NBA Player News
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Joel Embiid C | PHI
76ers' Joel Embiid: Team-high 27 points in return
Embiid chipped in 27 points (8-13 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 10-12 FT), six rebounds, four assists and two blocks across 31 minutes during Tuesday's 114-106 loss to the Nets.
Embiid was cleared to return Tuesday from a two-game absence while working through an illness and a knee injury. He came out firing with 19 points in the first half, and while he briefly left for the locker room after appearing to aggravate a knee injury in the third quarter, he was cleared to return in the same frame. Embiid has played in five of the 76ers' nine games since Dec. 2, and over that span, he has averaged 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.2 blocks over 29.6 minutes per game. The 76ers' next game takes place Friday against the Bulls, which gives Embiid more time to rest and recover ahead of that contest.
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Alex Sarr C | WAS
Wizards' Alex Sarr: Swats four shots in return
Sarr logged seven points (2-6 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 3-4 FT), 11 rebounds, one assist, four blocks and one steal in 25 minutes during Tuesday's 126-109 loss to the Hornets.
Sarr's seven points were his lowest of the season, but four of his 11 boards came on the offensive glass, and he made most of his presence felt on the defensive side of the floor with four blocks, tying a season high he set Nov. 7 against the Cavaliers. He has missed seven of the Wizards' last 10 games while managing a right adductor injury, but he should be available to play against the Raptors on Friday, given the additional rest.
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Alperen Sengun C | HOU
Rockets' Alperen Sengun: Records double-double in loss
Sengun recorded 19 points (9-16 FG, 1-1 FT), 11 rebounds, seven assists, one block and two steals across 28 minutes during Tuesday's 128-108 loss to the Clippers.
Sengun's frontcourt work was the only element where Houston held an advantage during the loss, as the big man capitalized on the Clippers' injury woes under the basket. Sengun now has 14 double-doubles out of 25 games played, which puts him in a tie for eighth in the league alongside Luka Doncic.
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Kyle Filipowski PF | UTA
Jazz's Kyle Filipowski: Double-double in Tuesday's start
Filipowski finished with 25 points (9-15 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 5-8 FT), 13 rebounds, four assists and two blocks across 35 minutes during Tuesday's 137-128 loss to the Grizzlies.
Getting the start with Jusuf Nurkic getting a breather on the second night of a back-to-back set, Filipowski delivered his second double-double of the season, and the 25 points tied his season high. The second-year center has been in the starting five for six of 10 games in December, averaging 12.7 points, 7.8 boards, 2.1 assists, 1.1 threes and 1.2 stocks in 27.9 minutes while shooting 55.8 percent from the floor.
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John Collins PF | LAC
Clippers' John Collins: Posts 13 points in victory
Collins posted 13 points (5-8 FG, 3-3 3Pt), five rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals over 29 minutes during Tuesday's 128-108 victory over the Rockets.
Replacing Ivica Zubac (ankle) will be a tall order, so Collins and Brook Lopez will have to step up and take pressure off Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, who are expected to do most of the heavy lifting during the absence. Collins' result was serviceable, but he needs higher rebound and scoring totals to improve his effectiveness. He showed he was capable with a 17/12 double-double against the Lakers earlier in the week, and he did well enough despite Alperen Sengun's imposing presence in the paint during Tuesday's victory.
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Mark Williams C | PHO
Suns' Mark Williams: Just misses double-double Tuesday
Williams recorded 18 points (7-8 FG, 4-4 FT), nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks across 21 minutes during Tuesday's 132-108 victory over the Lakers.
The fourth-year center just missed pulling down his eighth double-double of the season. Williams has recorded at least one rejection in four straight games, and through eight contests in December, he's averaging 12.8 points, 5.6 boards, 1.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks in 22.1 minutes while shooting 75.0 percent from the floor.
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Deandre Ayton C | LAL
Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Double-double in Tuesday's return
Ayton notched 12 points (6-8 FG, 0-1 FT), 10 rebounds, one assist and three steals over 27 minutes during Tuesday's 132-108 loss to Phoenix.
Facing the team he spent the first five seasons of his NBA career with as he returned from a two-game absence due to a sore elbow, Ayton delivered his 11th double-double of the season. Seven of those have come in his last 13 contests dating back to Nov. 14, a stretch in which he's averaging 14.8 points, 10.2 boards, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks while shooting a stellar 75.0 percent from the floor.
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Jalen Duren C | DET
Pistons' Jalen Duren: Extends double-double streak in win
Duren logged 23 points (10-15 FG, 3-7 FT), 13 rebounds, four assists and two blocks across 32 minutes during Tuesday's 136-127 win over the Kings.
Duren logged his fourth consecutive double-double during the victory, increasing his double-double total to 17 on the season. Although Precious Achiuwa stepped up for the Kings, Duren was especially effective in finding the bottom of the basket and controlling the tempo in the paint. The underrated center is a significant part of Detroit's ascent to the top of the Eastern Conference, and the combined performances of Duren and the rest of the starting unit have led to an 8-2 run in December.
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Rudy Gobert C | MIN
Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert: Double-double in win
Gobert closed with 11 points (4-6 FG, 3-4 FT), 16 rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals across 38 minutes in Tuesday's 115-104 win over the Knicks.
Gobert stuffed the stat sheet Tuesday en route to his 13th double-double of the season. The veteran is averaging under 12.0 points for the first time since 2015-16, but he's compensating with elevated efficiency, shooting better than 70.0 percent from the field for the first time since the 2021-22 campaign. Gobert will look to keep the double-doubles and strong defense coming in Thursday's Christmas matchup against the Nuggets.
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Anthony Davis C | WAS
Mavericks' Anthony Davis: Drops 31 in win
Davis tallied 31 points (12-19 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 6-6 FT), nine rebounds, four assists and three steals across 36 minutes during Tuesday's 131-130 victory over the Nuggets.
Davis fell one rebound shy of extending his double-double streak to five games and was instrumental in the Mavericks' narrow victory. The big man has been excellent in December, averaging 22.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.0 steals across eight appearances this month. Davis will look to carry that momentum into a Christmas matchup with the Warriors on Thursday.