In a six-game Wednesday night, the Miami Heat dominated the Los Angeles Lakers from the Kaseya Center, the Orlando Magic won in Philadelphia, and the Atlanta Hawks extended their winning streak to five with a win in Milwaukee.
The Heat (10-10) made easy work of the struggling Los Angeles Lakers with a dominant 134-93 win, as Tyler Herro (11-for-19, 9-for-16 from downtown) led the way for the Heat with 31 points, while Bam Adebayo registered a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds along with 7 assists. Jimmy Butler went 8-for-12 with 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists. Terry Rozier played well off the bench with 16 points on 6-for-11.
LeBron James (12-for-18) was the high man for the Lakers with 29 points (8 assists, 5 rebounds) and hit his first triple in five games, but the Lakers are struggling in a major way. The Heat shot a blistering 58 percent from the field and 51 percent from three, while the Lakers were very poor on both ends. Anthony Davis was just 3-for-14 (8 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists) and is 7-for-28 in his last two games. While Rui Hachimura had a solid outing with 14 points on 6-for-7, D’Angelo Russell made just five of his 13 attempts for 12 points.
The Lakers were outrebounded 52-36 and the Heat made 24 out of 47 triples.
The 12-10 Lakers are just 2-6 in their last eight games.
The Orlando Magic held off the Philadelphia 76ers on the road at Wells Fargo Center in a 106-102 victory.
The Magic (16-8) rebounded from Tuesday’s loss to Knicks with the four point win, and received 35 points and 7 rebounds from Franz Wagner, who shot 12-for-23. Jalen Suggs added 17 points and 6 assists on 6-for-15 shooting. Jonathan Isaac scored 14 points and Moritz Wagner and Anthony Black each put up 10 off the bench. After a 3-6 start to the season, the Magic are 13-2 since November 8.
Jared McCain (24 points, 7 rebounds, 10-for-17, 3-for-6 from deep) was tops for the 76ers as all five starters scored in double figures. Tyrese Maxey scored 16 but was just 7-for-19 from the field, while Kelly Oubre Jr. and Guerschon Yabusele notched 15 apiece. K.J. Martin added 11.
The 76ers (5-15) were without Paul George and Joel Embiid as they continue to rely on the young McCain and budding star Maxey.
In Milwaukee, the upstart Atlanta Hawks (12-11) won their fifth-consecutive game with a 119-104 win over the Bucks, snapping Milwaukee’s 7-game winning streak.
Jalen Johnson (23 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 10-for-19) guided the Hawks, while De’Andre Hunter scored 20 off the bench and Trae Young despite a rough shooting night (6-for-19, 0-for-9 from three) scored 17 points and had 7 assists. Clint Capela pulled down 17 rebounds. Young’s 12.0 assists per game leads the league.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, the league’s leading scorer going into the game (32.7), put up 31 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists on 8-for-14 shooting. He reached the charity stripe 26 times, making 15. Damian Lillard was also 8-for-14, and made five triples on his way to 25 points for a Buck team that is now 11-10.
The Hawks dominated in the rebounding department 55-40. It was an impressive victory for a Hawk team that has quality young talent. A win on the road against a hot Bucks’ team that had title aspirations is big for their team morale and shows that they can compete with the better teams in the league. Wednesday’s win adds to a great stretch of games that started with back-to-back wins over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Black Friday. The Hawks also have a win this season against the Boston Celtics, in Boston.
Around the League
Celtics 130 (18-4)
Pistons 120 (9-15)
Brown: 28 PTS, 9 AST, 6 REB (10-for-21 FG)
Porzingis: 26 PTS, 9 REB (8-for-17 FG)
Pritchard: 19 PTS (5-for-13 3PT)
BOS: Won 9 of last 10
Holiday, Tatum: DNP (knee)
Cunningham: 27 PTS, 14 AST, 9 REB (11-for-21 FG)
Cunningham: 3rd in league in assists per game (9.1)
Harris: 27 PTS (9-for-17 FG, 6-for-9 3PT)
Beasley: 23 PTS (8-for-16 FG, 6-for-11 3PT)
DET: 20-for-39 from 3PT
BOS: 21-for-53 from 3PT
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Nets 99 (10-13)
Pacers 90 (9-14)
Johnson: 26 PTS, 7 REB (7-for-18 FG, 7-for-13 3PT)
Claxton: 16 PTS, 8 REB (7-for-8 FG)
Haliburton: 17 PTS, 8 AST (5-for-13 FG)
Siakam: 14 PTS, 6 REB (5-for-10 FG)
McConnell: 14 PTS, Toppin: 13 PTS (both off bench)
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Timberwolves 108 (11-10)
Clippers 80 (14-10)
Randle: 20 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST (8-for-16 FG, 4-for-9 3PT)
Edwards: 16 PTS, 6 REB, 4 AST (5-for-14 FG, 4-for-9 3PT)
Hyland: 18 PTS (5-for-12 FG, 5-for-10 3PT)
Jones Jr.: 14 PTS (5-for-12, 3-for-7 3PT)
Coffey: 12 PTS
Harden: 5 PTS (1-for-10 FG, 1-for-6 3PT)
Impressive win for the Wolves over a Clipper team that had won 8 of their last 10 going in.
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