NBA Game Notes (Dec. 29, 2022)
Here are the NBA game notes for games that were played on December 29, 2022.
All Luka, All the Time
The Mavericks’ Luka Doncic continued to put up video-game-like numbers, tallying 35 points, 12 rebounds, and 13 assists in a 129-114 win over the Rockets. It’s his 15th career 35-point triple-double, the fourth-most such games in NBA history:
59 — Oscar Robertson
29 — Russell Westbrook
24 — James Harden
15 — Luka Doncic
13 — Wilt Chamberlain
13 — LeBron James
Only one other player in franchise history has recorded even one such game: Doncic’s head coach, Jason Kidd, on April 11, 1995.
Doncic has compiled 95 points, 33 rebounds, and 23 assists over his last two games. He’s the first player in NBA history to record at least 90 points, 30 rebounds, and 20 assists over a two-game span.
Over his last five games, Doncic is averaging 40.4 PPG, 11.8 RPG, and 10.4 APG. He’s just the third player in NBA history to average a 40-point triple-double over a five-game span (a total of four instances):
Oscar Robertson (Dec. 26, 1960–Dec. 30, 1960)
Russell Westbrook (Feb. 26, 2015–March 8, 2015)
Westbrook (March 26, 2017–April 2, 2017)
Luka Doncic (Dec. 21, 2022–Dec. 29, 2022)
Doncic now has eight triple-doubles this season, breaking a tie with Nikola Jokic for the NBA lead. Seven of those have been 30-point triple-doubles. The rest of the NBA has four 30-point triple-doubles combined: Nikola Jokic with three and Pascal Siakam with one.
Doncic had a 30-point triple-double after three quarters, the fifth time he’s achieved this feat. Over the last 25 seasons, the only other player to record a 30-point triple-double through three quarters is James Harden (twice).
Doncic made 11 of his 21 shots from the field (52.4%). It’s the 20th time he’s scored at least 30 points with a field goal percentage of 50% this season. Only three players in NBA history have reached that mark in fewer games than Doncic (33):
29 — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1971-72
31 — Michael Jordan, 1988-89
32 — Adrian Dantley, 1985-86
Doncic has recorded at least 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists in each of his last 27 games. The only players in NBA history with a longer such streak are LeBron James and Oscar Robertson.
Spurs Overcome Randle, Quickley
The Spurs overcame huge games from Julius Randle and Immanuel Quickley to defeat the Knicks 122-115. Randle scored a season-high 41 points, adding 11 rebounds and seven assists. It was the 38th 40-point game in December, the most such games in a calendar month in NBA history:
38 — December 2022
37 — December 1961
35 — February 1962
34 — March 2022
33 — January 1962
Randle shot 14-27 from the field (51.9%), including 6-13 from 3-point range (46.2%). It’s the third time Randle has recorded at least 40 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and five 3-pointers made in a game. No other player in franchise history has recorded even one such game.
Randle is averaging 32.8 PPG and 12.4 RPG over his last five games, shooting 54.0% from the field and 43.5% from 3-point range.
Quickley scored a career-high 36 points with seven rebounds and seven assists. Randle and Quickley are the first duo in franchise history to each record at least 35 points, five rebounds, and five assists in the same game.
The Spurs’ Keldon Johnson scored a team-high 30 points, shooting 11-21 from the field (52.4%) and making all five of his free throws.
Quartet of Pacers Score 20
Four Pacers scored at least 20 points on 50% shooting from the field in a 135-126 victory over the Cavaliers:
Tyrese Halibuton — 29 PTS, 10-19 FG
Buddy Hield — 25 PTS, 10-14 FG
Bennedict Mathurin — 23 PTS, 7-14 FG
Aaron Nesmith — 22 PTS, 7-10 FG
Over the last 30 seasons, the only other Pacer quartet to achieve this feat is Oshae Brissett, Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, and Malcolm Brogdon on Feb. 27, 2022.
Halibuton also made six 3-pointers, dished out nine assists, and committed just one turnover. He’s averaging 3.90 assists per turnover this season, the best ratio in the NBA among players with at least 200 assists.
Hield shot 5-6 from 3-point range, the 12th time he’s made at least five 3-pointers in a game this season. The only player in the NBA with more such games is Stephen Curry with 13.
Haliburton and Hield have each made at least five 3-pointers in the same game five times this season. No duo in NBA history has recorded five such games in a season in fewer team games (36). On a career basis, no duo in franchise history has recorded more such games.
Mathurin has recorded 14 20-point games coming off the bench this season, three more such games than any other player. Since the NBA began tracking starters in 1970-71, only two rookies have recorded more such games in an entire season: Ben Gordon (24) and Jeff Ruland (19).