Scoreboard
Celtics 114, Magic 97
Pelicans 146, Spurs 110
Bucks 128, Rockets 119
Suns 112, Wizards 108
Warriors 118, Trail Blazers 114
What went down
The Suns avoided an upset against the Wizards, rallying from 16 points down to come up with the win.
Kevin Durant powered his team with 28 points, including a clutch dunk while drawing a foul with 28 seconds left. Devin Booker was equally superb down the stretch, scoring 11 of his 27 points in the final frame alongside eight assists.
KEVIN. WAYNE. DURANT.
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 18, 2023
😱😱😱 pic.twitter.com/firxAApu9I
Phoenix’s Big Three was once again incomplete as Bradley Beal had to sit out due to a sprained right ankle. He just returned to the lineup after missing the last 12 games because of a back injury.
Down by eight heading into the final quarter, the Suns outscored the Wizards, 31-19, to notch their 14th win in 26 games.
Daniel Gafford had a huge double-double of 26 points and 17 rebounds while Tyus Jones had 22 points, 11 assists, and six steals in a losing effort. The Wizards drop to 4-21.
Big-time baller
Damian Lillard top-scored for the Bucks with 39 points but it was Giannis Antetokounmpo who was the star of the night after he passed the legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the franchise’s rebounding leader. He had 26 points and 17 rebounds in Milwaukee’s win over the Rockets.
Aside from the rebounds, Antetokounmpo is the Bucks’ all-time leader in points and assists, becoming just the fourth player (Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kevin Garnett) to lead a franchise in three categories.
7,162 rebounds.
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 18, 2023
The most in franchise history. pic.twitter.com/VRALG0iLCk
What he said
After becoming the Bucks’ all-time leading rebounder, Giannis has his eyes set (jokingly) on the franchise’s leader in 3-point makes.
Hey @Khris22m, I'm coming for 3's next 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/BXtVii8JdR
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) December 18, 2023
Did you see that?
Steph Curry’s streak of having made at least one 3-pointer in 268 consecutive games has been snapped in the Warriors’ win over the Trail Blazers. Despite Curry’s off night, the Warriors got valuable contributions across the board led by Klay Thompson’s 28 points.
Steph had a forgetful performance vs. Blazers 😬 pic.twitter.com/sm3L6v7FB6
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 18, 2023
Extra Pass
Two of the best do-it-all players in the league face off as Luka Doncic and the Mavericks take on Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets at 10:00 AM on NBA TV Philippines.
Doncic is coming off a triple-double performance of 40 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists in a road win over the Trail Blazers. With Luka Magic in full swing, the Mavericks have been on a tear, winning five of their last six games.
Doncic has had to carry more load than usual as fellow star Kyrie Irving continues to miss time with a right heel contusion. He is reportedly still on a walking boot and will miss his fifth straight game.
The Nuggets are raring to get back on track after they were stunned at home by the Thunder. They had an eight-point lead with three and a half minutes left but allowed the road team to storm back. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drilled the game-winning jumper to hand Denver just its second home loss of the season. Jokic had 24 points and 12 assists as the Nuggets saw their three-game win streak halted. Jokic, who already has 10 triple-doubles on the season, will lead the charge against the surging Mavs.
The Nuggets were victorious the last time these two teams met back in early November.
