Warriors star Klay Thompson became a different beast in the final quarter against the Lakers while Joel Embiid produced one of the dunks of the season as he enjoyed a 40-point triple-double.
Then the Philadelphia 76ers superstar gave Aussie Mattise Thybulle a huge rap.
Catch up on today’s action in our NBA Wrap!
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Sun, 13 Feb
Sunday February 13th
KLAY SPOILS LEBRON’S SPECIAL DAY AFTER EXPLOSIVE FOURTH QUARTER
Klay Thompson dropped 16 points in the fourth quarter to ruin LeBron James’ special day as the Golden State Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 117-115.
Before the final period, Thompson had only 17 points to his name across three quarters.
However, the star exploded into life as the Warriors eked out a narrow win over the luckless Lakers.
Thompson’s 33 points was his most in a game since March 8 2019.
Earlier in the match, James officially became the greatest scorer in NBA history after eclipsing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record of having the highest combined regular season and postseason points in history.
James needed only 19 points to surpass Abdul-Jabbar and moved ahead of the basketball great when he scored a three-pointer less than five minutes into the second half against the Golden State Warriors, giving him 21 points for the game and 44,152 points across his entire career.
JOSH GIDDEY MAKES NBA HISTORY WITH SECOND TRIPLE-DOUBLE
As if Josh Giddey becoming the youngest player to record a triple-double in NBA history wasn’t enough, he’s done it again.
The Aussie star, aged 19 and 126 days, has put up his second triple-double at the second-youngest age ever to do so in the OKC Thunder’s game against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday (all times AEDT).
Click here for the full story and the incredible reaction to Giddey’s latest feat!
EMBIID’S MONSTER DUNK, PRAISE FOR ‘UNBELIEVABLE’ AUSSIE
His name constantly came up in Ben Simmons-James Harden trade rumours but boy are the Philadelphia 76ers glad they held onto Matisse Thybulle.
While all the talk post-game was about Joel Embiid, who had 40 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, the MVP candidate heaped the praise on Thybulle after a 103-93 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Australian was a menace on the defensive end, with a career-high six steals to go with a block and six points.
“He’s incredible,” Embiid said.
“I don’t even know how to explain it. I’ve always thought that he’s the best perimeter defender in the league. His timing, his reaction, on-ball defence, his length, he’s just amazing. “That’s what we’re gonna need from him. Especially adding the new guys. He’s gonna be a big piece to what we’re trying to accomplish.”
Embiid then made a big statement, declaring: “He has a chance to be Defensive Player of the Year”, but crucially adding: “After I get it”.
Embiid was not the only one who felt that way though, with coach Doc Rivers also heaping the praise on Thybulle.
“His closing speed, I mean really, he’s the best I’ve ever seen in that,” Rivers said.
“There are so many times you think he’s out of position and he comes from behind or he shoots in the gap. I think the last probably two weeks he’s really getting better with shooting gaps, getting steals, being alert.
“I actually love his focus right now too. I think he’s really focused in on what he needs to do.”
While Embiid may have put the spotlight on his teammate, he himself sent tremors through the arena when he produced an almighty slam dunk.
Sixers teammate Georges Niang nicked the ball off the Cavs’ Jarrett Allen before faking a shot.
Spotting Embiid near the free-throw line, Niang dished the ball to the towering centre who proceeded to just about posterise Allen.
As Embiid once again did the heavy lifting for the Sixers, Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris chipped in with 16 and 11 points respectively.
KNICKS PRODUCE ALL-TIME CHOKE
The New York Knicks gagged on a 23-point advantage in the second half as the Portland Trail Blazers pounded them into submission in the second half with a 40-16 run and posted a 112-103, come-from-behind shocker.
The Knicks were outscored 35-11 in the fourth quarter from hell, and it’s going to be a looong red-eye home.
The Knicks finished their Western swing 1-4. In three of those losses, the Knicks had double-digit leads, including a 21-point bulge in Los Angeles.
They fell to 25-32, wasted one of Kemba Walker’s best games and couldn’t build on their shocking Golden State win.
The Blazers (23-34) are coming off a trade-deadline fire sale, but they still have the young Anfernee Simons, who finished with 30 points. Portland’s newly acquired Josh Hart scored 23 in his Blazers debut.
The Knicks were rolling along with Walker, who scored 23 points, sizzling and Julius Randle dominating again as he has all trip.
But Randle, facing hard double teams, quieted, and he committed two straight turnovers during the fourth-quarter blitz — bouncing a ball off his foot and out of bounds, then firing a pass that was intercepted.
The bold Blazers finally took the lead with 3:20 left on a dunk by Jusuf Nurkic as they dominated inside as the Knicks looked exhausted.
The Knicks got no help from Evan Fournier, who was 1-of-13, and Mitchell Robinson had an injury-ravaged nightmare, finishing with two points and no rebounds before leaving with an ankle injury in the third quarter.
Spared at Thursday’s trade deadline because of little interest, Walker put together his second strong game, getting to the rim and lofting in 3-pointers.
But Tom Thibodeau benched him down the stretch despite it being Walker’s first double-digit outing since Jan. 18.
Randle continued a Western spree, scoring 28 points, 16 rebounds and six assists, but it was all for naught. He scored just four points in the fourth quarter.
Rookie shooting guard Quentin Grimes, making his second straight for the injured RJ Barrett, pumped in 20 points, making five of seven 3-pointers.
This article first appeared on the New York Postand was reproduced with permission.
MORANT SURVIVES INJURY SCARE AGAINST HORNETS
Grizzlies star Ja Morant exited his side’s match against the Hornets with what appeared to be an ankle injury, although he later returned to the court in a major boost.
Morant limped off late in the third quarter with no visible reason as to why he might have been injured.
It didn’t stop him from helping the Grizzlies to its 40th win of the season, as Memphis emerged 125-118 victors over Charlotte.
Morant and guard Desmond Bane combined for 51 points, scoring 26 and 25 points respectively.
While Memphis took a big lead into the half-time break, the Hornets came roaring back in the second half to outscore the Grizzlies to the tune of 76-51.
The win was the Grizzlies’ fifth in a row.
ALL SCORES
TRAIL BLAZERS 112 KNICKS 103
PELICANS 114 SPURS 124
HORNETS 118 GRIZZLIES 125
WIZARDS 110 KINGS 123
SIXERS 103 CAVALIERS 93
RAPTORS 109 NUGGETS 110
HEAT 115 NETS 111
BULLS 106 THUNDER 101
MAVERICKS 97 CLIPPERS 99
WARRIORS 117 LAKERS 115
SUNS 132 MAGIC 105
This news is republished from another source. You can check the original article here