NBA news and highlights: Oladipo returns, Irving & Wall put on a show, AD overpowers OKC

NBA.com India Staff

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NBA news and highlights: Oladipo returns, Irving & Wall put on a show, AD overpowers OKC image

There were 11 games on Thursday's NBA slate, with no shortage of the league's top teams and talent on display.

If you missed any of the action, don't sweat it, because we have you covered with all of the top storylines, best fantasy performers and can't miss highlights!

Top Storylines

The Pacers mean business

Without Victor Oladipo playing, the Pacers not only kept their heads above water ... they continued to thrive in the Eastern Conference.

With their All-Star guard back they showed they're a force to be reckoned with.

Taking on the second placed Milwaukee Bucks, the Pacers burst out of the gates and never took their foot off the gas.


The win makes it five in a row for the Pacers and pushes their 2018/19 record to 18-10.

A divide has emerged at the top of the Eastern Conference standings and the Pacers proved on Thursday they well and truly belong with the contenders.

Irving and Wall put on a show

Two of the most dazzling point guards in the Eastern Conference went toe-to-toe and the matchup did not disappoint.

Boston and Washington couldn't be split in regulation so to overtime they went and that was when the show started.

With the game well and truly up for grabs the guards duelled and left fans in awe.

Irving knocked down a big three before Wall answered with a trademark drive down the lane.

Locked at 125, it was Irving who came up with the biggest moment of the game as he drilled the DEEP three.




Boston escaped with the 130-125 victory against a gallant Wizards outfit as Irving finished with 38 points and 7 assists, while Wall had 34 points and 13 assists.

Raptors stun Warriors on the road

Despite Kawhi Leonard being sidelined with a hip injury, the Toronto Raptors didn't miss a beat, handing the Warriors a 20-point loss on their home court, 113-93

All five Raptors starters scored in double figures, with Serge Ibaka and Kyle Lowry leading the charge for the second-straight game. Toronto has now won seven of the eight games Kawhi has missed this season, with Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet stepping up of late.

Toronto picked up the pace from the outset, scoring 25 fast-break points Golden State's 12, getting 58 of their 113 points in the paint.


As impressive as the Raptors were on offence, they did a fantastic job limiting the Warriors on the other end, holding Steph Curry to just 10 points and Klay Thompson 14, with the duo combining to shoot 2-of-13 from the three-point line. 


Their teammates weren't much better with the squad combining for 6-of-26 from beyond the arc. Kevin Durant led Golden State with 30 points on the night. 

Toronto raced out of the gates in the first quarter, taking a 31-22 lead, keeping their foot on the gas to go into the half up 57-41, never letting the Warriors back into the game, in a landmark win for the Eastern Conference leaders on the second night of a back-to-back.

Anthony Davis overpowers OKC

The Thunder entered today's game as one of the league's hottest teams, sitting at the top of the Western Conference, but they simply had no answer for the wrecking ball performance of Anthony Davis.

Davis poured in 44 points on 16-of-32 shooting and 11-of-11 from the free throw line, grabbing 18 rebounds in a physical contest with OKC's Steven Adams, to lead the Pelicans to a 118-114 win.

New Orleans looked in control late up 116-109 with less than 1:20 remaining, before a pair of turnovers led to five quick points for OKC, bringing them to within striking distance. Russell Westbrook got off a three late at the end of the shot clock that rimmed out, before Julius Randle missed a pair of free throws to give them another chance. Alex Abrines' three-point attempt was off and the Pelicans sealed the W with a pair of Solomon Hill free throws.

The Pelicans were clinical at the line, converting 24-of-30 attempts, compared to OKC's 17-of-27.

While AD was the man for New Orleans, he got plenty of help from Jrue Holiday, who had 20 points and 10 assists on the night, while Julius Randle added 22 points and 12 rebounds.

The now 17-9 Thunder were led by Paul George's 25 points, 11 rebounds and five assists, with Westbrook adding 20 points and seven assists and Steven Adams finishing with 20 points. Dennis Schroder provided a bright spark off the bench with 24 points of his own.

Best fantasy performers

Joel Embiid : 33 points (12-18 FG), 17 rebounds, 6 assists

Kyrie Irving : 38 points (12-28 FG), 7 assists

John Wall : 34 points (14-26 FG), 6 rebounds, 13 assists

CJ McCollum : 40 points (16-27 FG), 5 rebounds

Blake Griffin : 26 points (9-16 FG), 10 rebounds, 7 assists

Anthony Davis : 44 points (16-32 FG), 18 rebounds

John Collins:  20 points (10-22 FG), 17 rebounds 

Trae Young: 24 points (11-20 FG), 10 assists and two steals

Kyle Lowr: 23 points (9-18 FG), 12 assists, five rebounds and three steals

Kevin Durant: 30 points (13-22 FG), seven rebounds and five assists  

Can't-miss highlights

Don't get in Giannis' way


OH MY KD!


Simmons powers home the oop


Lamb comes up CLUTCH


Anthony Davis spreading his wings


Rookie on rookie!


Knox sends it flying!!


Cleveland has a new MVP


Box Scores

Pistons at Hornets | Knicks at Cavaliers | Bucks at Pacers

Nets at Sixers | Celtics at Wizards | Blazers at Grizzlies

Thunder at Pelicans | Hawks at Mavericks | Heat at Jazz

Wolves at Kings | Raptors at Warriors

NBA.com India Staff