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Nightly Pulse: NBA news & highlights from Dec. 2

Stay in the know on tonight's NBA action as we keep you updated with the latest news and happenings around the league.

NBA.com Staff

NBA Monday🏀🏀

Convincing victories are the theme of Monday’s 4-game slate:

⭐⭐TOP PERFORMERS⭐⭐

  1. CJ McCollum: 29 points (12-26 FG), six rebounds, two assists, one steal
  2. Josh Giddey: 20 points (9-17 FG), 13 rebounds, 11 assists, one steal, one block
  3. Yves Missi: 23 points (11-14 FG), 12 rebounds, one steal, one block
  4. Jaylen Brown: 29 points (8-21 FG), seven rebounds, four assists, one steal

Top Storylines👉📝

  1. Minnesota’s 8th-ranked defense shutdown the Lakers’ 7th-ranked offense. Minnesota pulled away after the first quarter, outscoring Los Angeles by 27 points across the final three frames.
  2. Josh Giddey notched his first triple-double as a Bull and the 12th of his career while also supplying his second 20-point game of the season.
  3. Trae Young outdoes Dejounte Murray in their first matchup since Murray was traded to the Pelicans last offseason.

Minnesota stifles the Lake Show🐺🐺

The Timberwolves forced 20 turnovers and limited the Lakers to a season-low 80 points in a 109-80 victory.

Julius Randle led Minnesota with 18 points (6-13 FG, 2-3 3PM, 4-4 FT), joining three teammates in scoring at least 15 points.

D’Angelo Russell finished with 20 points (8-12 FG, 4-5 3PM) to represent the only Laker exceeding 12 points Monday. LeBron James finished with a season-low 10 points (4-16 FG, 0-4 3PM). Anthony Davis had 12 points, 11 rebounds and five assists — a muted performance after booming for 36 points and 16 rebounds in an Opening Night victory over the Timberwolves.

Bulls cruise despite Nets’ youth on display

Chicago’s 128-102 victory over Brooklyn featured a triple-double from Josh Giddey (20 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists), a game-high 21 points from Nikola Vučević, and healthy scoring performances from Matas Buzelis (20 points) and Zach LaVine (18 points).

Dennis Schröder’s 16 points and 10 assists led Brooklyn in both categories until Dariq Whitehead (18 points, 6-10 3PM) caught fire from beyond the arc. Whitehead has dealt with lengthy absences due to foot and ankle injuries, but the 20-year-old isn’t far removed from winning the Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award in 2022 and earning McDonald’s All-American Game MVP honors that season. He has pedigree to be part of Brooklyn’s future.

Boston dominates second half, earns 108-89 win

Jaylen Brown led all players with 29 points, adding seven rebounds and four assists. Jayson Tatum notched an 18 points and 11 rebounds, marking his seventh double-double across 21 appearances thus far.

Payton Pritchard (25 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals) has now scored 20-plus points in four straight games. He leads the league with eight 20-point performance off the bench this season.

Boston’s defense was stifling, limiting Miami to 35.6% shooting from the field. Luke Kornet was a menace inside, matching his career-high with six blocks for the Celtics’ shorthanded frontcourt. Tyler Herro (6-19 FG) and Jaime Jaquez (5-14 FG) each had 19 points to lead the Heat in scoring.

HAWK W🦅🦅

Atlanta beats New Orleans 124-112 fueled by seven players with double-digit scoring. De’Andre Hunter led with 22 points (8-14 FG, 4-7 3PM, 2-2 FT) off the bench. The Hawks dominated with 52 bench points and 74 points in the paint.

Clint Capela pulled down 17 rebounds to accompany his nine points, while Trae Young delivered 12 points (5-16 FG), eight rebounds and 15 assists. Young has now posted at least 15 assists in six of 21 appearances this season.

Rookie Yves Missi looked smooth as a roll man en route to a career-high 23 points, tacking on 12 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. Dejounte Murray struggled in the scoring column (7 points, 2-15 FG), but added five rebounds, 10 assists and five steals. CJ McCollum’s 29 points (12-16 FG) guided New Orleans to a one-point lead at halftime, but Atlanta’s depth ultimately overwhelmed a Pelicans’ squad lacking Brandon Ingram (calf) and Zion Williamson (hamstring).

Cleared for liftoff✈️✈️

Jalen Johnson hangs in the air, gets to his left hand, and beats the rim protection for a slam. Atlanta leads 118-108 with 90 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

Matas Buzelis hot, Bulls up 56-50

Buzelis leads all scorers with 13 points while already matching his season-high with three made triples (3-4 3PM). The rookie entered Monday’s contest in a funk, shooting just 26.3% on 3.8 3PA per game across his last five contests.

Josh Giddey has 10 points for Chicago, while Shake Milton is the only Net in double-digits with 11 points.

Sharing is caring 

Dimes are being dropped around the Association tonight! The Lakers execute a perfect transition break, while Trae Young’s continues collapsing defenses like few can.

LOB FEST

One bucket after Dejounte Murray’s lob to Yves Missi, Trae Young counters with a lob to Onyeka Okongwu! Despite Monday representing just Murray’s fifth game of the season, his chemistry in New Orleans appears to be on the rise.

New AE1’s on display💎💎

Baby blue. Anthony Edwards in his freshly-release new AE1 colorway:

Familiar faces🍿🍿🍿🍿

After two seasons co-starring alongside Trae Young in Atlanta’s backcourt, Dejounte Murray and Young return to being adversaries. Although the Hawks couldn’t ascend to postseason success with this duo, a deep friendship remains.

Key Storylines for the Night 🍿🍿

  1. In a battle of postseason adversaries who have matched up in 4 of the last 5 playoffs, Boston hosting Miami headlines Monday’s games. Bam Adebayo averaged 22.6 points and 9.4 rebounds in last year’s Eastern Conference first-round battle.
  2. LeBron James and Anthony Davis welcome Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves — although future backcourt mate Rob Dillingham (ankle) is out.
  3. Lonzo Ball is set to play in his third consecutive game since returning from a multi-week absence due to a wrist injury as Chicago duels Brooklyn.

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