Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles SG)- Recorded his second triple-double of the season, scoring 23 points, grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing out 11 assists in a 111-103 win over the Denver Nuggets. While his nine turnovers were too high, Bryant's efficiency and distributing was instrumental in the Lakers' win. He's averaging 16.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.3 assists over his last four games.
Jodie Meeks (Detroit SG)- Hit nine 3-pointers and scored a season-high 34 points in a 109-86 win over the Orlando Magic. Meeks caught fire last night, hitting six 3's and scoring 20 points alone in the second quarter. He has scored in double-digits in Detroit's last four games, with three of them resulting in wins.
Andre Drummond (Detroit C)- Grabbed 22 rebounds and chipped in 17 points in the Pistons' win over the Magic. Drummond has been a dominant force down low since the departure of Josh Smith, and looks primed to repeat last seasons' performance.
Mike Conley (Memphis PG)- Scored 30 points on 10-13 shooting in a 95-87 win over the San Antonio Spurs. Conley did everything for the Grizzlies on Tuesday, as he tallied seven rebounds, six assists and four made 3-pointers. The Ohio State product has scored over 20 points in four of his last six games, and has hit 14 3-pointers in the last four contests.
Via ESPN, Lakers' guard Kobe Bryant became the third player in NBA history to recorded multiple triple-doubles in a season at age 36 or older. Below is a recap of his historic night.
DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento PF/C)- Finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds in a 107-99 loss to the Nets. Cousins had yet another strong performance, hitting 9 of his 12 field goal attempts, and 6 of 9 free throw attempts in the loss. It was his fourth double-double in his last five games, and is becoming the norm for the Kentucky product.
Bradley Beal (Washington SG)- Dropped 33 points, including five 3-pointers in a 104-103 win over the Houston Rockets. Beal went toe-to-toe with James Harden, and outplayed him for a decent chunk of the game. He hit all 10 free throws and grabbed five rebounds in the statement win, and when healthy, give Washington one of the best backcourts in the league.
Danny Granger (Miami SG/SF)- Hit six 3-pointers and scored 20 points in a 102-102 loss to the Orlando Magic. His 20 points was a season-high, and he continues to play more minutes as a result of various injuries to the Heat lineup. His outside shooting and overall scoring ability could prove valuable for the Heat moving forward.
Chris Paul (Los Angeles PG)- Posted a stat line of 20 points, eight assists, five rebounds and four steals in a 101-97 win over the Utah Jazz. Even though his assists were a little lower than usual, Paul contributed an all-around game in the win. He continues to produce in many categories, and is limiting his turnovers better than most point guards in the league.
Play of the Night
Kings' center DeMarcus Cousins showcased his pure strength and desire to score, powering through two Nets' defenders for the slam on Monday night. It was a throwback to the Shaquille O'Neal days, and a welcomed sight for Kings' fans.
Kyle Lowry (Toronto PG)- Recorded 30 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds in a 116-102 win over the Denver Nuggets. Lowry had another tremendous game, and has scored over 30 points in two of his last three games. His combination of scoring, assisting and rebounding is a rare sight among even the best point guards in the league, and the Raptors are first in the Eastern Conference as a result of his play.
Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas PF)- Scored 30 points on 8 of 13 shooting in a 112-107 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Nowitzki tied his season high with 30 points, and hit all 12 of his foul shots. The German sharpshooter, as well as the rest of the Mavs seem to be meshing with point guard Rajon Rondo, as Dallas has won three out of five games since his arrival.
Wesley Matthews (Portland SG)- Hit six 3-pointers en-route to a 28-point performance in a 101-79 win against the New York Knicks. Matthews hit five of his six 3-pointers in the first half, as Portland built a 55-41 lead at the break. He has been strong over the past week, as he has scored over 20 points in his last three games.
Andre Drummond (Detroit C)- Grabbed 17 rebounds to go along with 16 points in a 103-80 win versus the Cleveland Cavaliers. Drummond had a fantastic overall game, blocking five shots for the first time since Dec. 3 against Boston. After struggling to score early on in the season, he has scored in double-digits in 9 of his last 10 contests.
The Detroit Pistons caught fire from 3-point range in their 103-80 win in Cleveland on Sunday. Detroit hit 17 of their 31 attempts from beyond the arc, with six Pistons hitting from deep. Point guard Brandon Jennings led the way, hitting 5 of 9 three point attempts in the win.
Kemba Walker (Charlotte PG)- Dropped a career-high 42 points in a 102-94 loss to the Orlando Magic. Walker did everything he could to give the Hornets a chance to win the game, as he hit 15 of 31 shot attempts and dished out seven assists in the game. The young point guard has been hot as of late, scoring 20+ points in six of his last eight games.
Anthony Davis (New Orleans PF/C)- Had a great all-around game in his hometown debut, scoring 29 points in a 107-100 loss to the Chicago Bulls. Davis also chipped in 11 rebounds and six blocked shots against a stingy Bulls' frontcourt of Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol, and continues to perform against any and all competition. Derrick Favors (Utah PF)- Scored 17 points and pulled down 15 rebounds in an 88-71 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Favors was an animal Saturday night, as he also blocked five shots, and recorded three steals and three assists. His five blocks were the most he has had in a contest since Dec. 5 against the Orlando Magic.
Darren Collison (Sacramento PG)- Had a fantastic shooting night, hitting 9 of 10 shot attempts for 27 points in a 135-129 overtime win overt the New York Knicks. Collison was uber-effecient Saturday, hitting a late 3-pointer in overtime to put the game out of reach, and also dished out 10 assists.
DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento PF/C)- Tallied a season-high 39 points in an overtime win over the New York Knicks. Cousins played after missing one game with an illness, but showed no ill-effects, as he hit 14 of 27 shot attempts and grabbed 11 rebounds in the victory. He has both 30 point/10 rebound performances in 30 minutes or less in the NBA this season, and is simply one of the best big men in the game right now.
Jimmy Butler (Chicago SG)- Scored 33 points on 12 of 18 shooting in a 107-100 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Butler grabbed five rebounds and hit 9 of his 10 foul shot attempts in the contest. It marked the third time in the last week and a half that Butler has scored over 30 points, and his efficiency is showing no signs of decreasing.
Carmelo Anthony (New York SF)- Poured in 36 points to go along with 11 rebounds and six assists in a 135-129 overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings. Melo did all he could to give the Knicks a fighting chance, and has scored over 30 points in three of his last six games.
Washington Wizards' point guard John Wall wowed the crowd once again Saturday night, converting on a 360 layup late in the first quarter agains the Boston Celtics. Wall showcased his supreme athleticism once again, and finished with 12 points and seven assists in a 101-88 win over the Celtics.
James Harden (Houston SG)- Almost had a triple-double, scoring 32 points, dishing out 10 assists and grabbing eight rebounds in a 117-111 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Harden played 41 minutes in the win, and hit 10 of his 17 shot attempts, as well as 10 of 11 free throw attempts. He continues to have a fantastic overall season on the offensive end, and will look to mesh with new teammate Josh Smith going forward.
Jared Dudley (Milwaukee SG/SF)- Hit all 10 of his shot attempts en route to a 24 point, four steal performance in a 107-77 win against the Atlanta Hawks. Dudley became the first player in NBA history to go at least 10-10 with at least three 3-ptointers attempted.
Kenneth Faried (Denver PF)- Broke out and scored 26 points while grabbing a career-high 25 rebounds in a 106-102 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Faried had a fantastic night, as he hit 11 of 15 shots from the field, and absolutely dominated on the boards, as he has since his days at Morehead State.
Anthony Davis (New Orleans PF/C)- Rebounded from a quite outing against Indiana to put up 22 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks in a 97-90 win over the San Antonio Spurs. Davis filled up the stat sheet once again, and continues to play fantastic basketball heading into 2015.
Marcus Morris (Phoenix SF/PF)- Dropped 20 points, nine rebounds and five assists in a 115-106 win over the Sacramento Kings. Morris hit 7 of 12 shot attempts, including a careeer-high six 3-pointers in the win. It was the first time he had scored more than 20 points since Dec. 9 against the Heat, and is a positive sign moving forward.
Jarrett Jack (Brooklyn PG)- Scored a season-high 27 points on 8 of 14 shooting in a 109-107 win against the Boston Celtics. Jack got the start instead of Deron Williams, and did not disappoint, as he also added in seven rebounds, five assists and three steals in the win for the Nets.
Play of the Night
The TNT network released a heartwarming video tribute to Craig Sager, one of their sideline reporters on Thursday nights for 17 years. Sager is recovering from Acute myeloid leukemia, and should be back on the sidelines by the end of the season.
John Wall (Washington PG)- Recorded 24 points, 11 assists and six rebounds in a 102-91 win over the New York Knicks. Wall was able to get into the lane at will during the contest, and is continuing to have a phenomenal season. His assists and points are consistent, and he continues to provide numbers in defensive areas as well. The Wizards are now 10-1 when wall scores 20+ points this year.
Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City PG)- Dropped 34 points, 11 assists and five steals in a 114-106 in over the San Antonio Spurs. Westbrook carried the team once again, as he torched the Spurs throughout the contest. He started out just 1 of 8 from the field, but hit 13 of his next 20 shots to score over 30 points for the fifth time in six games. Westrook is asserting himself appropriately for the Thunder during Durant's absence, and is playing some of the best basketball of his career. Dwyane Wade (Miami SG)- Scored 31 points in a 102-91 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Wade looked like a much younger version of his self in this game, as he played former teammate LeBron James for the first time this year. The duo won two consecutive titles, made the NBA finals in all four seasons together.
Manu Ginobili (San Antonio SG)- Flirted with a triple-double, scoring seven points, dishing out 13 assists and grabbing seven rebounds in a 114-106 loss to the Thunder. It was quiet scoring game for Ginobili, but he stuffed the rest of the stat sheet for the Spurs. He has now dished out 10+ assists in his last two games. Pau Gasol (Chicago PF/C)- Dominated the Lakers to the tune of 23 points and 13 rebounds in a 113-93 Christmas Day win. Gasol played with a little something extra last night, as he was facing his former team in the Lakers, where he helped them win two championships in six seasons. He continues to post strong numbers and is showing no signs of slowing down.
Luol Deng (Miami SF)- Tallied 25 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in the Heat's win over Cleveland. Deng hit 11 of 16 shots from the field, and also added in eight assists and eight rebounds in the win. The talented two-way forward had one of his best games of the season, and has scored over 20 points in two out of his last three games.
Play of the Night
Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade threw down a thunderous put-back dunk of Cavs forward Kevin Love during Thursdays' contest. It was a vintage Wade play, as he kept track of the ball and slashed into the lane, elevating for the finish that brought the crowd to their feet.
Top Performances Damian Lillard (Portland PG)- Exploded for 40 points, 11 assists and six rebounds in a 115-111 overtime win against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Lillard was clutch once again Tuesday night, hitting a career-high eight 3-pointers, including the game-tying three with less than five seconds left in regulation. The Weber State product continues to dominate opposing defenses night in and night out, and is solidifying his spot among the top point guards in the game.
DeMarre Carroll (Atlanta SG/SF)- Tallied 25 points and 10 rebounds in a 107-104 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Carroll had a great performance and has been instrumental in the Hawks success over the past two weeks.
Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City PG)- Recorded 40 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in OKC's overtime loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. With Kevin Durant out for a third straight game, Westbrook was once again the focal point of the Thunder offense. He continues to put up big numbers, but the Thunder still struggle to win games without the reigning MVP in Durant.
DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles C)- Grabbed 22 rebounds and blocked four shots in the Clippers' loss to the Hawks on Tuesday night. Jordan also scored 15 points, and has been a force like usual on the boards for head coach Doc Rivers this season.
Eric Bledsoe (Phoenix PG/SG)- Posted a triple-double of 16 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in a 124-115 win over the Dallas Mavericks. Bledsoe recorded his second triple-double of the month, and has grabbed 29 rebounds in his last three games combined.
Play of the Night
Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard came up clutch again on Tuesday, as he hit the game-ying 3-pointer with three seconds left in regulation. Lillard continues to build his reputation as a crunch-time shooter, and is only getting better.
Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yzs5T2h_d-c
James Harden (Houston SG)- Tallied 44 points on 14-26 shooting in a 110-95 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Harden was on fire the entire game, and also filled up the stat sheet, recording seven assists and five steals.
Klay Thompson (Golden State SG)- Registered 25 points in a 128-108 win over the Sacramento Kings. Thompson lit up Sacramento's defense early and often Monday night, hitting 10 of 16 shot attempts. He commited only one turnover and has scored 20+ points in nine of the last 10 games for the Warriors.
Jimmy Butler (Chicago SG)- Posted a double-double of 27 points and 11 rebounds in a 129-120 win over the Toronto Raptors. Butler had another double-double, and is having a career year for the Bulls.
Boris Diaw (San Antonio PF)- Scored 23 points on 9 of 11 shooting in a 125-118 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Diaw came out of nowhere to have a great game, as he played big minutes in the second half.
Chris Paul (Los Angeles PG)- Recorded 25 points, nine assists and four rebounds in a loss to the Spurs on Monday night. Paul did everything he could to give the Clippers a chance to defeat the defending champion Spurs, but it was just not enough, as San Antonio shot over 63% from the field in the win. Paul has had back-to-back games of 25+ points and nine or more assists, and appears to be trying to score more on an inconsistent Clippers team.
Kyle Lowry (Toronto PG)- Posted a line of 34 points, six rebounds and three assists in a 129-120 loss to the Chicago Bulls. Lowry did everything he could to give Toronto a chance to win the game, but it wasn't enough as the Raptors fell just short. The Villanova product is nonetheless having an excellent season, and is living up to the 4yr/48 million dollar contract he signed in the offseason.
Play of the Night
Houston Rockets' guard James Harden erupted for 44 points in a win over the Trail Blazers, a rematch of last years' first round matchup in the Western Conference. Below is a video highlight package of his phenomenal night.
Anthony Davis (New Orleans PF/C)- Tallied 38 points and 12 rebounds in a 101-99 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Davis has dominated the Thunder in two matchups this season, scoring 63 points combined in the contests, and was able to rebound after a poor showing (7 pts, 6 rebs) against the Portland Trail Blazers.
DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento PF/C)- Scored 29 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in a 108-101 win versus the Los Angeles Lakers. Cousins has looked great in his two games since returning from illness. His combination of size, speed and athleticism gives defenders problems on a nightly basis. Cousins' play will dictate how much of a playoff push the Kings can make this year.
Mason Plumlee (Brooklyn C)- Recorded 21 points and 12 rebounds in a 110-105 win over the Detroit Pistons. Plumlee hit 9 of 10 shots from the field and has scored 20+ points and blocked two or more shots in three of his last four games.
Nikola Vucevic (Orlando C)- Posted a stat line of 19 points and 17 rebounds in a 96-88 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Vucevic played well in the loss, and is one of the most consistent double-double threats in the league this season.
Play of the Night
Miami Heat forward James Ennis got the crowd on its' feet with a big putback dunk midway in the fourth quarter. He came flying in from the far corner to slam home a Chris Anderson miss, giving the Heat an 86-74 lead with five minutes to play in the game. Ennis would finish the game with 16 points and eight rebounds in what was a 100-84 win over the Boston Celtics.
Eric Bledsoe (Phoenix PG/SG)- Posted a double-double of 27 points and 10 rebounds in a 99-90 win over the New York Knicks. Bledsoe scored over 20 points and grabbed 10 or more rebounds for the first time since his triple-double against the Clippers back on Dec. 8 (27 points, 16 ast, 11 reb). His production has been up and down this season, but the young combo-guard remains one of the most athletically gifted players in the league.
James Harden (Houston SG)- Recorded 18 points, 14 assists and six rebounds in a 104-97 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. Harden struggled with his shot (6-16 FG) and injured his hamstring, but was able to stay in the game and produce a complete stat line for the Rockets. The 25-year-old is having another terrific season, scoring almost 27 points a game to go alone with over six assists and rebounds.
Monta Ellis (Dallas SG)- Torched the Spurs for 38 points in a 99-93 victory on Saturday night. Ellis was unstoppable, scoring 11 points over the final four minutes to seal the win for Dallas. He shot 15 of 23 from the field, and has tallied 24 points or more in four of his last five games.
LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland PF/C)- Dropped 27 points and 12 rebounds in a 114-88 win over the New Orleans. Aldridge showed no ill effects of playing 52 minutes the night before (triple overtime win against spurs), hit 12 of his 20 shot attempts and recorded three steals. He has five double-doubles in a row and is averaging 22.6 points and 10.6 rebounds per game this season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee SG/SF)- Tallied 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists in a 106-102 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Antetokounmpo filled up the stat sheet in the loss, hitting 8 of 12 shot attempts against one of the best teams in the Western Conference. The "Greek Freak" is steadily improving under head coach Jason Kidd, and will soon be a nightly stat sheet stuffer for the Bucks.
Dallas Mavericks' guard Monta Ellis dominated the court Saturday, scoring 38 points against the San Antonio Spurs. He completely took over the fourth quarter, and propelled the Mavericks to a big win against their Texas rival.
Blake Griffin (Los Angeles PF)- Tallied 32 points and 12 rebounds in a 109-106 loss to the Denver Nuggets. Griffin has scored 30+ points and grabbed 12 or more rebounds in back-to-back games, and appears to be playing more consistently for head coach Doc Rivers.
Damian Lillard/LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland PG/PF)- Lillard scored a career-high 43 points, while Aldridge tallied 32 in a 129-119 triple overtime win over the San Antonio Spurs. The Portland duo played fantastic once again, as Lillard hit game-tying shots at the end of regulation and double overtime, while Aldridge grabbed a season-high 16 rebounds in one of
Trail Blazers' biggest wins of the season.
Lillard now leads the NBA in game-tying or go ahead field goals in the last 15 seconds of the 4th quarter/overtime over the last three seasons.
Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City PG)- Scored 31 points and dished out 10 assists in a 104-103 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Westbrook has been on a tear since his return from injury, and has scored 30 or more points in four of his last five games. If Durant continues to miss games, Westbrook could thrust himself into the MVP conversation quickly, as long as his consistent play holds up.
Jimmy Butler/Nikola Mirotic (Chicago SG/PF)- Butler registered 31 points and 10 rebounds, while Mirotic tallied a career-high 27 points (7-8 3pt FG) in a 103-97 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Mirotic played extra minutes with Taj Gibson out due to injury, and made the most of his playing time, while Butler had a second straight 30 point game. The young shooting guard continues to have stellar season, and is likely to be an all-star as long as his play holds up in the future.
Play of the Night
Toronto's James Johnson threw down a terrific slam over Detroit Pistons' center Andre Drummond on Friday night. The dunk got the entire Toronto bench on their feet, and the Raptors went on to win by a score of 110-100.
Jimmy Butler (Chicago SG)- Scored a career-high 35 points on 11-21 shooting in a 103-97 win over the New York Knicks. Butler was on fire against New York, and also added in seven assists in the victory. The Bulls' young shooting guard has played phenomenal this year, and is leading the race for "Most Improved Player" this season. Butler's defense and hustle had always been on display, but his offensive game is vastly improved and fits right in with Chicago's system.
Anthony Davis (New Orleans PF/C)- Dominated with 30 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks in a 99-90 win over the Houston Rockets. Davis brought his "A" game against Houston center Dwight Howard, as the young phenom hit 10 of 17 shots, and got to the line 12 times (10-12 FT). Davis is showing no ill effects from his minor chest injury, and is back to his usual dominating self.
Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City SF)- Tallied 30 points in a 114-109 loss against the Golden State Warriors. Although Durant didn't play in the second half due to a sprained right ankle, he was simply unguardable in the first half. He hit 10 of the 13 shots he took, and looks to be almost back at full strength on offense. Time will tell if this ankle injury will cause him to miss any games.
Stephen Curry (Golden State PG)- Scored 34 points, dished out nine assists and grabbed seven rebounds in the Warriors' win over the Thunder on Thursday night. Curry was firing on all cylinders against the Thunder, and continues to play at an MVP level in 2014. His passing, rebounding and defensive numbers have been consistent all year, and it is reflected in the Warriors' win total.
DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento PF/C)- Recorded a double-double of 27 points and 11 rebounds in a 108-107 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Cousins missed the potential game-winning shot at the buzzer, but played an otherwise outstanding game. Boogie appears to be back at full health, and will look to keep the Kings in playoff contention.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka rejected a dunk attempt from Warriors' forward Harrison Barnes Thursday night. Barnes drove down on the fast break looking for a highlight play, but was instead stopped by one of the league's best shot blockers.
The first blockbuster trade of the 2014-15 NBA season has happened. ESPN has reported that the Boston Celtics have traded point guard Rajon Rondo to the Dallas Mavericks for Jameer Nelson, Brandan Wright, Jae Crowder, a 2015 first round pick, and a future second round pick.
The man leading the league with 10.6 assists per game will now join a prolific starting lineup that consists of Monta Ellis, Chandler Parsons, Dirk Nowtizki and Tyson Chandler. Dallas is currently 19-8, good for sixth in a tightly-packed Western Conference.
Rondo will look to win another title, this time with the Dallas Mavericks. Source
Rondo is having another consistent season, averaging 8.3 points, 10.2 assists and 7.5 rebounds per game for Boston, who are currently 9-14 on the year (9th in the East). He had been rumored to be on the trading block for about the last years, but no major discussion had taken place until recently. The Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Houston Rockets were all rumored to be trying to acquire the 28-year-old floor general, but Dallas appeared to have taken the lead over the past week.
The move is a gamble for Dallas, as Rondo has the option to leave for another team in free agent during the upcoming offseason. However, the thinking around the league is that the Mavs would not have pulled the trigger if they did not have reassurances that Rondo would resign with the team.
His first game as a Maverick will be on Saturday, Dec. 20, when Dallas hosts the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in a rematch of last years' Western Conference first round matchup.
During Rondo's tenure in Boston he averaged 11 points, 8.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game in a little over eight seasons with the Celtics.
Andre Drummond (Detroit C)- Grabbed 24 rebounds, and added 19 points in a 117-106 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Drummond was an absolute force on the boards, out-rebounding Tyson Chandler 24-9. His 19 points marked the sixth straight game that the young center has scored in double-digits, and is a positive sign for the struggling Pistons.
Chandler Parsons (Dallas SF)- Dropped 32 points on 10-17 shooting in a win over the Detroit Pistons. Parsons grabbed seven rebounds and scored over 30 points for the second time in four games. He looks to be more comfortable in head coach Rick Carlisle's system, which means he will take more pressure off of Dirk Nowitzki and Monta Ellis on the offensive end. Parsons' quiet athleticism and speed allow him to guard multiple positions on the defensive end, and allows him to score in many ways on offense.
Gordon Hayward (Utah SG/SF)- Posted a stat line of 29 points, seven assists and six rebounds in a 105-87 win over the Miami Heat. Hayward and the Jazz dominated Miami from start to finish Wednesday, and appear to be much improved from last season. The Butler product is having a sold season so far, averaging almost 19 points and six rebounds per game for Utah.
Danny Green (San Antonio SG)- Scored 27 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked five shots in a 117-116 triple-overtime loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Green's production can be hit or miss, but when he's hitting his 3-pointers and grabbing rebounds, he makes a great impact on the Spurs.
Dwayne Wade (Miami SG)- Tallied 42 points in a 105-87 loss to the Utah Jazz. Wade scored almost half of Miami's points, and was his highest point total since 2010. The 32-year-old is going to have to continue to carry the scoring load with Josh McRoberts (Out for the year) and Chris Bosh dealing with big injuries.
Zach Randolph (Memphis PF)- Recorded a double-double of 21 points and 21 rebounds in Memphis' win over the Spurs on Wednesday night. Randolph played 48 minutes one night after a win against the Warriors, but showed no effects of fatigue in the win. He continues to be one of the more consistent double-double threats in the league.
Game of the Night The Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs battled in a grind-it-out contest featuring two top tier Western Conference teams. Grizzlies' center Marc Gasol banked in a 3-pointer off of one foot to send the game into overtime, which was followed up by Tim Duncan's fadeaway that forced the game into the third and final overtime. Memphis would finally prevail 117-116 in what was surely one of the best games of year.
John Wall (Washington PG)- Tallied 21 points and 17 assists in a 109-95 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Wall's 17 assists tied his career-high, which was set eight days ago (Dec. 8 against Boston), and is having by far the best season of his career. The Wizards are competing for a top seed in the East, and it would not be possible without the stellar play of their young point guard.
Anthony Davis (New Orleans PF/C)- Had a monster game in his return, scoring 31 points and grabbing nine rebounds in a 119-111 win over the Utah Jazz. Davis showed no signs of the chest injury that caused his one game absence, and had his way all night from anywhere on the floor. Pelicans' fans have nothing to worry about, as their young franchise star will continue to dominate opponents all season long.
Ryan Anderson (New Orleans PF)- Made 10 of his 15 shot attempts, and scored 28 points in a 119-111 win over the Utah Jazz. Anderson has scored over 25 points in two of his last three games, and appears to be taking some of the pressure off of teammate Anthony Davis.
Enes Kanter (Utah C)- Scored a career-high 29 points in a loss to the Pelicans. Kanter shot 12 of 22 from the field, and had an overall great game for the Jazz. He has scored over 20 points in two of his last three games, and is developing nicely for the Jazz this season.
Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City PG)- Filled up the stat sheet with 32 points, seven assists, six rebounds and four steals in a 104-92 win over the Sacramento Kings. Westbrook absolutely took over the final five minutes of the game with his defense and acrobatics on offense. He looks to be fully recovered from his broken hand and is playing at a top-tier level for the rising Thunder. It marked Westbrook's ninth straight game with 20 or more points.
Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook threw down a monster dunk in the final minutes agains the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday. He slipped past guard Ben McLemore, and dunked the ball with less than two seconds on the shot clock, propelling the Thunder to a 104-92 victory.
