NBA Game Notes (Dec. 14, 2022)
Here are the NBA game notes for games that were played on December 14, 2022.
Joker is the Thief
Nikola Jokic was dominant as the Nuggets outscored the Wizards 141-128:
43 PTS (season high)
14 REB
8 AST
5 STL
17-20 FG
9-10 FT
+28 +/-
Jokic became the first player in NBA history to shoot at least 85% from both the field and the free throw line in a game in which he attempted at least 20 and 10 shots, respectively.
The only other starting center to record at least 40 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and five steals in a game since the ABA-NBA merger is Hakeem Olajuwon on April 6, 1993.
Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo (Feb. 8, 2022) are the only players in the last 50 NBA seasons to record at least 40 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists with 85% shooting from the field.
It’s the 92nd time Jokic has been his team’s outright leader in points, rebounds, and assists, the third-most such games in NBA history:
151 — LeBron James
98 — Russell Westbrook
92 — Nikola Jokic
90 — Giannis Antetokounmpo
Dame Time
Damian Lillard continued his tear, scoring a game-high 37 points as the Trail Blazers defeated the Spurs 128-112. Lillard also contributed eight assists, five rebounds, and two steals, shooting 14-23 from the field (60.9%) with seven 3-pointers.
Lillard has scored at least 35 points in each of his last four games. It’s the second-longest such streak of his career and the second-longest such streak in franchise history.
It’s the 40th time Lillard has made at least seven 3-pointers in a game. He’s the third player in NBA history to reach that mark:
112 — Stephen Curry
42 — James Harden
40 — Damian Lillard
In his five games since returning from a calf strain, Lillard is averaging 34.4 PPG and 7.4 APG, shooting 52.9% from the field, 50.7% from 3-point range, and 100% from the free throw line (27-27).
M-m-m-my Sabonis
Domantas Sabonis had 21 points, 20 rebounds, and seven assists as the Kings edged the Raptors 124-123. Sabonis shot 10-13 from the field (76.9%) and made his only free throw.
Sabonis has recorded at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists with 75% shooting from the field in each of his last two games. The only other players since the ABA-NBA merger to produce back-to-back such games are:
Charles Barkley (Jan. 10 & 13, 1987)
Ben Simmons (Jan. 11 & 13, 2019)
It’s the third time in the last five games Sabonis has reached those marks. No other player since the ABA-NBA merger has recorded three such games in a five-game span.
The Kings’ De’Aaron Fox recorded team highs in points and assists with 27 and 11, respectively. It’s his third 25-point, 10-assist game of the season, tied for the fourth-most such games in the NBA.
The Raptors’ Fred VanVleet compiled 39 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and four steals in the loss. VanVleet recorded a season-high Game Score of 33.7, the third-highest such figure of his career.
Teammate Scottie Barnes tallied 27 points, 10 assists (matching his career high), and seven rebounds with 10-16 shooting from the field (62.5%). Like VanVleet, Barnes posted a season-high Game Score (27.0) that was also the third-highest such figure of his career.
Pacers Down Warriors
Tyrese Haliburton scored a team-high 29 points and dished out six assists as the Pacers took down the Warriors 125-119. Haliburton shot 9-17 from the field — including 5-10 from 3-point range — and made six of his seven free throws.
Teammate Bennedict Mathurin came off the bench to score 24 points on 8-14 shooting from the field, including four 3-pointers. It’s the 12th time Mathurin has come off the bench to record a 20-point game, the most such games in the NBA this season.
The Warriors’ Stephen Curry recorded 38 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists before departing in the third quarter with a shoulder injury. It’s the 29th time Curry has scored at least 30 points while playing 30 or fewer minutes, breaking a tie with Giannis Antetokounmpo for the most such games in NBA history.
Magic Bury Hawks Early
The Magic scored 50 points in the first quarter and then cruised to a 135-124 win over the Hawks. It’s the most points the Magic have ever scored in a quarter, as well as the most points the Hawks have ever surrendered in a quarter. It’s just the ninth time in NBA history a team has opened a game with a 50-point quarter.
Franz Wagner led a balanced attack with 24 points. He was one of eight Magic players to score in double figures, matching the most such players in a game in franchise history.
Paulo Banchero had 20 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Banchero is just the second rookie in franchise history to record at least 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists in consecutive games, joining Anfernee Hardaway (1993-94).