Victor Wembanyama made a crucial free throw with 2.9 seconds left, and De’Aaron Fox had an impressive debut with the Spurs as San Antonio pulled out a 126-125 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night.
Fox, who was traded from the Sacramento Kings on Monday in a three-team deal with the Chicago Bulls, scored 24 points on 11-of-22 shooting and made 13 assists. One of his missed shots led to a Wembanyama dunk that gave the Spurs a 125-123 lead with 30.4 seconds left.
Trae Young from Atlanta scored a floater with 8.5 seconds left to tie the game, but Onyeka Okongwu fouled Wembanyama during the next possession. Wembanyama purposely missed his second free throw, and Young missed a 45-foot shot as time expired.
Wembanyama finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Spurs, who won despite being outshot from the field (52.7 percent to 50.5 percent). Devin Vassell added 20 points, and Jeremy Sochan contributed 15 points off the bench as San Antonio won for the third time in 10 games.
Young led all scorers with 32 points, added 12 assists but had nine turnovers. Okongwu scored 30 points, De’Andre Hunter added 22, and Dyson Daniels scored 19 as Atlanta lost for the ninth time in 10 games.
Thunder 140, Suns 109
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 50 points to lead Oklahoma City to a home victory over Phoenix.
It was the third 50-point game in Gilgeous-Alexander’s career, all within the last seven games. Oklahoma City also got 17 points from Aaron Wiggins and 13 from Jalen Williams.
Bradley Beal, a key player for Phoenix early in the game, scored 25 points off the bench. Devin Booker scored 19 points, and Royce O’Neale added 18 points.
Timberwolves 127, Bulls 108
Anthony Edwards scored 49 points and grabbed nine rebounds as Minnesota earned a victory over Chicago in Minneapolis.
Naz Reid added 22 points and 10 rebounds for Minnesota, who snapped a two-game losing streak. Rudy Gobert had 10 points and 15 rebounds, while Jaden McDaniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker each scored 12 points.
Coby White led the Bulls with 20 points, who played on short rest after beating the Miami Heat the previous night. Josh Giddey scored 19 points, and Nikola Vucevic added 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Wizards 119, Nets 102
Bilal Coulibaly achieved his first career triple-double in a solid performance as Washington beat Brooklyn for its first three-game winning streak of the season.
Coulibaly finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and a career-high 11 assists. He was part of a balanced team effort, with seven Wizards players scoring in double figures, led by Jordan Poole with 19 points.
Washington made 40 of their 44 field goals with assists to help the team’s offense. Poole had eight assists, and Bub Carrington contributed a career-high 10 assists with 16 points.
The Nets had their three-game winning streak broken. Keon Johnson led them with 25 points, while Cameron Johnson scored 17 points in his first game back after an ankle injury.
Jazz 131, Warriors 128
Jordan Clarkson scored 31 points, and Keyonte George added 26 points as Utah made a strong comeback to defeat Golden State in Salt Lake City.
Golden State had a 122-111 lead with three minutes left, but Utah scored on 10 straight possessions and made several key defensive plays to win the game.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 32 points.
Nuggets 144, Pelicans 119
Michael Porter Jr. tied his career high with 39 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, and Nikola Jokic finished with 38 points and 10 assists in Denver’s big win over New Orleans.
Christian Braun scored 23 points for Denver, which tied its season high in points and won both home games against New Orleans.
Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with 28 points, and Trey Murphy III added 25 points and nine assists, but New Orleans lost their seventh straight game.
Magic 130, Kings 111
Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero combined for 54 points to help Orlando beat Sacramento and spoil Zach LaVine’s debut with the Kings.
Wagner scored 31 points, including five 3-pointers, and Banchero added 23 points with nine assists. Orlando ended a four-game losing streak with the win.
Domantas Sabonis had 21 points and 13 rebounds for Sacramento, where LaVine, who was recently traded from the Chicago Bulls, scored 13 points on 4-for-13 shooting.
Bucks 112, Hornets 102
Damian Lillard scored 29 points, and Bobby Portis added 23 points as Milwaukee ended its four-game losing streak by defeating Charlotte.
Brook Lopez contributed 14 points, Gary Trent Jr. had 13 points, and Taurean Prince added 11 points. The Bucks shot 50.6 percent from the field and played without their leading scorer and rebounder, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Hornets lost their sixth straight game despite 23 points from Nick Smith Jr. Miles Bridges and KJ Simpson each scored 15 points, while Moussa Diabate grabbed 13 rebounds.
Cavaliers 118, Pistons 115
Darius Garland made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Cleveland a win over Detroit, continuing their streak of victories against the Pistons.
Garland’s basket came after Cleveland almost let an eight-point lead slip away in the final minute. Garland finished with 25 points, and Evan Mobley led the Cavaliers with 30 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and four blocks. Craig Porter Jr. added 16 points, and Max Strus had 15.
Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 38 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds, while Tim Hardaway Jr. added 20 points.
Grizzlies 138, Raptors 107
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 14 of his 32 points in the second quarter as Memphis beat Toronto.
Ja Morant added 26 points for Memphis, who has won four in a row and 10 of 11. Zach Edey, a Toronto-born rookie, had 13 points and 15 rebounds for Memphis. GG Jackson scored 17 points, Brandon Clarke had 13, and Scotty Pippen Jr. added 12 points.
Scottie Barnes had 11 points and nine assists for Toronto, who has lost two straight games.
Heat 108, 76ers 101
Tyler Herro scored 30 points, and Nikola Jovic added 23 points as Miami beat Philadelphia despite major changes to their roster.
The Heat had reportedly agreed to trade star Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors during the first half. Even with this news, Miami held off Philadelphia to earn their fourth win in six games.
Jovic shot 8-of-9 from the field, and Bam Adebayo added 18 points and 13 rebounds for Miami. Tyrese Maxey scored 31 points for Philadelphia.
