Sunday Night Nail-Biters: Raptors and Wolves Survive in a Wild NBA Slate

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It was another wild night in the NBA as the league saw a few shockers and down-to-the-wire finishes. While several title contenders were missing their primary stars, the night proved that the league’s “next man up” culture is alive and well.

1. The Shorthanded Shock: Nuggets 108, Bucks 104

In the most improbable result of the night, the Denver Nuggets took down a healthy Milwaukee Bucks squad despite missing Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Jonas Valanciunas.

The Bench Spark: Tim Hardaway Jr. continued his Sixth Man of the Year campaign, torching the Bucks for 25 points (5-of-9 from deep) and a staggering +27 rating.
Gordon’s Lead: In just his fourth game back from injury, Aaron Gordon stepped into the starting center role and delivered 23 points and 6 rebounds, anchoring a defense that limited Milwaukee in the fourth.
Giannis’ Effort: Giannis Antetokounmpo was spectacular in defeat, posting a near triple-double with 31 points, 11 assists, and 8 rebounds, but a late block by Zeke Nnaji sealed the upset for Denver.

2. Heartbreak in the North: Raptors 116, 76ers 115

The Scotiabank Arena witnessed the game of the night as the Toronto Raptors escaped with a one-point victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Sixers had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but a contested mid-range jumper from Tyrese Maxey (38 points) rattled out.
The win keeps Toronto firmly in the 4th seed in the East, just 1.5 games behind the division-leading Knicks.
Scottie Barnes led the Raptors with 31 points while Jamal Shea notched a career-high 22.

3. The Great Escape: Timberwolves 104, Spurs 103

The Minnesota Timberwolves narrowly avoided an upset at home against a surging San Antonio Spurs team.

Minnesota started the game cold, falling behind 11-0, but clawed back behind a balanced defensive effort in the second half.
The Spurs, led by the tactical adjustments that have moved them to the 2nd seed in the West, nearly stole it late, but a crucial turnover in the final 10 seconds allowed Minnesota to run out the clock.
Anthony Edwards‘ 23 points led the Wolves, while Nas Reid added 17 points and 11 rebounds off the bench.

4. Thunder and Suns Roll On

OKC Dominance: The Oklahoma City Thunder moved to 32-7 on the season with a comfortable win over the Heat. Their 12-point margin belied a game they led by as many as 22, further cementing their status as the West’s team to beat.
Suns Breeze: Devin Booker and Royce O’Neale combined to dismantle the Wizards. Phoenix led 96-65 entering the fourth quarter, allowing coach Mike Budenholzer to rest his starters for the entire final frame.