By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Jokic was one rebound shy of another triple-double to help the Denver Nuggets overcome Washington Wizards 113-107 at home to win their second straight game.
Jokic left the court with 28 points, 19 rebounds (three-short of his career-high) and 9 assists for the Nuggets.
Davis Bertans led the way for the visiting team, with 21 points and 5 rebounds coming from the bench, and Bradley Beal had a double-double with 19 points and 10 assists. Youngster Deni Avdija posted 4 points and 3 rebounds in 17 minutes as a starter this time.
Despite missing star Luka Doncic due to ankle soreness, the Dallas Mavericks made short work of the Charlotte Hornets 120-96 at home for their second consecutive victory.
Kristaps Porzingis stepped up for the Mavs with a double-double of 24 points and 13 rebounds to lead the way. Trey Burke picked up 22 points coming off of the bench and Dorian Finney-Smith tapped 15 points.
On the other end of the court, Terry Rozier and Kelly Oubre Jr. both had 20 points for the Hornets.
Jayson Tatum scored 16 of his 42 points in the fourth quarter to lift the Boston Celtics to a 117-103 victory against the Milwaukee Bucks. Jaylen Brown returned for the Celtics after missing five games and had 19 points.
Giannis Antetokounmpo posted 20 points, 8 rebounds and three assists for the Bucks, a day after posting his 26th career triple-double against the New York Knicks. Jrue Holiday also tapped 20 points for the Bucks, who also saw Khris Middleton exit the game with a hyperextended left knee late in the third quarter.
Domantas Sabonis’ double-double with 30 points and 11 rebounds wasn’t enough to stop rowdy Golden State Warriors, and the latter emerged with a 102-100 victory on the road.
Stephen Curry dropped 26 points with 5 three-pointers, two short of breaking the all-time record in the NBA. Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green followed with 15 points apiece.
Alperen Sengun had a positive impact on Monday to help the Houston Rockets edge the Atlanta Hawks 132-126 on the road. The Turkish big had 11 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists in 25 minutes coming from the bench, while it was Eric Gordon who led all scorers of the Rockets with 32 points.
Trae Young picked up 41 points and 9 assists for the Hawks, though his efforts weren’t enough to put the team back on the winning track. Danilo Gallinari and Clint Capela also contributed 12 points apiece.
Svi Mykhailiuk was among the plenty Toronto Raptors scorers in double-digits in the 121-101 victory against the Sacramento Kings, with 11 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists from the bench. Chris Boucher and Scottie Barnes led the way with 17 and 16 points respectively, while only two players of the entire Raptors rotation finished the game with single digits!
DeAaron Fox led the Kings with 29 points and Alex Len had 12 points and 8 rebounds.
The LA Clippers outlasted Phoenix Suns 111-95 to win their fourth straight game in the rematch of the 2021 Western Finals. Marcus Morris helped his team reach the win with 24 points and 11 rebounds, Reggie Jackson followed with 19 points and Isaiah Hartenstein was also among the top contributors with 12 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds.
Cameron Johnson picked up 17 points to pace the Suns and Mikal Bridges posted 16 points.
Dillon Brooks had 23 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. followed with 22 to help the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Philadelphia 76ers 126-91 at home, for their third straight win. Tyrese Maxey taped 23 points for the Sixers and Furkan Korkmaz contributed 10 points and 6 rebounds.
The short-staffed Cleveland Cavaliers managed to beat Miami Heat 105-94 at home. Isaac Okoro led the way with 18 points for the winners, Lauri Markkanen had 12 and Ricky Rubio added 7 points while coming from the bench.
P.J. Tucker and Kyle Lowry tapped 23 and 22 points respectively for the Heat, that have lost their first game after picking up two consecutive wins.
December 13 results:
Miami Heat – Cleveland Cavaliers 94-105
Golden State Warriors – Indiana Pacers 102-100
Sacramento Kings – Toronto Raptors 101-124
Houston Rockets – Atlanta Hawks 132-126
Milwaukee Bucks – Boston Celtics 103-117
Philadelphia 76ers – Memphis Grizzlies 91-126
Charlotte Hornets – Dallas Mavericks 96-120
Washington Wizards – Denver Nuggets 107-113
Phoenix Suns – LA Clippers 95-111
Standings:
Eastern Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST 10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 8 | .704 | — | 15-5 | 4-0 | 8-5 | 11-3 | 0-0 | 7-3 | W 2 | |
| 17 | 10 | .630 | 2 | 10-7 | 2-2 | 8-4 | 9-6 | 0-0 | 5-5 | L 2 | |
|
3. Milwaukee Bucks |
18 | 11 | .621 | 2 | 13-8 | 5-0 | 9-4 | 9-7 | 0-1 | 7-3 | L 1 |
|
4. Cleveland Cavaliers |
17 | 12 | .586 | 3 | 11-6 | 2-1 | 8-7 | 9-5 | 0-0 | 8-2 | W 4 |
|
5. Miami Heat |
16 | 12 | .571 | 3.5 | 10-6 | 3-1 | 8-4 | 8-8 | 0-2 | 4-6 | L 1 |
|
6. Philadelphia 76ers |
15 | 13 | .536 | 4.5 | 9-7 | 0-5 | 6-6 | 9-7 | 1-1 | 5-5 | L 1 |
|
7. Washington Wizards |
15 | 13 | .536 | 4.5 | 10-9 | 3-4 | 8-4 | 7-9 | 3-0 | 4-6 | L 2 |
|
8. Charlotte Hornets |
15 | 14 | .517 | 5 | 10-8 | 5-2 | 8-4 | 7-10 | 0-4 | 4-6 | L 1 |
|
9. Boston Celtics |
14 | 14 | .500 | 5.5 | 9-8 | 3-3 | 7-4 | 7-10 | 2-2 | 4-6 | W 1 |
|
10. Toronto Raptors |
13 | 14 | .481 | 6 | 10-8 | 4-3 | 6-9 | 7-5 | 0-0 | 5-5 | W 2 |
|
11. Atlanta Hawks |
13 | 14 | .481 | 6 | 7-8 | 3-2 | 8-6 | 5-8 | 0-0 | 5-5 | L 2 |
|
12. New York Knicks |
12 | 15 | .444 | 7 | 8-13 | 3-3 | 5-9 | 7-6 | 1-0 | 3-7 | L 3 |
|
13. Indiana Pacers |
12 | 17 | .414 | 8 | 7-12 | 1-3 | 9-7 | 3-10 | 1-2 | 4-6 | L 1 |
|
14. Orlando Magic |
5 | 23 | .179 | 14.5 | 2-16 | 0-5 | 2-8 | 3-15 | 0-0 | 1-9 | L 5 |
|
15. Detroit Pistons |
4 | 22 | .154 | 14.5 | 3-13 | 1-5 | 2-11 | 2-11 | 0-1 | 0-10 | L 12 |
Western Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST 10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
22 | 5 | .815 | — | 12-3 | 5-1 | 14-2 | 8-3 | 0-1 | 7-3 | W 1 |
|
2. Phoenix Suns |
21 | 5 | .808 | 0.5 | 14-5 | 3-3 | 12-2 | 9-3 | 0-0 | 8-2 | L 1 |
|
3. Utah Jazz |
19 | 7 | .731 | 2.5 | 10-2 | 5-0 | 9-4 | 10-3 | 0-0 | 8-2 | W 7 |
|
4. Memphis Grizzlies |
17 | 11 | .607 | 5.5 | 13-6 | 3-2 | 11-6 | 6-5 | 2-0 | 8-2 | W 3 |
|
5. LA Clippers |
16 | 12 | .571 | 6.5 | 11-10 | 2-4 | 12-7 | 4-5 | 0-1 | 6-4 | W 4 |
| 15 | 13 | .536 | 7.5 | 7-9 | 1-4 | 10-7 | 5-6 | 4-1 | 6-4 | W 2 | |
|
7. Dallas Mavericks |
14 | 13 | .519 | 8 | 11-6 | 7-2 | 7-6 | 7-7 | 1-0 | 4-6 | W 2 |
|
8. Denver Nuggets |
14 | 13 | .519 | 8 | 8-7 | 2-2 | 8-4 | 6-9 | 1-0 | 5-5 | W 2 |
| 12 | 15 | .444 | 10 | 8-9 | 1-2 | 7-9 | 5-6 | 1-1 | 4-6 | W 1 | |
| 11 | 16 | .407 | 11 | 6-12 | 1-3 | 10-5 | 1-11 | 0-0 | 2-8 | L 5 | |
|
11. Sacramento Kings |
11 | 17 | .393 | 11.5 | 8-11 | 4-3 | 5-8 | 6-9 | 1-0 | 5-5 | L 3 |
| 10 | 16 | .385 | 11.5 | 5-12 | 1-3 | 6-8 | 4-8 | 0-1 | 6-4 | W 1 | |
|
13. Houston Rockets |
9 | 18 | .333 | 13 | 4-13 | 1-3 | 7-6 | 2-12 | 1-0 | 8-2 | W 1 |
| 8 | 18 | .308 | 13.5 | 6-11 | 0-2 | 4-9 | 4-9 | 0-0 | 2-8 | L 2 | |
| 8 | 21 | .276 | 15 | 6-13 | 2-4 | 4-9 | 4-12 | 0-1 | 5-5 | L 1 |
Photo credit: Getty Images