Friday, December 27 featured just four NBA games, but each had something spectacular to offer. There were buzzer-beaters, clashes between star point guards, an odd record, multiple overtime affairs, and what can only be described as the perfect shooting performance.
Here’s everything that you need to know about last night’s action.
1. Despite making just two total field goals, James Harden finished with 27 points as the Houston Rockets defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 100-92. Harden was 2-of-9 from the field and 1-of-5 from beyond the arc, but went 22-of-25 at the free throw line against a Grizzlies team that committed 30 personal fouls.
Harden is the first player to score at least 25 points on two or fewer field goals made since Charles Barkley on December 20, 1995. More significantly, he’s the first player in NBA history to score at least 27 points on two or fewer field goals made.
Harden also matched Sleepy Floyd’s franchise record of 22 free throws made.
2. In one of the most undeniably entertaining games of the year, the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 127-125 in double-overtime. Jeff Teague finished with a career-high 34 points, 14 assists and three steals. He drained the buzzer-beating game-winner to out-duel Kyrie Irving, who finished with 40 points, nine assists and four steals.
Atlanta improves to 16-13 overall and 5-9 on the road. Cleveland falls to 10-18, 8-6 at home and 2-12 on the road.
3. With Teague’s game-winner, the Hawks became the only team in the NBA to win two separate games on buzzer-beaters. Al Horford, who left last night’s game with a shoulder injury, hit the other on December 13 to give Atlanta a 101-99 overtime win over the Washington Wizards.
4. Danny Green scored 22 points on perfect shooting marks of 7-of-7 from the field, 5-of-5 from 3-point range and 3-of-3 from the free throw line as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Dallas Mavericks 116-107. Tim Duncan added 21 points and 13 rebounds, giving him 10 in December after registering just one total in October and November.
San Antonio is a league-best 13-3 on the road.
5. The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 116-112 in overtime. LaMarcus Aldridge posted 32 points, 10 rebounds and four assists for Portland, while positional matchup Blake Griffin tallied 35 points, 11 boards and two blocks for the Clippers.
As for the point guard battle, Chris Paul demolished Damian Lillard. CP3 finished with 34 points, 16 assists and six steals on 16-of-29 shooting from the field, while Lillard tallied 14 points and four assists on 4-of-12 shooting.
Paul’s performance marked the third time since 2000 that a player has registered at least 30 points, 14 assists and six steals in the same game. Both of those other two instances were courtesy of CP3. That Hall of Fame resume is looking nice.
Bonus Fact: Portland owns the best record in the NBA at 24-5.
Bonus Fact: Paul has seven career games with at least 30 points, 15 assists and five steals. That’s tied for the most in NBA history with future Hall of Fame guard Allen Iverson.