NBA news and highlights: Klay Thompson's game-winner, Kevin Durant scores 44 and Collin Sexton goes for career-high to beat Rockets

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Kyle Irving
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• 7 min read
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There's seven games of NBA action tonight with some of the league's top teams and talent on display.

We have you covered with all the top storylines, best fantasy performers, can't-miss highlights and box scores from everything around the Association.

Top Storylines

The Cavaliers pull off another upset

Entering this week with two wins to show for the beginning of the season, the Cavaliers have now pulled off two wins in a row over two 2018 playoff teams. They handed the 76ers their first home loss of the season on Friday and on a back-to-back, they beat the Chris Paul-less Houston Rockets.

The reigning MVP James Harden went off for 40 points but the Cavs' rookie point guard Collin Sexton dueled it out with him by scoring a career-high 29 points to carry his team to victory.

After scoring 15 points in the first half, Sexton went for 10 in the third quarter alone. Eric Gordon single-handedly kept Houston in the game with 13 points on three made 3-pointers but the Rockets still trailed by 10 going into the final quarter.

They cut the Cavaliers' lead to a close as four points with five minutes remaining but Cleveland responded with two consecutive pull-up jumpers from Jordan Clarkson and Sexton to get the lead back to double-digits before closing out the game down the stretch.

Tristan Thompson was a monster in the win as well, notching a double-double with 16 points and 20 rebounds. The Cavaliers are now 4-14 and the Rockets fall back to .500 at 9-9.

Thompson's game-winner, Durant's 44 squeaks Warriors past Kings

If I had told you that Kevin Durant was going to score 44 points versus the Kings tonight, would you have guessed the Warriors would have only won by one point?

He and Klay Thompson combined for 75 points tonight to pull off the victory over the Kings.

Trailing by four at the half, Thompson got going in the third quarter scoring 15 points on three 3-pointers to give the Warriors a two-point lead going into the fourth quarter. They surrenderd that lead and trailed by as much as six points with six minutes left in the game; that's when Durant took over. He buried a three, followed by an and-1 mid-range jumper to tie the game with 5:48 on the clock.

With the score tied and a minute and a half remaining KD attacked the rim, drawing a foul and sinking both free throws to give the Warriors a two-point lead. He then blocked Willie Cauley-Stein's shot attempt but Marvin Bagley III grabbed the offensive rebound and was fouled on the putback. He only made one of two free throws, the Kings came up with a stop, De'Aaron Fox got to the free throw line and sank them both to give Sacramento a one-point lead with 26 seconds on the clock.

Then, this happend:


The Warriors came up with a stop on the other end to earn their second straight win to advance to 14-7 on the season with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green's returns on the horizon. The Kings fall to 10-9 despite their valiant effort.

Bucks' big fourth quarter earns win over Spurs

In a close game throughout it's entirety, the Spurs seemed in control until the final frame.

The Bucks exploded for 40 points in the fourth quarter behind a 14-point effort from Giannis Antetokounmpo to come from behind and beat San Antonio. Antetokounmpo finished with 34 points, 18 rebounds and eight assists to edge the stellar night from DeMar DeRozan, who had 34 points, seven assists and four rebounds.

DeRozan knocked down a jumper with 7:20 on the clock in the fourth quarter to give the Spurs a 10-point lead at 114-104. Milwaukee took a 7-0 run to cut that lead to just three points in only a minute of play. Trailng by one with three and a half minutes in the game, Malcolm Brogdon drove the lane to give the Bucks the lead but DeRozan came right back to put the Spurs ahead.

The Bucks came up with a stop and Giannis knocked down a pair of free throws and they never gave up the lead again. Every time the Spurs hit a clutch shot, Milwaukee responded right back but no shot was bigger than this dagger by Brogdon off a great pass from Eric Bledsoe:


The Bucks are now 14-5 with a firm grasp on second place in the East, while the Spurs drop below .500 at 9-10.

Best fantasy performers

Giannis Antetokounmpo - 34 points (9-16 FG, 16-20 FT), 18 rebounds, eight assists, two steals, one block

DeMar DeRozan - 34 points (13-26 FG), seven assists, four rebounds, one steal

Kevin Durant - 44 points (13-26 FG), 13 rebounds, seven assists, two blocks

James Harden - 40 points (14-30 FG, 5 3PM), 13 assists, four rebounds, one steal

Buddy Hield - 28 points (12-21 FG, 4-6 3PT), seven rebounds, three assists, one block

Otto Porter Jr. - 29 points (12-15 FG, 3-4 3PT), seven rebounds, four assists, two steals

Julius Randle - 29 points (10-16 FG), 15 rebounds, seven assists, one steal

Collin Sexton - 29 points (14-21 FG), four rebounds, two assists

Klay Thompson - 31 points (12-26, 5 3PM), four rebounds

Tristan Thompson - 16 points (6-12 FG), 20 rebounds, four steals, two assists

Karl-Anthony Towns - 35 points (13-23 FG), 22 rebounds, six assists, one steal

Russell Westbrook - 16 points (6-23 FG), 12 assists, 10 rebounds, one steal

Can't-miss highlights

Does Jamal Murray's pass or the camera angle make this a highlight? The answer is all the above.


Jerami Grant almost put this one on his own teammate! Instead, just on Nikola Jokic will suffice.


Mason Plumlee says not today.


Giannis windmill alert!


This is just ridiculous.


Kyrie with the hesi and the scoop – no right hand needed.


Now Kyrie's out here dropping dimes.


How the... how did Jamal Murray get this one to go?


Don't let the Timberwolves' social team fool you here, this KAT pass is the real highlight.


OH MY DeMar DeRozan!


Box scores

Rockets at Cavaliers

Pelicans at Wizards | Bulls at Timberwolves | Nuggets at Thunder

Celtics at Mavericks | Spurs at Bucks | Kings at Warriors

Author(s)
Kyle Irving Photo
Kyle Irving

Kyle Irving is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News.