NBA Game Notes (Dec. 15, 2022)
Here are the NBA game notes for games that were played on December 15, 2022.
Grizzlies Maul Bucks
Ja Morant picked up his third triple-double of the season, compiling game-high figures of 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Grizzles mauled the Bucks 142-101. The Grizzlies have won seven consecutive games and now stand alone in first place in the Western Conference.
Morant has recorded at least 10 assists in each of his last four games, matching the longest such streak in franchise history:
Mike Bibby (March 29, 2000–April 4, 2000)
Brevin Knight (Jan. 28, 2002–Feb. 3, 2002)
Jason Williams (March 19, 2003–March 24, 2003)
Ja Morant (Dec. 4, 2022–Dec. 15, 2022)
Morant is the first player in franchise history to record at least 15 points and 10 assists in four consecutive games.
Teammate Brandon Clarke came off the bench to score 12 points on 6-6 shooting from the field. Clarke — who went 5-5 from the floor on Monday — is the first player in franchise history to make at least five field goals without a miss in consecutive game. During the seven-game winning streak, Clarke is averaging 13.1 PPG and 7.0 RPG with a field goal percentage of 79.2%.
Super Herro
Tyler Herro scored a career-high 41 points as the Heat slipped by the Rockets 111-108. Herro shot 13-20 from the field — including 10-15 from 3-point range — and made all five of his free throws. He tied the franchise single-game record for 3-pointers made:
Brian Shaw (April 8, 1993)
Mario Chalmers (Jan. 12, 2013)
Duncan Robinson (Dec. 10, 2019)
Tyler Herro (Dec. 15, 2022)
Herro — who made nine 3-pointers Wednesday night — became just the third player in NBA history to make at least nine 3-pointers in back-to-back games:
Stephen Curry (5 times)
James Harden (2 times)
Tyler Herro
Herro is the first player to do so on back-to-back days.
Teammate Jimmy Butler did a little bit of everything:
20 PTS
10 REB
7 AST
4 STL
3 BLK
Butler is the only player this season to produce at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, three steals, and three blocks in a game.
Jazz Edge Pelicans
Jordan Clarkson scored 39 points and grabbed eight rebounds — both figures season highs — as the Jazz edged the Pelicans 132-129 in overtime. Clarkson made 15 of his 26 shots from the field (57.7%), including seven 3-pointers.
Teammate Lauri Markkanen scored 31 points, shooting 8-15 from the field — including 5-9 from 3-point range — and 10-10 from the free throw line. Markkanen is averaging a career-high 22.4 PPG this season, with career-best shooting percentages of 52.7% from the field and 41.5% from 3-point range.
The Pelicans’ Zion Williamson tallied 31 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists in the loss. He made 12 of his 24 shots from the field and six of his eight free throws.
Williamson has scored at least 25 points on 50% shooting from the field in each of his last eight games, the second-longest such streak of his career (which is also tied for the second-longest such streak in franchise history). He’s averaging 30.5 PPG, 9.1 RPG, and 5.3 APG with a field goal percentage of 64.3% over that span.
Suns Halt Losing Streak
The Suns beat the Clippers 111-95, putting an end to their five-game losing streak. Mikal Bridges bounced back from his disastrous shooting performance Tuesday night — when he shot 4-24 from the field — to score a game-high 27 points, making 11 of his 18 field goal attempts (61.1%).
Teammate Chris Paul chipped in with 15 points, 13 assists, and seven rebounds. It’s the 495th time Paul has recorded a points-assists double-double, the third-most such games in NBA history:
714 — John Stockton
543 — Magic Johnson
495 — Chris Paul
Paul committed just one turnover. It’s the 188th time Paul has recorded at least 10 assists with one or fewer turnovers, by far the most such games since the NBA began tracking individual turnovers in 1977-78:
188 — Chris Paul
151 — John Stockton
122 — Muggsy Bogues
Paul also recorded two steals, the 372nd time he’s recorded at least 10 assists and two steals in a game. Since the NBA began tracking steals in 1973-74, the only player with more such games is John Stockton:
623 — John Stockton
372 — Chris Paul
342 — Jason Kidd
Combining the categories above — 10 or more assists, two or more steals, and one or fewer turnovers — Paul has 124 such games, 20 more than the next-closest player (John Stockton).