NBA News and Highlights: LeBron scores 51, the Warriors lose third-straight and the Grizzlies win again

NBA.com India Staff

NBA News and Highlights: LeBron scores 51, the Warriors lose third-straight and the Grizzlies win again image

Sunday produced plenty of quality NBA action with five games and some of the league's top teams and players on display.

If you missed any of the action, we've got you covered with the top storylines, best fantasy performers and can't-miss plays of the day.

Top storylines

Grizzlies win again

One of the most plesantly shocking stories of this early NBA season is the Memphis Grizzlies, who are now 10-5 and tied for third place in the Western Conference after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 100-87.

It was a balanced attack out of Memphis all night, just as it has been all season. Trailing by three after the first quarter, they outscored the Timberwolves by 16 points in the second and third to give themselves a comfortable lead.

They used a big fourth quarter from Marc Gasol who had 11 points, knocking down three 3-pointers to close out the game for the Grizzlies. Memphis had four guys score in double-figures as Gasol finished with 26 points, Mike Conley Jr. had 18 points, Shelvin Mack added 12 off the bench and rookie Jaren Jackson Jr. had 13.

The Grizzlies have now won three games in a row, something they've done twice already this season after doing it just twice all last season.

LeBron scores season-high 51 in return to Miami

What was suppose to be LeBron James' last game against Dwyane Wade in Miami was slightly spoiled when Wade missed the game on paternity leave.

Then the game began and LeBron took over immediately, looking right at home in Miami. He scored 19 points in the first quarter getting out to a red-hot start shooting 8-for-10 from the field and 3-for-4 from deep. The Lakers led 34-21 after the first and never looked back.

James had 28 points at the half, shooting very efficiently giving the Lakers a 15-point lead. Halftime couldn't cool him down as he went for 14 in the third knocking down another two 3-pointers. When the Heat tried to close the gap in the fourth quarter, LeBron was there to lift the Lakers.

Miami cut the deficit to just eight points with three and a half minutes remaining but James was not going to let the Lakers blow this one. He knocked down a pair of free throws, a mid-range jumper and a  deep  three to seal the game, scoring the Lakers final seven points in the game to reach 51 points on the night in a 113-97 win.

His final stat line was ridiculous with 51 points on 19-for-31 shooting from the field, knocking down six of his eight 3-point attempts. He added eight boards, three assists, a steal and a block to the box score as well to bring the Lakers to 9-7 on the season.

Warriors struggles continue

The Golden State Warriors have now lost three games in a row.

The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Warriors 104-92 on a big night from LaMarcus Aldridge, who had a double-double with 24 points and 18 rebounds.

Golden State has struggled mightily in absence of star point guard Stephen Curry. The Warriors got out to a 10-2 start to the season before Curry strained his abductor in their loss to the Milwaukee Bucks a few weeks back. Since then, they've gone 2-3 and are 12-6 on the season. The most recent update states that Curry's injury will continue to be monitored and that he'll be re-evaluated some time next week. Draymond Green also missed tonight's game, his second in a row, with a toe injury.

Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson both could not find their stroke in this one. They combined for 51 points but it wasn't pretty – Durant shot 8-for-25 from the field and 1-for-8 from three while Thompson was 11-for-26 from the field and 3-for-11 from deep.

DeMar DeRozan had a solid night for the Spurs with 20 points, nine assists and six rebounds as the Spurs snapped a three-game losing streak to get back above .500 at 8-7.

Best fantasy performers

LaMarcus Aldridge - 24 points (10-16 FG), 18 rebounds, three assists, two blocks

Marc Gasol - 23 points (8-13 FG, 4 3PM), 13 rebounds, three assists, three blocks, two steals

Aaron Gordon - 31 points (13-17 FG), two assists, one rebound, one steal

Tim Hardaway Jr. - 32 points (9-20 FG, 5 3PM), three steals, two assists, two rebounds

LeBron James - 51 points (19-31 FG, 6-8 3PT), eight rebounds, three assists, two steals, one block

Enes Kanter - 21 points (8-16 FG), 18 rebounds, three assists, one block

Damian Lillard - 40 points (12-29 FG, 13-15 FT), seven rebounds, five assists, one steal

Karl-Anthony Towns - 15 points (6-10 FG), 20 rebounds, two assists, one block

Nikola Vucevic - 28 points (10-15 FG), 10 rebounds, nine assists, two blocks

Can't-miss highlights

Andrew Wiggins with a sweet and smooth spin move


LeBron will be throwing down these tomahawk jams for the rest of eternity


OKAY ENES KANTER!


Josh Richardson got WAY up to block this one


Jusuf Nurkic with a dime


It's best to just stay out of the way once Aaron Gordon takes off


And... another one from the King


Rudy Gay  almost  all over Damian Jones


Box scores

Timberwolves vs. Grizzlies

Heat vs. Lakers | Magic vs. Knicks | Wizards vs. Trail Blazers

Spurs vs. Warriors

NBA.com India Staff