The Golden State Warriors outscored the Orlando Magic 30-11 in the third quarter and looked to be on their way to a win with Kevin Durant out for rest purposes. However, the Warriors scored just 15 points in the final quarter and came out on the losing end of this game. It marks the third loss in four games for the defending champions, and their second straight.
The Philadelphia 76ers battled the Oklahoma City Thunder in a game where both Joel Embiid and Paul George missed the contest due to injuries. The Thunder did erase a double-digit deficit to fight back into the game, but the Sixers proved to be too much behind 32 points from Tobias Harris.
Meanwhile, James Harden put on a show against the Miami Heat as he scored 58 points and was only three points from tying his career-high. The Rockets came away with a hard-fought victory.
In addition, the Cleveland Cavaliers came away with a win over the New York Knicks in a game that could've been billed as the Zion Williamson bowl. The Indiana Pacers also outlasted the Minnesota Timberwolves behind 37 points from Bojan Bogdanovic. Karl-Anthony Towns filled up the stat sheet with 42 points, 17 rebounds and four assists for the Timberwolves in the defeat.
The Utah Jazz capped off the night with a hard-fought victory over the Denver Nuggets, who are currently at the top of the Western Conference. Five Utah players finished in double-figures and Donovan Mitchell paced the team with 24 points.
NBA scores for Thursday, Feb. 28
- Orlando Magic 103, Golden State Warriors 96 (Box Score)
- Indiana Pacers 122, Minnesota Timberwolves 115 (Box Score)
- Cleveland Cavaliers 125, New York Knicks 118 (Box Score)
- Houston Rockets 121, Miami Heat 118 (Box Score)
- Philadelphia 76ers 108, Oklahoma City Thunder 104 (Box Score)
- Utah Jazz 111, Denver Nuggets 104 (Box Score)
NBA schedule for Friday, March 1
*All times Eastern
- Chicago Bulls at Atlanta Hawks, 7:30 p.m. (GameTracker) -- Watch on fuboTV with NBA League Pass extension
- Charlotte Hornets at Brooklyn Nets, 7:30 p.m. (GameTracker) -- Watch on fuboTV with NBA League Pass extension
- Portland Trail Blazers at Toronto Raptors, 8 p.m. (GameTracker) -- TV: ESPN
- Washington Wizards at Boston Celtics, 8 p.m. (GameTracker) -- Watch on fuboTV with NBA League Pass extension
- New Orleans Pelicans at Phoenix Suns, 9 p.m. (GameTracker) -- Watch on fuboTV with NBA League Pass extension
- Los Angeles Clippers at Sacramento Kings, 10 p.m. (GameTracker) -- Watch on fuboTV with NBA League Pass extension
- Milwaukee Bucks at Los Angeles Lakers, 10:30 p.m. (GameTracker) -- TV: ESPN
Korver dazzles from distance
Kyle Korver has always had a knack for knocking down 3-pointers without much room. The sharpshooting guard did it once again against the Nuggets, as he drilled six 3s on the night to finish with 22 points.
🗣🗣🗣He's done it again! pic.twitter.com/XiasKAtNJ9
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 1, 2019
Gobert throws one down with authority
Rudy Gobert is definitely one of the more underrated centers in the NBA. While being known for his defense, Gobert threw this huge slam dunk down with two hands in the second quarter against the Nuggets.
Rudy Gobert DOWN HARD with two! 😤
— NBA (@NBA) March 1, 2019
Halftime on @NBAonTNT:#TeamIsEverything 52#MileHighBasketball 37
Joe Ingles: 12 PTS, 5 AST
Derrick Favors: 8 PTS, 8 REB pic.twitter.com/jrd179vIHa
Jokic sets up Plumlee for easy slam
Nikola Jokic really can do it all for the Nuggets. While he's had a knack for scoring the basketball, the star big man dished out this spectacular pass to Mason Plumlee, who deposited a two-handed slam dunk against the Jazz.
Jokic in the post... "OH, WHAT A PASS!"#MileHighBasketball 16#TeamIsEverything 9
— NBA (@NBA) March 1, 2019
📺: @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/TkvB8uHdB2
Harris leads 76ers past Thunder
Without Joel Embiid in the lineup, Tobias Harris took it upon himself to pick up the scoring slack. Harris finished with 32 points and connected on five 3-pointers in a win for the 76ers.
.@tobias31 knocked down 5 triples along with 32 PTS to lead the @sixers past the Thunder in OKC! 🔥#HereTheyCome pic.twitter.com/0oHNeLleL4
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 1, 2019
Harden explodes for 58 points in win
James Harden has had a knack for scoring outbursts this season as he scored 30 or more points in 32 consecutive games before having the streak snapped earlier this week. Harden went off for 58 points against the Heat and the Rockets needed every one of them to squeak out a victory.
James Harden ERUPTS for 58 PTS (8 3PM), 10 AST, 7 REB.. his 6th 50+ point game of the season.. lifting the @HoustonRockets over Miami!#Rockets 121#HeatCulture 118
— NBA (@NBA) March 1, 2019
Austin Rivers: 17 PTS, 3 3PM
Chris Paul: 14 PTS, 6 REB, 4 AST pic.twitter.com/7GN0sVNN5H
Wade certainly has still got it
Dwyane Wade has definitely proved this week that he still has plenty of gas left in the tank. After nailing a game-winning 3-pointer on Wednesday, he faked Clint Capela and Austin Rivers out of their shoes and converted a layup that looked fairly routine on Thursday.
Dwyane Wade reaches in his bag! #OneLastDance #HeatCulture pic.twitter.com/i3NttogYIt
— NBA (@NBA) March 1, 2019
Simmons deposits loud slam
The 76ers really had a stellar first half in which they led by double-digits over the Thunder. On this play, Philadelphia made it look easy from a passing standpoint and it resulted with a vocal one-handed slam dunk from Ben Simmons.
Jimmy B ➡️ Mike Scott ➡️ Ben! 💪
— NBA (@NBA) March 1, 2019
Halftime on @NBAonTNT:#HereTheyCome 60#ThunderUp 49
Tobias Harris: 15 PTS, 2 3PM
Russell Westbrook: 13 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST pic.twitter.com/xxZzDNQQk2
Harden launches one from the logo
James Harden has never been afraid to launch some difficult 3s during his NBA career. However, Harden attempted one from "the parking lot" in the first quarter against the Heat, and made it look incredibly easy.
The Beard pulled up from the parking lot. 🏀💦#Rockets pic.twitter.com/FNqwSTlgSf
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 1, 2019
Cousins rocks the rim
DeMarcus Cousins has been a mixed bag since returning to the court for the Warriors. However, he proved to be the true difference-maker in the third quarter against the Magic with 10 points in the frame, including this thunderous throw-down.
Boogie added a little something extra! 😤#DubNation pic.twitter.com/6y3QbI5CaC
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 1, 2019
Robinson rocks the rim on alley-oop
The New York Knicks haven't had a ton of bright spots this season, but rookie big man Mitchell Robinson definitely has been one of them recently. Robinson got involved in the early going when he threw down a monstrous slam dunk off an alley-oop from teammate Emmanuel Mudiay.
OH MY, @23savage____! 😳#NewYorkForever pic.twitter.com/Yt97gJ67f7
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 1, 2019
Towns explodes for 23 points in first quarter
It's really hard to expect a better start than the one Karl-Anthony Towns turned in against the Pacers. Towns exploded for 23 points in the opening quarter and knocked down 8-of-16 field goal attempts.
Career quarter-high 23 points in the 1st for Karl-Anthony Towns! #AllEyesNorth pic.twitter.com/eqbc8NF8tc
— NBA (@NBA) March 1, 2019
Gordon throws down thunderous slam
It's been no secret that Aaron Gordon can throw down slam dunks with the best of them, and that's one of the reasons that the Magic see him as a huge part of their future. In the opening quarter against the Warriors, Gordon got some space and deposited a ferocious one-handed slam dunk
MY G👀DNESS, @Double0AG! #PureMagic pic.twitter.com/znLm1vtBz8
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) March 1, 2019
Curry puts defense on skates
The Warriors didn't have a stellar start to their game against the Magic. However, Stephen Curry did have it going on, including this sensational drive in which he navigated his way through the entire Orlando defense.
Steph breaks out the handles for the @warriors! #DubNation
— NBA (@NBA) March 1, 2019
💻📱: https://t.co/yTkITWsvb6 pic.twitter.com/oQy9x2Q7sV