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Bucks, Lakers, Nets smash opponents in NBA Christmas Day games
Luisa Morales (Philstar.com) – December 26, 2020 – 2:42 pm
MANILA, Philippines – It was a blowout on Christmas Day in the NBA’s five-game Christmas showdown on December 25 (December 26 Manila time), with all games decided by double-digit deficits.
Last season’s Eastern Conference Kings, the Milwaukee Bucks, were the day’s biggest winners with a 39-point beating of former contenders Golden State Warriors, 138-99, to send the former champions to a 0 season start. -2.
Khris Middleton led the Bucks on offense with 31 points, five assists and four rebounds.
The reigning MVP finished with a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds in the dominant victory.
Meanwhile, Stephen Curry outscored the Warriors in the losing effort with 19 markers.
For their part, the Brooklyn Nets also edged the Boston Celtics, 123-95, for their second win of the season.
Superstar duo Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant imposed their will on the Celtics to finish with 37 points and 29 points, respectively, in the one-sided affair.
To accompany his 37 scores, Irving also had eight assists and six rebounds against his former team.
Jaylen Brown was the bright spot for the Celtics with 27 points and eight rebounds.
Defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, on the other hand, rebounded from their opening day loss to the Los Angeles Clippers after a lopsided 138-115 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
In a rematch of the second round of the playoffs last season, Anthony Davis and LeBron James got the best of Dallas’ Luka Doncic.
Davis scored a team-high 28 points for the Lakers, while James contributed a near triple-double of 22 points, 10 assists and seven assists.
Doncic was the Mavs scorer with Kristaps Porzingis unavailable for play with 27 points and seven assists.
Last season’s runners-up Miami Heat also claimed a victory in their Christmas clash against Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans.
Duncan Robinson hit a record seven 3-pointers in a Christmas Day game to lead the Heat with 23 scores in the victory.
Goran Dragic contributed 18 points, while Bam Adebayo scored 17.
Williamson led the Pelicans on offense with 32 points and 14 rebounds. Brandon Ingram contributed 28 markers.
In the last game of the day, the Clippers fended off the pesky Denver Nuggets, 121-108, to end the Christmas hostilities.
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard exited the game late after receiving an elbow to the face in the fourth quarter.
Leonard finished with 21 points in 30 minutes of play, just a pair behind Paul George’s 23-scoring contribution.
George also had nine assists and five rebounds.
Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray led the Nuggets in the fruitless comeback against the Clippers with 24 and 23 points, respectively.
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