Seven games were on the NBA schedule on Friday night, with notable performances by all-stars past and present.
In Denver, the Nuggets took care of the Brooklyn Nets 124-105 to improve to 22-15 on the season. Nikola Jokic, in 38 minutes, put up 35 points, 15 assists, 12 rebounds, and 4 steals on 14-for-21 shooting while Russell Westbrook had a vintage performance of 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists on 8-for-17 shooting. Jokic’s effort was his 15th triple-double of the season. Westbrook, meanwhile, recorded his third triple-double of the season, and his seventh game of 20-plus points. Michael Porter Jr. contributed 17 points on 7-for-16. Jamal Murray missed Friday’s game with a knee, while Aaron Gordon also missed it with a calf.
The Nuggets shot 52 percent to the Nets’ 42, and outrebounded the visitors 49-39. Keon Johnson was the high man for the Nets with 22 points on 8-for-21, while Noah Clowley was 7-for-7 from the line for 14 points. Nic Claxton, Zaire Williams, and Ben Simmons each scored 10 points for the Nets, who dropped to 13-25. Cam Johnson missed the game with an ankle, while D’Angelo Russell has a shin injury.
The Milwaukee Bucks improved to 20-16 with a narrow 109-106 win in Orlando against the Magic (22-18) led by Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 41 points and 14 rebounds (19-for-29 from the field). Paolo Banchero, after not playing since October 30, wasted no time getting back in his groove as he put up 34 points on 11-for-21 shooting (5-for-8 from downtown) with 7 rebounds. In just the fourth game of the season on October 28, Banchero scored 50 against the Indiana Pacers.
Damian Lillard scored 29 points with 7 assists (9-for-21) for the Bucks, while Cole Anthony had the top complementary performance for the Magic with 18 points and 7 rebounds on 5-for-15 shooting. Anthony Black scored 15 points on 6-for-11 shooting in 20 minutes off the Orlando bench. The Bucks have won three consecutive games while the Magic are 4-6 in their last 10 contests.
In Boston, the 19-19 Sacramento Kings defeated the 27-11 Celtics in a game where the home team did not shoot their best (40 percent). Domantas Sabonis, on 10-for-15 shooting, was the catalyst for the Kings with 23 points and a monstrous 28 rebounds (20 defensive). The rebounding total was a career best for the all-star, eclipsing the 26 he had last year (1/29/24) against the Memphis Grizzlies.
DeMar DeRozan shot just 9-for-26 but scored 24 points and had 9 assists, while Malik Monk put up 22 points and 8 assists on 9-for-24. Keegan Murray was 5-for-8 from deep for 19 points. The Kings have won six consecutive games.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 28 points and 5 assists on 9-for-19 (9-for-11 from the free-throw line). Kristaps Porzingis registered 22 points and 10 rebounds on 6-for-15 (4-for-7 from deep), while Jayson Tatum struggled, going 5-for-13 with 15 points and 12 rebounds. The Celtics shot just 41 percent from the field and 27 percent from the 3-point line, while they were outrebounded 56-43. The Celtics are just 5-5 in their last 10 games.
Around the League
Pacers 108 (21-18)
Warriors 96 (19-19)
Haliburton: 25 PTS, 10 AST (8-for-10 FG)
Siakam: 25 PTS, 9 REB (12-for-16 FG)
Mathurin: 21 PTS, 10 REB (9-for-18 FG)
Hield: 17 PTS, 5 AST (6-for-19 FG, 3-for-12 3PT)
Schroder: 12 PTS (5-for-13 FG)
Pat Spencer: 17 PTS (7-for-12 FG)
Curry, Wiggins, Kuminga, Green, Payton II, Podziemski: DNP
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Pelicans 123 (8-31)
76ers 115 (15-21)
McCollum: 38 PTS (13-for-24 FG, 6-for-11 3PT)
Hawkins: 21 PTS (5-for-11 3PT)
Murray: 17 PTS, 10 REB, 6 AST (7-for-17 FG)
Williamson: DNP (1-game suspension)
Maxey: 30 PTS, 12 AST, 6 REB (10-for-20 FG, 8-for-8 FT)
George: 25 PTS, 11 REB, 5 AST (10-for-22 FG, 5-for-12 3PT)
Oubre Jr.: 21 PTS, 7 REB (7-for-18 FG)
Embiid, Lowry: DNP
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Thunder 126 (31-6)
Knicks 101 (25-14)
Gilgeous-Alexander: 39 PTS (15-for-29 FG, 8-for-8 FT)
Isaiah Joe: 31 PTS (11-for-16 FG, 8-for-11 3PT, 30 mins)
Jalen Williams: 19 PTS, 5 AST, 4 REB (8-for-16 FG)
Brunson: 27 PTS, 5 AST (7-for-15 FG, 12-for-12 FT) Towns: 23 PTS, 10 REB (9-for-16 FG) Hart: 16 PTS, 13 REB (6-for-13 FG)
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Bulls 138 (18-20)
Wizards 105 (6-30)
LaVine: 33 PTS, 5 REB (14-for-21 FG)
Vucevic: 23 PTS, 13 REB, 6 AST (9-for-12 FG, 4-for-6 3PT)
Giddey: 12 PTS, 13 REB, 7 AST (5-for-11 FG)
Poole: 22 PTS (7-for-13 FG, 6-for-9 3PT)
Sarr: 11 PTS, 11 REB (4-for-14 FG)
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CHA @ LAL postponed due to Los Angeles wildfires
Saturday
SA @ LAL postponed, CHA @ LAC postponed
HOU @ ATL postponed due to snow in Atlanta area
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