news

Nightly Pulse: NBA News & Highlights from Jan. 24

Follow along with the highlights, scores and reaction from tonight’s NBA games.

🏀 Friday Night Action 🎬 

Pelicans 102, Hornets 97

76ers 132, Cavaliers 129

Grizzlies 139, Pelicans 126


⛹️‍♂️ Top Stories of the Night 📰

  • Philadelphia breaks seven-game losing streak: What’s most encouraging for the 76ers fanbase, not only did they finally win a game, they beat the team with the league’s best record. Having lost to the Cavaliers twice already, the win proves that they can hang with the anyone. They now must carry the momentum into the All-Star break. The team has 11 games between now and February 12th. With a 16-27 record, they’ll need to pile up some wins to keep postseason hopes alive.
  • Memphis rolls deep: The Grizzlies can score the ball, no matter who is in the lineup it appears. Tonight, the team had no Ja Morant or Santi Aldama, but it was a non-factor in the outcome. Luke Kennard, Zach Edey, GG Jackson and more all had impactful contributions. The reserves combined for 42 points, just shy of their league-leading average of 46.6. Desmond Bane excelled as the lead distributor with 14 assists.
  • Portland putting together some wins: While the Trailblazers rebuild continues, it’s encouraging to see the team now on a four-game winning streak. Tonight, they toppled the Hornets by playing stingy defense. They forced 16 turnovers and were in constant attack mode offensively, finishing with 39 free throw attempts. Over this winning stretch of play, they’ve held teams to an average of 96.3 points per game. That’s much lower than their season average of 115.2 points allowed per game.

🌟 Tonight’s Top Performers 🌟

  1. Donovan Mitchell: 37 points (12-23 FG, 7-13 3PM), seven assists, three rebounds, three steals
  2. Paul George: 30 points (11-21 FG, 6-11 3PM), five assists, three rebounds, one steal
  3. Jaren Jackson Jr.: 29 points (10-16 FG, 5-9 3PM), seven assists, five rebounds, one block
  4. Ty Jerome: 33 points (11-14 FG, 8-8 3PM), three assists, three rebounds, two steals
  5. Desmond Bane: 20 points (9-18 FG, 2-7 3PM), 14 assists

🐻 Depth Paying Dividends 💪

A total of seven players scored 10 or more points for the Grizzlies, who cruised to a 139-126 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Jaren Jaclson Jr. led them all with 29 points with five made threes. Desmond Bane thrived as the lead playmaker, posting a 20-point, 14-assist double-double. Luke Kennard followed up a 23-point performance with 27 points tonight.

Momentum shifted in Memphis’ favor in the second half, and they never relinquished a grip on the game. The team put up 43 points in the period alone.

Monster Missi Throwdowns 🤧

Tonight has turned into an Yves Missi highlight compilation. The Baylor big man is unphased by the matchup with 7’4” Zach Edey. On one play he fakes him out before finishing off the dribble. Moments before that he dunked all over Edey in what may be the best slam of the night.


Maxey & PG Combine for 59 ♨️

The 76ers earn their first win in more than two weeks as they hang on to upset the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was a sight to see for Philly fans as Paul George and Tyrese Maxey were too much for Cleveland to contain. George sank six threes on the night as all five starters notched double-digits.

Donovan Mitchell’s 37 points weren’t enough for the win. Ty Jerome finished with 33 off the bench, shooting 8-8 from long range. A costly error on a sideline inbounds play in the final seconds hampered Philadelphia’s chance to extend the game into overtime.

Deni And-1 Dagger 🗡️

Portland wins their fourth consecutive game by taking down the Hornets. It’s the team’s longest winning streak of the season. Deni Avdija had 18 points, including this one-man fastbreak to put the finnishing touches on this one.

Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant led the Trailblazers in scoring, with 27 and 22 points respectively. Nick Smith Jr. led the way for Charlotte with 17 points, followed by the recently-acquired Josh Okogie who had 16.

Simons from DEEP ☄️🔥

Anfernee Simons is stepping up big time for Portland on the road. He’s got 25 points to lead all scorers, and is making shots like this one that you simply can’t guard.

Portland leads Charlotte by six with three minutes to play, as the team looks for their fourth consecutive win.


10-0 Philly Run 👀

This Paul George three brought the crowd to its feet, capping a 10-0 Philadelphia run and forcing a Cleveland timeout. PG has been superb, with an efficient 28 points tonight. If Philly hangs on, they can finally snap a seven-game losing streak.

Down to the Wire 😬🍿

Ty Jerome is a flame-thrower from deep tonight. He’s tied his career-high with seven threes, and he’s up to 29 points on the night.

He drained this triple as the third quarter buzzer sounded.

The 76ers have answers, however. We’re set up for an exciting finish as the game enters the final five minutes.


Stealing the Spotlight 🔦

CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murray have been a problem for Memphis, combining for 25 points in the first half. The teams are just about knotted up halfway through the second quarter.

Meanwhile Luke Kennard’s hot shooting has rolled over from the last game. He’s got 14 points, leading all Grizzlies, along with four made threes.

 

Trading Blows 🥊

Cleveland and Philadelphia are locked in a close one at halftime, as the Cavs lead 67-64. Donovan Mitchell reached a team-high 16 points with a drive and finish ahead of the buzzer.

Paul George finished the half with nine points, highlighted by this two-hand slam.


👇 Pels-Griz Starting 5️⃣

There’s some star power watching from the sideline tonight as Zion Williamson and Ja Morant are inactive. Memphis will roll Luke Kennard with the starters. He sank seven threes en route to 23 points in his last game.

New Orleans gets rookie standout Yves Missi back following a two-game absence.

✨🏀 Ball Movement 🏀✨

The Hornets string together some fancy ball movement for this corner three. Vasilije Micić got the starting nod with LaMelo Ball out, and he dazzled the crowd with this behind-the-back dime.


Running the Score Up
🥵

Cleveland lived up to their reputation, scoring 30+ points in the first period. Philadelphia outshined, however, nearly crossing the 40-point mark.

With a 39-33 lead after one, the 76ers have a shot to break their seven-game skid.

Tyrese Maxey leads all scorers with 14 points. He hit a trio of first-quarter triples, including this one courtesy of a smooth stepback.


Picture-Perfect Block 📸✋

Donovan Clingan has been tremendous defensively, showing his rim protection skills with a massive block on Mark Williams.

🐝 Hornets Rolling to end 1Q

Charlotte takes the lead to end the first quarter 30-22, on the back of a 14-0 scoring run. Josh Green sank two threes in the quarter, the team sank six in total.



🔑 Cleveland’s Keys
🔑 

Starting out strong is something the Cavaliers have done often this season. They average 31.2 points in the opening quarter, second best in the NBA.

The 76ers score the third-fewest points in the first quarter, averaging 26.4 so far this year. They’ll hope to keep it close early to have a shot at taking down the conference’s top team.

LaMelo Sidelined

Charlotte announced their starting five for tonight, which will not include LaMelo Ball who was scratched due to a sprained wrist. Miles Bridges will miss this contest as well. Add in Brandon Miller who is out for the year and the Hornets will be without their top-three scorers on the year.



Notes for the Night 📓✍️

1. Portland must stop Mark Williams: The Charlotte big man is balling out of control over his last five, posting averages of 25 points and 14 rebounds with more than a steal and block per game in that stretch. Most recently he poured in a career-high 38 points in a loss to the Grizzlies. With DeAndre Ayton and Robert Williams sidelined tonight, expect Williams to be a handful offensively.
2. Philly winless against Cavs: The 76ers have been without former-MVP Joel Embiid for much of the year, tonight is no exception. Except this time, the Cavaliers will be without Evan Mobley which slightly evens the deck. Philadelphia is in serious need of a win as they’re on a seven-game losing streak.
3. Memphis jockeying for 2nd in the West: The Grizzlies are among a group of teams chasing the conference’s 2nd best record. They enter tonight a half game behind Houston for that mark, with the Denver Nuggets only a half game behind them. New Orleans will not have Zion Williamson in the lineup, but a streaking Trey Murphy III, CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murray will be looking for the upset win.

Latest