NBA Game Notes (Dec. 2, 2022)
NBA Game Notes (Dec. 2, 2022)
Here are the NBA game notes for games that were played on December 2, 2022.
Lakers Knock Off Bucks
Anthony Davis had 44 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks as the Lakers upset the Bucks 133-129. Davis shot 18-27 from the field (66.7%) and made six of his seven free throws.
Davis has recorded at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and a field goal percentage of 50% in each of his last eight games. Only one player over the last 50 NBA seasons has recorded a longer such streak:
11 — Shaquille O’Neal, 2000-01
8 — Anthony Davis, 2022-23
8 — Charles Barkley, 1989-90
8 — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1978-79
Teammate LeBron James recorded 28 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds without committing a turnover. James moved into sixth place on the NBA’s all-time list for assists, passing Lakers legend Magic Johnson:
15,806 — John Stockton
12,091 — Jason Kidd
11,071 — Chris Paul
10,335 — Steve Nash
10,334 — Mark Jackson
10,144 — LeBron James
James is poised to move into fourth place before the end of the season.
The Lakers’ Russell Westbrook scored 15 points, dished out 11 assists, and did not commit a turnover. Since the NBA began tracking individual turnovers in 1977-78, James and Westbrook are the only duo to each record at least 10 points, 10 assists, and zero turnovers in the same game.
It’s just the second time in NBA history two teammates age 34 years or older have recorded at least 10 points and 10 assists in the same game. The first duo to perform the feat was John Stockton and Karl Malone on May 4, 1999.
The Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo tallied 40 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in the loss. Antetokounmpo shot 16-23 from the field, the sixth straight time he’s scored at least 30 points with a field goal percentage of 50%. That’s the longest such streak of his career and the longest by a Buck since Marques Johnson in October 1978.
Franchise First for Zion
The Pelicans’ Zion Williamson produced 30 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists in a 117-99 win over the Spurs. He shot 9-14 from the field (64.3%) and 12-13 from the free throw line (92.3%).
Williamson became the first player in franchise history to record at least 30 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in consecutive games. He’s averaging 26.4 PPG, 9.8 RPG, and 5.2 APG over his last five games, shooting 67.5% from the field.
The Spurs have lost 10 straight games for the first time since the 1988-89 season. They have lost 15 of their last 16 games. It’s the first time in franchise history — ABA seasons included — they have lost 15 games in a 16-game span.
Rockets Stun Suns
After shooting just 2-12 in the first half, Jalen Green scored 21 of his team-high 30 points in the second half as the Rockets rallied to defeat the Suns 122-121. The Rockets trailed by 16 points late in the third quarter. The Suns entered the game with the best record in the Western Conference, while the Rockets had the conference’s worst record.
The Suns’ Devin Booker scored 41 points and dished out eight assists in the loss. It was Booker’s third straight 40-point game. He’s the only player in franchise history to record three such games in a row. This is the second time he’s done so.
Booker made 15 of his 25 shots from the field (60.0%). He’s just the eight player in NBA history to record at least three straight 40-point games on 60% shooting from the field:
4 — Bob McAdoo
3 — Wilt Chamberlain (twice)
3 — Moses Malone
3 — Adrian Dantley
3 — Bernard King
3 — Michael Jordan
3 — Carmelo Anthony
3 — Devin Booker
Splash Poole
Jordan Poole came off the bench to score 30 points in just 23 minutes played as the Warriors staved off a late charge to defeat the Bulls 119-111. Poole recorded an effective field goal percentage of 80.6%, shooting 11-18 from the field with seven 3-pointers.
Teammate Stephen Curry had 19 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. Curry — who connected on four 3-pointers — has made at least three 3-pointers in each of his 21 games this season, the longest such streak to start a season in NBA history by 13 games.
Curry has made at least one 3-pointer in each of his last 210 regular-season games, the longest such streak in NBA history by 53 games. Curry owns the two longest such streaks in NBA history:
210 — Stephen Curry (2018-present)
157 — Stephen Curry (2014-2016)
127 — Kyle Korver (2012-2014)
99 — Jordan Clarkson (2020-2021)
95 — Klay Thompson (2016-2018)
Grizzlies Hold Off Sixers
The Grizzlies’ Ja Morant scored a team-high 28 points, while Jaren Jackson Jr. contributed 22 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks in a 117-109 victory over the Sixers.
The Sixers’ Joel Embiid compiled 35 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, and three blocks in the loss. Embiid has recorded at least 30 points, five rebounds, and five assists in seven of his last nine games. The only other player in franchise history to record seven such games in a nine-game span is Wilt Chamberlain (December 1965 and February 1966).