We’re 60 % of the best way via the five-game Christmas slate. In the opener, the 76ers dominated the second half to defeat the Knicks, 119-112, which was adopted by the Mavericks taking out the Lakers, 124-115, behind a 51-point third quarter.
Below are the highest Christmas performances to date. This submit will proceed to replace all through the evening.
Jayson Tatum: 41 factors, 7 rebounds, 5 assists
When there is a primetime matchup, you may just about depend on Tatum going off today, and going face to face with Giannis Antetokounmpo actually qualifies.
Tatum was deadly from all three ranges on Sunday, hitting 3 of seven from deep, 3 of 4 from the midrange and eight of 11 within the paint. He went 10 for 10 from the free-throw line, the place he is posting a profession excessive 8.5 makes an attempt per sport this season.
Luka Doncic: 32 factors, 9 assists, 9 rebounds
Doncic was measured in his typical brilliance, methodically piecing collectively this ho-hum evening on simply 16 photographs (12 of 16 free throws) and retaining the Lakers at a distance with 9 fourth-quarter factors. This faux Doncic threw on Wenyen Gabriel was fairly amusing.
Joel Embiid: 35 factors, 8 rebounds
Embiid completed 12 of twenty-two from the sector and bought to the road 15 occasions, sinking 10. He was doing work from his workplace, placing the ball on the ground from the free-throw line prolonged/elbow space, and he bought his midrange jumper, which has been environment friendly all 12 months, going with 15 third-quarter factors earlier than Philly made its transfer with a 24-9 run over the majority of the fourth quarter.
Harden has been enjoying terrific since returning to the lineup, and he once more made every little thing go on Christmas for a Sixers workforce that has received eight straight. He completed with 5 3-pointers and matched Embiid with 10 made free throws. Harden in choose and roll remains to be a nearly assured high quality shot. Harden has tallied a exceptional 34 assists over his final two video games.
Christian Wood: 30 factors, 8 rebounds, 7 assists
Wood coming off the bench has been a serious level of dialogue all season. He’s began the final 5, and it should be exhausting to ship him again to the bench after video games like this. The seven assists are a profession excessive for Wood, as are the 4 steals he added to his line. When Wood performs half-hour or extra, he principally averages 24 and 10 boards. Since changing into a starter, he is averaging 18 and 9. Dallas wants his firepower and the pairing with Doncic is offensively superb.
Hat suggestions in defeat
LeBron James: LeBron did all he may with Anthony Davis nonetheless sidelined, posting 38 factors, six rebounds and 5 assists on 13-of-23 taking pictures, together with 12 of 12 from the free-throw line. He dedicated simply two turnovers and the Lakers had been on the constructive facet of his 34 minutes. LeBron has now scored at the least 30 factors in his final seven video games. Julius Randle: Randle got here out on hearth, hitting 4 of his first six 3-pointers via 1 / 4 and a half. He was shut out from deep after that by nonetheless wound up with 35 factors and eight boards. Randle has performed effectively just about all season and has averaged 31 and 11 over his final three, however the Knicks, after successful eight straight, have dropped every of these three.
