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Nightly Pulse: NBA news & highlights from Nov. 17

Stay in the know on tonight's NBA action as we keep you updated with the latest news and happenings around the league.

NBA.com Staff

🔟games are on tap across the Association on Sunday and we got you covered, from buzzer to buzzer 🚨

  • Phoenix 117, Minnesota 120 (Final)
  • Miami 110, Indiana 119 (Final)
  • Atlanta 110, Portland 114 (Final)
  • Denver 90, Memphis 105 (Final)
  • Detroit 124, Washington 104 (Final)
  • Charlotte 114, Cleveland 128 (Final)
  • Dallas 121, Oklahoma City 119 (Final)
  • Houston 143, Chicago 107 (Final)
  • Brooklyn 104, New York 114 (Final)
  • Utah 105, Los Angeles Clippers 116 (Final) 

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🍿📖Top Stories of the night📖🍿

  1. Cleveland moved to 15-0 with a 128-114 win over the Hornets. They’ve become just the fourth team in NBA history to start a season with at least 15 straight wins, tying the Houston Rockets (1993-94) and Washington Capitols (1948-49) for the second-best start in NBA history. They’ll face a tough test Tuesday against the Celtics as part of 2024 NBA Emirates Cup group play. 
  2. The Luka-less Mavericks were able to secure a 121-119 victory over the red-hot Thunder, putting their three-game win streak to an end. In Dončić’s absence, it was P.J. Washington who rose to the occasion, getting 27 points and 17 rebounds. The bench also delivered with Daniel Gafford, Naji Marshall, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Jaden Hardy all scoring in double figures. 
  3. James Harden hit two triples Sunday night, moving himself past Ray Allen for the second-most three-pointers made in NBA history.

⭐🌟⭐Top performers⭐🌟⭐

  1. Devin Booker: 44 points (15-29 FG, 6-13 3PT), seven assists, and six rebounds.
  2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 36 points (13-19 FG), eight assists, two steals and two blocks. 
  3. Julius Randle: 35 points (11-20 FG, 5-11 3PT), four rebounds, and seven assists.

Harden shows hops 🐇

Harden takes the open lane on the break and throws down the dunk.

The Jazz outscored the Clippers 31-20 in the fourth quarter, and at one point got within seven after trailing by 21 at the half. However, Los Angeles was able to pull away again at the end, securing a 116-105 victory.

Reaches to the moon 🌙

Norman Powell goes up high to get this alley-oop set up by Harden and throws it down, as the Clippers keep the Jazz at a distance.

Los Angeles has kept their substantial lead on Utah with the third quarter coming to a close, 96-74. Powell, and Harden each have 18 points, but it’s Ivica Zubac’s 20-piece that is leading the Clip show.

Making his mark ✅

Lauri Markkanen gets the one-handed slam in transition as the first half winds down in Los Angeles.

Jam aside, Utah has struggled in the first half and is trailing the Clippers 66-45 at the break. Norman Powell leads all scorers with 13, while James Harden has 10 points and seven assists.

Knicks win the battle of the Big Apple

The Knicks beat Brooklyn 114-104 on the back of another strong Karl-Anthony Towns performance.

Towns led all Knicks scorers with 26 on 10-16 shooting and also pulled down 15 rebounds, to go with six assists and one block and steal. OG Anunoby (24), Mikal Bridges (21), and Josh Hart (20), each scored 20-plus points as well.

Clutch Gilgeous-Alexander 🔒

Shai steps back after Marshall hits the floor and nails a clutch three, to pull the Thunder within three as the final seconds remain in Oklahoma City.

Rockets soaring 🚀

The Houston Rockets picked up a 143-107 win over the Chicago Bulls, for their fifth straight.

Alperen Sengun recorded his sixth career triple-double, and second in a row with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists in just 26 minutes of action. He’s the first Rocket to record back-to-back triple-doubles since James Harden (1/3/2020-1/8/2020). Fred VanVleet led all scorers with 28 points and also grabbed seven boards and served up seven assists.

Harden makes history 📜

James Harden hits the three and takes sole possession of the second spot, passing Ray Allen for three-pointers made with 2,974.

Congrats, James!

Cleared for take-off ✈️

James Harden finds Derrick Jones Jr. cutting to the basket for the alley-oop.

The Clippers have got out to a 22-13 lead over Utah midway through the first quarter.

2️⃣-way SGA

Gilgeous-Alexander gets the dunk on one end, and gets back on defense and blocks Livley II’s dunk attempt on the other end.

The Dončić-less Mavericks currently hold a 95-89 lead over the Thunder with the third quarter coming to a close. P.J. Washington leads all Dallas scorers with 21, while Shai has 29 points on 12-15 shooting and six assists.

Sharpe dagger 🗡️

Sharpe’s 31-foot step-back three ices the game for the Trail Blazers.

It was a game of runs in the second half, with Portland dominating the third frame, and Atlanta doing so in the fourth. Ultimately though it was Portland who came up clutch when the game was on the line. It was Sharpe’s game-high 32 points that came with five assists and three steals that paced Portland, while Banton chipped in 23 off the bench. Trae Young was fire in the second half, finishing with 29 points, eight assists, and five rebounds in the losing effort.

Defense wins games ⛔

Evan Mobley turns the paint into the no-fly zone and gets the rejection en route to the Cavaliers’ 15th straight win to start the season.

The Cavaliers are now 15-0 after their 128-114 win, tying the Houston Rockets (1993-94) and Washington Capitols (1948-49) for the second-best start in NBA history. They still have a ways to go to match the Warriors’ 24-0 run to open their 2015-16 season though. Cleveland had four players score 20-plus points, Ty Jerome (24), Jarrett Allen (21), Evan Mobley (23), and Darius Garland (25). LaMelo Ball scored a game-high 31 points. Next up for the Cavaliers is a trip to Boston for a showdown with the Celtics on Tuesday, which will be part of the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup group play. 

Beasley slams home the victory

Malik Beasley scores two of his 26 points (6-11 3PT) on a breakaway slam late in the game.

The Pistons pulled out a 124-104 win over the Wizards on Sunday. Cade Cunningham notched 21 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds for his fourth triple-double of the season, all of which have come in the last two weeks. He now has six in his career, passing Isiah Thomas for the second most in franchise history. It was Jaden Ivey though who scored a game-high 28 points, to go with eight dishes and four rebounds. Poole and Kuzma each had 22 for Washington.

 

That’s a dime 🪙

Trae Young with a behind-the-back pass on the baseline to Okongwu for a dunk. The Hawks have stormed back on an 18-5 run, to take a 100-99 lead over Portland with just a few minutes remaining.

Stepping up 🪜

Ty Jerome draws the and-1 with a tough over-the-head finish in traffic.

Jerome has gotten the job done in Donovan Mitchell’s absence, scoring 21 points (8-13 FG) and dishing out eight assists. The Cavaliers were only up three against the Hornets going into the fourth quarter, but an 8-2 run to start the final frame has Cleveland holding a 110-101 lead.

Sharpe sets sail ⛵

Shaedon Sharpe gets some insane hang time on the alley-oop from Avdija.

The Trail Blazers were on fire in the third quarter, outscoring the Hawks 38-17, and will take a 94-81 lead into the fourth. Sharpe and Dalano Banton each have a game-high 21 points.

What a finish 📽️

Gilgeous-Alexander spins into the lane, switches hands then gets the beautiful finish for two.

It’s a high-scoring affair early in Oklahoma City, with the Mavericks leading 40-34 with the second quarter just underway. P.J. Washington is pacing Dallas with 14 points and six rebounds, while Shai has 13 on the board for the Thunder.

Herro was on a heater ♨️

Tyler Herro scored 28 points on 7-11 shooting from three, but the Miami Heat fell to the Pacers, 119-110 on Sunday.

Myles Turner ultimately led all scorers with 34 (14-23, 5-8 3 PT), and added nine boards and two blocks. Tyrese Haliburton scored 16 and also chipped in 13 dimes.

Human Rocket in flight 🚀

Alperen Sengun parts the sea and powers it down with authority. It’s the new dunk of the night, according to the NBA Dunk Score.

The Rockets and Bulls are in a tight one early, with the game tied at 16 halfway through the first quarter.

Garland2️⃣Allen

Garland finds Allen for the dunk, on his eighth assist of the night.

No Donovan Mitchell, no problem for Cleveland so far. The Cavaliers hold a 72-59 lead over the Hornets at the half. Evan Mobley is pacing the Cavs with 16 points and five rebounds, while Ty Jerome, who drew the start in Mitchell’s absence, has 13 points and five assists. Garland finished the half with nine assists and 11 points. LaMelo Ball has 13 for the Hornets, but on 5-17 shooting.

Bane to beat the clock ⏰

Bane gets the lay-in as the buzzer sounds and it’s halftime in Memphis.

The Grizzlies are leading by 12, 55-43 over the Nuggets. Both teams are without their No. 1 guy, as Nikola Jokić is out for personal reasons, while Ja Morant is sidelined by a hip injury. Due to their absences, it’s all hands on deck, as Memphis has 11 players on the scoreboard, with no one in double figures, while Denver has nine bucket-getters, with Jamal Murray’s eight points the highest total. 

Off the bounce with a purpose🧨

Second-year man Bilal Coulibaly gets the bounce pass from 2024 No. 2 selection, Alex Sarr, and takes lift-off to the rim.

Despite the dunk, it’s the Pistons with the 12-point lead going to halftime, 65-53. Malik Beasley has 16 points (6-9 FG, 4-7 3PT), while Jaden Ivey has 14, and Cade Cunningham has 14 as well, to go with five rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma each have 16 for the Wizards.

 

😱No-look backward alley-oop😱

Trae Young senses Deni Avdija hunting the block and tosses the ball backward over his head to Zaccharie Risacher for the dunk.

The Hawks have jumped out to a 25-17 lead late in the first quarter. Dyson Daniel’s leads all scorers with 10 thus far.

Another milestone in Indianapolis

Pascal Siakam gets the steal and flashes some footwork around Duncan Robinson for the lay-in to secure 10,000 career NBA points.

The Pacers are leading the Heat at the half, 52-49. Siakam leads all scorers with 14 (6-8 FG), with Myles Turner (11) and Bennedict Mathurin (10) also in double figures. Robinson’s 11 points (3-5 3PT) is tops for Miami.

Randle turns cold-blooded 🥶

Randle hits the game-winning three as time expires and the Timberwolves hold off the Suns 120-117.

Devin Booker led all scorers with 44 points (15-29 FG, 6-13 3PT), but it was ultimately Randle’s 35-point and seven-assist performance that will be remembered due to his time-expiring dagger. Anthony Edwards chipped in 24 points (9-14 FG, 3-7 3PT) and six assists.

 

Get out the way❗

Jaden McDaniels blows by the defenders as they chase him out to the line, then detonates at the rim with a ferocious dunk.

It should come as no surprise that this stuff has taken over the dunk score lead.

Power dunk 💪

Turner gets the feed from Jarace Walker and pounds it home. Check out where Turner’s dunk ranks with the new NBA dunk score, amongst tonight’s slams.

The Pacers have built an eight-point, 41-33 halfway through the second quarter. Turner has led the way for Indianapolis, scoring 11 points (4-7 FG) and has grabbed six rebounds.

Still hot 🌡️

Booker sinks his sixth triple of the game and is now up 42 points, about halfway through the fourth quarter, and with the Suns clinging to a 108-104 lead.

Can he get to 50?

Moving on⬆️

Myles Turner hits a three, moving him past Paul George and up to eighth on the Pacers’ all-time scoring list with 8,091 points scored.

The Pacers and Heat just got underway in Indianapolis.

🪣Buzzer beating buckets🪣

Josh Okogie slams home the put-back dunk, while Julius Randle hits a three as the horn sounds, and the Suns hold a 65-54 lead at the half over the Timberwolves.

With the third quarter now underway, Devin Booker is feasting with 33 points (10-15 FG, 5-8 3PT), five assists, and three rebounds. On the other side, Julius Randle is nearly matching Booker with 26 of his own (9-14 FG, 4-8 3PT) and six assists.

3️⃣Key Storylines 🍿🥤

 

  1. The Cavaliers will be trying to build on their historic run to start the season when they host the Hornets on Sunday. Cleveland currently sits at 14-0, and with a win will tie the Houston Rockets (1993-94) and Washington Capitols (1948-49) for the second-best start in NBA history. To stay undefeated though, they’re going to have to pick up a victory without Donovan Mitchell (rest), who will not suit up tonight.
  2. James Harden tied Ray Allen on Friday for the second-most three-pointers made in NBA history with 2,973. Harden will have the opportunity to take sole possession of the No. 2 spot against the Jazz tonight. 
  3. Oklahoma City has stayed hot, winning three in a row since losing Chet Holmgren due to an iliac hip fracture, and are 11-2 on the season. They’ll be working to keep that streak alive when they host the defending Western Conference champion, Dallas Mavericks, who will be without Luka Dončić (knee).

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