the slovenian Luka Doncic, with 50 points, James Harden, with a monumental triple double and 21 assists against the Los Angeles Clippers, and Kevin Durant, increasingly decisive in extending the Brooklyn Nets’ winning streak to eight, displayed their power in a day of fourteen NBA games, before the one-day break for the eve of Christmas.
They were joined by Joel Embiid, with 44 points, and a Tyrese Haliburton with 43 points.who hit a last-gasp triple to give the Indiana Pacers the win in Miami.
The day was also marked by a new setback at the home of the Los Angeles Lakers, this time against the Charlotte Hornets, penultimate in the East, despite 34 points from LeBron James.
ROCKETS 106 – MAVERICKS 112
Doncic touched the triple double in Houston, after a game in which he became the second Mavericks player capable of scoring 50 points in at least two games, along with German Dirk Nowitzki.
The 23-year-old Slovenian also contributed eight rebounds and ten assists. He has already accumulated five games with at least 45 points and was left alone in Mavs history, improving Mark Aguirre’s mark of four. In addition, he is the only player from the Texan franchise capable of contributing 50 points and ten assists in an NBA game.
Luka Doncic, star
76ERS 119 – CLIPPERS 114
James Harden had a tremendous triple double of 20 points, eleven rebounds and 21 assists and Joel Embiid contributed 43 points in the 76ers’ comeback against the Clippers.
Doc Rivers’ men trailed by 20 points in the second quarter (38-58), but managed to increase their winning streak to seven with a great reaction. For the Angels, Kawhi Leonard scored 28 points.
CELTICS 121 – WOLVES 109
The Celtics got back to winning ways after three straight losses led by Jaylen Brown’s 36 points and seven rebounds and Jayson Tatum’s 30 points and eight assists.
The Celtics’ defense managed to nullify the Frenchman Rudy Gobert, who did not exceed eight points and twelve rebounds. The best of the Wolves was Anthony Davis, with 30 points, six rebounds and four assists.
NETS 118 – BUCKS 100
Kevin Durant, with 24 points, and the Brooklyn Nets hit the table, beating the Milwaukee Bucks 118-100 and adding their eighth consecutive victory in the NBA.
‘KD’ did not lack the support of his teammates, with six players who finished above ten points, including the five from the starting five. Nic Claxton contributed 19 points, with 9 of 10 shooting, Kyrie Irving, back after missing the game with the Warriors, scored 18 points, with nine rebounds and six assists, Royce O’Neal had 17 points and Ben Simmons touched the triple double with 12 points, eleven rebounds and eight assists.
SUNS 100 – GRIZZLIES 125
With two double doubles of 24 points and ten rebounds from Jaren Jackson and Brandon Clarke, the Grizzlies overwhelmed the Phoenix Suns 125-100 at the Footprint Center, on a night in which Ja Morant contributed twelve points and eleven assists. The Spanish Santi Aldama contributed with ten points, four rebounds and one assist.
The Suns, without Devin Booker, completely sank and their best scorer was DeAndre Ayton, with 18 points.
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LAKERS 130 – HORNETS 134
The Hornets, second from last in the East, had a season-high 55% shooting accuracy, and with a strong group performance, thwarted LeBron James’ 34-point game and sealed their ninth win of the season.
The Lakers suffered their eighth loss of the year at home, their 19th overall, on a day when they received the news that Anthony Davis will be out indefinitely with a stress injury to his right foot.
THUNDER 125 – PELICANS 128
Without Zion Williamson or Brandon Ingram, Trey Murphy (23 points) and Jaxon Hayes (21) soured the stellar night of Shai Gilgeous Alexander in overtime, who sealed 46 points, nine rebounds and six assists.
The Pelicans, in which the Spanish Willy Hernangómez scored five points, with six rebounds and an assist in nine minutes, are third in the West (20-12).
CAVALIERS 107 – RAPTORS 118
With aggressive defense and an outstanding performance from their star trio, Paskal Siakam, OG Anunoby and Scottie Barnes, the Raptors prevailed at home to the Cavaliers, the best team in the league in their field.
Siakam chipped in 26 points, seven rebounds and nine assists, while Anunoby contributed 26 points, nine rebounds and two assists. For his part, Barnes scored 25 points.
KNICKS 117 – BULLS 118
For the second time in three days, the Bulls clinched the victory with a last-gasp basket. After beating the Hawks in Atlanta on Ayo Dosunmu’s basket with 0.1 seconds left, this time it was DeMar DeRozan, with a jump shot from midrange, his specialty, to star in the win in New York.
DeRozan finished with 25 points, seven rebounds and ten assists, while teammate Zach LaVine chipped in 33 points.
NUGGETS 120 – BLAZERS 107
The Serbian Nikola Jokic, with a double double of 29 points, eight rebounds and eleven assists, and Jamal Murray, with another double double of 25 points and twelve assists, with eight rebounds, led the Nuggets in the victory against the Blazers.
Damian Lillard shined with 34 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, without prize.
Nikola Jokic, clave
HEAT 108 – PACERS 111
Tyrese Haliburton’s 3-pointer with 2.4 seconds left frustrated a comeback attempt by the Heat, who had rallied from 12 points behind in the last four minutes.
Haliburton extended his sweet moment with a monumental performance in Miami: he finished with 43 points and ten triples, a record for him. In addition, he contributed two rebounds and seven assists.
MAGIC 133 – SPURS 113
Cole Anthony was close to a triple double with 23 points, ten rebounds and nine assists as the Orlando Magic celebrated their eighth win in the last nine games. In the Spurs, penultimate in the West (10-22), the best was Keldon Johnson, with 17 points.
HAWKS 130 – PISTONS 105
Trae Young and Dejounte Murray each scored 26 points in the Hawks’ resounding victory over the Pistons. Young also dished out 13 assists for a Hawks who are seventh in the East (17-16). The Pistons are bottom in the East, with a record of 8-17.
KINGS 111 – WIZARDS 125
The Wizards added their second victory in the last three games and, after beating the Phoenix Suns, they beat the Kings with 32 points from Kyle Kzuma and 24 from Bradley Beal. Latvian Kristaps Porzingis scored seven points and grabbed thirteen rebounds.