NBA Game Notes (Feb. 27, 2024)

Here are the NBA game notes for games that were played on February 27, 2024.

Three Stars

The three stars in ice hockey are the three best players in a game, with the “first star” considered the best of the three players, similar to the player of the match in other sports. Here are my “three stars” from yesterday’s NBA games.

First ⭐️

Luka Doncic compiled game highs of 45 points, 14 assists, and nine rebounds (tied with two others), but it wasn’t enough as the Dallas Mavericks fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers 121-119. Dallas took a 119-118 lead with 2.6 seconds remaining on a layup by P.J. Washington (assisted by Doncic), but Cleveland’s Max Strus had his prayer from 59 feet answered as the buzzer sounded.

Doncic shot 17-29 from the field — including 6-11 from 3-point range — and made all five of his free throws. He committed just one turnover and one personal foul in a game-high 41 minutes of action, also swiping three steals.

Second ⭐️

Jayson Tatum had 29 points, 11 rebounds, and a game-high eight assists in the Boston Celtics’ 117-99 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. He scored 15 of his points in the fourth quarter (4-8 field goals, 7-7 free throws) as the Celtics pulled away.

Tatum shot just 9-20 from the field for the game (1-7 on 3-pointers), but sank 10 of his 11 free throw attempts. He was charged with just one turnover and one personal foul in 35 minutes played.

Third ⭐️

Anthony Edwards scored a game-high 34 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves knocked off the San Antonio Spurs 114-105. He added five rebounds, five assists, and a game-high four steals in 33 minutes of court time. Edwards went 13-29 from the floor (with four 3-pointers made) and 4-4 from the free throw line.

Edwards now has 59 career 30-point games, the third-most such games in franchise history and the ninth-most such games in NBA history by a player before his 23rd birthday. He does not turn 23 years old until August 5.