NBA: Unbeaten Blazers beat Doncic's Lakers 136-129 as Tatum's 40 includes overtime buzzer-beater
Five Portland players scored in double figures as the Blazers went 3-0. Tatum's buzzer-beater sank Brooklyn, the Knicks got their first win and Wembanyama scored 29.
The Portland Trail Blazers are 3-0. On Tuesday night they won a meeting of unbeaten teams in Los Angeles, beating the Lakers 136-129 even though Luka Doncic scored 41 points. On the same night Jayson Tatum scored 40 and hit an overtime buzzer-beater for Boston, the New York Knicks got their first win of the season, and Victor Wembanyama led San Antonio past Sacramento. The games tipped off on Wednesday morning Malaysian time.
Blazers' guards hold off Doncic
Portland spread the scoring around. Deni Avdija had 23 points and nine assists, Ja Morant also scored 23, Jrue Holiday added 22 off the bench and Damian Lillard had 21. Robert Williams III (14 points, 10 rebounds) and Donovan Clingan (nine points, 10 rebounds) both reached double figures in rebounds. Portland shot 46-of-78 from the field, about 59 per cent, and made half of their 36 three-point attempts.
The lead changed hands late in the game. A Lillard three-pointer and a technical free throw made it 123-121 to Portland with 3:36 left, and Avdija hit a three soon after. Morant's floater made it 130-127 with about two minutes remaining. Lillard then hit another three, from an Avdija kick-out, for a 135-129 lead with 42.8 seconds left. Holiday made the final free throws. The Lakers missed their last three shots and also turned the ball over late.
Doncic had 41 points and nine assists, and Austin Reaves added 26 points and seven assists. It was the first loss of the season for Los Angeles, who are now 3-1. Portland host the 4-0 Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday night.
Tatum wins it at the buzzer in Brooklyn
Boston beat the Brooklyn Nets 125-124 in overtime. Tatum scored 40 points and made 18 of his 22 free throws, and Paul George added 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Brooklyn were behind 117-114 late in the fourth quarter when Mikel Brown Jr hit a three-pointer with one second left to force overtime. Tatum ended the game with an elbow jumper as time ran out. It was Boston's third win in a row. The Nets are 0-4, despite 27 points and 12 rebounds from Michael Porter Jr and 24 points from Julius Randle.
Knicks avoid 0-4 start
The Knicks beat the Detroit Pistons 111-97 for their first win of the season. Karl-Anthony Towns had 27 points and a season-high 20 rebounds, and Jalen Brunson added 23 points and seven assists. New York decided the game in the third quarter, outscoring Detroit 37-13, and then held off a Pistons rally in the fourth. Cade Cunningham had 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for Detroit, and Paul Reed scored 22.
Wembanyama needs only 27 minutes
San Antonio scored 80 points in the first half against Sacramento, their most in a half this season. Their 23 assists and 13 three-pointers in that half were also season highs. Wembanyama finished with 29 points and 10 rebounds in 27 minutes, and Julian Champagnie added 26 as the Spurs won their second game in a row. Sacramento are 0-4. Domantas Sabonis had 20 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists in the loss.
Key takeaways
- Portland beat the Lakers 136-129 to stay unbeaten at 3-0, with five players scoring in double figures.
- Doncic's 41 points were not enough, and the Lakers lost for the first time this season.
- Tatum scored 40, including the overtime winner at the buzzer, as Boston beat Brooklyn 125-124.
- Towns had 27 points and 20 rebounds as the Knicks beat Detroit 111-97 for their first win.
- Brooklyn and Sacramento are both 0-4.
FAQ
Who is still unbeaten in the NBA? After Tuesday's games, Portland are 3-0 and Memphis are 4-0. The two teams play each other in Portland on Thursday night (US time).
How did Jayson Tatum win the game against the Nets? Brooklyn tied the game with Mikel Brown Jr's three-pointer with one second left in regulation. Tatum then hit a jumper from the elbow as time expired in overtime to win it 125-124. He finished with 40 points.
When do NBA games tip off in Malaysia? Most NBA evening games start between 7pm and 10:30pm US Eastern Time. Until US clocks change on 1 November, that is between 7am and 10:30am the next morning in Malaysia.
Sources: Al Jazeera, KATU, ESPN, NBA.com