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NBA five things: Christmas Day scoring outburst, Detroit’s dubious record, Ja looking for fourth straight

NBA Five things

Here are the NBA five things to know for Tuesday.

1. Offensive outburst on Christmas Day

This year’s Christmas Day NBA games produced some big numbers. Every team scored more than 113 points and players were hitting individual marks.

Luka Doncic led the way with a season-high 50 points in the Dallas Mavericks 128-114 win against the Phoenix Suns. That also got Doncic to 10,000 career points, the second-fastest player to get there behind Michael Jordan.

Seven players scored more than 30 points. With his 31 points against Philadelphia, the Miami Heat’s Jaime Jaquez became the first rookie to have at least 25 points and 10 rebounds on Christmas Day since Patrick Ewing in 1985.

Here are the top scorers for Monday’s games:

  1. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, 50
  2. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers, 40
  3. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks, 38
  4. Grayson Allen, Phoenix Suns, 32
  5. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, 32
  6. Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks 32
  7. Jaime Jaquez Jr., Miami Heat, 31

2. LeBron James, Kevin Durant add to Christmas Day totals

NBA: Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers
Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

LeBron James is the all-time scoring leader on Christmas Day and his 16 points for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Boston Celtics padded his lead.

James wasn’t efficient from the floor, going 5-of-14, but he deferred much of the scoring to Anthony Davis, who finished with 40 in the 126-115 loss to the Celtics.

Kevin Durant scored 16 points in the Phoenix Suns’ loss to the Mavericks and that moved him past Dwyane Wade to fourth on the all-time Christmas Day scoring list.

Like James, Durant didn’t have his best day, going 4-of-11 from the floor for 16 points.

3. Detroit Pistons could break one losing streak record today

NBA: Detroit Pistons at Brooklyn Nets
Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

If the Detroit Pistons lose to the Brooklyn Nets at home today at 7 p.m. ET, they will break the longest losing streak in a single season.

The Pistons have lost 26 straight games, tying them with the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers and 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers.

Detroit then would be closing in on the longest losing streak ever (this went over two seasons) at 28 games.

RankTeamGamesSeason(s)
1Philadelphia 76ers282014–15, 2015–16
2 (tie)Detroit Pistons262023-24
2 (tie)Cleveland Cavaliers262010–11
2 (tie)Philadelphia 76ers262013–14
4 (tie)Cleveland Cavaliers241981–82, 1982–83
6 (tie)Vancouver Grizzlies231995–96
6 (tie)Denver Nuggets231997–98
6 (tie)Charlotte Bobcats232011–12
9Detroit Pistons211979–80, 1980–81
10 (tie)Philadelphia 76ers201972–73
10 (tie)New York Knicks201984–85, 1985–86
10 (tie)Dallas Mavericks201993–94
10 (tie)Los Angeles Clippers201993–94, 1994–95
10 (tie)Houston Rockets202020–21

Here’s when Detroit could make history.

Detroit Pistons next three games

  • Today vs. Brooklyn Nets, 7 p.m. ET
  • Thursday at Boston Celtics, 6:30 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
  • Saturday vs. Toronto Raptors, 5 p.m. ET

4. Ja Morant hoping to keep winning streak going

NBA: Memphis Grizzlies at Atlanta Hawks
Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The Memphis Grizzlies will travel to New Orleans for the second time in a week to take on the Pelicans and look to win four in a row, or all four games since point guard Ja Morant returned from suspension.

Morant served a 25-game suspension for brandishing a handgun in a video, something he had done before.

In his absence, Memphis started the season 6-19 and now have won three straight. The Grizzlies had won 50 games in each of the past two seasons.

5. All-Star voting underway

For fans who didn’t take advantage of the 3-for-1 NBA All-Star voting, the second time to do that is next Monday, Jan. 1.

The first voting totals reveal will be Jan. 4 on TNT before the games tip off.

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