NBA Game Notes (Dec. 27, 2022)
Here are the NBA game notes for games that were played on December 27, 2022.
Luka Magic
Luka Doncic put up an insane stat line — 60 points, 21 rebounds, and 10 assists — as the Mavericks made a furious comeback to defeat the Knicks 126-121 in overtime. Doncic became the first player in NBA history to record at least 60 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists in a game.
The Mavericks trailed by nine points with just 33.9 seconds remaining in regulation. They outscored the Knicks 12-3 the rest of the way, with Doncic converting an intentional missed free throw and put back to force overtime.
The only other player in NBA history to record a 60-point triple-double is James Harden, who produced 60 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists for the Rockets versus the Magic on Jan. 30, 2018.
Doncic is just the third player in NBA history to record at least 50 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists in a game (a total of four 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 18, 1968) — 53 PTS, 32 REB, 14 AST
Luka Doncic (Dec. 27, 2022) — 60 PTS, 21 REB, 10 AST
Doncic became the youngest player in NBA history to record a 50-point triple-double (age in years-days):
23-302 — Luka Doncic (Dec. 27, 2022)
26-176 — Wilt Chamberlain (Feb. 13, 1963)
27-088 — Elgin Baylor (Dec. 13, 1961)
27-127 — James Harden (Dec. 31, 2016)
27-154 — Harden (Jan. 27, 2017)
Doncic now has six career 40-point triple-doubles, tying LeBron James for the fifth-most such games in NBA history:
22 — Oscar Robertson
16 — James Harden
13 — Russell Westbrook
7 — Wilt Chamberlain
6 — Luka Doncic
6 — LeBron James
Doncic is the first player in franchise history to record a 60-point game. It’s the third time he’s scored at least 50 points in a game, breaking a tie with Dirk Nowitzki for the most such games in franchise history.
The Knicks’ Julius Randle scored 29 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in the loss, surpassing 10,000 career points. Randle is averaging 30.8 PPG and 12.8 RPG over his last four games, shooting 54.7% from the field and 42.4% from 3-point range.
Wizards Snap Sixers Streak
The Wizards overcame a huge game from Joel Embiid to defeat the Sixers 116-111, snapping the Sixers’ eight-game winning streak. Embiid had 48 points, 10 rebounds, three steals, and three blocks, shooting 17-32 from the field (53.1%) and 13-14 from the free throw line (92.9%).
It’s the 32nd time Embiid has scored at least 40 points in a game, snapping a tie with Wilt Chamberlain for the second-most such games in franchise history. Allen Iverson is the franchise’s all-time leader with 76 40-point games.
Since the NBA began tracking steals and blocks in 1973-74, Embiid is the only Sixer to record at least 45 points, 10 rebounds, three steals, and three blocks in a game.
Embiid has 31 career 40-point, 10-rebound games, tying teammate James Harden for the fourth-most such games since the ABA-NBA merger:
43 — Shaquille O’Neal
33 — Michael Jordan
32 — Anthony Davis
31 — Joel Embiid
31 — James Harden
Speaking of Harden, he produced 26 points, 13 assists, seven rebounds, and three steals in the loss. Harden has compiled 75 points and 47 assists over his last three games. He’s just the fourth active player to average at least 25 PPG and 15 APG over a three-game span, joining Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, and Trae Young. Harden is just the second player in franchise history to do so, joining Wilt Chamberlain (March 1968).
Kristaps Porzingis recorded 24 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks for the Wizards, all team-high figures. He also made three 3-pointers. It’s the 35th time Porzingis has made at least three 3-pointers and blocked three shots in the same game. The only player in NBA history with more such games is Kevin Durant with 36.
Brown, Tatum Lead Celtics
Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum scored 39 and 38 points, respectively, as the Celtics routed the Rockets 126-102. It’s the third time Brown and Tatum have each scored at least 35 points in the same game. No other duo in franchise history has recorded more than one such game.
Brown and Tatum each made six 3-pointers. It’s the fourth time they’ve each scored at least 30 points with five 3-pointers made in a game. The only duo in NBA history with more such games is Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson with nine.
Jalen Green led the Rockets with 28 points, shooting 11-22 from the field. Green has scored at least 20 points in each of his last four games.
Brodie’s Bench Brilliance
Russell Westbrook came off the bench to record his third triple-double of the season, tallying 15 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists as the Lakers cruised past the Magic 129-110. Since the NBA began tracking starters in 1970-71, Westbrook is the only bench player to record three triple-doubles in a season. In fact, the only other bench player to record three triple-doubles in his entire career is Detlef Schrempf.
Teammate LeBron James chipped in with 28 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. James has recorded at least 25 points and five assists in each of his last five games. He’s the oldest player in NBA history to record five such games in a row.
James — who shot 11-22 from the field — has scored at least 25 points with a field goal percentage of 50% in eight consecutive games. It’s the longest such streak in NBA history by a player age 35 years or older.