LeBron James continues to add to his legacy by setting a new record, while Stephen Curry experienced an unusual night on the court. On a day filled with dramatic moments in the NBA, teams faced significant challenges and individual players made headlines for various reasons.
LeBron James has now surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the player with the most regular-season minutes logged in NBA history. Although he had previously already claimed this record when including playoff minutes, this achievement further enhances his storied career. James reflected positively on the milestone, stating, “It’s a pretty cool honor.”
In stark contrast, Stephen Curry had a night to forget, going 0 for 7 during a game against Memphis, marking the first time he played over 11 minutes without making a field goal. The Golden State Warriors suffered a painful defeat, falling 144-93, which led Curry to describe the experience as “embarrassing.”
The Warriors found themselves facing an uphill battle, trailing by as much as 57 points in the fourth quarter before ultimately losing by 51—the worst deficit and final margin recorded in the NBA thus far this season. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr noted the humbling nature of such a loss.
While Memphis achieved a monumental victory, it’s worth acknowledging that the game marked a historic win. It was one of only two games this season where a team won by 45 points or more, following another Memphis victory against Portland earlier in November.
On another court, the Detroit Pistons managed to narrow the gap against Utah after starting the game with a significant disadvantage. The Pistons fell behind 48-19 within the first quarter, registering the worst first-quarter deficit of the season, yet they fought back to only lose by seven points, 126-119. An altercation occurred during the match, resulting in ejections for Utah’s Jordan Clarkson and Detroit’s Ron Holland after a brief standoff.
In Minnesota, Timberwolves fans showed their appreciation for Karl-Anthony Towns during his return to the court following a trade to the New York Knicks. Towns put on an impressive performance, scoring 32 points and compiling 20 rebounds, leading the Knicks to a 133-107 victory over his former team.
Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued his scoring streak, netting 35 points against an Orlando team plagued with injuries, leading to a 105-99 win. This marked his 16th straight game scoring 25 points or more, the longest current streak in the league.
Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics faced disciplinary issues during their game against the Chicago Bulls. Stars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum each received technical fouls in the fourth quarter during a loss to the Bulls, and head coach Joe Mazzulla also received a technical for arguing with referees post-game. Mazzulla humorously stated he offered a “Merry Christmas” sentiment to the officials, despite evidence suggesting otherwise.
In Houston, veteran referee Scott Foster had to leave a game due to an undisclosed injury, marking an unfortunate turn during a matchup between the Rockets and the Pelicans. Foster, a longstanding NBA official, was in the middle of his nearly 2,100 games.
Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs had an outstanding showing, becoming one of only 23 players in NBA history to take 15 three-point attempts and 12 free throws in a single game. His impressive stats included scoring 42 points along with six rebounds, five assists, four blocks, and two steals, helping the Spurs win against Atlanta 133-126 in overtime.
Additionally, Thursday marked the commencement of voting for the revamped All-Star Game, which will take place as a mini-tournament this season. The innovative format has received mixed reactions, with Kevin Durant expressing strong opinions about it, though he later softened his stance, noting the importance of his role with the league.
Overall, it was a day full of ups and downs, records, and notable performances in the NBA, underscoring the unpredictable nature of the sport.
