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Nightly Pulse: NBA news & highlights from Dec. 8

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

🏀Sunday fun day hoops🏀

  • 76ers 108, Bulls 100 (Final)
  • Bucks 118, Nets 113 (Final)
  • Hornets 113, Pacers 109 (Final)
  • Cavaliers 113, Heat 122 (Final)
  • Nuggets 141, Hawks 111 (Final)
  • Suns 110, Magic 115 (Final)
  • Pelicans 116, Spurs 121 (Final)
  • Grizzlies 140, Wizards 112 (Final)
  • Timberwolves 106, Warriors 114 (Final)
  • Rockets 117, Clippers 106 (Final)
  • Jazz 97, Kings 141 (Final)
  • Trail Blazers 98, Lakers 107 (Final)

📝Top stories📝

  1. Nikola Jokić had another massive performance in a win over the Hawks. In the process, he joined Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to record 45+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 5+ assists in consecutive games. He also joins Baylor and Chamberlain as the only players to average 39+ points, 14+ rebounds, and eight-plus assists over any five-game stretch. His combined 104 points were also the most in a two-game span in Denver Nugget history, beating David Thompson’s previous record. 
  2. Chris Paul passed Jason Kidd for No. 2 on the all-time assists leaderboard during a victory over the Pelicans. He came into the night with 12,089, needing just three to surpass Kidd, and recorded 10, moving him up to 12,099.  
  3. The Warriors got superb performances from Stephen Curry and Buddy Hield, who combined to hit 12 triples and score 57 points. Their efforts propelled a 114-106 win over the Timberwolves, ending Minnesota’s four-game win streak.

⭐Top performers⭐

  • Nikola Jokić: 48 points (17-29 FG), 14 rebounds, eight assists, and three steals.
  • Giannis Antetokounmpo: 34 points (14-22 FG), 11 rebounds, four assists and three blocks.
  • Tyler Herro: 34 points (10-19 FG, 5-9 3PT), six rebounds, and seven assists.

🪜Russell steps up🪜

D’Angelo Russell nailed five threes on his way to 28 points and also dished out 14 assists in the Lakers’ 107-98 win over the Blazers.

With no LeBron James, Rui Hachimura was also key, converting 9-13 shooting into 23 points and four steals. Anthony Davis led all Laker scorers with 30, but he also pulled down 11 boards and swatted five shots.

❄️Ices it❄️

Jalen Green hits his fifth three of the game on a tough fadeaway as the shot clock expires to push the Rockets lead to 11. Houston would ultimately win 117-106 over the Clippers.

Green finished with 31 points and four assists.

🚨Long-range bucket at the buzzer🚨

Scoot Henderson swipes the ball then heaves it beyond midcourt and gets it to go off the glass, to bring the Blazers within three, 77-74 after three.

✈️Kuminga takes flight, Hield with the👌

After an Edwards three gave the Wolves the lead, Kuminga, and the Warriors took it right back with this emphatic dunk. Followed up by a dagger of a three from Hield to give Golden State a six-point lead with less than a minute remaining, before ultimately winning 114-106.

Going down to the wire

It’s been a game of runs, with Minnesota going on a tear capped off by a made three from Anthony Edwards that now has him at 27 points.

The Warriors have retaken the lead though and are currently up 109-106 with just a couple of minutes remaining.

🚀Houston, we have lift-off🚀

Alperen Sengun gets the offensive board, as Jalen Green approaches from the arc and picks up steam as he gets the pass, then detonates in the paint and attacks the rim for a nasty dunk.

Green is up to 26 points, pacing the Fred VanVleet-less Rockets to an 89-76 lead over the Clippers late in the third.

🥵He’s getting hot🥵

Buddy Hield sinks one of his three, third quarter made threes, and Golden State has jumped out to a one-point lead, 86-85 late in the third quarter. Hield currently has 19 points on 5-10 long-range shooting.

♨️Green is cooking♨️

Jalen Green caps a strong first half with his fourth made three in eight attempts on his way to 18 points.

The Rockets hold a 64-52 advantage over the Clippers at the half.

🎯Bullseye to end the half🎯

Conley hits his second three to give the Timberwolves a 58-49 lead over the Warriors going into halftime.

Stephen Curry is cooking, despite his team trailing, with 19 points (6-12 FG, 4-9 3PT).

Victor hits the dagger🗡️

Wembanyama nailed a clutch three-pointer that gave the Spurs a 117-116 lead which they never relinquished on their way to a 121-116 win over the Pelicans. The 20-year-old led all Spurs scorers with 25 and also grabbed 10 rebounds and swatted three shots. Chris Paul dished out 10 assists on his way to passing Jason Kidd for No. 2 on the all-time assists leaderboard.

The Pelicans went on a 14-0 run in the fourth to make it a close game but ultimately fell short despite strong scoring performances from Trey Murhpy (25) and CJ McCollum (19). Dejounte Murray notched a double-double with 18 points and 11 assists, as did Yves Missi with 18 points and 14 rebounds.

🪄Fourth quarter Magic🪄

Jalen Suggs was instrumental in a strong final frame for Orlando, scoring 14 of his 26 points in the quarter and helping secure a 115-110 win over the Suns. Goga Bitadze also came up big, scoring a season-high 21 points and pulling down a career-best 16 rebounds.

👽Wemby things🛸

Victor Wembanyama makes it look easy, just tipping in the inbounds pass from Chris Paul. The Spurs have an 84-80 lead over the Pelicans late in the third quarter.

👏That’s an encore👏

One night after his historic 56-point performance, Jokić fell a bucket shy of another 50-piece, scoring 48 points (17-29 FG, 11-13 FT, 3-6 3PT), snagging 14 rebounds, handing out eight assists, and recording three steals. 

The Nuggets jumped out to a big lead early in this one and never really looked back, as they took down the Hawks, 141-111.

⛔Hustle block⛔

Cole Anthony chases down Devin Booker and gets the block from behind saving two points in a tight battle that the Suns lead 94-91 early in the fourth quarter.

Anthony has been solid for the Magic as they try to find offense without Franz Wagner, scoring 12 off the bench. It’s Goga Bitadze leading Orlando scorers though with 17 and he also has 13 boards. The Suns are being paced by Tyus Jones, who has 21 on 5-7 shooting from distance.

🌡️Heat rises🌡️

Miami won their third game in a row, dropping the Cavaliers to 21-4 with a 122-113 win. Duncan Robinson was sharp scoring 23 points on 4-6 long-range shooting, while Tyler Herro led all scorers with 34 and chipped in six boards and seven assists.

🐻Grizzlies rolling🐻

No Morant, no problem for Memphis so far, as they hold a 72-55 lead over the Wizards at halftime. Jaren Jackson Jr. leads all scorers with 16, and they’ve all gotten contributions off the bench of 12 points for Santi Aldama and 11 for Jay Huff.

 

🕷What a web he weaves🕸️

Donovan Mitchell shows off the handles going up over Haywood Highsmith on his way to the rim with the lay-in. Mitchell only has nine points on the night though, with the Cavaliers trailing the Heat 95-83 early in the fourth.

Herro has been on a heater for Miami, scoring 34 points on 10-18 shooting.

📜Paul makes history📜

Chris Paul came into the night needing three assists to surpass Jason Kidd for No. 2 all-time. He just got his third on a dish to Victor Wembanyama for a made three. San Antonio has a 64-56 lead on New Orleans about halfway through the second quarter.

https://twitter.com/spurs/status/1865922684116488614 https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1865924460806639862

 

🧨Puts an exclamation point on the W🧨

Brandon Miller splits the pick and roll, then explodes through the lane and gets up for a massive one-handed slam that sealed the victory in Indianapolis, 113-109. Miller ended his night with 26 points (9-18 FG, 4-9 3PT), six rebounds, and five assists.

T.J. McConnell had a noteworthy performance off the bench for the Pacers, scoring a career-high 30 points on 14-19 shooting.

🎞️More Hawks and Nuggets🎞️

The first half ended with a bang, first this flying one-handed dunk by Larry Nance Jr., then a midcourt heave from Jokić.

https://twitter.com/ATLHawks/status/1865912344489926830 https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1865912780542345590

🚫Get it out of here🚫

Dyson Daniels has been making plays all over the court and goes into halftime with 10 points, three rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block. Unfortunately, for Daniels and the Hawks, they’re trailing the Nuggets 71-48 at the break. Jokić remains dominant, with 25 points, nine rebounds, and four assists, 

https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1865911517989703855 https://twitter.com/ATLHawks/status/1865909076883841272

Herro➡️Butler

Miami has a 59-51 lead over the Cavs after two, off the work of the Herro, Buttler, and Adebayo trio who are all in double figures. Herro also has three assists, one of which came on this alley-oop to Butler.

Draws contact, still finishes

Devin Booker freezes Tristan da Silva with the fake then beats him to the hoop for a tough two and a foul. Off the strength of a 14-0 run, the Suns have built a 34-29 lead late in the first quarter. T

he Magic have gotten a boost from Cole Anthony with seven points off the bench as they play their first game without Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero this season.

♛His dominance continues♛

Nikola Jokić stuffed the stat sheet in the first quarter against Atlanta, with 13 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and a steal, as the Nuggets hold a 38-23 lead after a quarter of play. 

💪Tough finish💪

Isaiah Wong finishes the first-half scoring for the Hornets with this nice and-1 that ends with him hitting the floor.

The Hornets have a 63-62 lead on the Pacers at the break. Vasilije Micić is getting done for Charlotte, sans LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, with 13 points on 3-3 shooting from deep. Indianapolis’ leading scorers are Jarace Walker (10) and Obi Toppin (11), who are doing damage from off the bench.

🦌Fear the deer🦌

The Bucks got hot, outscoring the Nets by 10 in the final 5:46 of the contest to win 118-113. Bobby Portis was on fire down the stretch, hitting a key three to give Milwaukee a 109-108 lead with two minutes remaining. He followed that up with a block that led to a Giannis dunk.

Antetokounmpo finished his day with a 34-point, 11-rebound double-double, while Portis’ 5-5 shooting from three and 23 points off the bench were clutch. Schröder tied Giannis with a 34-point effort and also finished the night with 11 dimes, while Nic Claxton secured a double-double too with 21 points and 10 rebounds for Brooklyn. 

https://twitter.com/Bucks/status/1865892724630520169 https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1865893038402207979

 

🤸🏽‍♂️Acrobatic finish🤸🏽‍♂️

Gary Trent Jr. goes up, hangs and glides under the rim, and gets a reverse finish for two, and the Nets have a 98-95 lead over the Bucks with several minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

Several players are having big games on the stat sheet, with Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the way with 31 points and nine rebounds. Dennis Schröder already has a double-double for Brooklyn with 29 points (11-15 FG) and 10 assists. 

Afternoon roundup

Earlier this afternoon the 76ers beat the Bulls 108-100. Joel Embiid scored 31 points, giving him back-to-back games with 30+ points and he also pulled down 12 rebounds. Tyrese Maxey recorded his career triple-double, scoring 25 points, grabbing 11 boards, and dishing out 14 assists.

 

3️⃣🔑Storylines

  1. The red-hot Hawks, winners of six straight, will host the reeling Nuggets in a battle featuring two of the brightest stars in the Association, Trae Young and Nikola Jokić. Both are coming off historic performances in their previous games, with Young on Friday becoming the first player ever to post 30+ points, 20+ assists, and 5+ 3s in a game, while Jokić became the first player in league history to total 55+ points, 15+ rebounds, 5+ assists and 3+ 3s in a game last night. What might these two cook up for an encore?
  2. The Timberwolves got off to a rocky start this season, but are now winners of four straight and the tide may be turning for the squad from Minnesota. Tonight they’ll hit the hardwood against the Warriors in a rematch from Friday that ended with Golden State falling 107-90. A key part of Minnesota’s surge has been the galvanizing of their defense, which allowed 92 points or fewer in each of its last four games. A feat no team has accomplished since Memphis did so in 2021.
  3. History could be in the making tonight as Chris Paul sits just three assists shy of surpassing Jason Kidd for the No. 2 spot on the all-time assists leaderboard. Paul has recorded 12,089 dimes in his career, to Kidd’s 12,091, and considering the 39-year-old point guard is averaging 8.5 dishes per game, he could make history quickly against the Pelicans.

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