NBA Game Notes (Jan. 1, 2023)
Here are the NBA game notes for games that were played on January 1, 2023.
Conference Leaders Clash
In a clash of conference leaders, the Nuggets defeated the Celtics 123-111. The Nuggets — who have won 10 of their last 12 games — snapped a six-game losing streak versus the Celtics.
The Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic recorded game highs of 30 points (tied), 12 rebounds, and 12 assists. It’s the 40th time Jokic has led all players on both teams — either outright or tied — in all three categories. He’s one of only four players over the last 50 NBA seasons to record at least 40 such games:
64 — LeBron James
56 — Russell Westbrook
50 — Giannis Antetokounmpo
40 — Nikola Jokic
Jokic leads the NBA with nine triple-doubles this season, and he’s tied with Domantas Sabonis for the league lead in double-doubles with 26.
Jokic shot 10-13 from the field (76.9%) and made all eight of his free throws. It’s the third time he’s recorded a 30-point triple-double with a field goal percentage of at least 75%. The only other player in NBA history with multiple such games is Wilt Chamberlain with nine.
Jokic did not commit a turnover. It’s the second time he’s recorded a 30-point triple-double with zero turnovers (the first was Oct. 20, 2018). Since the NBA began tracking individual turnovers in 1977-78, no other player has recorded multiple such games.
Jokic has recorded at least 10 points, five rebounds, and five assists while shooting 50% from the field in each of his last 20 games, the longest such streak in NBA history. The only other active player to record such a streak of more than 10 games is Giannis Antetokounmpo (11, March 1, 2019–March 24, 2019).
As a team, the Nuggets shot 45-79 from the field (57.0%) — including 17-30 from 3-point range (56.7%) — and 16-18 from the free throw line (88.9%). It’s the first time in franchise history the Nuggets have recorded a true shooting percentage of at least 70% in back-to-back games.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 30 points, while teammate Jayson Tatum scored 25 points. It’s the 21st time Brown and Tatum have each scored at least 25 points in the same game this season, eight more such games than any other duo.
Morant, Adams Lead Grizzlies
Ja Morant scored a game-high 35 points as the Grizzlies upended the Kings 118-108 to remain a game behind the Nuggets in the Western Conference standings. Morant also contributed eight rebounds and five assists, the 14th time he’s recorded at least 35 points, five rebounds, and five assists in a game. All other players in Grizzlies history have combined to produce 12 such games, with no individual accounting for more than three.
The Grizzlies’ Steven Adams snagged a season-high 23 rebounds, his second consecutive 20-rebound game. He became the first player in franchise history to record at least 20 rebounds in back-to-back games.
Tyus Jones came off the bench to produce 18 points, eight assists, and six rebounds for the Grizzlies. Jones did not commit a turnover or personal foul, the 40th time he’s dished out at least five assists with zero turnovers and zero personal fouls. Since the NBA began tracking individual turnovers in 1977-78, no other player has recorded more than 26 such games.
The Kings’ Domantas Sabonis had 18 points and 14 rebounds in the loss, his 13th consecutive double-double. The only King to record a longer such streak since the franchise moved to Sacramento in 1985 is DeMarcus Cousins with 15 in a row.
Sabonis is averaging 21.2 PPG, 15.1 RPG, and 7.1 APG over those 13 games, shooting 66.0% from the field. He’s just the second player in NBA history to average at least 20 PPG, 15 RPG, and 7 APG with a field goal percentage of 60% over a 13-game span, joining Wilt Chamberlain.
