The NBA regular season has 12 days left. On Wednesday night, many teams struggled defensively.
Six teams scored 130 points or more, with the Philadelphia 76ers hitting 153 points. The Boston Celtics scored 53 points in the first quarter and finished with a 147-129 victory over the Miami Heat. Defensive play was minimal as offenses took charge.
Short-handed teams shine on the scoreboard
Notably, many teams were missing key players. The New York Knicks scored 130 points without their top scorer, Jalen Brunson. Meanwhile, the 76ers’ impressive 153-point game happened with Joel Embiid sidelined. Paul George continued his strong performance, scoring 39 points.
The Indiana Pacers defeated the Chicago Bulls 145-126, despite missing three starters. Rookie Ethan Thompson contributed a career-high 24 points. Although the Pacers have struggled this season, they managed to win two games in a row, scoring a total of 280 points.
This could be due to the team’s reassurance about finishing in the bottom four, which would safeguard their first-round draft pick. Additionally, Pascal Siakam had a notable game, scoring 25 points and providing five assists in just 22 minutes. He is having a strong season, averaging 23.8 points per game.