Last night’s NBA action was nothing but games between surprising teams with great defensive skills. This is also reflected in the fact that most teams ended up scoring over 100 points each. The NBA is giving us more and more to talk about and, as time goes by, the competition gets stiffer and stiffer.

Trail Blazers Top The Heat

The combination of CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard led the Portland Trail Blazers to defeat the Miami Heat, 125-122, in an intense final game on Thursday night. Lillard was able to save the night after making three free throws with one second left, giving his team the edge it needed to pull out the well-deserved victory. Miami’s Trevor Ariza was the player who fouled Lillard, and these shots were not wasted at all by the talented player. The Blazers snapped a two-game slide with the win.

For Miami, Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo scored 29 points each. This team dropped its fifth straight and fell to 22-23. The Trail Blazers now fly to Orlando to face the Magic, while the Heat travel to play the Charlotte Hornets. Both games will be tomorrow night.

The fourth quarter was pivotal for Alec Burks as he scored 15 of his 27 total points to help the New York Knicks defeat the Washington Wizards 106-102 on Thursday night. To contribute to this victory, RJ Barrett also sweated the shirt, after scoring 24 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, while teammate Immanuel Quickley got 16 points.

The final period was definitely owned by the Knicks, where they outscored their opponent 39-24, and with Barrett making a key 3-pointer. On the other hand, Bradley Beal was able to get 26 points and nine assists for the Wizards but shot just 8 for 23. Both teams will be able to rest for a day, as they return to the court Saturday. The Wizards stay at home to host the Detroit Pistons, while the Knicks will pay a visit to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Clippers Continue Finding Game

The LA Clippers are on a four-game winning streak, and last night they put on a good performance despite missing much of their bench. Even when the San Antonio Spurs took a 9-point lead in the second quarter, the Clippers decided to come back with all their potential to take control of the game and beat the Spurs 98-85 Thursday night. Reggie Jackson was a great contributor after scoring a total of 28 points, while his teammate Paul George managed to score 24 points and 13 rebounds. Hours before this game, the Clippers had traded Lou Williams to the Atlanta Hawks.

Kawhi Leonard, Serge Ibaka, Marcus Morris, and Patrick Beverly were part of the Clippers’ absences. For the Spurs, DeMar DeRozan got 23 points, and Dejounte Murray added 18. The Clippers and Spurs remain in their homes to host the Philadelphia 76ers and Chicago Bulls, respectively, on Saturday night.

Danny Green got to face his former team, and he did it with honors. The talented player was able to score eight 3-pointers as he reached 28 points, which helped the Philadelphia 76ers defeat the defending NBA champion LA Lakers, 109-101 on Thursday night. For the Eastern Conference-leading Sixers, Seth Curry scored 19 points, while teammate Tobias Harris added 17 more. This team has won 10 of 11 overall and seven of eight without the need of injured All-Star Joel Embiid.

Lakers Still Can’t Hit Their Mark

The absence of superstars Anthony Davis and James has been taking its toll on the Lakers, and it has not been favorable. They remain winless since James sprained his ankle last Sunday. The 109-101 loss last night at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers dropped the Lakers down another notch.

Still, Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell tried their best after scoring 25 and 20 points, respectively. The 76ers continue to challenge a LA team, but now it will be the Clippers on Saturday night. Meanwhile, the Lakers remain at home to host the Cleveland Cavaliers tomorrow night.