By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Among COVID spike, NBA action continued Saturday, although several players have now entered the health and safety protocols.
Cedi Osman and the Cleveland Cavaliers got past the shorthanded Milwaukee Bucks 119-90 on the road. Osman paced his team with 23 points coming off of the bench, while he also picked up 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Darius Garland added 22 points for the Cavs and Ricky Rubio had a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists.
Jordan Nwora stepped up for the Bucks amid key absences and posted 28 points and 11 rebounds. The reigning champions were without any of their regular starters: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Donte DiVincenzo, Wesley Matthews and Bobby Portis are placed in COVID protocols, while Khris Middleton remained sidelined due to a hyperextended left knee.
The Washington Wizards bounced back from a four-game skid thanks to the efforts of Bradley Beal, who posted a season-high in their 109-103 victory against the Utah Jazz.
Beal picked up 37 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds to lead all scorers of the game. Among other key contributors for the Wizards was Deni Avdija, who had 11 points and 7 rebounds in 30 minutes coming from the bench.
Donovan Mitchell had 32 points for Utah, Rudy Gobert picked up 11 points and 19 rebounds, and Bogdan Bogdanovic followed with 18 points.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander saved the day for the Oklahoma City Thunder with a three-pointer made at the final buzzer, to lift his team to a 104-103 victory against the LA Clippers.
Gilgeous-Alexander tapped 18 points including this game-winner and rookie Josh Giddey flirted with triple-double figures as he had 8 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists. Adding up to these efforts, Aleksej Pokusevski contributed 10 points and 5 rebounds in just 9 minutes on the court.
Luke Kennard paced the Clippers with 27 points and Nicolas Batum followed with 12.
The Toronto Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors 119-100 thanks to Fred VanVleet’s 27 points and 12 assists and Scottie Barnes’ 21 points.
Golden State lacked Steph Curry (rest), Draymond Green (right hip), Andre Iguodala (right knee), Otto Porter Jr. (left foot), and Andrew Wiggins (left knee), as the five returned to California rather than risking COVID-19 exposure and a possible quarantine in Canada, per reports. The Warriors fell for the first time in four games, despite Jonathan Kuminga’s career-high 26 points and Damion Lee’s 14 points.
The Orlando Magic beat short-handed Brooklyn Nets 100-93 to bounce back from a seven-game skid. Robin Lopez led the way for Magic with a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds and Gary Harris followed with 17 points.
After returning star guard Kyrie Irving and MVP candidate Kevin Durant were placed in protocols on Saturday, Brooklyn entered the game with 10 players in COVID-19 protocol. Patty Mills led the efforts of Brooklyn with 23 points, while David Duke posted a double-double with 18 points, 14 rebounds.
Earlier on Saturday, Killian Hayes had a season-high performance with 10 assists, even though the Houston Rockets managed to prevail with a 116-107 victory.
NBA December 18 results:
Houston Rockets – Detroit Pistons 116-107
New York Knicks – Boston Celtics 107-114
Orlando Magic – Brooklyn Nets 100-93
Golden State Warriors – Toronto Raptors 100-119
LA Clippers – Oklahoma City Thunder 103-104
Cleveland Cavaliers – Milwaukee Bucks 119-90
Washington Wizards – Utah Jazz 109-103
Standings:
Eastern Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST 10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Brooklyn Nets |
21 | 9 | .700 | — | 17-6 | 6-0 | 10-6 | 11-3 | 1-0 | 7-3 | L 1 |
| 17 | 10 | .630 | 2.5 | 10-7 | 2-2 | 8-4 | 9-6 | 0-0 | 5-5 | L 2 | |
|
3. Cleveland Cavaliers |
19 | 12 | .613 | 2.5 | 12-6 | 3-1 | 9-7 | 10-5 | 0-0 | 8-2 | W 6 |
|
4. Miami Heat |
18 | 12 | .600 | 3 | 12-6 | 4-1 | 8-4 | 10-8 | 0-2 | 5-5 | W 2 |
|
5. Milwaukee Bucks |
19 | 13 | .594 | 3 | 14-9 | 6-1 | 10-5 | 9-8 | 0-2 | 5-5 | L 2 |
| 16 | 15 | .516 | 5.5 | 10-8 | 5-2 | 8-4 | 8-11 | 0-4 | 3-7 | L 1 | |
|
7. Washington Wizards |
16 | 15 | .516 | 5.5 | 10-9 | 3-4 | 8-4 | 8-11 | 3-0 | 3-7 | W 1 |
| 15 | 15 | .500 | 6 | 10-8 | 4-3 | 8-5 | 7-10 | 2-2 | 5-5 | W 1 | |
| 15 | 15 | .500 | 6 | 9-9 | 0-6 | 6-7 | 9-8 | 1-1 | 5-5 | L 3 | |
|
10. Toronto Raptors |
14 | 15 | .483 | 6.5 | 10-9 | 4-4 | 7-9 | 7-6 | 0-1 | 5-5 | W 1 |
|
11. Atlanta Hawks |
14 | 15 | .483 | 6.5 | 8-8 | 4-2 | 8-7 | 6-8 | 0-0 | 4-6 | L 1 |
|
12. New York Knicks |
13 | 17 | .433 | 8 | 8-14 | 3-4 | 5-10 | 8-7 | 1-0 | 2-8 | L 1 |
|
13. Indiana Pacers |
13 | 18 | .419 | 8.5 | 8-13 | 2-4 | 10-7 | 3-11 | 1-2 | 4-6 | W 1 |
|
14. Orlando Magic |
6 | 25 | .194 | 15.5 | 3-18 | 0-7 | 2-10 | 4-15 | 0-0 | 2-8 | W 1 |
|
15. Detroit Pistons |
4 | 24 | .143 | 16 | 3-14 | 1-6 | 2-12 | 2-12 | 0-1 | 0-10 | L 14 |
Western Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST 10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Phoenix Suns |
23 | 5 | .821 | — | 15-5 | 3-3 | 13-2 | 10-3 | 1-0 | 8-2 | W 2 |
|
2. Golden State Warriors |
24 | 6 | .800 | — | 12-3 | 5-1 | 14-2 | 10-4 | 0-1 | 6-4 | L 1 |
|
3. Utah Jazz |
20 | 9 | .690 | 3.5 | 11-3 | 5-0 | 10-6 | 10-3 | 0-0 | 8-2 | L 2 |
| 19 | 11 | .633 | 5 | 15-6 | 3-2 | 11-6 | 8-5 | 2-0 | 9-1 | W 5 | |
|
5. LA Clippers |
16 | 14 | .533 | 8 | 11-12 | 2-4 | 12-7 | 4-7 | 0-1 | 5-5 | L 2 |
| 16 | 14 | .533 | 8 | 8-10 | 1-4 | 10-7 | 6-7 | 5-1 | 6-4 | L 1 | |
| 15 | 14 | .517 | 8.5 | 8-8 | 2-3 | 8-5 | 7-9 | 1-0 | 6-4 | W 1 | |
| 14 | 14 | .500 | 9 | 11-7 | 7-2 | 7-7 | 7-7 | 1-1 | 4-6 | L 1 | |
| 14 | 15 | .483 | 9.5 | 10-9 | 2-2 | 8-9 | 6-6 | 1-1 | 5-5 | W 3 | |
|
10. Sacramento Kings |
12 | 18 | .400 | 12 | 8-12 | 4-3 | 6-9 | 6-9 | 1-0 | 4-6 | L 1 |
| 12 | 18 | .400 | 12 | 6-14 | 1-3 | 11-7 | 1-11 | 0-1 | 2-8 | W 1 | |
| 11 | 17 | .393 | 12 | 6-12 | 1-3 | 6-9 | 5-8 | 0-1 | 6-4 | W 1 | |
|
13. Houston Rockets |
10 | 20 | .333 | 14 | 4-13 | 1-3 | 7-7 | 3-13 | 1-0 | 6-4 | W 1 |
| 10 | 21 | .323 | 14.5 | 7-13 | 2-4 | 5-9 | 5-12 | 1-1 | 5-5 | W 2 | |
|
15. Oklahoma City Thunder |
9 | 19 | .321 | 14 | 7-12 | 0-2 | 5-10 | 4-9 | 0-0 | 3-7 | W 1 |
Photo: Getty Images