NBA Recap: November 17, 2024

Eleven games were played on Sunday in the NBA. Here's a recap of what happened:

Phoenix Suns 117-120 Minnesota Timberwolves

Julius Randle delivered a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to cap his 35-point performance and lift the Timberwolves to a thrilling victory over the Suns. Despite Devin Booker’s season-high 44 points, Phoenix couldn’t hold off Minnesota’s second-half surge. Anthony Edwards chipped in 24 points for the Wolves, with most of his contributions coming after halftime. The Suns led by as many as 16 but faltered late, allowing Minnesota to execute a perfect out-of-bounds play for the game-winner.

Miami Heat 110-119 Indiana Pacers

Myles Turner’s season-high 34 points powered the Pacers past a shorthanded Heat team. Indiana controlled the paint with a dominant 62-28 scoring edge while Bennedict Mathurin added 21 points and 12 rebounds. Tyler Herro’s 28 points couldn’t overcome Miami’s injuries, including Jimmy Butler’s absence due to a sprained ankle. Tyrese Haliburton overcame early shooting struggles to sink back-to-back 3-pointers that sealed Indiana’s bounce-back win after Friday's loss to Miami.

Charlotte Hornets 114-128 Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers extended their perfect season start to 15-0 behind Darius Garland’s 25 points and Ty Jerome’s career-matching 24. With Donovan Mitchell resting, Cleveland still dominated thanks to strong performances by Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, who combined for 44 points and 26 rebounds. LaMelo Ball led Charlotte with 31 points and 12 assists but couldn’t keep pace in the second half. Cleveland’s scorching 67% shooting in the first half set the tone for the victory.

Detroit Pistons 124-104 Washington Wizards

Cade Cunningham’s triple-double fueled the Pistons past the Wizards, handing Washington its eighth consecutive loss. Jaden Ivey poured in 28 points, while Malik Beasley added 26 to help Detroit maintain control throughout. Washington showed life in the second quarter but was undone by 17 turnovers and Detroit’s 27-11 edge in points off mistakes. The Pistons, now 7-8, look ahead in their rebuild as the Wizards’ struggles continue.

Denver Nuggets 90-105 Memphis Grizzlies

Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis with 20 points as the Grizzlies built a 24-point fourth-quarter lead to defeat the short-handed Nuggets. Missing Nikola Jokic for personal reasons, Denver struggled offensively and dropped its second straight game. Rookie Jaylen Wells added 15 points for Memphis, which used a 14-1 second-quarter run to gain control and outscored Denver 27-18 in the period. Memphis capitalized on fast-break opportunities, tallying 20 points in transition. The two teams face off again Tuesday in an NBA Cup game.

Atlanta Hawks 110-114 Portland Trail Blazers

Shaedon Sharpe’s 32 points, including a crucial 3-pointer in the final minute, powered Portland to a gritty win over Atlanta. The Blazers rallied from a 16-point first-half deficit, with Dalano Banton contributing 23 points and Sharpe scoring Portland’s last 11 points. Trae Young had 29 points for Atlanta and briefly gave the Hawks the lead late, but Portland’s resilience secured its third straight victory. Sharpe’s dynamic dunks and clutch shooting energized a team still navigating injuries to key players.

Brooklyn Nets 104-114 New York Knicks

Karl-Anthony Towns returned from injury with a dominant 26-point, 15-rebound performance to lead the Knicks past the Nets for their eighth straight win in the rivalry. OG Anunoby added 24 points as New York’s size and defense proved too much for Brooklyn’s depleted roster. Jalen Brunson struggled offensively but contributed 10 assists, helping the Knicks build and maintain a double-digit lead in the second half. Cam Johnson led Brooklyn with 22 points, but the Nets had no answer for Towns’ physicality in the paint.

Houston Rockets 143-107 Chicago Bulls

Fred VanVleet scored a season-high 28 points, and Alperen Sengun notched his second triple-double of the season with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists as the Rockets dominated Chicago. Houston overwhelmed the Bulls with a relentless attack in the paint, securing a commanding rebounding advantage (66-47) and shooting 52.4% from the field. Despite Zach LaVine’s 15 points, Chicago had no answers for Houston’s 41-point second quarter and 40-point third quarter. The Rockets extended their winning streak to five games while setting a season-high in points scored.

Dallas Mavericks 121-119 Oklahoma City Thunder

P.J. Washington stepped up in Luka Dončić’s absence, posting 27 points and a career-high 17 rebounds to lead Dallas to a nail-biting win over the Western Conference-leading Thunder. Kyrie Irving added 23 points as the Mavericks built a 14-point lead before fending off Oklahoma City’s late rally. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 36 points and had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds, but missed a free throw, and the Thunder's last-second shot was off the mark. Dallas capitalized on its size advantage, outrebounding Oklahoma City 53-29, to hand the Thunder just their third loss of the season.

Utah Jazz 105-116 LA Clippers

James Harden made history by moving into second place on the NBA’s career 3-point list while leading the Clippers to a bounce-back win over the Jazz. Harden tallied 20 points and 11 assists, with his milestone 3-pointer coming during a dominant first quarter. Ivica Zubac added 22 points and 11 rebounds as Los Angeles built a 23-point lead and held off a late Utah push. Jordan Clarkson scored 21 points for the Jazz, who dropped to 2-5 on the road. The Clippers notched their fourth straight home win at the Intuit Dome, ending a three-game losing streak.