Scoreboard
Hawks 114, Pacers 111
Magic 108, Nuggets 103
Wizards 115, Timberwolves 107
Celtics 88, 76ers 87
Cavaliers 111, Heat 85
Bucks 127, Hornets 125
Mavericks 139, Pelicans 107
Rockets 114, Thunder 110
Kings 124, Clippers 115
What went down
With so much happening around the league, the defending champions Milwaukee Bucks’ seven-game winning streak barely went noticed over the past couple of weeks. With most of their starting players back in the fold, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have been demolishing teams, resuscitating their record to 14-7 heading into today.
The Charlotte Hornets, on the other hand, have been fun but wildly inconsistent, as evidenced by their 13-10 slate before today.
Still, the engine of the young, thundering Hornets thrived in his matchup against the Bucks’ defensive juggernaut in Jrue Holiday. LaMelo Ball was spectacular, recording a career-high 39 points with nine assists, five rebounds, and three steals. He was clutch, too, dropping a late 3-pointer that tied the game and could have sent it to overtime.
But the Bucks were just too good. Giannis was too overwhelming. The Greek Freak stormed into the paint for a nifty finger roll with two seconds left to give the Bucks the win. Milwaukee was lucky Miles Bridges’ half-court Hail Mary heave didn't roll into the hoop. That’s now eight straight wins for the Bucks and they’re again looking like the best team in the East.
GIANNIS WINS IT FOR THE @Bucks!
— NBA (@NBA) December 2, 2021
The wild finish to a thriller in Milwaukee! pic.twitter.com/rEf4NDXlqB
Big time baller
This spot had to be reserved for Giannis’ monster line today. The Greek Freak dropped 40 points on 16-for-24 shooting with 12 rebounds and nine assists. These absurd lines have become typical for the two-time MVP and he makes everything look easy.
Trae Young also deserves some love for dropping 33 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds in the Atlanta Hawks’ tight win over the Indiana Pacers.
An Ice Trae special 🥶@TheTraeYoung puts up 33 PTS, 8 REB and 10 AST in the @ATLHawks win! pic.twitter.com/YqtEQp15uq
— NBA (@NBA) December 2, 2021
What he said
Karl Anthony-Towns knows too well the devastation caused by this pandemic. In a feature on the Minnesota Timberwolves in The Undefeated, Towns admitted his birthdays haven’t felt special since he lost his mother to COVID-19 in 2020. He still keeps a piece of the birthday cake his mom gave him in 2019 in his freezer.
“I know it’s not good to eat, but it’s a memento as one of the last things she gave me. Birthdays and stuff like that haven’t been really special to me, because she was the one who made it really special for me. She was the one who got me amped to have a birthday or to have that moment,” Towns said.
Did you see that?
There were a lot of other massive plays tonight like this game-saving block from Robert Williams that buoyed the Boston Celtics over the Philadelphia 76ers.
THE BLOCK AT THE BUZZER 🚨
— NBA (@NBA) December 2, 2021
Robert Williams III extends and the @celtics hold on for the win! pic.twitter.com/8LK1EdptcZ
Then this crossover from LaMelo that put the indomitable Jrue Holiday on skates.
LAMELO 😱
— NBA (@NBA) December 2, 2021
The crossover leads to the Kelly Oubre Jr. triple for the @hornets on NBA League Pass!
Watch Q2 now: https://t.co/V0kkYEEIkG pic.twitter.com/ZehECs6ZTl
