Thursday saw eight games in the Association, with Nikola Jokic making history in a loss, the Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga enjoying a career night to lead the Draymond Green and Stephen Curry-less Warriors, and the Oklahoma City Thunder dominating in a road win in Toronto.
In Cleveland, the Cavaliers improved to 20-3 with a 126-114 win against the Denver Nuggets. Four Cavaliers had 20-point nights - Donovan Mitchell 28 (11-for-24, 6-for-10 from downtown), Darius Garland (24 points, 9-for-20), Evan Mobley (20 points, 9 rebounds, 7-for-11), and Caris LeVert, who put up 21 off the bench going 5-for-6 from distance.
Leading the Nuggets as usual was Nikola Jokic, with 27 points, 20 rebounds, and 11 assists. Michael Porter Jr. added 24 points and 7 rebounds on 8-for-15 while Aaron Gordon posted 18 points and 7 rebounds on 8-for-13. Jamal Murray scored 19 but was 7-for-16 from the field.
With his latest triple-double, Jokic (139) passed Magic Johnson for third on the NBA’s all-time list. Oscar Robertson is second all-time in the category with 181, and Russell Westbrook as of this writing sits at 200. It was also Jokic’s 10th triple-double of 20 rebounds, making him the fourth player to achieve double-digit 20 rebound triple-doubles. Wilt Chamberlain had 59 20-rebound triple-doubles, while Bill Russell had 13 and Elgin Baylor 10.
Jokic’s excellent play (29.9 points, 13.4 rebounds, 10.4 assists) continues for a struggling 11-9 Nugget team whose 116.8 points allowed per game is second worst in the conference only to the Utah Jazz. Out east, five teams are worse in that category.
The three-time MVP (in line for his fourth) has such a great command of the game, and can affect the game from everywhere with his ability to dribble, shoot, pass and also play out of the post. Murray (17.2 points on 42 percent) is a player that needs to play a particular level and be Jokic’s Robin in order for the Nuggets to truly contend this season.
The Cavaliers, meanwhile, maintain the league’s best record at 20-3 (13-1 at home) and have won three straight (7 of their last 10) after consecutive losses to the Atlanta Hawks last week. The team’s 122.0 point per game average is tops in the league and their +10.6 point differential is second only to Oklahoma City’s +12.0.
Kuminga led the Warriors (13-8) in a big 99-93 home victory over the Houston Rockets (15-8) from Chase Center. Putting up a career-high 33 points (13-for-22, 3-for-6 from deep), Kuminga scored on an array of shots - threes, midrange jumpers, and floaters. It was a needed performance for a Warrior team that was playing without Curry and carried with it a five-game losing streak going into the game against one of the best teams in the league. Kevon Looney and Brandin Podziemski both had 11 rebounds while Andrew Wiggins added 23 points and 9 rebounds on 8-for-15.
Alperen Sengun (16 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 7-for-15) led the Rockets, while Jalen Green (14 points) and Fred VanVleet (13 points) combined to go just 9-for-32 from the field and 3-for-17 from downtown (VanVleet was 3-for-10). Amen Thompson added 14 points and 8 rebounds off the bench.
The west’s top seeded Thunder (17-5) easily disposed of the Raptors 129-92, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way with 30 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds (11-for-22, 1-for-10 from downtown) back in his home country. Jalen Williams (6-for-13) put up 20 points and 7 rebounds while Isaiah Joe was 4-for-6 from deep for 16 points.
R.J. Barrett led the home team with 17 points and 11 rebounds, but was just 5-for-16 shooting the ball, while Scottie Barnes was just 5-for-13 for 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists. The Raptors could have used the services of Jakob Poeltl (16.0 points, 11.8 rebounds) as Isaiah Hartenstein grabbed 16 rebounds, continuing his stellar play for the Thunder since making his season debut on November 20. Hartenstein has reached double figures in rebounding in six of the seven games that he has played, averaging 12.9 per. Poeltl missed the game with an illness for the now 7-16 Raptors.
Around the League
Mavericks 137 (15-7)
Wizards 101 (2-18)
Irving: 25 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST (10-for-16 FG, 3-for-5 3PT)
Doncic: 21 PTS, 10 REB, 10 AST (7-for-17 FG, 3-for-10 3PT)
Brogdon: 16 PTS (5-for-13 FG)
Bagley: 16 PTS, 8 REB (7-for-11 FG)
WAS: 16th consecutive loss (8th loss in the span by 20 or more points)
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Knicks 125 (14-8)
Hornets 101 (6-16)
Towns: 27 PTS, 16 REB (9-for-15 FG)
Anunoby: 25 PTS, 6 REB (10-for-18 FG)
Brunson: 24 PTS, 5 AST (5-for-6 3PT)
Miller: 26 PTS, 6 REB (9-for-19 FG, 5-for-12 3PT)
Curry: 18 PTS (4-for-5 3PT) off bench
NYK: 18-for-33 3PT
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Grizzlies 115 (15-8)
Kings 110 (10-13)
Bane: 18 PTS, 8 REB, 7 AST (6-for-10 FG)
Smart: 18 PTS, 5 AST, 4 REB (4-for-8 3PT) off bench
Aldama: 15 PTS, 10 REB (6-for-8 FG)
DeRozan: 26 PTS (6-for-15 FG, 13-for-14 FT)
Monk: 23 PTS, 5 AST (7-for-16 FG, 4-for-9 3PT)
Fox: 18 PTS (8-for-23 FG, 0-for-7 3PT)
Sabonis: 17 PTS, 13 REB, 6 AST (7-for-11 FG)
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Pelicans 126 (5-18)
Suns 124 (12-9)
Ingram: 29 PTS, 7 REB (10-for-19 FG, 3-for-6 3PT)
McCollum: 25 PTS (9-for-18 FG, 3-for-9 3PT)
Murphy: 19 PTS (7-for-11 FG, 3-for-6 3PT)
Booker: 28 PTS (6-for-20 FG, 3-for-10 3PT, 13-for-14 FT)
Beal: 24 PTS (10-for-18 FG, 2-for-7 3PT)
NOP: outscored PHX 45-28 in 3rd Q; snapped 9-game losing streak
PHX: 1-7 this season without Kevin Durant
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Bulls 139 (10-13)
Spurs 124 (11-11)
Vucevic: 39 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST (16-for-22 FG)
Dosunmu: 25 PTS, 11 AST, 10 REB (9-for-13 FG, 3-for-3 3PT)
Johnson: 28 PTS, 5 AST (11-for-17 FG) in 28 minutes off bench
Vassell: 17 PTS (6-for-15 FG) in 25 minutes off bench
Sochan: 16 PTS, 14 REB (7-for-14 FG)
CHI: 58% FG; Dosunmu 1st career triple-double
Wembanyama: DNP (back)
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