, as he will undergo an MRI on Wednesday. Markieff Morris sealed the game for the Wizards with two free throws with 3.7 seconds left, finishing with 22 points in the win. Bradley Beal led Washington with 25 points, while John Wall tied a career-high with 19 assists, as the Wizards improved to 25-8 in D.C. this season. Golden State did come back to tie the game at 108 in the fourth, but their stellar foul shooting late saved the win.
Westbrook's 30th Triple-Double Lifts Thunder Past Jazz
Russell Westbrook has had some of his best performances against his division rival, the Utah Jazz, and he added to that fact on Tuesday night. Westbrook scored 43 points in his 30th triple-double, as the Oklahoma City Thunder held off the Utah Jazz at home, 109-106. Westbrook added 11 rebounds and 10 assists in his 67th career triple-double, as he scored 12 points in the final 2:05 of the game. It was the All-Star's fourth straight triple-double in his team's fourth straight win, as well as his fifth triple-double with 40 points this season. Newly-acquired Doug McDermott scored 16 points for OKC, while Enes Kanter added 15 points and nine rebounds, helping the Thunder pull within two games of Utah in the West. The Thunder improved from beyond the arc on the night, shooting 15-of-22, despite entering last in the NBA in three-point percentage. Utah led by four with 48 seconds remaining before the Thunder scored the game's final seven points.
Kentucky Rallies to Shock Vandy With Comeback
The ninth-ranked Kentucky Wildcats trailed by as many as 19 points at home on Tuesday night, including by six at the break, but rallied to hold off Vanderbilt, 73-67. Malik Monk scored 20 points in the second half, in which the Wildcats outscored the Commodores by 12 en route to the comeback win. Monk finished with 27 on the night, including 10 in the final 3:40, as Kentucky clinched at least a share of the SEC regular season title. Their deficit was as large as 13 after the break, but they shot 58 percent from the floor in the final 20 minutes of the game. Bam Adebayo had 16 points, while De'Aaron Fox contributed 13 in the comeback. Vanderbilt had their four-game winning streak snapped, despite making 11 three pointers on the night. Luke Kornet led the way with 21 points in the loss, which was the eighth in SEC play for Vandy.
For most of Tuesday's game the Washington Wizards took full advantage of the Golden State Warriors losing Kevin Durant to an early injury. They built a 19-point lead on the NBA's best team in the first quarter, but it got close late, as the Wizards hung on for a 112-108 victory. Durant left with a knee injury just 93 seconds into the game, as the Warriors could not complete the comeback, despite Steph Curry's 25 points. Durant hyperextended his knee when teammate Zaza Pachulia fell into him, as he will undergo an MRI on Wednesday. Markieff Morris sealed the game for the Wizards with two free throws with 3.7 seconds left, finishing with 22 points in the win. Bradley Beal led Washington with 25 points, while John Wall tied a career-high with 19 assists, as the Wizards improved to 25-8 in D.C. this season. Golden State did come back to tie the game at 108 in the fourth, but their stellar foul shooting late saved the win.
Westbrook's 30th Triple-Double Lifts Thunder Past Jazz
Russell Westbrook has had some of his best performances against his division rival, the Utah Jazz, and he added to that fact on Tuesday night. Westbrook scored 43 points in his 30th triple-double, as the Oklahoma City Thunder held off the Utah Jazz at home, 109-106. Westbrook added 11 rebounds and 10 assists in his 67th career triple-double, as he scored 12 points in the final 2:05 of the game. It was the All-Star's fourth straight triple-double in his team's fourth straight win, as well as his fifth triple-double with 40 points this season. Newly-acquired Doug McDermott scored 16 points for OKC, while Enes Kanter added 15 points and nine rebounds, helping the Thunder pull within two games of Utah in the West. The Thunder improved from beyond the arc on the night, shooting 15-of-22, despite entering last in the NBA in three-point percentage. Utah led by four with 48 seconds remaining before the Thunder scored the game's final seven points.
Kentucky Rallies to Shock Vandy With Comeback
The ninth-ranked Kentucky Wildcats trailed by as many as 19 points at home on Tuesday night, including by six at the break, but rallied to hold off Vanderbilt, 73-67. Malik Monk scored 20 points in the second half, in which the Wildcats outscored the Commodores by 12 en route to the comeback win. Monk finished with 27 on the night, including 10 in the final 3:40, as Kentucky clinched at least a share of the SEC regular season title. Their deficit was as large as 13 after the break, but they shot 58 percent from the floor in the final 20 minutes of the game. Bam Adebayo had 16 points, while De'Aaron Fox contributed 13 in the comeback. Vanderbilt had their four-game winning streak snapped, despite making 11 three pointers on the night. Luke Kornet led the way with 21 points in the loss, which was the eighth in SEC play for Vandy.
