NBA Game Notes (Dec. 7, 2022)
Here are the NBA game notes for games that were played on December 7, 2022.
The Greek Streak
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 35 points, six rebounds, and seven assists to lead the Bucks past the Kings 126-113. Antetokounmpo shot 12-19 from the field (63.2%) and made nine of his 10 free throws.
Antetokounmpo has scored at least 30 points on 50% shooting from the field in each of his last eight games, tying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the longest such streak in franchise history. Only two players in NBA history have recorded a longer such streak:
11 — Shaquille O’Neal (March 28, 2001–April 17, 2001)
9 — Amar’e Stoudemire (Nov. 28, 2010–Dec. 15, 2010)
The Kings’ Domantas Sabonis tallied 23 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists in the loss. Sabonis made nine of his 11 shots from the field (81.8%) and all four of his free throws. It’s the sixth time Sabonis has recorded at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists with 80% shooting from the field. Only two players since the ABA-NBA merger have recorded more such games: Nikola Jokic (9) and Charles Barkley (8).
Knicks Blow Out Hawks
Julius Randle had his best game of the season, compiling 34 points, 17 rebounds, and five assists without committing a turnover as the Knicks blew out the Hawks 113-89. Randle shot 10-19 from the field — including 6-12 from 3-point range — and 8-8 from the free throw line.
Randle became the first player in franchise history to record at least 30 points, 15 rebounds, and five 3-pointers made in a game. Since the NBA began tracking individual turnovers in 1977-78, the only other player to reach those marks in a game without committing a turnover is Bill Laimbeer on Jan. 26, 1990.
Mount Zion
Zion Williamson scored 29 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and dished out five assists as the Pelicans got by the Pistons 104-98. The Pelicans have won five consecutive games and now own the best record in the Western Conference at 16-8.
Williamson has averaged 28.0 PPG, 9.8 RPG, and 6.0 APG with a field goal percentage of 65.0% during the winning streak, all without All-Star forward Brandon Ingram, who has missed the last five games with a toe injury.
Williamson converted 11 of his 16 shots from the field (68.8%). It’s the 27th time he’s scored at least 25 points on 65% shooting from the field. Only three players in NBA history have recorded more such games before their 23rd birthday:
55 — Shaquille O’Neal
31 — Dwight Howard
30 — Karl-Anthony Towns
27 — Zion Williamson
22 — Giannis Antetokounmpo
Williamson has plenty of time to move up this list, as he will not turn 23 years old until July 6, 2023.
Morant Sets Franchise Mark
The Grizzlies’ Ja Morant recorded his sixth career triple-double, producing 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists in a 123-102 win over the Thunder. The Grizzlies have won six of their last seven games — including the last four in a row — and are now tied with the Suns for second place in the Western Conference at 16-9.
Morant broke a tie with Marc Gasol for the most triple-doubles in franchise history:
6 — Ja Morant
5 — Marc Gasol
3 — Delon Wright
2 — Pau Gasol
Morant — who had 33 points and 10 assists on Sunday — became the first player in franchise history to record at least 25 points and 10 assists in back-to-back games.
Edwards Powers Wolves
Anthony Edwards had 26 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, and six steals to power the Timberwolves to a 121-115 win over the Pacers. Edwards is the seventh player in franchise history to record at least 25 points, five rebounds, five assists, and five steals in a game (a total of eight instances). At 21 years and 124 days old, he’s the youngest of those players to do so by more than two years.
Teammate Rudy Gobert scored 16 points, grabbed a game-high 21 rebounds, and also contributed three steals and two blocks. It’s the 110th time Gobert has recorded at least 15 points and 15 rebounds in a game, the third-most such games among active players:
197 — Andre Drummond
136 — Kevin Love
110 — Rudy Gobert
97 — Anthony Davis
88 — Nikola Vucevic
The Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton had 26 points, 15 assists, and three steals in the loss. He became the first Pacer to record at least 25 points and 15 assists in a game since the franchise joined the NBA in 1976. It’s Haliburton’s third 15-assist game of the season. No other player has recorded more than one such game.
Celtics Rout Suns
In a matchup of conference leaders, the Celtics led by as many as 45 points in a 125-98 rout of the Suns. The Celtics own the NBA’s best record at 21-5, having won 17 of their last 19 games. Three of their five losses have come in overtime.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each scored 25 points in the win. It’s the 14th time they’ve each scored at least 25 points in the same game this season, equaling the combined total of the next two closest duos:
14 — Jayson Tatum & Jaylen Brown
8 — Kevin Durant & Kyrie Irving
6 — Giannis Antetokounmpo & Jrue Holiday
5 — Luka Doncic & Christian Wood
4 — LeBron James & Anthony Davis
Tatum and Brown have done this 49 times total, the third-most such games in franchise history:
65 — John Havlicek & Jo Jo White
64 — Larry Bird & Kevin McHale
49 — Jayson Tatum & Jaylen Brown
44 — Larry Bird & Robert Parish
44 — Paul Pierce & Antoine Walker
The Celtics have scored at least 100 points in each of their 26 games this season. It’s the first time since the 1967-68 season they’ve opened a campaign with 26 such games in a row. Dating back to last season, the Celtics have recorded 31 straight 100-point games, their longest such streak since the 1986-87 season (32 in a row).
Irving, Durant Lead Nets
Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant combined for 62 points as the Nets outlasted the Hornets 122-116:
Kyrie Irving — 33 PTS, 9 AST, 5 REB, 4 BLK
Kevin Durant — 29 PTS, 9 REB, 8 AST
Irving’s four blocks matched his career high. His Game Score was 31.4, his highest such figure of the season.
Durant has recorded at least 25 points, five rebounds, and five assists in six of his last seven games. The only player in NBA history to record six such games in a seven-game span at an older age is LeBron James.
The Nets’ Seth Curry had his most complete game of the season, posting 20 points, six assists, and five rebounds while shooting 8-11 from the field (72.7%). It’s the first time this season a team has had three players each record at least 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists in the same game. The last time the Nets had three such players in the same game was March 21, 2004 (Richard Jefferson, Lucious Harris, and Rodney Rogers).
Siakam Shines
The Raptors’ Pascal Siakam tallied 25 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and two steals in a 126-113 win over the shorthanded Lakers. It’s the 23rd time Siakam has recorded at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in a game, nine more such games than any other player in franchise history:
23 — Pascal Siakam
14 — Vince Carter
14 — Chris Bosh
5 — Kyle Lowry
4 — DeMar DeRozan
Siakam has season totals of 368 points, 134 rebounds, and 106 assists. He’s the first player in franchise history to record at least 300 points, 100 rebounds, and 100 assists through his first 15 games of a season.
Teammate Scottie Barnes scored 13 points and matched his career high with 17 rebounds. Barnes raised his season totals to 317 points, 160 rebounds, and 108 assists. He and Siakam are the only duo in the NBA this season to each have at least 300 points, 125 rebounds, and 100 assists.