NBA Game Notes (Dec. 25, 2022)
NBA Game Notes (Dec. 25, 2022)
Here are the NBA game notes for games that were played on December 25, 2022.
Jokic Makes History (Again)
The Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic had yet another incredible performance, producing 41 points, 15 rebounds, and 15 assists in a 128-125 overtime win over the Suns. Jokic is just the third player in NBA history to record at least 40 points, 15 rebounds, and 15 assists in a game (a total of four instances):
Oscar Robertson (Nov. 10, 1961) — 40 PTS, 15 REB, 16 AST
Robertson (Feb. 13, 1962) — 42 PTS, 15 REB, 18 AST
James Harden (Dec. 31. 2016) — 53 PTS, 16 REB, 17 AST
Nikola Jokic (Dec. 25, 2022) — 41 PTS, 15 REB, 15 AST
Jokic is the ninth player in NBA history to record a triple-double on Christmas Day (a total of 13 instances). His 41 points are the most a player has scored in a Christmas Day triple-double.
Jokic — who tallied 40 points, 27 rebounds, and 10 assists in a game just one week prior — is the first non-guard in NBA history to record multiple 40-point triple-doubles in a four-game span.
Jokic shot 16-25 from the field (64.0%) and made seven of his nine free throws. It’s the third time Jokic has recorded a 40-point triple-double with 60% shooting from the field. The only other players in NBA history to record at least three such games are Wilt Chamberlain (4) and Oscar Robertson (3).
Jokic has recorded at least 10 points, five rebounds, and five assists with 50% shooting from the field in each of his last 16 games, the longest such streak in NBA history.
The Suns’ Chris Paul had 17 points, 16 assists, and zero turnovers in the loss. It’s the eighth time Paul has recorded at least 15 points and 15 assists in a game without committing a turnover, the most such games since the NBA began tracking individual turnovers in 1977-78.
Celtics Rout Bucks
Jayson Tatum had 41 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals as the Celtics routed the Bucks 139-118. Tatum shot 14-22 from the field (63.6%) and made all 10 of his free throws.
Tatum now has six 40-point games this season, tying Luka Doncic for the NBA lead:
6 — Jayson Tatum
6 — Luka Doncic
5 — Giannis Antetokounmpo
5 — Joel Embiid
5 — Devin Booker
Teammate Jaylen Brown scored 29 points on 11-19 shooting from the field (57.9%), including five 3-pointers made. It’s the 18th time Tatum and Brown have each scored at least 25 points in the same game this season, equaling the total of the next two closest duos combined:
18 — Jayson Tatum & Jaylen Brown
11 — Kevin Durant & Kyrie Irving
7 — Luka Doncic & Christian Wood
As a team, the Celtics shot 50-85 from the field with 19 3-pointers made, an effective field goal percentage of 70.0%. That’s the highest such figure in NBA history by a team in a Christmas Day game:
70.0% — Boston Celtics (2022)
68.2% — L.A. Clippers (2020)
66.7% — Milwaukee Bucks (2020)
66.5% — Portland Trail Blazers (1983)
66.5% — Los Angeles Lakers (2020)
Sixers Extend Streak
James Harden had 29 points, 13 assists, and four steals as the Sixers beat the Knicks 119-112 for their eighth consecutive victory. Harden has recorded 49 points and 34 assists over his last two games. No other player in franchise history has matched or exceeded both of those figures over a two-game span.
Harden shot 5-11 from 3-point range and made 10 of his 11 free throws. It’s the 79th time he’s made at least five 3-pointers and 10 free throws in a game, a staggering 51 more such games than any other player in NBA history:
79 — James Harden
28 — Damian Lillard
21 — Stephen Curry
17 — Trae Young
16 — Kobe Bryant
Teammate Joel Embiid scored 35 points and grabbed eight rebounds, both team highs. Embiid shot 12-22 from the field (54.5%) but struggled from the free throw line, making 10 of his 15 attempts.
Julius Randle led the Knicks with 35 points, making 12 of his 24 attempts from the field and all seven of his free throws. Randle is averaging 31.3 PPG and 11.0 RPG over his last three games, shooting 57.1% from the field and 40.9% from 3-point range.
Teammate Jalen Brunson scored 23 points, dished out 11 assists, and committed just one turnover. It’s the second time Brunson has recorded a 20-point, 10-assist game with one or fewer turnovers this season. The last Knick to record multiple such games in a season was Stephon Marbury in 2005-06 (2).
Mavs Tie Franchise Mark
The Mavericks used a record-setting third quarter to turn an 11-point deficit into a 19-point lead, eventually beating the Lakers 124-115. The Mavericks scored 51 points in the pivotal third period, tying the franchise record for most points scored in a quarter (Jan. 15, 1985). It’s the second-most points the Lakers have allowed in a quarter, surpassed only by the 52 points the Celtics scored in the fourth quarter on Feb. 27, 1959. The Mavericks also set an NBA record for most points scored in a quarter in a Christmas Day game:
51 — Dallas Mavericks (2022, 3rd quarter)
45 — Los Angeles Lakers (1961, 3rd quarter)
43 — Milwaukee Bucks (2021, 3rd quarter)
43 — Phoenix Suns (1976, 4th quarter)
43 — Philadelphia 76ers (1968, 2nd quarter)
The Mavericks’ Luka Doncic had 32 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists, shooting 9-16 from the field (56.3%) and 12-16 from the free throw line (75.0%). It’s the 22nd time Doncic has recorded at least 30 points, five rebounds, and five assists in a game this season, equaling the combined total of the next two closest players: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (12) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (10).
Christian Wood compiled 30 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and four steals, shooting 12-17 from the field (70.6%).
The Lakers’ LeBron James tallied a game-high 38 points, six rebounds, and five assists in the loss. James — who will turn 38 years old on Friday — has scored at least 30 points in each of his last seven games, matching the longest such streak in NBA history by a player age 35 years or older. He ties himself, as James also recorded seven such games in a row last December.