NBA Game Notes (Dec. 31, 2022)

Here are the NBA game notes for games that were played on December 31, 2022.

Jan 01, 2023

El Matador En Fuego

The Mavericks’ Luka Doncic recorded his third 50-point game in his last five outings, scoring 51 points with nine assists, six rebounds, and four steals in a 126-125 win over the Spurs. The Mavericks have won six straight games, moving from 10th place to fourth place in the Western Conference standings over that period.

Doncic is averaging 45.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG, and 10.2 APG over his last five games. He’s the first player in NBA history to average a 45-point triple-double over a five-game span.

Over his last six games, Doncic is averaging 42.2 PPG, 10.8 RPG, and 10.2 APG. No other player in NBA history has averaged a 40-point triple-double over a six-game span.

It was the 23rd 40-point game of Doncic’s career, breaking a tie with Mark Aguirre for the most such games in franchise history. His four career 50-point games equals the total of all other players in franchise history combined.

Doncic did not commit a turnover. He’s the first player in franchise history to record a 50-point game with zero turnovers.

Doncic shot 18-29 from the field (62.1%), including 6-10 from 3-point range (60.0%). Doncic has scored at least 25 points on 50% shooting from the field in each of his last six games, the longest such streak of his career. He’s recorded 23 such games this season, tying him with Kevin Durant for the NBA lead.

Streaking Nets

The Nets won their 11th consecutive game, breezing past the Hornets 123-106. It’s tied for the third-longest winning streak in franchise history (ABA seasons included). The Nets have recorded 15 wins in a 16-game span for just the third time in franchise history:

Jan. 1, 2004–Feb. 28, 2004
March 12, 2006–April 9, 2006
Nov. 27, 2022–Dec. 31, 2022

The Nets’ Kevin Durant scored 23 points on 9-15 shooting from the field (60.0%). It’s the 27th time Durant has scored at least 20 points with a field goal percentage of 50% this season, the most such games in the NBA.

Kyrie Irving led the Nets with 28 points, making 11 of his 19 shots from the field (57.9%). It’s the ninth time Durant and Irving have each scored at least 20 points on 50% shooting from the field this season. The only duo with more such games is Luka Doncic and Christian Wood with 10.

The Hornets’ LaMelo Ball tallied 23 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds in the loss. Ball has compiled 308 points and 103 assists this season. He’s just the fourth player in NBA history age 21 years or younger to reach 300 points and 100 assists through his first 13 games of a season (a total of five instances):

Oscar Robertson, 1960-61
Luka Doncic, 2019-20
Trae Young, 2019-20
Doncic, 2020-21
LaMelo Ball, 2022-23

Pacers Hold Off Clippers

Tyrese Haliburton compiled 24 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds, and four steals without committing a turnover as the Pacers held off the Clippers 131-130. It’s the third time Haliburton has recorded a 20-point, 10-assist game with zero turnovers this season. No other player has produced more than one such game.

Myles Turner scored a team-high 34 points for the Pacers, making 11 of his 17 shots from the field (64.7%) and all 10 of his free throws.

The Clippers’ Paul George scored a season-high 45 points in the loss, adding nine rebounds, four assists, and three steals. He shot 15-25 from the field — including 7-13 from 3-point range — and made all eight of his free throws.

Randle, Knicks Roll Over Rockets

Julius Randle continued to pile up huge numbers, producing 35 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists as the Knicks rolled over the Rockets 108-88. Randle — who also made five 3-pointers — became just the third player in NBA history to record at least 35 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists with five 3-pointers made in back-to-back games (a total of six instances):

James Harden (3 times)
Luka Doncic (2 times)
Julius Randle

Over his last six games, Randle is averaging 33.2 PPG and 12.3 RPG, shooting 52.6% from the field and 42.4% from 3-point range.

The Rockets’ Kevin Porter Jr. had 23 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists in the loss. It’s the fourth time in the last six games Porter Jr. has recorded at least 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists.