NBA Game Notes (Dec. 18, 2022)

Here are the NBA game notes for games that were played on December 18, 2022.

40 PTS, 27 REB, 10 AST 🤯

The Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic produced 40 points, 27 rebounds, and 10 assists — no, that’s not a typo — in a 119-115 win over the Hornets. Jokic became just the third player in NBA history to record at least 40 points, 25 rebounds, and 10 assists in a game (a total of six instances):

• Elgin Baylor (Dec. 13, 1961) — 52 PTS, 25 REB, 10 AST

• Wilt Chamberlain (Feb. 13, 1963) — 51 PTS, 29 REB, 11 AST

• Chamberlain (March 3, 1963) — 45 PTS, 33 REB, 10 AST

• Chamberlain (Feb. 24, 1967) — 42 PTS, 30 REB, 10 AST

• Chamberlain (March 18, 1968) — 53 PTS, 32 REB, 14 AST

• Nikola Jokic (Dec. 18, 2022) — 40 PTS, 27 REB, 10 AST

Jokic grabbed 20 of his career-high 27 rebounds in the first half. The last player to record at least 20 rebounds in a first half was Lorenzen Wright on March 11, 1999.

Jokic has recorded at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in each of his last five games, matching the longest such streak of his career. Over those five games, he’s averaging 34.4 PPG, 14.8 RPG, 9.8 APG, 2.4 SPG, and 1.2 BPG with a field goal percentage of 59.4%.

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Durant, Irving Lead Nets

Kevin Durant scored a game-high 43 points on 14-22 shooting from the field as the Nets overcame a 17-point halftime deficit to defeat the Pistons 124-121. Durant scored 26 of his points in the pivotal third quarter, a career high for a single period.

Durant moved past John Havlicek and Paul Pierce on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. He now stands in 16th place with 26,437 points. Durant needs 60 points to surpass Tim Duncan and take over 15th place.

Teammate Kyrie Irving scored 38 points, shooting 13-23 from the field with five 3-pointers made. Over his last five games, Irving is averaging 32.0 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 5.0 APG while shooting 54.2% from the field and 96.4% from the free throw line.

Durant and Irving have each scored at least 35 points in the same game three times this season. They are just the second duo in the last 25 seasons to produce three such games in a season, joining Durant and Russell Westbrook (2016-17).

Pistons rookie Jalen Duren had 13 points and 11 rebounds in the loss. Duren has recorded at least 10 rebounds in each of his last six games. He’s just the third teenager in NBA history to record at least six such games in a row (a total of four instances):

• 9 — Dwight Howard (Nov. 3, 2004–Nov. 20, 2004)

• 7 — Howard (Nov. 5, 2005–Nov. 19, 2005)

• 6 — Anthony Randolph (March 28, 2009–April 8, 2009)

• 6 — Jalen Duren (Dec. 7, 2022–Dec. 18, 2022)

The last Pistons rookie to record six straight 10-rebound games was Curtis Rowe in February 1972.

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T-Wolves Set Franchise Mark

The Timberwolves set a franchise record for most points scored in a game in a 150-126 rout of the Bulls. It’s the most points the Bulls have allowed in a non-overtime game since Nov. 3, 1982, when the Pistons scored 152 points.

The Timberwolves shot 57-87 from the field (65.5%), including 23-43 from 3-point range (53.5%). That’s an effective field goal percentage of 78.7%, the second-highest such figure in a game in NBA history:

• 79.5% — Dallas Mavericks (Dec. 1, 2021)

• 78.7% — Minnesota Timberwolves (Dec. 18, 2022)

• 77.9% — Utah Jazz (April 28, 2021)

• 77.6% — Indiana Pacers (May 1, 2021)

• 77.5% — Minnesota Timberwolves (Oct. 26, 2022)

The Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards scored 37 points and dished out 11 assists, both game-high figures. Edwards became just the third player in franchise history to record at least 35 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds in a game:

• Kevin Garnett (Dec. 18, 2003) — 35 PTS, 10 AST, 10 REB

• Kevin Love (Feb. 22, 2014) — 37 PTS, 10 AST, 12 REB

• Anthony Edwards (Dec. 18, 2022) — 37 PTS, 11 AST, 7 REB

Backcourt mate D’Angelo Russell had 28 points and eight assists, shooting 10-14 from the field (71.4%) with seven 3-pointers made. Russell has scored at least 20 points with an effective field goal percentage of 55% in each of his last six games, the longest such streak of his career by three games. The only player in franchise history to record a longer such streak is Karl-Anthony Towns (multiple times).