The Boston Celtics fell agonisingly short of completing a mammoth comeback against the Milwaukee Bucks, falling 121-119 after Daniel Theis missed a three at the buzzer.
Boston looked destined for a resounding defeat when Milwaukee stretched their lead to 25 mid-way through the third quarter.
However the Celtics finally caught fire down the stretch, cutting the deficit to just two with two seconds left on the clock.
BIG-TIME Brook block helps the @Bucks hold on for 8⃣ straight wins! pic.twitter.com/ASltPVCsLH — NBA (@NBA) March 25, 2021
Unfortunately for them, Theis was unable to make the most of a good look from the corner as his potential game-winner rimmed out.
It was a better night for the Orlando Magic, who upset the Phoenix Suns 112-111 on the back of a last-gasp lay-up from Evan Fournier.
Searching for their eighth away win in a row, the Suns threatened to pull away multiple times throughout the first three quarters but were unable to deal the killing blow.
Orlando then tightened the screws down the stretch behind some stellar two-way play from Nikola Vucevic, before Fournier beat Deandre Ayton at the rim to clinch the Magic's 15th win of the season.
EVAN FOURNIER WINS IT for the @OrlandoMagic! pic.twitter.com/TKyOzHEZPg — NBA (@NBA) March 25, 2021
Vucevic finished with 27 points and 14 rebounds, while Devin Booker led the Suns with 25.
Brooklyn struggled in the absence of their big three as the Utah Jazz demolished the Nets by 30 points.
Missing James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, the Nets were no match for the Jazz, who raced out to a big lead early and never looked like giving it up.
The 118-88 victory gave the Jazz a three-game advantage at the top of the Western Conference, while the Nets fell to third in the east.
Swipa went off AGAIN 🔥😱 3️⃣7️⃣ 𝐏𝐓𝐒 and the win against the Hawks! pic.twitter.com/MnO27n4z5u — Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) March 25, 2021
A 37-point effort from De'Aaron Fox propelled the Sacramento Kings over the Atlanta Hawks 110-108.
Tyrese Haliburton added 17 for the Kings, including a clutch pair of late free throws which ultimately sealed the win.
Trae Young top-scored for Atlanta with 29.
Seven Dallas Mavericks players finished with double digits as they cruised past the Minnesota Timberwolves 128-108.
Issa win. @Chime | #MFFL pic.twitter.com/OGCUf4Yrg6 — Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) March 25, 2021
Kristaps Porzingis was dominant for the Mavericks, finishing with 29 points and nine rebounds.
The win pushes the Mavericks into seventh place in the west above the San Antonio Spurs, who went down to the Los Angeles Clippers 134-101.
In the rest of the day's action, the Indiana Pacers overcame the Detroit Pistons 116-111, the Toronto Raptors pulled out a shock landslide 135-111 win against the Denver Nuggets, a double-double from Larry Nance Jr helped the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Chicago Bulls 103-94, the Charlotte Hornets were too strong for the Houston Rockets 112-97, and the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-107.
