NBA Game Notes (Dec. 4, 2022)
NBA Game Notes (Dec. 4, 2022)
Here are the NBA game notes for games that were played on December 4, 2022.
The Brow Abides
The Lakers’ Anthony Davis continued his amazing run, producing 55 points, 17 rebounds, and three blocks in a 130-119 win over the Wizards. Davis made 22 of his 30 shots from the field (73.3%) and hit all nine of his free throws.
It’s the second time Davis has recorded at least 55 points and 15 rebounds in a game while shooting 70% from the field. The only other player in NBA history to record multiple such games is Wilt Chamberlain, who did so five times.
Since the NBA began tracking blocks in 1973-74, Davis is just the second player to record at least 55 points, 15 rebounds, and three blocks in a game. He joins Kevin McHale, who did so on March 3, 1985.
Davis is just the second player since the ABA-NBA merger to record at least 40 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks in back-to-back games, joining Patrick Ewing (Feb. 17 & 22, 1990).
Davis is one of only three players over the last 60 NBA seasons to record at least 40 points and 10 rebounds with 65% shooting from the field in consecutive games:
Bob McAdoo (March 18 & 21, 1975)
Giannis Antetokounmpo (March 29 & 31, 2022)
Anthony Davis (Dec. 2 & 4, 2022)
Davis has recorded at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and a field goal percentage of 50% in each of his last nine games. Only one player over the last 50 NBA seasons has produced a longer such streak:
11 — Shaquille O’Neal, 2000-01
9 — Anthony Davis, 2022-23
8 — Charles Barkley, 1989-90
8 — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1978-79
Davis is averaging 35.3 PPG and 15.6 RPG in those nine games. The only other player since the ABA-NBA merger to average at least 35 PPG and 15 RPG over a nine-game span is Moses Malone in 1981-82 (multiple spans).
Sabonis Ties Mark
Domantas Sabonis recorded his 19th career triple-double, tallying 11 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Kings defeated the Bulls 110-101. Sabonis took just four shots from the field, tying the NBA record for fewest field goals attempted by a player with a triple-double:
Magic Johnson (March 23, 1982)
Bo Outlaw (March 28, 2000)
Draymond Green (Nov. 27, 2015)
Rajon Rondo (Jan. 23, 2016)
Domantas Sabonis (Dec. 4, 2022)
The Kings have won 10 of their last 13 games to raise their record to 13-9. They are just the third team in NBA history to win at least 13 of their first 22 games after starting a season with four straight losses. They join the 2006-07 Mavericks and the 2018-19 Thunder, both of whom were 15-7 through 22 games.
The Kings have scored at least 100 points in each of their 22 games this season. The last time they opened a season with 22 such games in a row was 1970-71, when they were known as the Cincinnati Royals.
The Bulls’ Zach LaVine scored a season-high 41 points in the loss. It’s his 15th career 40-point game with the Bulls, breaking a tie with Bob Love for the second-most such games in franchise history:
165 — Michael Jordan
15 — Zach LaVine
14 — Bob Love
8 — Jimmy Butler
7 — DeMar DeRozan
Grand Theft Alvarado
Jose Alvarado came off the bench to score a career-high 38 points in just 27 minutes played as the Pelicans beat the Nuggets 121-106. Alvarado made 12 of his 19 shots from the field (63.2%), including a career-high eight 3-pointers.
Alvarado set a franchise record for most points scored in a game by a bench player. The previous mark of 37 points was set by Marcus Thornton on Feb. 23, 2010.
The Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic had 32 points, 16 rebounds, and nine assists in the loss. He shot 13-19 from the field (68.4%).
Jokic has recorded a double-double and shot at least 50% from the field in each of his last seven games, matching the longest such streak of his career. He’s averaging 27.7 PPG, 11.3 RPG, and 8.7 APG over that span, shooting 68.3% from the field and 42.1% from 3-point range.
Suns Rise, Spurs Fall
The Suns’ Deandre Ayton scored a team-high 25 points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds in a 133-95 victory over the Spurs. Ayton shot 10-14 from the field (71.4%) and was +30 in just 25 minutes played.
Ayton is one of five players in franchise history to record a 25-point, 10-rebound game while playing 25 or fewer minutes:
24 — Marcin Gortat (Jan. 30, 2011)
24 — Larry Nance (April 7, 1986)
24 — Charles Barkley (Feb. 24, 1995)
25 — Amar’e Stoudemire (Nov. 11, 2006)
25 — Deandre Ayton (Dec. 4, 2022)
Devin Booker scored 20 points and dished out eight assists in his 500th NBA game. He’s one of only seven players in NBA history to score at least 10,000 points with 1,000 3-pointers made through his first 500 games:
Gilbert Arenas
Bradley Beal
Devin Booker
Stephen Curry
James Harden
Kyrie Irving
Damian Lillard
The Spurs have lost 11 consecutive games, the second-longest losing streak in franchise history (ABA seasons included). They have lost 16 games in a 17-game span for the first time in franchise history.
The Spurs have lost six games by 25 or more points this season, the most such losses in NBA history by a team through its first 24 games of a season.
Brown, Tatum Lead Celtics
The Celtics’ Jaylen Brown had 34 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks in a 103-92 victory over the Nets. Brown has scored at least 20 points in each of his last 14 games, the longest such streak of his career.
Teammate Jayson Tatum chipped in with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and four steals. Tatum has scored 707 points in 23 games this season. He’s the first player in franchise history to reach 700 points in fewer than 25 games:
23 — Jayson Tatum, 2022-23
25 — John Havlicek, 1970-71
25 — Larry Bird, 1984-85
25 — Bird, 1987-88
26 — Isaiah Thomas, 2016-17
The Celtics have scored at least 100 points in each of their 24 games this season. It’s the first time since the 1967-68 season they’ve opened a campaign with 24 such games in a row. Dating back to last season, the Celtics have recorded 29 straight 100-point games, their longest such streak since the 1986-87 season (32 in a row).
The Nets’ Kevin Durant tallied 31 points, seven rebounds, five assists, two steals, and two blocks in the loss. Durant has recorded at least 30 points, five rebounds, and five assists in five of his last six games. He joins LeBron James as the only players in NBA history to record five such games in a six-game span after turning 34 years old.
Morant Scores, Dishes
Ja Morant scored a game-high 33 points and dished out a game-high 10 assists as the Grizzlies got by the Pistons 122-112. It’s the 10th time Morant has recorded at least 30 points and 10 assists in a game, two more such games than all other players in franchise history combined:
10 — Ja Morant
2 — Tyreke Evans
2 — Jason Williams
2 — Mike Conley
1 — Shareef Abdur-Rahim
1 — Greg Anthony
Morant scored 26 of his points in the second half, accounting for almost half of the Grizzlies’ total (53 points). For the game, he either scored or assisted on 22 of his team’s 43 field goals (51.1%).