By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Houston Rockets might be on the struggling side lately, as they also suffered a 124-89 defeat against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, though rookie Alperen Sengun seems to be in full form.
Sengun posted a new season-high with a double-double of 19 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists in 28 minutes coming from the bench to lead Rockets‘ efforts, though Cleveland had a firm grip of the lead throughout the game.
Darius Garland tapped 21 points for the Cavs, Dean Wade followed with 16 and Lauri Markkanen had 12 points.
Nikola Jokic posted yet another triple-double (his 63rd overall) with 27 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, though this time his efforts fell short against fiery Minnesota Timberwolves, which prevailed 124-107 in Denver.
Anthony Edwards hit 10 three-pointers and tapped 38 points for the Timberwolves to help them snap a 12-game losing streak. Karl-Anthony Towns followed 32 points and D’Angelo Russell added 16.
In a showdown that went down in overtime, the Los Angeles Lakers outlasted Dallas Mavericks 107-104 on the road, thanks to Austin Reaves’ game-winning three-pointer in the final 0.9 seconds. LeBron James tapped 24 points, Westbrook had 23 and Davis posted a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
The Mavs played their third straight game without Luka Doncic and had Jalen Brunson leading the way with 25 points. Kristaps Porzingis picked up 23 points and 12 rebounds and Tim Hardaway tapped 20 points.
With Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined due to NBA’s health and safety protocol, the Milwaukee Bucks got past the Indiana Pacers 114-99 at home, as Jrue Holiday paced the reigning champions with 26 points and 14 assists.
Domantas Sabonis was the top performer for the Pacers, with 16 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists, although his team has now lost its second consecutive game.
On another game-winner of Wednesday night, Devonte Graham buried a long three at the buzzer to lift the New Orleans Pelicans to a 113-110 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Brandon Ingram led the tenacious effort of the Pelicans with 34 points, while Jonas Valanciunas had a double-double with 19 points and 16 rebounds. Graham finished the game with 15. On the other end, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 33 points for Oklahoma.
The Utah Jazz outlasted LA Clippers 124-103 for their eighth consecutive victory. Donovan Mitchell led the way with 27 points for the Jazz, while Rudy Gobert signed off with a double-double of 20 points, 17 rebounds and Bojan Bogdanovic also dropped 20 points on 6-of-7 from the three-point line.
Marcus Morris paced the Clippers with 24 points, Eric Bledsoe had 21 coming from the bench and Isaiah Hartenstein posted 15 points and 5 rebounds.
Gordon Hayward posted a season-high 41 points in 29 minutes to help the COVID-plagued Charlotte Hornets dominate San Antonio Spurs 131-115. Bryn Forbes tapped 25 points and Keldon Johnson had 21 for the Spurs.
The Memphis Grizzlies extended their winning streak to four games with a 113-103 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, led by Desmond Bane’s 23 points. The Grizzlies have now won nine of their last ten games. Dillon Brooks added up 22 points and Steven Adams had 10 points and 14 rebounds.
On the other end, Portland suffered its seventh straight loss. Norman Powell scored 25 points for the team, Damian Lillard had 21 and Jusuf Nurkic posted a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Trae Young scored 28 points despite a neck injury, John Collins had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Orlando Magic 111-99 to snap a two-game losing streak. Young had to exit the game late in the third quarter after Orlando’s Cole Anthony elbowed him in the face on an offensive foul. Despite the injury, he returned to the game to keep the Hawks intact.
Moritz Wagner tapped 19 points to lead the Magic and Terrence Ross had 18.
De’Aaron Fox tallied 28 points as the Sacramento Kings defeated the struggling Washington Wizards 119-105. Harrison Barnes scored 19 points, including 15 in a dominant fourth quarter, while Tristan Thompson and Buddy Hield each had 15 points.
The Kings were without interim coach Alvin Gentry, as well as players Marvin Bagley III and Terence Davis, who were all placed in the NBA’s health and safety protocols on Wednesday.
Bradley Beal dropped 30 points and 5 assists for the Wizards, while Deni Avdija contributed 15 points coming from the bench.
Gabe Vincent scored 26 points, including a clutch three-pointer in crunch-time and Duncan Robinson added 21 points, to help the Miami Heat beat the Philadelphia 76ers 101-96. Kyle Lowry scored 14 points for the Heat, who had only 10 players available due to injuries and protocol restrictions.
After missing Monday’s 126-91 loss against Memphis due to right rib soreness, Joel Embiid returned with 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Sixers. Tyrese Maxey posted a game-high with 27 points and Tobias Harris had 24.
NBA December 15 results:
Houston Rockets – Cleveland Cavaliers 89-124
Atlanta Hawks – Orlando Magic 111-99
Miami Heat – Philadelphia 76ers 101-106
Los Angeles Clippers – Dallas Mavericks 107-104
Indiana Pacers – Milwaukee Bucks 99-114
New Orleans Pelicans – Oklahoma City Thunder 113-110
Charlotte Hornets – San Antonio Spurs 131-115
Minnesota Timberwolves – Denver Nuggets 124-107
LA Clippers – Utah Jazz 103-124
Memphis Grizzlies – Portland Trail Blazers 113-103
Washington Wizards – Sacramento Kings 105-119
Standings:
Eastern Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST 10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 8 | .714 | — | 16-5 | 5-0 | 9-5 | 11-3 | 1-0 | 7-3 | W 3 | |
|
2. Milwaukee Bucks |
19 | 11 | .633 | 2 | 14-8 | 6-0 | 10-4 | 9-7 | 0-1 | 7-3 | W 1 |
| 17 | 10 | .630 | 2.5 | 10-7 | 2-2 | 8-4 | 9-6 | 0-0 | 5-5 | L 2 | |
|
4. Cleveland Cavaliers |
18 | 12 | .600 | 3 | 11-6 | 2-1 | 9-7 | 9-5 | 0-0 | 8-2 | W 5 |
|
5. Miami Heat |
17 | 12 | .586 | 3.5 | 11-6 | 3-1 | 8-4 | 9-8 | 0-2 | 5-5 | W 1 |
|
6. Charlotte Hornets |
16 | 14 | .533 | 5 | 10-8 | 5-2 | 8-4 | 8-10 | 0-4 | 4-6 | W 1 |
|
7. Philadelphia 76ers |
15 | 14 | .517 | 5.5 | 9-8 | 0-5 | 6-7 | 9-7 | 1-1 | 5-5 | L 2 |
|
8. Washington Wizards |
15 | 14 | .517 | 5.5 | 10-9 | 3-4 | 8-4 | 7-10 | 3-0 | 3-7 | L 3 |
|
9. Atlanta Hawks |
14 | 14 | .500 | 6 | 8-8 | 4-2 | 8-6 | 6-8 | 0-0 | 5-5 | W 1 |
|
10. Boston Celtics |
14 | 14 | .500 | 6 | 9-8 | 3-3 | 7-4 | 7-10 | 2-2 | 4-6 | W 1 |
|
11. Toronto Raptors |
13 | 15 | .464 | 7 | 10-9 | 4-4 | 6-9 | 7-6 | 0-1 | 5-5 | L 1 |
|
12. New York Knicks |
12 | 16 | .429 | 8 | 8-13 | 3-3 | 5-10 | 7-6 | 1-0 | 2-8 | L 4 |
|
13. Indiana Pacers |
12 | 18 | .400 | 9 | 7-13 | 1-4 | 9-7 | 3-11 | 1-2 | 4-6 | L 2 |
|
14. Orlando Magic |
5 | 24 | .172 | 15.5 | 2-17 | 0-6 | 2-9 | 3-15 | 0-0 | 1-9 | L 6 |
|
15. Detroit Pistons |
4 | 22 | .154 | 15 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 5 | .821 | — | 12-3 | 5-1 | 14-2 | 9-3 | 0-1 | 7-3 | W 2 | |
|
2. Phoenix Suns |
22 | 5 | .815 | 0.5 | 15-5 | 3-3 | 12-2 | 10-3 | 1-0 | 8-2 | W 1 |
|
3. Utah Jazz |
20 | 7 | .741 | 2.5 | 11-2 | 5-0 | 10-4 | 10-3 | 0-0 | 9-1 | W 8 |
|
4. Memphis Grizzlies |
18 | 11 | .621 | 5.5 | 14-6 | 3-2 | 11-6 | 7-5 | 2-0 | 9-1 | W 4 |
|
5. LA Clippers |
16 | 13 | .552 | 7.5 | 11-11 | 2-4 | 12-7 | 4-6 | 0-1 | 5-5 | L 1 |
| 16 | 13 | .552 | 7.5 | 8-9 | 1-4 | 10-7 | 6-6 | 5-1 | 7-3 | W 3 | |
|
7. Dallas Mavericks |
14 | 14 | .500 | 9 | 11-7 | 7-2 | 7-7 | 7-7 | 1-1 | 4-6 | L 1 |
| 14 | 14 | .500 | 9 | 8-8 | 2-3 | 8-5 | 6-9 | 1-0 | 5-5 | L 1 | |
|
9. Minnesota Timberwolves |
13 | 15 | .464 | 10 | 9-9 | 2-2 | 7-9 | 6-6 | 1-1 | 4-6 | W 2 |
|
10. Sacramento Kings |
12 | 17 | .414 | 11.5 | 8-11 | 4-3 | 6-8 | 6-9 | 1-0 | 5-5 | W 1 |
|
11. Portland Trail Blazers |
11 | 18 | .379 | 12.5 | 6-14 | 1-3 | 10-7 | 1-11 | 0-1 | 1-9 | L 7 |
|
12. San Antonio Spurs |
10 | 17 | .370 | 12.5 | 5-12 | 1-3 | 6-9 | 4-8 | 0-1 | 6-4 | L 1 |
|
13. Houston Rockets |
9 | 19 | .321 | 14 | 4-13 | 1-3 | 7-6 | 2-13 | 1-0 | 7-3 | L 1 |
|
14. New Orleans Pelicans |
9 | 21 | .300 | 15 | 7-13 | 2-4 | 4-9 | 5-12 | 0-1 | 5-5 | W 1 |
|
15. Oklahoma City Thunder |
8 | 19 | .296 | 14.5 | 6-12 | 0-2 | 4-10 | 4-9 | 0-0 | 2-8 | L 3 |