Luka Went for 42, SGA Went for 43, and Memphis Finally Lost: A 15-Game Monday in the NBA

Luka went for 42, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went for 43, and Memphis finally lost — all on the same Monday night, in a 15-game slate that also carried a 40-point rescue act in Memphis that still was not enough. By the last buzzer, the NBA had a scoring race heating up in real time, a contender winning shorthanded on the road, and a shouting match at midcourt for dessert.

SGA answers last in Cleveland

The best game of the night closed in Cleveland, where Oklahoma City beat the Cavaliers 117-112. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a season-high 43 on 14-of-35 shooting — 35 attempts matching his career high — with 11-of-12 free throws and 8 assists. His go-ahead 3-pointer came with about 33 seconds left, in a fourth quarter with 8 ties and 8 lead changes. There were 23 lead changes. Nobody could hold anything.

Context makes it bigger. This was Oklahoma City's first win in three tries since losing Chet Holmgren (patellar tendon tear), Jalen Williams (fractured fibula, dislocated ankle) and Cason Wallace (torn labrum) to major injuries. Winning there anyway, with Ajay Mitchell adding 20, says something real. Cleveland got 17 points and 11 assists from Donovan Mitchell, 17 from rookie Meleek Thomas in his first start, and 16 from Evan Mobley — balanced, and still short because SGA would not miss when it counted.

Luka is not cooling off

Out west, Luka Doncic scored 42 on 14-of-24 shooting with 6 threes, 13 assists and 7 rebounds as the Lakers routed Miami 138-117. He had 24 by halftime — 16 in the first quarter — and Los Angeles, which led 79-72 at the break and by as many as 24, shot 57.3% and improved to 6-2.

This was Doncic's fourth 40-point game this season, all in his last five, one night after 45 points and 15 assists against Toronto. He has at least 37 in five straight, averaging 43.4 over that run, and leads the league at 38.3 points per game. Austin Reaves added 27 and Walker Kessler 15 points and 15 rebounds. Miami got 30, 12 rebounds and 7 assists from Giannis Antetokounmpo, 19 from Klay Thompson and 16 from Bam Adebayo — background noise on a night like this.

Zion in overtime, and Memphis finally blinks

In Memphis, the last unbeaten team finally lost. New Orleans beat the Grizzlies 135-134 in overtime, and Zion Williamson owned the extra period: 25 points and 11 rebounds, 9 of his points in OT. Karlo Matkovic matched him with a career-high 25, Derik Queen added 20, and Jeremiah Fears hit two free throws with 7.3 seconds left in OT to win it.

Memphis nearly stole it anyway. Ty Jerome scored 40, including the Grizzlies' last 9 points of regulation in the final 1:43 to tie it 124-124 and force overtime, then missed a 15-footer at the OT buzzer. Memphis falls to 6-1 after a 6-0 start that matched the franchise record. New Orleans (3-4) has won three straight after opening 0-4. It ended with a shouting match at midcourt and the teams separated — early November, midseason feelings.

The rest of a very full night

Detroit hammered Charlotte 124-91 behind Cade Cunningham's 33 on 13-of-20 shooting with 7 assists. The Pistons hit 18-of-37 from three, Duncan Robinson added 24 with six threes, Brandon Miller led Charlotte with 17, and Coby White scored 7 in 16 minutes in his season debut after missing seven games (calf).

Houston beat Boston 109-93 behind Alperen Sengun's 26, 10 assists and 7 rebounds, with a 10-0 fourth-quarter rally sealing it. Jayson Tatum had 19 and 9 assists but missed 11 of 16 shots, and Boston's five-game win streak ended.

Philadelphia stayed hot at 7-1, beating Chicago 126-107. Tyrese Maxey scored 26 — 15 in the fourth — with 11 assists, Jaylen Brown added 25 and 11 rebounds, VJ Edgecombe scored 21 on 9-of-12 shooting, and LeBron James had 15, 9 assists and 7 rebounds. Caleb Wilson led Chicago with 24 and 7 in the Bulls' fifth straight loss.

Minnesota beat Milwaukee 112-100 behind LaMelo Ball's best game of the season: 34 points on 12-of-21 with six threes, including his 1,000th career 3-pointer. Ayo Dosunmu added 19 and 12 rebounds. Tyler Herro scored 21 for Milwaukee, which has lost six of seven to start the season.

Toronto authored the comeback of the night, erasing a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Clippers 125-118, outscoring Los Angeles 47-27 in the fourth. Immanuel Quickley scored 27, RJ Barrett 26 and Scottie Barnes 22. Kobe Sanders had a career-high 26 for the Clippers, who lost their sixth straight.

Sacramento finally won, beating Dallas 115-100 for its first victory at 1-6 — the last team in the league to get one. Darius Acuff Jr. scored 25, Malik Monk 24 off the bench and Zach LaVine 23. Cooper Flagg had 17 on 3-of-19 shooting for Dallas, and Kyrie Irving sat out for injury management.

The defending champion Knicks beat Brooklyn 103-90, outscoring the Nets 28-11 in the fourth for their third win in four after an 0-3 start. Landry Shamet led New York with 22 off the bench and Jalen Brunson scored 19. Julius Randle had 21 and 11 for Brooklyn against his former team.

Washington won at Orlando 103-94 for back-to-back wins for the first time this season. Anthony Davis had 27 and 9 rebounds, Kyshawn George 22 and Trae Young 15 with 9 assists. Franz Wagner scored 24 for Orlando, which failed to reach 100 for the fourth time this season.

San Antonio won its fifth straight, 119-97 over Utah, with seven players in double figures. Dylan Harper had 17, 8 assists and 7 rebounds, and Victor Wembanyama was held to a season-low-tying 12 with 11 rebounds. Utah, at 1-6, has lost five straight.

Portland won at Denver 118-110 to go 4-0 on the road. Deni Avdija scored 28, Donovan Clingan had 17 and 18 rebounds, and Jrue Holiday added 17, 10 assists and 8 rebounds off the bench. Jamal Murray scored 35 and Nikola Jokic 26, 9 and 8 for Denver, which let a 14-point first-quarter lead go.

Two games with their own stories

Golden State beat Phoenix 116-113 for its fifth straight win — Curry 34, Podziemski 20, Bassey a career-best 19, Green ejected in the third. That one has its own room: see our full wrap.

Atlanta beat Indiana 108-104 behind Nickeil Alexander-Walker's career-high-matching nine threes and season-high 34 points. Indiana played with six players, and Jay Huff still put up 22 and 8. The full story lives in the Pacers' six-man night.

A day off for democracy

And then, quiet. No games Tuesday, November 3 — the league is off for Election Day. Wednesday brings Oklahoma City hosting Cleveland in the home-and-home return, the Lakers at Sacramento, the Pacers at Memphis and the Hawks at Washington.