The Philadelphia 76ers’ six-game winning streak was ended on Thursday against the Indiana Pacers, 134-122, with Pascal Siakam recording his first triple-double in almost a year.
Indiana ended a three-game losing streak behind the performance of Siakam, who finished with 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists; Myles Turner scored 20 points and nine boards; and Andrew Nembhard added 19 points.
Just three days after breaking the club record with 70 points, Joel Embiid scored 31 points. In 21 straight games, he has at least 30 points.
The Pacers never posed a real threat in this game, even without All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton. They started the game with six points in a row, soon grew their lead to 10, and eventually led by seventeen points, before settling for a 73-61 advantage at the half.
In the Celtics’ victory, Porzingis was hurt.
The Boston Celtics steamrolled the Miami Heat, winning 143–110. Kristaps Porzingis finished with 19 points before exiting with a sprained left ankle. Jayson Tatum scored 26 points.
The NBA-leading Celtics recorded their highest-ever point total versus Miami with 18 points from Jaylen Brown and 17 from Jrue Holiday. With a 33-point margin of victory, it was their most lopsided victory in 172 meetings between the two teams, including postseason action.
Boston led 47–31 in rebounds, made 22 3-pointers, and shot 63.8 percent from the field.
With 19 points apiece from Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, the Heat lost their fifth straight game, which was a season-high.
Assaulting Knicks defeat the Nuggets
The New York Knicks defeated the defending champion Nuggets 122-84, OG Anunoby scoring 26 points and Jalen Brunson contributing 21. It was the Nuggets’ worst loss of the season.
With 19 points from Quentin Grimes, 17 from Julius Randle, and 16 from Donte DiVincenzo, the Knicks won their fifth straight game to tie a season high and improved to 11-2 since acquiring Anunoby from Toronto.
With 31 points and 11 rebounds, Nikola Jokić led Denver, but the Nuggets’ winning run of three games came to an end. Their most recent setback came on December 29 when they lost at Oklahoma City 119-93.
Denver was 5 of 26 from 3-point range, compared to 15 of 38 for New York.