Let’s go through the key highlights from the NBA matches on Monday.Â
Here is the NBA Daily Recap for January 20, 2025, where we witnessed a total of eight matches in the NBA on MLK Day 2025 slate. The first encounter scheduled for MLK Day saw the Hornets recording a 110-105 win over the Mavericks.
We saw names like CJ McCollum scoring 45 points in Pelicans’ 145-119 win over the Jazz as well as Daniel Gafford contributing 31 points, 15 rebounds and 7 blocks for Mavericks’ 110-105 loss to the Hornets.
The day also saw the Celtics handing the Warriors their worst home loss in 40 years as they recorded a 125-85 win. Let’s go through the key highlights from the NBA matches on Monday.
The Charlotte Hornets extended their winning streak to three games as they defeated the Dallas Mavericks 110-105. During the gameplay, LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges each scored 23 points for the Hornets. On the other hand, Kyrie Irving scored 33 points, while Daniel Gafford came up with a career-high performance of 31 points and 15 rebounds for the Mavericks.
It was Mavs’ fourth loss in their last five games. In the upcoming game, the Mavs will host Minnesota, while the Hornets will be up against the Grizzlies.
In the second match-up of the day, the Pistons got a 107-96 win over the Houston Rockets. Cade Cunningham came up with a game-high performance of 32 points with nine rebounds and 7 assists, after scoring 19 points in the third quarter.
For the Rockets, Fred VanVleet scored 20 points with 5 rebounds and 2 assists, which was followed by Jalen Green’s 19 points with four rebounds and 4 assists. In their next match, Houston will host Cleveland while the Rockets clash against Atlanta on Wednesday.
The Memphis Grizzlies came up with a close 108-106 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third match of the MLK Day 2025. Memphis, who won its third straight game, had Jaren Jackson Jr. scoring 24 points and 10 rebounds. He came up with 15 points in the final quarter, while Desmond Bane contributed 24 points.
Minnesota’s top performance came from Anthony Edwards with 32 points while Naz Reid added 29 points. The team was without guard Donte Divincenzo due to a big toe injury. In upcoming games on Wednesday, Minnesota will lock horns with Dallas while Memphis will clash against Charlotte.
Jalen Brunson added 34 points with six assists and one rebound while Mikal Bridges came up with a solid 26-pointer performance as the Knicks took down the Hawks 119-110.
As Brunson crossed the 30-point mark, he recorded his 68th 30+ point game for the Knicks, which helped the side record the figures of 28-16. Brunson converted a backdoor setup, which ultimately helped the side gain a 107-100 lead. Hawks’ top performance came from Trae Young, who chipped in 27 points with three rebounds and six assists.
In the next game, the Knicks will be in an interborough encounter with the Nets on Tuesday while Atlanta looks forward to hosting the Pistons on Wednesday.
Donovan Mitchell led the Eastern Conference leaders with his 33 points and five rebounds and five assists to dominate the Suns 118-92. Apart from Mitchell, Darius Garland added 16 points with seven assists and 2 rebounds.
Kevin Durant was the leading scorer for the Suns with 23 points, seven rebounds and 1 assist. Devin Booker, Tyus Jones and Grayson Allen chipped in 15 points, 13 points and 10 points, respectively. The Cavs, who opened the season with 15 straight wins, are set to lock horns with Brooklyn on Wednesday, while the Cavaliers clash against Houston on the same day.
The Boston Celtics recorded a major blowout win over the Golden State Warriors 125-85 and handed them their worst home loss in four decades. Star guard Stpehen Curry led the team with 18 points, four assists and three rebounds, while Moses Moody added 13 points.
The Celtics dominated throughout the game and displayed brilliant performance with Jayson Tatum’s lead performance of 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Kristaps Porzingis recorded 18 points with seven rebounds and two assists. In their next match ups,Celtics will visit the Los Angeles Clippers while the Warriors, sitting 11th in the standings, are set to be against Sacramento.
The New York Pelicans made their largest comeback in their history as they overcame a 25-point gap to beat the Utah Jazz 123-119. CJ McCollum emerged as his side’s hero as he scored 45 points and six of them in overtime. Dejounte Murry added 26 points and 11 assists while Murry came up with 24 points for the Pelicans. The side was without Zion Williamson and Yves Missi with illness.
On the Jazz side, Keyonte George hit 23 points while Isaiah Collier had 20 points and 11 assists. Both sides will be in action on Wednesday, with the Jazz clashing against Oklahoma City while the Pelicans lock horns with Milwaukee.
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In the final match-up of the day, the Chicago Bulls dominated the LA Clippers 112-99 and ended their five-game losing streak. The court was mainly dominated by Zach LaVine, who recorded 35 points while Talen Horton-Tucker came up with 18 points. The Clippers, who saw their four-game winning streak coming to an end, were without starters Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac.
Norman Powell scored 27 points while James Harden contributed 17 points. The game saw LaVine reaching a new high, as he put on a 30-point performance in his 109th career game, to tie with Bob Love for second-most games.
In the next match, the Bulls lock horns with Golden State on Thursday, while the Clippers clash against the reigning champions, Boston Celtics on Wednesday.
Washington Wizards 
Charlotte Hornets 
Philadelphia 76ers 
Brooklyn Nets 
Toronto Raptors 
Miami Heat 
Chicago Bulls 
Atlanta Hawks 
Orlando Magic 
Detroit Pistons 
Milwaukee Bucks 
Indiana Pacers 
New York Knicks 
Boston Celtics 
Cleveland Cavaliers 
Utah Jazz 
New Orleans Pelicans 
San Antonio Spurs 
Portland Trail Blazers 
Phoenix Suns 
Dallas Mavericks 
Sacramento Kings 
Memphis Grizzlies 
Golden State Warriors 
Minnesota Timberwolves 
LA Clippers 
Denver Nuggets 
Los Angeles Lakers 
Houston Rockets 
Oklahoma City Thunder 
NBA 
