Boston Downs the Champions: Tatum and Brown Silence Critics

Recent speculation suggested that Jayson Tatum's return might disrupt Boston's well-oiled machine, but the action on the Garden court quickly debunked those theories.

Tatum was a pivotal factor in the victory, recording a double-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists. However, his partner Jaylen Brown claimed the top scorer title, finishing the game with 31 points, along with eight rebounds and eight assists.

While Oklahoma relied almost exclusively on a red-hot Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (33 points, 8 assists), Joe Mazzulla's team showcased incredible depth. Boston boasted six players scoring in double figures:

• Payton Pritchard (14 points), Neemias Queta (13), Derrick White (12), and Baylor Scheierman (11) provided crucial energy off the bench.

• Conversely, support for the Thunder's leader was lacking – Chet Holmgren managed only 10 points, and Jalen Williams a mere 7.

The Miami Heat finally tasted victory after five consecutive losses, defeating Cleveland 120:103.

Norman Powell led the team with 19 points. Tyler Herro added 18, while Bam Adebayo posted a double-double (17 points, 10 rebounds). Nikola Jović did not feature in the game. For the Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell was the standout performer with 28 points.

San Antonio continues its impressive run, with Memphis becoming their latest victim (123:98). Victor Wembanyama effortlessly dominated the paint with 19 points and 15 rebounds.

For the Grizzlies, who will be without their star Ja Morant for the rest of the season, Gregory Jackson stood out with 20 points.