Bucks Streak Ends; Lots of Close Thrillers Around the Association! 12/16/19

It’s December 16th in the NBA and we have 7 games on the schedule tonight.

Congratulations to Lebron James of the LA Lakers for winning the Western Conference Player of the Week Award for games played from Dec. 9th to the 15th. Lebron averaged 28.3 points, 11 rebounds, and 9.7 assists with 1.3 steals and led the Lakers to a 3-0 record.

Congratulations to Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat for winning the Eastern Conference Player of the Week Award for games played from December 9th to the 15th. Adebayo averaged 20 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 8.7 assists with 1.3 steals and he led the Heat to a 2-1 record.

After injuring his ankle against the Heat on Saturday, Luka Doncic could be missing 2 weeks with the injury. This is very bad for the Mavs, who use Doncic a lot. The Mavericks will need to survive until then without their young star.

Washington Wizards vs Detroit Pistons

Prediction: Washington Wizards

The Wizards travel to Detroit to take on the Pistons. Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin will be out for the Pistons tonight.

The Wizards won a high scoring game, 133-119.

Bradley Beal had 35 points and 10 assists for the Wizards.

Derrick Rose had 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists and Markieff Morris had 22 points and 5 rebounds for Detroit.

The Wizards shot 56% from the field and 55% from 3. The Pistons had 24 points at the line, and the Wizards had 17.

The Wizards are now 8-17 on the year, and the Pistons have fallen to 11-16.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Toronto Raptors

Prediction: Toronto Raptors

The Cavs travel across the border to take on the Raptors.

The Raptors cruised to a 133-113 win.

Pascal Siakam had 33 points for Toronto.

Collin Sexton had 25 points and 5 rebounds for the Cavaliers.

The Raptors shot 58% from the field and 50% from 3. The two teams combined for 17 turnovers.

The Raptors have improved to 18-8 on the year, and the Cavs continue to struggle at 6-21.

Chicago Bulls vs Oklahoma City Thunder

Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder

The Bulls travel to Oklahoma to take on the Thunder.

The Bulls were up by 19 at halftime, but the Thunder still won 109-106, thanks to Chris Paul hitting 2 free throws to seal the game.

Chris Paul had 30 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists for the Thunder.

Zach Lavine had 39 points for Chicago.

The Thunder shot 52% from the field and 47% from 3. The Bulls outscored the Thunder by 24 in the paint, 58-34.

The Thunder are now 12-14 on the year, and the Bulls have fallen to 10-19.

Miami Heat vs Memphis Grizzlies

Prediction: Miami Heat

The red hot hear travel to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies managed to hold on and win, 118-111.

Jonas Valanciunas had 21 points and 10 rebounds for Memphis.

Jimmy Butler had 25 points and 8 assists for the Heat.

The Grizzlies shot 49% from the field and the Heat shot 46% from 3. The Grizzlies had 50 points in the paint, and the Heat had 36.

The Grizzlies are now 10-17 on the year, and the Heat are now 19-8 on the year.

San Antonio Spurs vs Houston Rockets

Prediction: Houston Rockets

The Spurs travel to Houston to battle to Rockets.

The Rockets won a close game 109-107, thanks to James Harden who hit two free throws with 16.2 seconds left to seal the game.

Russell Westbrook had 31 points and 10 rebounds, and James Harden had 28 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists for the Rockets.

LaMarcus Aldridge had 19 points and 13 rebounds for San Antonio.

The Spurs shot 42% from the field and 36% from 3. The Rockets outscored the Spurs by 22 in the paint, 56-34.

The Rockets are now 18-9 on the year, and the Spurs have fallen to 10-16.

Dallas Mavericks vs Milwaukee Bucks

Prediction: Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks travel to Milwaukee without Luka Doncic to face the MVP led Bucks.

The Mavericks pulled off the upset, winning 120-114.

Kristaps Porzingis had 26 points and 12 rebounds and Seth Curry had 26 points and 5 rebounds for Dallas.

Giannis had 48 points and 14 rebounds for the Bucks.

The Mavericks shot 47% from the field and 39% from 3. The Bucks had 60 points in the paint, and the Mavericks had 36.

The Mavericks are now 18-8 on the year, and the Bucks have lost their 18 game win streak and they are 24-4.

Portland Trail Blazers vs Phoenix Suns

Prediction: Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers travel to Phoenix to take on the Suns. The Suns will be without Devin Booker tonight.

The Blazers won a very close game, 111-110, thanks to Damian Lillard getting the and one with 26 seconds left.

CJ McCollum had 30 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists, Damian Lillard had 27 points and 5 assists, and Carmelo Anthony had 23 points and 8 rebounds for the Blazers.

Kelly Oubre Jr had 24 points and Ricky Rubio had a triple double for Phoenix.

The Blazers shot 48% from the field and 41% from 3. Both teams had 20 turnovers.

The Blazers are now 11-16 on the year, and the Suns have fallen to 11-15.

Predictions: 6-1

I hope you have enjoyed this edition of the NBA in December, please leave a comment on how your team is doing and which team looks like they might not make the NBA playoffs.