Orlando are riding a four-game win streak heading into Thursday’s game, with a 130-91 demolition of Milwaukee on Monday being their biggest of the lot. It was a straightforward win for the visitors, who dominated from the opening tip and held Milwaukee to just 15 points in both the first and third quarters, contributing to a strong 101.3 defensive rating, but it was their offence that really stood out. Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs and Desmond Bane led the charge on their way to an elite 139.7 offensive rating, shooting the lights out across the floor for a 66.7% eFG%. Banchero…

Houston were humiliated by San Antonio on Monday, losing to their Texas rivals 120-145. Houston’s defence had no answer for the hot shooting and the speed of San Antonio, giving up a 64.4% eFG% and a 136.3 offensive rating from the hosts. It was Victor Wembanyama who inflicted the most damage and even with solid nights from Amen Thompson and Kevin Durant, who both had 23 points, Houston never really looked close in the second half of this clash. Alperen Şengün’s slump in form continued, with 16 points, six rebounds, three assists and five turnovers to be a -28, and…

Cleveland were well beaten by Boston on Monday, going down in a 98-109 defeat. Cleveland shot out of the gates for an 11-3 lead but it was a short-lived high for Kenny Atkinson’s team, as they trailed 26-35 by the end of the first quarter and never saw the lead from there. A terrible 10-21 second quarter was essentially the nail in the coffin for the hosts, contributing to another sub-par offensive game, even with Donovan Mitchell back in the team and providing a standout 30 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two blocks. Evan Mobley had 24 points, eight…

Jayson Tatum is set to make his miraculous return from an Achilles tear on Saturday, less than 10 months after it happened in last year’s playoffs. He’ll be on a tight minutes restriction, but this is an excellent and impressive comeback story for Boston’s franchise player and it just so happens to come in a national TV game. It also comes after a crushing loss for Boston on Thursday, as they were completely outclassed against a rapidly rising Charlotte team in an 89-118 loss. It felt like a blowout was on the cards from early on, as Boston trailed 23-35…

Minnesota recorded their fourth successive win on Wednesday, beating Memphis 117-110. It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the hosts, with Memphis taking an 11-point lead in the first quarter before maintaining a double-digit buffer for much of the second quarter. However, a 27-9 run in the third quarter ensured Minnesota took control from the game from there, and it was all easy going in the fourth quarter, with a late Memphis surge making the game look much closer than what it was down the stretch. Anthony Edwards was superb, recording 41 points, six rebounds, five steals and one block to…

New York left it late to seal their win over Toronto on Wednesday, but they did so with a bang, as a 16-2 run in the final five minutes iced the game. Leading just 95-93, the game hung in the balance in clutch time, but New York resorted to their defence which has earned them a lot of wins lately to limit the hosts to just two points in the final 5:30 of play to earn a 111-95 win. Jalen Brunson came up big in the clutch, scoring 10 points in just six minutes of play in the fourth, finishing…

Cleveland squeezed past the lowly Brooklyn on Monday, in a 106-102 win. James Harden returned in this game, while Donovan Mitchell (groin) remained out, and The Beard’s return to play was a strong one with 22 points, nine rebounds and eight assists to help Cleveland to the win. Evan Mobley was also important, with 17 points, including nine in the fourth quarter, 13 rebounds and one block to finish a +24, while Jarrett Allen had 20 points to make for a strong night for Cleveland’s twin towers. It was another shaky offensive game without Mitchell to lean on, with just…

Milwaukee let a 15-point halftime lead slip in embarrassing fashion in Chicago on Monday, with a 66-51 lead turning into a 97-120 loss. Their 23-36 third quarter was bad enough, but an 8-33 fourth quarter was simply unacceptable from this squad. Even with Giannis Antetokounmpo on the sidelines, there have been some encouraging flashes from Doc Rivers’ men in recent weeks, but that looked like a decent memory in Monday’s fourth quarter, as the visitors faded away. Bobby Portis was the best of a bad bunch, with 18 points and five rebounds, and Ryan Rollins had his moments with 11…

Denver played out an incredibly physical and chippy clash against Oklahoma City on Saturday, but ultimately fell 121-127 in overtime. It was a hot start to the game from Denver, with a 33-19 quarter time lead, but OKC came back early in the fourth and then went on a 2-8 run to end, resulting in overtime. Denver’s offence didn’t have much more to give from there, scoring just five points in the first 4:30 of OT, before Jamal Murray caught fire to make it a close final scoreline. The Canadian finished the night with 39 points, eight rebounds and six…