A busy NBA Saturday started with an afternoon matchup on the West Coast, as the Los Angeles Clippers dispatched the West-leading Denver Nuggets in fairly easy fashion.
Later on, the Sixers made a statement by showing that they were up to the task of taking care of a shorthanded Raptors roster as Philadelphia never provided Toronto with a chance to get comfortable without their star player, Kawhi Leonard, in the lineup as they have on other occasions this season when the All-Star forward has sat out.
We also saw the Washington Wizards escape with a thrilling triple-overtime win over the Phoenix Suns and Kevin Durant play hero for the Golden State Warriors in their win over Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks.
NBA schedule for Saturday, Dec. 22
*All times Eastern
- Los Angeles Clippers 132, Denver Nuggets 111 (Box Score)
- Washington Wizards 149, Phoenix Suns 146 (Box Score) -- 3OT
- Philadelphia 76ers 126, Toronto 101 (Box Score)
- Houston Rockets 108 - San Antonio Spurs 101 (Box Score)
- Miami Heat 94, Milwaukee Bucks 87 (Box Score)
- Golden State Warriors 120, Dallas Mavericks 106 (Box Score)
- Oklahoma City Thunder 107, Utah Jazz 106 (Box Score)
NBA schedule for Sunday, Dec. 23
*All times Eastern
- Atlanta Hawks at Detroit Pistons, 4 p.m. (GameTracker) -- Watch on fubo TV with NBA League Pass extension
- Washington Wizards at Indiana Pacers, 5 p.m. (GameTracker) -- Watch on fubo TV with NBA League Pass extension
- Phoenix Suns at Brooklyn Nets, 6 p.m. (GameTracker) -- Watch on fubo TV with NBA League Pass extension
- Miami Heat at Orlando Magic, 6 p.m. (GameTracker) -- Watch on fubo TV with NBA League Pass extension
- New Orleans Pelicans at Sacramento Kings, 6 p.m. (GameTracker) -- Watch on fubo TV with NBA League Pass extension
- Charlotte Hornets at Boston Celtics, 6 p.m. (GameTracker) -- Watch on fubo TV with NBA League Pass extension
- Chicago Bulls at Cleveland Cavaliers, 6 p.m. (GameTracker) -- Watch on fubo TV with NBA League Pass extension
- Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder, 8 p.m. (GameTracker) -- Watch on fubo TV with NBA League Pass extension
- Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors, 8:30 p.m. (GameTracker) -- Watch on fubo TV with NBA League Pass extension
- Dallas Mavericks at Portland Trail Blazers, 9 p.m. (GameTracker) -- Watch on fubo TV with NBA League Pass extension
- Memphis Grizzlies at Los Angeles Lakers, 9:30 p.m. (GameTracker) -- Watch on fubo TV with NBA League Pass extension
George goes off again, Thunder sneak past Jazz
Paul George has been on an absolute tear lately, and he kept it up with another impressive performance in the Thunder's win Saturday night in Utah. George finished with 43 points, 14 rebounds and six assists. It was his second straight game with exactly 43 points, and his third 40-point game this month.
Bryant makes history, Beal gets 40-point triple-double in Wizards' 3OT win
The Wizards appear to have landed a steal when they picked up former second-round pick Thomas Bryant, as he has turned into a contributor for Washington upon being inserted into the starting lineup. Saturday night, the big man made a bit of history by converting on all 14 of his attempts from the field. Meanwhile, Bradley Beal recorded a 40-point triple-double, finishing with 40 points, 11 rebounds and 15 assists in the Wizards' wild triple-overtime win.
👏 Thomas Bryant (career-high 31 PTS, 13 REB) shoots a perfect 14 of 14 from the field in the @WashWizards triple overtime victory! #DCFamily
— NBA (@NBA) December 23, 2018
The only player in @NBAHistory to record a game with 15 or more field goals made without a miss is Wilt Chamberlain. #ThisIsWhyWePlay pic.twitter.com/QkEAKSVb7r
Simmons and Embiid lead Sixers past Leonard-less Raptors
The Raptors didn't have Kawhi Leonard on Saturday night, but the Sixers still looked impressive in their dominant victory. As did their two stars, who led the way all night long. Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons combined for 53 points, 23 rebounds and nine assists on a remarkably efficient 21-of-28 shooting.
Joel Embiid (27 PTS, 11 REB) & Ben Simmons (26 PTS, 12 REB, 8 AST) took care of business tonight! 💪#HereTheyCome pic.twitter.com/A1ESWkHNnZ
— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 23, 2018
Harden, Capela boost Rockets past Spurs
Don't look now, but the Rockets have won six of their last seven games, and are climbing in the Western Conference standings. On Saturday night they took down the Spurs thanks to James Harden and Clint Capela. The reigning MVP went for 39 points and 10 assists, while Capela added 21 points and 23 rebounds.
James Harden (39 PTS, 10 AST, 7 3PM) was in MVP form tonight! 🔥#Rockets pic.twitter.com/KG3XfAKWDX
— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 23, 2018
Durant hits from the same spot again for the Warriors
Kevin Durant has made a habit out of coming up clutch for the Warriors on the offensive end since coming to Golden State and he did it again on Saturday night by pulling up from what has to be his favorite spot at Oracle Arena and hitting a clutch jumper to seal the win for his team.
KEVIN 💀
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) December 23, 2018
There's something about that spot...
📺 @NBCSAuthentic pic.twitter.com/p4sN4v3ldO
Jordan sets up Doncic for a slam dunk
Luka Doncic continues to impress as he moves deeper into his rookie season and with the Slovenian sensation squaring off against Stephen Curry and the Warriors tonight the eyes of the basketball world are on him and he is getting the job done in the early going, as evidenced by this finish off of a feed from DeAndre Jordan.
DEANDRE DISH. DONCIC DUNK. pic.twitter.com/vYln7HvhQ7
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) December 23, 2018
Jackson posterizes Morris after a steal
Josh Jackson has struggled to live up to the expectations which were placed on him upon entering the league but he showed a glimpse of the type of talent he possesses on Saturday night by coming up with a steal and then dunking all over Wizards forward Markieff Morris.
Josh did 'em DIRTY! pic.twitter.com/qHHi8QDTai
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 23, 2018
Draymond finds his touch from the perimeter
Draymond Green told the rest of the league after their loss to the Jazz that they would be in trouble once his shot starts falling. Well, he got off to a strong start on Saturday night against the Mavericks with this deep three.
💦💦💦
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) December 23, 2018
📺 @NBCSAuthentic pic.twitter.com/KfPEWaRqxP
Harris and Gallinari help Clippers crush West-leading Nuggets
Tobias Harris and Danilo Gallinari each scored 21 points on Saturday afternoon as the Clippers took down the Nuggets, who currently lead the Western Conference. Before the Clippers' 21-point win, the largest margin of defeat this season for the Nuggets was just 10 points.
Now THAT'S a poster to put on the wall 😱@LAClippers | @gallinari8888 pic.twitter.com/tPopIk074F
— FOX Sports San Diego (@FOXSportsSD) December 22, 2018
Butler sets up Simmons for a monster slam dunk
The addition of Jimmy Butler continues to pay dividends for the Sixers and he reiterated that fact on Saturday night by helping set up Ben Simmons for an emphatic finish above the rim with this assist.
Jimmy Butler finds Ben Simmons in transition!
— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 23, 2018
We've got a back and forth contest going in the second quarter on NBA TV. #HereTheyCome pic.twitter.com/NckeLSku46
Lowry and Siakam set the tone for the Raptors
The Raptors and Sixers are squaring off in a matchup which could be an Eastern Conference Finals preview and Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam are doing their part to get Toronto off to a hot start as the pair combined for 19 points in the opening quarter of play in Philadelphia.
Kyle Lowry (10 PTS) & Pascal Siakam (9 PTS) got the @Raptors going in the first quarter! #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/lJ0ILcLrmj
— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 23, 2018
Baker recovers for big block
Kelly Oubre Jr. was back in Washington not long after being traded away, but his return did not get off to a great start. Early in the second quarter, he was out on the fastbreak and got swatted by none other than Ron Baker.
Newest @WashWizards addition Ron Baker recovers for the SWAT!#DCFamily 46#TimeToRise 43
— NBA (@NBA) December 23, 2018
💻📱: https://t.co/cYXnbWzIYB pic.twitter.com/xvWyk3XZna
Ayton rocks the rim early and often
No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton got off to a nice start against the Wizards, throwing down multiple jams in the first quarter.
Deandre Ayton (8 PTS, 6 REB) throws it down twice for the @Suns! #NBARooks
— NBA (@NBA) December 23, 2018
End of Q1 on League Pass:#TimeToRise 29#DCFamily 33
💻📱: https://t.co/cYXnbWzIYB pic.twitter.com/n07Qhw9kzR
Harris finds his groove early for the Clippers
Tobias Harris has been a consistent performer for the Clippers all year long and he made sure that Los Angeles got off to a strong start against the Nuggets on Saturday by converting on 50 percent of his attempts from the field for 19 points in the opening half of play.
Tobias Harris gets out to 19 1st half PTS for the @LAClippers at Staples Center! #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/f7EOj7IP58
— NBA (@NBA) December 22, 2018