Miles McBride (#2) of the New york Knicks dribbles in the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Madison Square Garden in New York City, March 23, 2024. /CFP
The New York Knicks beat the Brooklyn Nets 105-93 at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Saturday, avoiding their third straight loss.
Junior guard Miles McBride played through every of the 48 minutes of the game, becoming the team's second to do so after Josh Hart. In fact, when Hart didn't rest at all against the Golden State Warriors on Monday, McBride played over 46 minutes on the court as well.
McBride shot 6-for-12 from downtown to score 26 points for the Knicks on Saturday. He, Donte DiVincenzo and Jalen Brunson combined to drain 13 triples out of 29 attempts for their side.
De'Aaron Fox (#5) of the Sacramento Kings shoots in the game against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, March 23, 2024./CFP
Other games on Saturday (away teams come first):
Sacramento Kings 109-107 Orlando Magic
The Kings ended the Magic's five-game winning streak thanks to the excellent performances by De'Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Murray at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. The three combined to drop 74 points, 29 rebounds and 14 assists. Fox got 21 of his 31 points in the second half, including 12 in the fourth quarter.
The Magic trailed by only one point (108-107) when there were 21.2 seconds left in the final period. Cole Anthony missed a 3-pointer from the right wing, but Jonathan Isaac grabbed the offensive rebound and then passed the ball to open Franz Wagner, who was open on the top of the key. Wagner missed a 3-pointer too. Anthony had the rebound and decided to charge the rim, yet he missed that shot again before the Magic fouled Keon Ellis.
Ellis made only one of his two free throws and left the Magic two seconds for the final attempt. Paolo Banchero forced a shot over the head of Fox, but it didn't go into the hoop.
Dejounte Murray (L) of the Atlanta Hawks steals the ball from Grant Williams of the Charlotte Hornets in the game at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, March 23, 2024. /CFP
Charlotte Hornets 91-132 Atlanta Hawks
The Hornets suffered more than their fourth straight and the season's 53rd loss at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday. They also lost their last remaining hope of appearing in the playoffs, or at least the play-in tournament in the East.
Dejounte Murray scored 28 points, seven rebounds, 12 assists and five steals for the Hawks in 30 minutes. Bruno Fernando and Garrison Mathews got 25 and 20 points, respectively, for the team off the bench.
Jordan Poole (L) of the Washington Wizards passes in the game against the Toronto Raptors at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2024. /CFP
Toronto Raptors 109-112 Washington Wizards
The Wizards extended the Raptors' losing streak to 10 games as six of their players reached double-digit points at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., on Saturday. Both Deni Avdija and Richaun Holmes had double-doubles of points and rebounds. Holmes grabbed seven on the offensive glass. Jordan Poole contributed a double-double of 18 points and 12 assists.
Jayson Tatum (L) of the Boston Celtics shoots in the game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, March 23, 2024. /CFP
Boston Celtics 124-113 Chicago Bulls
Resting three of their five starters didn't keep the Celtics from securing their ninth consecutive win at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on Saturday. Jayson Tatum, Sam Hauser and Al Horford all got over 20 points. This was the team's 20th win in their past 22 games. As the leaders of the East, the Celtics are currently 11.5 games above the Milwaukee Bucks, who have no more than 12 games to go. They have basically locked up the regular season title.
Jalen Green (#4) of the Houston Rockets dunks in the game against the Utah Jazz at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, March 23, 2024. /CFP
Utah Jazz 119-147 Houston Rockets
Jalen Green scored 41 points for the Rockets at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, on Saturday, extending the team's winning streak to eight games. He already had 306 points in March, becoming the fourth player to surpass 300 points after Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant and Tatum. The Rockets knocked down 27 3-pointers in this game, only one away from matching the franchise record.
Kevin Durant (#35) of the Phoenix Suns shoots in the game against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, March 23, 2024. /CFP
Phoenix Suns 131-106 San Antonio Spurs
The Suns' "Big Three," Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, combined to drop 70 points in Saturday's game at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. Durant made 12 of his 16 field goal (FG) attempts. Beal had a double-double of 13 points and 12 assists, the most since he joined the Suns.
Aaron Gordon (#50) of the Denver Nuggets dunks in the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, March 23, 2024. /CFP
Denver Nuggets 114-111 Portland Trail Blazers
Both of the Nuggets' star duo, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, sat out on the game at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday. Aaron Gordon led the team to victory with 22 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three blocks. Eight of his rebounds were on the offensive glass. Reggie Jackson went to the free throw line 11 times to add 23 points for the Nuggets.