NBA Starting 5: Lakers, Sixers, Spurs, and Warriors lead West and East win streaks, Digi Mart USA News: The Lakers and Sixers both moved to an NBA-best 9-2 record on Sunday, and for the first time since the NBA adopted conferences in 1970-71, each of the West’s top five teams is riding a win streak of at least four games.
Lakers 121, Pistons 116: With Luka Dončić sidelined by back tightness, Austin Reaves dropped a season-high 43 points as Los Angeles beat Detroit for its fifth straight win. The Lakers shot 16-for-22 in the first quarter and led 38-14 before Reaves scored 24 second-half points, including a late 3-pointer that held off a Pistons rally.
Lakers coach JJ Redick praised Reaves after the game. “I thought AR’s decision-making, his aggression … was just fantastic tonight,” Redick said.
The Lakers are averaging an NBA-best 121.9 points per game, their best 9-2 start since 2019-20.
76ers 127, Bulls 121: Philadelphia bounced back from a loss to Cleveland with a balanced win over Chicago. Jaylen Brown scored 29 points and Tyrese Maxey added 27, while LeBron James posted the highest-scoring game of his Sixers career with 22 points.
Maxey’s stepback 3-pointer with 2:13 left extended a four-point lead, and Brown closed the game at the free-throw line. The Sixers are 8-0 in clutch games this season, and their 11-game start is their best since 2000-01.
Celtics 117, Bucks 97: Boston is 8-2 and a half-game behind Philadelphia in the East. Paul George scored 27 points and Jayson Tatum added 21 as the Celtics used a 33-18 second quarter to beat Milwaukee for the second time in five days.
Timberwolves 115, Jazz 100: Minnesota won its fourth straight game without Anthony Edwards, who has been out with a knee injury for seven games. Ayo Dosunmu scored 26 points and LaMelo Ball added 24, and the Timberwolves lead the NBA in defensive rating at 105.1.
Mavericks 130, Nets 93: Cooper Flagg recorded 25 points, 12 assists and five rebounds, becoming the first 19-year-old in league history with 25-plus points, 10-plus assists and five-plus rebounds in under 30 minutes. Kyrie Irving added 21 points.
Heat 114, Kings 108: Darius Acuff Jr. scored 32 points for Sacramento, but Giannis Antetokounmpo (29 points, 14 rebounds) and Miami held on for their fourth win in six games.
Klay Thompson added 23 points on seven 3-pointers.
Clippers 139, Pelicans 123: Darius Garland scored 24 points and Los Angeles scored a season-high 139 points to snap a seven-game losing streak against New Orleans.
In the West, Spurs (8-2) have won an NBA-best eight straight games, and Warriors (7-3) have won seven straight. Victor Wembanyama averaged 31.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.9 blocks during San Antonio’s run, and Stephen Curry is averaging 31.3 points per game for Golden State.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has carried Oklahoma City’s offense with 29.9 points per game while several Thunder players are out, and Luka Dončić is averaging an NBA-best 40.1 points through nine games.
