On a day marked by remembrance and respect, the Chicago Bulls, led by Zach LaVine, delivered a commanding performance in the third quarter to secure a decisive victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

The defending NBA champions, the Boston Celtics, made a notable statement during this special observance, dominating the Golden State Warriors with a staggering 40-point margin. Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference leaders, the Cleveland Cavaliers, flexed their muscles with a solid win over the Phoenix Suns, reinforcing their dominance in the league.

In Boston’s victory, Jayson Tatum was the standout performer, amassing 22 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists over three quarters of play. Latvian star Kristaps Porzingis added 18 points and seven rebounds, while Jaylen Brown contributed 17 points. By the time the Celtics headed into the third quarter, they had already built a commanding lead of 34 points, standing at 97-63.

The Celtics shot an impressive 53%, sinking 20 of their 48 three-point attempts, while the Warriors struggled to find their rhythm, finishing at a modest 34% shooting.

Golden State’s Steph Curry, the four-time NBA champion, led his team with 18 points but faced challenges in his shooting, finishing just 6 of 17 from the field and making four of twelve attempts from beyond the arc.

Over in Cleveland, the Cavaliers overwhelmed the Suns at home, with Donovan Mitchell stealing the show by scoring 33 points in just 30 minutes of action. Darius Garland supported with 16 points and seven assists, further enhancing Cleveland’s impressive record of 36-6 this season.

On the other side of the court, Kevin Durant managed 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds, but received little support from his teammates, as Devin Booker managed only 15 points.

The New York Knicks bounced back from a tough home loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, defeating the Atlanta Hawks thanks to Jalen Brunson’s remarkable 34-point performance.

Returning from injury, Dominican star Karl-Anthony Towns almost recorded a triple-double, finishing with 13 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, despite shooting just five of 18 from the field. For the Hawks, Trae Young excelled with 27 points, including six three-pointers.

The Memphis Grizzlies mounted an impressive comeback from a 16-point deficit, winning at home against the Warriors, propelled by Jaren Jackson Jr.’s 24 points (15 in the fourth quarter) and 11 rebounds. Desmond Bane added 22 points, while Spanish player Santi Aldama chipped in with two points and two rebounds over 14 minutes on the court.

Despite Anthony Edwards’ 32 points and Naz Reid’s 29, the Timberwolves fell short in their efforts.

Daniel Gafford had a career-high 31 points, showcasing his talent with a 12 of 15 shooting display and a perfect 7 of 7 from the free-throw line, alongside 15 rebounds (eight offensive) and six blocks. However, his efforts weren’t enough for the Dallas Mavericks, who lost to the Charlotte Hornets amidst injuries to star Luka Doncic.

In an unexpected turn of events, the Detroit Pistons claimed a victory against the second-place Houston Rockets, spearheaded by Cade Cunningham’s stellar 32 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. The Rockets, under Ime Udoka, received 20 points from Fred Van Vleet and 19 from Jalen Green, but it wasn’t enough to fend off the challenge.

Finally, CJ McCollum delivered a phenomenal 45-point performance (including five three-pointers), eight rebounds, four assists, and three blocks, leading the New Orleans Pelicans to a hard-fought overtime victory against the Utah Jazz. This matchup pitted the league’s bottom feeders against each other, with New Orleans finding form amid a four-game winning streak while the Jazz suffered their 31st loss of the season, currently struggling with key absentees.