Nikola Jokic Puts Up First 30/20/20 Game in NBA History; Bane, Morant Lead Grizzlies over Mavericks; Cavaliers Win 13th Straight

In an eight-game Friday night NBA slate, Nikola Jokic made history, Ja Morant and Desmond Bane allowed the Memphis Grizzlies to keep pace in the western conference, and the Cleveland Cavaliers won their 13th consecutive game, getting a narrow road win 118-117 over the Charlotte Hornets. 

The Nuggets defeated the Phoenix Suns 149-141 in overtime from Ball Arena, led by MVP candidate Nikola Jokic’s 31 points, 22 assists, and 21 rebounds. Of Jokic’s 21 boards, 17 of them came on the defensive end. Aaron Gordon was 7-for-15 from downtown for 27 points, while Christian Braun (8-for-11, 4-for-5 from downtown) scored 25 points with 5 rebounds and 5 assists, Jamal Murray was 8-for-14 with 19 points, and Michael Porter Jr. was 7-for-13 for 16 points. 

The Suns were led by Devin Booker’s 34 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds (10-for-19, 5-for-10) while Kevin Durant put up 29 points with 9 rebounds and 5 assists (10-for-16, 3-for-7). On the final play of regulation, Durant hit an open triple from the left corner to tie the game at 125 and send it into overtime. 

The extra frame was a high scoring one, with the Nuggets pouring in 24 points in the five minutes to the Suns’ 16. Both teams shot well from beyond the arc, the Nuggets 21-for-40 and the Suns 16-for-38. Despite Jokic’s 21 rebounds, the Suns had a 39-38 rebounding edge in the game. At 41-22, the Nuggets are third in the western conference behind the Los Angeles Lakers. Both teams are 11 games back of the 52-11 Oklahoma City Thunder. The 29-34 Suns are on the outside looking in of the Play-In, 2.5 games back of the 10th place Dallas Mavericks. 

In Dallas, the Memphis Grizzlies used an electric fourth quarter (33-17) in a key win over the Mavericks 122-111. 

Ja Morant (31 points, 8 assists, 13-for-29) led the way for the Grizzlies, while Desmond Bane (11-for-24) finished with 27 points and 16 rebounds. Brandon Clarke (6-for-10) added 17 points and 8 rebounds off the bench. The Grizzlies held a big 59-45 rebounding advantage, and at 39-24 are one game ahead of the Houston Rockets for fourth in the conference. 

Naji Marshall (29 points, 10-for-23) dominated the glass with 17 rebounds to lead the Mavericks (32-32). Brandon Williams exploded off the bench for 31 points (10-for-15, 4-for-8 from deep), while Klay Thompson added 15 points but struggled from the field, just 6-for-19.   

The Cleveland Cavaliers won their 13th consecutive game by a 118-117 score over the Charlotte Hornets in Charlotte, overcoming 46 points from Miles Bridges, who was 15-for-32 and 12-for-13 from downtown. 

The Cavaliers, who had a 63-52 halftime advantage, had a balanced effort from their starting five despite poor shooting. 

Donovan Mitchell led with 24 points though was 6-for-19 from the field and 0-for-6 from downtown. Darius Garland (20 points) and Jarrett Allen (14 points, 11 rebounds) were both 4-for-10. Evan Mobley put up a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds on 6-for-13 shooting. 

LaMelo Ball was just 4-for-13 for 13 points while Jusuf Nurkic was 6-for-11 for 12 points and 13 rebounds. The Hornets, 14-48, shot 48 percent from the field to the Cavaliers’ 42 percent. 

The Cavaliers at 53-10 lead the eastern conference by eight games. 

Around the League 

Raptors 118 (21-42)

Jazz 109 (15-48)

Quickley: 34 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST (10-for-20 FG, 6-for-13 3PT)

Barnes: 22 PTS, 12 REB, 6 AST (8-for-19 FG)

Kessler: 18 PTS, 25 REB (8-for-11 FG)

Sexton, Filipowski: 17 PTS

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Timberwolves 106 (36-29)

Heat 104 (29-33)

Reid: 15 PTS (6-for-13 FG)

Randle: 13 PTS, 10 REB, 9 AST (4-for-9 FG)

Adebayo: 29 PTS, 13 REB, 4 AST (11-for-21 FG)

Herro: 22 PTS, 7 AST, 6 REB (9-for-21 FG, 4-for-8 3PT)

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Thunder 107 (52-11)

Trail Blazers 89 (28-36)

Wiggins: 30 PTS, 5 REB (13-for-26 FG)

Williams: 10 PTS, 11 AST, 11 REB (4-for-7 FG)

Dieng, Joe: 16 PTS

Henderson: 22 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST (8-for-15 FG)

Sharpe: 19 PTS (7-for-14 FG)

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Kings 127 (33-29)

Spurs 109 (26-35)

Castle: 25 PTS (10-for-17 FG)

Fox: 16 PTS, 8 AST, 4 REB (6-for-17 FG)

LaVine: 36 PTS (14-for-22 FG, 7-for-11 3PT)

DeRozan: 22 PTS, 9 REB, 7 AST (8-for-19 FG)

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Clippers 105 (34-29)

Knicks 95 (40-23)

Harden: 22 PTS, 7 AST (7-for-20 FG, 5-for-12 3PT)

Leonard: 20 PTS, 7 REB, 6 AST (6-for-18 FG)

Towns: 23 PTS, 10 REB (8-for-21 FG)

Bridges: 22 PTS, 5 AST, 4 REB (8-for-12 FG)

Hart: 14 PTS, 20 REB, 6 AST (6-for-13 FG)

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