In a wild game that featured 26 ties and 24 lead changes, Bradley Beal scored 40 points and posted his first career triple-double as the Washington Wizards outlasted the Phoenix Suns 149-146 in triple overtime.
The 295 combined points were the most since the Denver Nuggets and Seattle SuperSonics totaled 298 in two overtimes on April 6, 2008.
The most notable performance belonged to Wizards center Thomas Bryant, who became the first player since Gary Payton in 1995 to make at least 14 field goals without a miss. Bryant scored a career-high 31 points, grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds and made all three of his free throws. At one point, Bryant scored 16 of 18 points for Washington across a stretch of the first and second overtime.
“It’s amazing,” Bryant said. “I had no idea throughout the game and I had no idea after the game until people started telling me about it.”
The only player to sink more field goals without a miss is Wilt Chamberlain, who had four such games — 15 for 15 against the Los Angeles Lakers on Jan. 20, 1967, an NBA-record 18 for 18 against Baltimore on Feb. 24, 1967 and 16 for 16 against Baltimore again on March 19, 1967 — for Philadelphia. He was 14 for 14 for the Lakers against Detroit on March 11, 1969.
Bryant’s shot chart shows his shot selection was spot on.
George continues torrid stretch
Make that back-to-back 43-point games for Paul George.
Three nights after scoring 43 in a win against the Kings, George did it again in a tense 107-106 victory in Utah. He went 15 for 25 from the field, including five 3-pointers, and added 14 rebounds, six assists and five steals.
George, who is averaging 31.4 points in December, scored 18 points in the last 6:04 of the third quarter during which Oklahoma City swung the momentum with a 23-2 run.
With four straight wins, the Thunder tied the Nuggets for the best record in the Western Conference.
86 points in the last 2 games. Yikes @Yg_Trece pic.twitter.com/YN9Y5g2E2M
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 23, 2018
Doncic gets up for Warriors
Rookie sensation Luka Doncic nearly doubled his season dunks total in the Mavs’ 126-120 loss in Oakland. He previously threw down four times this season but had three dunks against the Warriors, including this explosive jam that left Jonas Jerebko in the dust.
Later in the game Doncic awkwardly fell out of bounds when Draymond Green impeded his path to the rim. Doncic stumbled into a courtside seat occupied by a 10-year-old boy.
Doncic quickly checked on the young fan and later gave him his autographed jersey from the game.
Luka took the time to check on a young fan he crashed into and hooked him up with a signed jersey after the game. #MFFL pic.twitter.com/SOq7z6crCa
— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 23, 2018
Jokic loses his cool
Frustrated with officials, Nikola Jokic was ejected with 6:38 left in the third quarter after screaming at an official following a foul call. Juancho Hernangomez tried to cover Jokic’s mouth and Nuggets coach Mike Malone did his best to calm him down, but Jokic’s night was over with the Nuggets down by 11 points.
Things went downhill fast once the usually mild-mannered Jokic left the game, and the Clippers rolled to a 132-11 victory — Denver’s worst loss of the season.
Nuggets coach Mike Malone said he wasn’t sure what Jokic had yelled to draw the ejection.
“You’d have to ask him,” Malone said.
Jokic did not make himself available to reporters after the game.
Kanter Claus Delivers
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. May all your Christmas wishes come true …
Best Fans..! ❤️#KnicksNation pic.twitter.com/dObH0M8ypS
— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) December 22, 2018
