New Orleans Pelicans vs. Phoenix Suns, Suns win 118-114
Top Performers:
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 30 | 3 | 9 | 12/15 | 0/1 | 6/7 | 0 | 1 |
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 58 | 6 | 5 | 21/35 | 6/12 | 10/15 | 0 | 0 |
Key Points:
- Devin Booker with the 50-ball! 58 points on 35 shots with 15 free throw attempts and six made threes. In short, Booker was letting that thing fly last night. The next closest player on the team in terms of shot attempts was Mikal Bridges with 13. Speaking of Bridges, he and Chris Paul combined for 33 points on the night. Notable players that missed this game were Deandre Ayton (left ankle sprain) and Cameron Payne) right foot strain.
- The Pelicans kept it close off the strength of Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum combining for 57 points. But that was just enough to match the energy of Booker. Beyond those two, the next highest scorer was Jonas Valanciunas who finished with 12 points and rebounds.
- Feels insane to say, but these two teams just played each other three times in the last week after playing each other six times in two weeks last postseason. Unfortunately, last night capped off the season series with both teams winning two games apiece in the four total matchups. Smells like a new rivalry is brewing and you just hope we get to see it pick back up in this year’s playoffs.
Washington Wizards vs. LA Clippers, Clippers win 102-93
Top Performers:
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 19 | 7 | 2 | 8/19 | 0/3 | 3/4 | 4 | 0 |
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 31 | 9 | 1 | 12/26 | 2/5 | 5/8 | 3 | 1 |
Key Points:
- Board Man gets PAID! Kawhi Leonard had easily his best game of the season with 31 points in 31 minutes to help pull out the victory in the absence of Paul George.
- This was also a big night for Luke Kennard, who has been quietly putting it together over the last few games. From October 30th to December 8th, Kennard only had one game in double figures (13 against the Lakers). He has had four straight games in double-figures, including this one with a season-high 20 points while knocking down four threes.
- The Wizards continue to struggle offensively when Bradley Beal is out of the lineup (right hamstring), but Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle Kuzma have been consistent all season. The two combined for 36 points and 13 rebounds. The surprise player for them was Deni Avdija, who recorded his second double-double of the season with 11 points, ten rebounds, and five assists.
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, Grizzlies win 115-109
Top Performers:
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 32 | 4 | 1 | 10/24 | 6/15 | 6/7 | 0 | 1 |
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 24 | 7 | 4 | 8/14 | 3/4 | 5/8 | 1 | 0 |
Key Points:
- Desmond Bane is still out due to injury (toe sprain) and Ja Morant was ejected after only 16 minutes on the floor. Somebody had to take these shots, and Dillon Brooks stepped up. Brooks led the team in points (32) and minutes played (37) as he took 24 shots (2nd most this season), and 15 threes (most this season). They say that Brooks is a chucker, and in this one, he was not afraid to let it fly, but they needed every bucket because this game was close despite the absence of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey for the OKC Thunder.
- Quiet night for Jaren Jackson Jr. as he had 16 points, mainly coming from the free throw line (8-of-10), but my guy didn’t have a single highlight defensive play. Not a steal, a block, or even a big-time deflection. That’s how you know it was tough pickings for Jackson Jr.
- OKC Thunder was without their two top guards, so instead of a 30+-point performance from SGA, the team had to spread the wealth a bit. Lugentz Dort and Isaiah Joe combined for 47 in the starting lineup. Shoutout to Maryland alum Aaron Wiggins who represented the area proudly with one of his best games of the season with 14 points, seven rebounds, and four assists in 21 minutes off the bench.
- The Thunder finished with five players in double figures, one of them NOT being reigning Western Conference Rookie of the Month Jalen Williams, who had a ROUGH night with one point and two rebounds on 0-of-8 shooting. Anticipate a big comeback game for Williams to make up for the tough finish to last night’s game.
Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs, Heat win 111-101
Top Performers:
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 22 | 13 | 3 | 11/18 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 1 | 0 |
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 13 | 6 | 5 | 4/5 | 1/1 | 4/4 | 0 | 2 |
Key Points:
- The Miami Heat were MUY CALIENTE in Mexico City as the trifecta of Jimmy Butler (26 points), Tyler Herro (21 points), and Bam Adebayo (22 points) balled out.
- We got a UFO sighting in the form of Duncan Robinson, who has struggled to see the floor much this season but did finish this game with 12 points in 25 minutes. Victor Oladipo played 33 minutes off the bench and only had seven points, but defensively he was active. Finished the game with a game-high five steals.
- In typical Spurs fashion, five players finished in double figures. Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell combined for 40 points.
- Solid night from Zach Collins who has struggled to put it together this season, but is starting to come along nicely with double-digit scoring performances in three of his last four games. He finished with 13 points and six rebounds in this one.
Utah Jazz vs. Milwaukee Bucks, Bucks win 123-97
Top Performers:
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 18 | 44 | 2 | 7/13 | 3/6 | 1/1 | 0 | 0 |
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 22 | 14 | 1 | 9/16 | 2/5 | 2/2 | 1 | 0 |
Key Points:
- Just another night for Bobby Portis to shine. With no Giannis Antetokounmpo or Khris Middleton in the front court, it was up to Portis and Brook Lopez to hold down the fort. The two ended up combining for 40 points and 22 rebounds. Fort secured. And that doesn’t even include, Jrue Holiday, who chipped in 21 points and eight rebounds.
- But the sneaky standout of the night was rookie MarJon Beauchamp. In only 19 minutes off the bench, Beauchamp scored 18 points with four threes and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Beauchamp has not gotten a ton of burn this season, but when given the opportunity, Beauchamp has shown positive flashes.
- The Utah Jazz got blitzed and held in check. Held under 100 points on the night and not a single Jazz player scored 20 points. Lauri Markkanen and Malik Beasley each finished with 18. A quiet night from Jordan Clarkson who cooled off and had 13 points in this one after having a season-high 39 points the other night against the New Orleans Pelicans.
- This game was competitive till the 4th quarter, then they lost the 4th quarter 31 to 14 and that was all she wrote.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, Cavs win 100-99 in OT
Top Performers:
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 26 | 14 | 2 | 9/18 | 5/13 | 3/4 | 2 | 2 |
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 18 | 7 | 12 | 8/18 | 1/6 | 1/2 | 4 | 1 |
Key Points:
- Shout out to the Dallas Mavericks’ defense because that’s what kept them in the game. They entered this game with five key players out, including Luka Doncic and Spencer Dinwiddie, and still forced overtime against the Cleveland Cavaliers and their elite backcourt. Even more impressive, it took a Jarrett Allen dunk in OT with 2:01 left for the Cavs to win the game. Meaning that for two straight minutes to close out the game, they held the Cavs scoreless. But they were scoreless too and that had a lot to do with them lacking a real closer.
- Nonetheless, the Mavs got an offensive explosion from Christian Wood with a monster double-double and Kemba Walker had arguably his best game of the last two seasons. Walker finished with 32 points, five rebounds, and seven assists.
- But you know those Mavericks players are tired because all five guys who started last night played near or over 40 minutes with Dorian Finney-Smith playing the least (39 minutes). Thankfully for them, they have Football Sunday off.
Portland Trailblazers vs. Houston Rockets, Blazers win 107-95
Top Performers:
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 25 | 3 | 10 | 7/20 | 5/13 | 6/8 | 2 | 0 |
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 13 | 7 | 4 | 3/10 | 0/6 | 7/9 | 2 | 0 |
Key Points:
- Easy work. Here was the difference in this game. The backcourt of Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons combined for 57 points and they each hit five threes. For the Rockets, their backcourt of Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green combined for 27 points and they both went 0-of-6 from three. See the difference? For two teams that have offenses that rely heavily on big-time scoring from the backcourt, this backcourt matchup wasn’t even close. And in turn, the Blazers won by 13 points. Simple.
- One other notable thing is the play of Josh Hart who finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds. He has been one of the better rebounding guards/forwards this season and last night he had his third double-double of the season.
