๐ Friday Night Hoops ๐
Three games on tap for tonight:
Philadelphia 108, Charlotte 98 (Final)
Cleveland 124, Milwaukee 101 (Final)
Oklahoma City 104, Miami 97 (Final)
Fridayโs Top Storylines ๐๐
Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers took down the Milwaukee Bucks for their league-leading 24th victory, moving their overall record to 24-4 on the season. The Cavs got a boost with the season debut of Max Strus, who hit three of Clevelandโs 20 triples in their big 124-101 win. All five starters scored in double figures, giving the Cavs a stellar 15-1 record at home.
Oklahoma City secured their seventh straight win by taking down the Miami Heat 104-97. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played 38 minutes and recorded 25 points (10-25 FG, 3-9 3PT, 2-2 FT), seven rebounds, four assists and two steals, making it 17 straight games with 25+ points for SGA. Jalen Williams was the high man for the Thunder with 33 points, and Isaiah Hartenstein recorded his ninth double-double in just 12 games with 13 points and 18 rebounds.
Joel Embiid made his return for the Philadelphia 76ers and was dominant in their win over the Charlotte Hornets. Embiid dropped 34 points, five rebounds, nine assists, two steals and two blocks in only 32 minutes. The Sixers have won four of their last five and sit at 9-16 on the season.
โญ Top Performers โญ
Joel Embiid: 34 points (12-24 FG, 2-4 3PT, 8-9 FT), five rebounds, nine assists, two steals and two blocks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo: 33 points (13-22 FG, 1-1 3PT, 6-10 FT), 14 rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Jalen Williams: 33 points (12-25 FG, 4-7 3PT, 5-7 FT), six rebounds, four assists and a block.
Thunder take down Heat
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander picks up the hockey assist after Alex Caruso kicks it out to Jalen Williams for the clutch three. OKC holds off Miami for the 104-97 win, giving the Thunder their seventh consecutive win. Williams led all scorers with 33 points in almost 36 minutes of action.
Tyler Herro popped for 28 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals, while Bam Adebayo added a double-double with 17 points and ten rebounds. Oklahoma City forced 18 turnovers, creating 27 points for the Thunder offense.
Still thinking about this pass ๐ pic.twitter.com/PmIXjEj4SH
โ OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 21, 2024
What a shot by J-Dub โก
Jalen Williams somehow gets this shot to go off glass, giving him a cool 29 points (11-22 FG, 3-6 3PT) to go along with five rebounds, an assist and a block. The Thunder entered the fourth quarter up 81-70, and they are 21-1 when leading at the start of the final frame.
OKC continues to lead 94-86 with less than five minutes to go in the contest. Donโt miss the exciting finish, live on NBA League Pass.
What. A. Shot.@OGandE Power Play of the Game pic.twitter.com/8bZUQHXuhp
โ OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 21, 2024
Mitchell, Cavs roll in W ๐ท
Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers drained 20 threes on their way to a 124-101 win over the Milwaukee Bucks in Cleveland tonight. All five Cavsโ starters scored in double figures, with Spida leading the charge with 27 points (9-15 FG, 3-7 3PT, 6-8 FT), four rebounds, six assists and two steals in only 27 minutes.
Giannis played just over 30 minutes and finished with 33 points (13-22 FG, 1-1 3PT, 6-10 FT), 14 rebounds, three assists and three steals. Cleveland doubled the Bucks in terms of three-pointers made, giving them a +30 mark from long range.
The @cavs stack another W in The Land ๐ pic.twitter.com/Ob3kDu9MSD
โ NBA TV (@NBATV) December 21, 2024
Embiid fuels Sixers past Hornets
Joel Embiid led the way for Philly in a wire-to-wire victory for the Sixers over the visiting Charlotte Hornets. Tyrese Maxey added 23 points, four rebounds and six assists, and Kelly Oubre, Jr. chipped in 22 points (8-10 FG, 4-6 3PT). The win moves Philly to 9-16 on the season.
Vasilije Miciฤ was one of six Hornets to score in double figures, as he finished with a season-high 20 points, one rebound and four assists in the loss. Charlotte has now lost four straight and sit at 7-21 on the season.
Joel Embiid’s Fantastic Friday:
๐ 34 PTS (50.0 FG%)
๐ 9 AST
๐ 5 REB
๐ 2 STL, 2 BLK
๐ @sixers W pic.twitter.com/loCaCmcV1T
โ NBA (@NBA) December 21, 2024
Wallace turns on the jets โก
Cason Wallace blows by three Miami defenders on his way to the basket for the layup through contact. The Thunder and Heat are in a good one down in South Beach, with four ties and five lead changes.
Jalen Williams leads the way for OKC with 20 points, four rebounds and an assist, while Tyler Herro has 17 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and two steals for Miami. OKC holds a 68-63 advantage with 5:03 left in the third.
Moving fast ๐จ pic.twitter.com/R1BYEVwCiI
โ OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 21, 2024
Guerschon, oh my ๐ฑ
Yabusele goes on the fastbreak and explodes at the rim for the poster slam. Charlotte used a 12-4 run to start the fourth to bring it to within six for the Hornets, but Philly has responded down the stretch, now owning a 104-94 lead with 1:39 remaining in the contest.
See how this one concludes on NBA League Pass.
GUERSCHON YABUSELE HIT ‘EM WITH A POSTER ๐ฑ pic.twitter.com/370tnuchW8
โ NBA TV (@NBATV) December 21, 2024
Strus gets first bucket back ๐ฅน
Max Strus made his season debut for the Cavs tonight off the bench. Cleveland has been on fire from deep and Strus adds to that flurry with this straightaway triple. He has six points off two made threes in 15 minutes.
Giannis is doing everything he can to bring the Bucks back with 33 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and three steals, but Milwaukee still trails 95-74 with 1:06 left in the third quarter.
We’re so happy you’re back, 1๏ธโฃ. #LetEmKnow https://t.co/KCOdGG5pdc pic.twitter.com/fo8Hcxsina
โ Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) December 21, 2024
Cavs are locked in ๐
Mitchell and Mobley spark a late fury of dunks in the second quarter to cap a 40-point frame for Cleveland, taking a 69-51 lead into halftime.
The Cavs came out just as hot in the third quarter and are shooting 55.4% from the field and 50% from three (13-for-26) on the evening. Cleveland now up 81-56 with 7:38 left in the third.
MITCHELL TO MOBLEY CONNECTION ๐ฅ https://t.co/X1on6WY0Ud pic.twitter.com/vSGd5E8BZ4
โ NBA (@NBA) December 21, 2024
Showtime in Philly ๐คฉ
Tyrese Maxey throws it up to K.J. Martin for the thunderous jam on the fastbreak. Philly has been able to hang onto their lead with Joel Embiid cooking, as heโs up to 22 points and seven assists in only 24 minutes.
Sixers up 79-66 with 2:39 to go in the third quarter. Tune in live on NBA League Pass.
MAXEY. MARTIN. SHOWTIME. ๐คฉ pic.twitter.com/PVeDmNd6wo
โ NBA TV (@NBATV) December 21, 2024
Herro skies for the finish ๐
Tyler Herro beats Isaiah Hartenstein to the ball and basket on the breakaway. Herro is doing it all for Miami with seven points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals in just under ten minutes of play.
SGA leads the way for OKC after playing the entire first quarter, dropping ten points, three rebounds and an assist. The Thunder hold a 30-25 lead after the first. Catch the second quarter live on NBA League Pass.
HERRO UP HIGH โ๏ธ https://t.co/ELrRARHBYC pic.twitter.com/yBwHz0oMDx
โ NBA (@NBA) December 21, 2024
Mobley goes around Giannis ๐ค
Evan Mobley takes the nice feed from Sam Merrill underneath the basket and spins free for the slam. Mobley has six points and three rebounds, and Donovan Mitchell has 13 points, three boards and three assists.
Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the way for Milwaukee with 11 points, three rebounds and two steals. Cleveland just opened up itโs largest lead of the game after a Ty Jerome three forces a timeout from Doc Rivers. Cavs up 48-32 with 6:25 to go before halftime.
spin & SLAM. @evanmobley | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/aAQXH665JJ
โ Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) December 21, 2024
Martin steals and slams ๐ฅ
Cody Martin comes up with the steal and gets loose for the easy dunk, bringing the Hornets to within eight after being down by as many as 20. Tidjane Salaรผn provided a spark off the Charlotte bench with six points on two triples.
The Sixers responded to end the first half with a 58-46 lead. Maxey has a game-high 17 points and Oubre, Jr. adds 15 of his own.
11 pts for #11@cody_martin15 | @drpepper | ๐น @FDSN_Hornets pic.twitter.com/YxcrpdoHTY
โ Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) December 21, 2024
Mitchell finds Wade for ๐
Donovan Mitchell drives and kicks to Dean Wade in the corner for the three. Wade is making the most of his starting opportunities with Isaac Okoro expected to be sidelined for at least the next couple weeks with a shoulder injury.
The Cavs and Bucks are battling in Cleveland as the Cavs hold a 17-8 lead after Wade knocked down his second triple of the game. Tune in now on NBA TV and NBA League Pass!
3๏ธโฃ2๏ธโฃ is cookin’.@deanwade3232 | #LetEmKnow๐ท pic.twitter.com/j7qczQffnF
โ Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) December 21, 2024
Yabusele with a nice finish
Guerschon Yabusele stays with it through contact to get the soft touch off glass for two. Itโs been all Sixers so far in this one, with Philly leading 45-25 with 8:43 left to go before halftime.
Tyrese Maxey is the high man in the contest with 15 points and four made triples. Catch the end of the first half now on NBA League Pass.
Yabu through the contact. ๐ช pic.twitter.com/Y3CzIjEloq
โ Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) December 21, 2024
Embiid setting the tone ๐ช
Embiid and the Sixers start hot in Philly by jumping out to a 23-8 lead halfway through the first quarter. Joel has eight points, and Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre, Jr. each have six.
8โฃ early points already from @JoelEmbiid pic.twitter.com/TRusl7BdmF
โ Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) December 21, 2024
Bucksโ starters in Cleveland ๐ฆ
The Emirates NBA Cup Champions are in Cleveland to take on the Cavs, but theyโll be without Damian Lillard in this one. A.J. Green will step in for Lillard while Khris Middleton will be active off the bench.
Tonight’s starters. pic.twitter.com/lZVtERKmnD
โ Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 21, 2024
Cavsโ starters vs. Milwaukee โ๏ธ
Cleveland makes another change to the starting five with Isaac Okoro (shoulder) out, as Dean Wade takes over at the three for the Cavs. Max Strus has also been listed on the active roster for the first time this year, so thereโs a chance heโll make his season debut tonight.
Donโt miss this Eastern Conference showdown on NBA TV and NBA League Pass at 7:30 ET.
Starting 5๏ธโฃ. #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/itXzWt2bWO
โ Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) December 20, 2024
Hornetsโ starting ๐
Charlotte will be without LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller tonight when they visit the Sixers. Expect more usage for Miles Bridges, Josh Green and Vasilije Miciฤ.
First five on the floor
Presented by @bet365_us pic.twitter.com/iT28ZX5QjR
โ Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) December 20, 2024
Embiid back for Sixers ๐ค
Joel Embiid will start for the Philadelphia 76ers tonight after missing a game and a half with a sinus fracture that he suffered on Dec. 13 against the Indiana Pacers. The Sixers are going for their second straight win over the visiting Charlotte Hornets tonight.
Tip off is set for 7:00 ET on NBA League Pass.
tonightโs starting five:
๐ @Yg_Trece
๐ @kj__martin
๐ @JoelEmbiid
๐ @KELLYOUBREJR
๐ @TyreseMaxey @alscouniforms pic.twitter.com/wBTHgKcyll
โ Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) December 20, 2024
Thunder ready in Miami ๐
The Thunder arrive in style for their matchup with the Miami Heat, tipping off at 8:00 ET on NBA League Pass. OKC will try for their seventh win in a row, while Miami aims to bounce back from a tough overtime loss to the Detroit Pistons on Monday.
Steppin’ out in Miami ๐ด pic.twitter.com/dQweAULvSQ
โ OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 20, 2024
๐ Top Storylines๐
The Milwaukee Bucks are back in action after winning the Emirates NBA Cup Title on Tuesday, as they travel to Cleveland to square off in a divisional matchup with the league-leading Cavaliers. Giannis Antetokounmpo earned MVP honors for the tournament after leading his team on an unbeaten run that was capped by his 26 points, 19 rebounds, ten assists, two steals and three blocks in the title game.
The Cavs play host to the aforementioned Bucks going for their league-best 24th win. Cleveland is 14-1 at home, including a 116-114 win over Milwaukee on Nov. 4 where Darius Garland scored a season-high 39 points and dished out eight assists.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder take on the Heat in Miami after topping the Orlando Magic last night. The runners-up in the Emirates NBA Cup will go for their seventh consecutive win tonight, as their loss to the Bucks on Tuesday does not count toward their overall season record. SGA was more of himself yesterday against the Magic, finishing with 36 points (15-26 FG), four rebounds, six assists, four steals and two blocks.