Scoreboard
Mavericks 127, Lakers 125
Celtics 120, Cavaliers 113
Nuggets 114, Bulls 106
Suns 119, Warriors 116
Clippers 119, Kings 99
What went down
The day started with a superstar showdown in Dallas with Luka Doncic carrying the Mavericks to a tight win over LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
LUKA THREE OVER AD AND BRON 😮 pic.twitter.com/PLHe824RsX
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 13, 2023
Doncic finished with 33 points and 17 assists, while James put up a near triple-double of 33 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists. Fresh from their In-Season Tournament win, the Lakers tried to pick up a road win in Dallas, but Doncic also got support from other Mavericks like Tim Hardaway Jr., who had 33 points, including five triples.
Both teams are still right in the middle of the Western Conference standings with the Mavs in third with a 15-8 record while the Lakers are in sixth at 14-10.
Out East, Boston continues to dominate, rolling to their 17th win thanks to another big night from Jayson Tatum.
Tatum's pull-up 3 gives the Celtics a 7-0 4th-quarter run!
— NBA (@NBA) December 13, 2023
Cavs-Celtics | Live on the NBA App
📲 https://t.co/n2JMSczTG8 pic.twitter.com/jUplU8Rby3
Tatum collected 25 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists. For the season, he’s averaging 27.5 points on 49.6 percent shooting, which is a career-best. The Celtics seem like looming giants in the East as they are still at the top of the standings and continue to develop chemistry.
Big-time baller
In a game that’s been talked about more from a certain podcaster’s fists, Devin Booker saved the Phoenix Suns against the Golden State Warriors.
Booker buries the transition 3 and the Phoenix crowd is LOVING IT.
— NBA (@NBA) December 13, 2023
Suns lead 103-96. Booker has 26 PTS.
📺 Warriors-Suns | Live on TNT pic.twitter.com/IdjHNI6DNE
Booker progressively got hotter as the fourth quarter rolled along. He was hitting crazy shots that were just enough to stave off the Warriors.
He finished with 32 points, on 12-for-23 shooting, with seven assists. When Booker has been healthy, the Suns have been nearly unstoppable. Phoenix currently holds a 14-10 record.
What he said
In case you missed it, Draymond Green got ejected again for a flagrant 2 foul on Jusuf Nurkic. Green is no stranger to these incidents. Earlier this season, he had Rudy Gobert in a near rear naked choke. Nurkic, for his part, is glad Green didn’t try the submission on him.
Jusuf Nurkic on the Draymond Green Flagrant 2: “What’s going on with him, I don’t know. Personally, I feel like that brother needs help. I’m glad he didn’t try to choke me.” pic.twitter.com/NIVmKSEjmF
— PHNX Suns (@PHNX_Suns) December 13, 2023
Did you see that?
Luka Doncic just added another impossible assist to his growing magical repertoire.
How?!
— NBA (@NBA) December 13, 2023
Luka wraps the pass around the defender 😲
📺 Lakers-Mavs | Live on TNT pic.twitter.com/UzeW9Xsa7E
Extra pass
The Indiana Pacers visit the Milwaukee Bucks tomorrow, live on NBA TV Philippines at 9:00 AM.
The Pacers have been the story of the season. They made the In-Season Tournament Finals, but they’ve been great, regardless if they’re playing on a neon court. Their high scoring will test a Milwaukee Bucks defense that’s still getting its bearings under new head coach Adrian Griffin.
