Scoreboard
Pacers 131, Clippers 130
Nets 123, Hornets 106
Cavaliers 103, Bulls 102
Knicks 108, Rockets 88
Mavericks 126, Spurs 125
Grizzlies 116, Pelicans 101
Pistons 116, Timberwolves 104
Sixers 115, Thunder 96
Heat 126, Jazz 123
What went down
The Luka Doncic MVP tour continues.
Before the game, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich made a statement that his team will hold Doncic under 50. So, of course, Doncic had to go out and drop 51 on them.
Pop almost made good on his word, with the Spurs keeping the game close until the end. Doncic notched his 50th point with only 4.5 seconds left in the game, the Mavs up by two points.
Then he hit another free throw for point No. 51 to give Dallas a three-point lead.
In his last five games, Doncic went full-on video game mode with these crazy stats:
- 50 points, 8 rebounds, 10 assists
- 32 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists
- 60 points, 21 rebounds, 10 assists
- 35 points, 12 rebounds, 13 assists
- 51 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists
With that, Doncic became the first player ever to do a 225-point, 50-rebound, and 50-assist total in a five-game stretch.
51 PTS
— NBA (@NBA) January 1, 2023
6 REB
9 AST
4 STL
6 3PM
W
Luka has dropped 50+ in 3 of his last 5 games. Unstoppable. pic.twitter.com/AFYYqmWaUb
If there are others who want to be in the conversation for MVP this season, Luka Magic would be very tough to beat.
Big-time ballers
Julius Randle has been playing big again for the Knicks recently, continuing his upward trend as New York’s main man. Randle hit five 3s versus the Rockets and has scored 35 points and more in three of their last five games.
He also grabbed 12 rebounds and added six assists in the W.
Another East big man has also been on a good kind of mean streak. The Indiana Pacers’ Myles Turner dropped 34 points versus the Clippers, towing the Pacers to their third straight win.
Tyler Herro, meanwhile, was the biggest hero of the packed game night, thanks to this game-winner:
TYLER HERRO WINS IT FOR THE HEAT 😱#TissotBuzzerBeater | #TimingEmotions pic.twitter.com/MqLHRlsVXL
— NBA (@NBA) January 1, 2023
Herro scored 29 points in the Heat win.
What he said
Joel Embiid notched another triple-double for the Sixers, and his teammate Tobias Harris was honest in getting him the 10th assist:
"Not to say that we sought that out... but we definitely did."
— NBA (@NBA) January 1, 2023
Tobias Harris wanted to make sure he got Joel Embiid the 10th assist for his triple-double 🤣 pic.twitter.com/wXBLcM0wxR
Did you see that?
Tyler Herro was the hero in Miami’s win, but Victor Oladipo was the underrated star because of this unexpected poster in the clutch:
VICTOR OLADIPO POSTER 😱
— NBA (@NBA) January 1, 2023
HEAT LEAD BY 1 WITH 4:56 REMAINING
📲 https://t.co/1pomQZN8Pi pic.twitter.com/qauJTI6CI0
