The Milwaukee Bucks continued to struggle in the NBA with their fifth loss in six games after a 118-95 blowout loss to the Washington Wizards at the Fiserv Forum.
The shorthanded Bucks were without superstar trio Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, and Khris Middleton as the Wizards rushed to a 17-point first quarter lead thanks to Daniel Gafford’s 13-point quarter.
Gafford ended the game with seventeen points, while Japanese forward Rui Hachimura led the Wizards in scoring with 26 points.
Kristaps Porzingis finished the game with 22 points and 5 rebounds, while Kyle Kuzma got his first triple-double of the season with 10 points, 11 assists, and 13 rebounds.
Bobby Portis got 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Bucks, who had six players in double figures.
Nikola Jokic’s ninth triple-double of the season sealed an emphatic 123-111 win for the Denver Nuggets over the Boston Celtics at the Ball Arena.
Jokic scored 30 points along with 12 rebounds and 12 assists. He was perfect from the free throw line and the 3-point line, with eight and two shots made, respectively. He also scored 10 of his 13 field goal attempts.
Bruce Brown (21 points), Michael Porter Jr. (19 points), Aaron Gordon (18 points), and Bones Hyland (17 points) all finished with double digits for the Nuggets as they secured their 24th victory of the season.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics in scoring with 30 points and 8 rebounds, while 3-time All-Star Jason Tatum finished with 25 points.
The Celtics remain at the top of the Eastern Conference, with the Nuggets also moving to the top of the Western Conference.
The Memphis Grizzlies made it three wins in as many games with a 118-108 defeat of the Sacramento Kings at the FedEx Forum.
Ja Morant’s 14th 30-point or more game of the season propelled the Grizzlies to their 23rd win this season and handed the Kings their first loss in three games.
Though Morant was poor from the 3-point line, with just one made from five attempts, he scored 13 of his 23 field goal attempts and 8 of 10 from free throws.
All the starters for the Grizzlies were in double figures, while guard Tyus Jones added 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists from the bench.
De’Aaron Fox led the Kings in scoring with 19 points, while center Domantas Sabonis finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds to secure his 26th double-double of the season.
Malik Monk got 18 points off the bench, with veteran Harrison Barnes adding 16 points and 5 rebounds.
The New Year Eve’s game between the Indiana Pacers and the Los Angeles Clippers that was shown live on AfroSport TV ended in a close 131-130 win for the Pacers at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Miles Turner’s 34 points, his third 30-point or more game of the season helped the Pacers overcome the inconsistent Clippers.
He scored 11 of his 17 field goal attempts and was perfect from the free throw line with 10 of 10, along with two steals and a block.
Guard Tyrese Haliburton had a brilliant fourth quarter with 13 points, finishing the game with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and an impressive four steals to cap his 19th double-double of the season.
Buddy Hield had 18 points and 8 rebounds, Aaron Neismith had 16 points before he fouled out in the fourth quarter, and rookie Bennedict Mathurin ended the game with 15 points from the bench.
In his return to the Pacers, Paul George finished with a game-high 45 points and 9 rebounds, along with seven made 3-point attempts.
Kawhi Leonard scored 24 points along with 5 rebounds and 7 assists in 35 minutes. He also missed the opportunity to tie the game for the Clippers with a missed three-point attempt at the end.
Other Results
Houston Rockets 88 – 108 New York Knicks
Chicago Bulls 102 – 103 Cleveland Cavaliers
Charlotte Hornets 106 – 123 Brooklyn Nets
San Antonio Spurs 125 – 126 Dallas Mavericks
Memphis Grizzlies 116 – 101 New Orleans Pelicans
Minnesota Timberwolves 104 – 116 Detroit Pistons
OKC Thunder 96 – 115 Philadelphia 76ers
Utah Jazz 123 – 126 Miami Heat
