Welcome to Around the Association! Five days per week (Monday through Thursday), this article will serve as a comprehensive recap of the previous night's NBA action, taking you through all of the biggest performances, notable box scores, injury updates and any other fantasy-relevant headlines from around the league.
It was an intense seven game slate last night -- here is all you need to know:
Nightly Notables
Celtics demolish 76ers in Philly
- While the 76ers may have been without James Harden for their contest against the Celtics, they still suffered their most embarrassing season of the loss as they fell 135-87. Philadelphia never had any control of the game and the red-hot Celtics cruised to their ninth straight win.
- Jayson Tatum was sensational in the victory, ending with 28 points (9-17 FG, 4-8 3Pt, 6-6 FT), 12 rebounds, six assists and two blocks over 29 minutes. Tatum is averaging 25.0 points, 8.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game over the Celtics' win streak.
- Jaylen Brown: 29 points (10-17 FG, 5-7 3Pt, 4-6 FT), eight rebounds and three assists over 29 minutes.
- Marcus Smart departed the contest with an ankle injury and did not return. He'll likely sit Wednesday night against Detroit.
- What an ugly game for Philly. Joel Embiid was the only player with any life on the offensive side, but most of his damage came from the charity stripe as he ended with 19 points (3-9 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 13-16 FT), nine rebounds, six assists and one block over 26 minutes. This marked Embiid's lowest scoring total since Dec. 15.
KAT in the klutch
- The Charlotte Hornets had solid control over their contest against the Timberwolves in Minnesota, leading by 11 points after three quarters. However, Karl-Anthony Towns led a ferocious comeback and the Timberwolves were able to send the game into overtime. Towns was unstoppable down the stretch and led Minnesota to a 126-120 win.
- The dynamic center ended with 39 points (12-26 FG, 4-11 3Pt, 11-13 FT), 15 rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal in 42 minutes. Towns currently ranks as the 7th overall nine-category fantasy player on a per-game basis this season.
- Jaden McDaniels did a little bit of everything in the win. The second-year pro ended with 18 points (7-14 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 3-4 FT), six rebounds, three assists, two blocks and four steals across 37 minutes. His four steals matched a season-best.
- Anthony Edwards exited the game with a tweaked ankle and did not return.
- Miles Bridges was great for the Hornets despite the losing effort, totaling 28 points (9-21 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 7-10 FT), 13 rebounds, seven assists and one block across 44 minutes. The athletic wing has scored 22 or more points in four out of his last five contests while averaging 21.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.4 steals per game over that span.
- I was impressed with Mason Plumlee's outing. The veteran center finished just one assist shy of a triple-double as he posted 14 points (4-6 FG, 6-8 FT), 17 rebounds and nine assists across 36 minutes. Plumlee has tossed four or more dimes in five out of his last seven appearances.
- LaMelo Ball: 22 points (8-22 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 3-5 FT), nine rebounds, six assists, one block and one steal across 41 minutes.
Giannis goes for 50
- After missing the team's last contest, a loss to Portland, Giannis Antetokounmpo made his emphatic return to the court to power the Bucks to a 128-119 win over Indiana. The two-time MVP finished with 50 points (17-21 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 14-18 FT), 14 rebounds and four assists across 36 minutes. This marked Antetokounmpo's first 50-point outing of the season and, of course, his first since Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
- Khris Middleton: 19 points (7-12 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 4-4 FT), two rebounds, eight assists and one steal over 33 minutes.
- The Pacers may have fell short in the contest, but Buddy Hield showed Indiana fans what the sharpshooting wing is capable of. The recently acquired Pacer ended with a season-best 36 points (14-20 FG, 8-12 3Pt), two rebounds, four assists and one steal over 37 minutes. This was Hield's first time scoring over 30-points this season, but it is quite encouraging to see the Oklahoma product find immediate success in his short time with Indiana.
- Tyrese Haliburton: 17 points (6-12 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 2-3 FT), four rebounds, eight assists and four steals over 35 minutes.
Suns pull away late
- The Clippers have proven that they are no easy matchup for any team as they consistently put up fights against the league's best. It was no different Tuesday as their contest against Phoenix was close throughout.
- Chris Paul was able to take over the game late and pushed the Suns to 103-96 win to mark their sixth victory in a row. The Point God ended with 17 points (7-14 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), five rebounds, 14 assists and one steal over 35 minutes. Paul has now recorded a double-double in nine out of his last 10 showings while averaging 17.2 points and 13.9 dimes per game over that span.
- Devin Booker was all over the place as he ended with 26 points (11-19 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 1-2 FT), three rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block over 36 minutes. His three steals tied a season-high.
- Although the chances of both Paul George (elbow) and Kawhi Leonard (knee) both being healthy by the end of the season are slim, the Clippers are legitimate contenders to win it all if George and Leonard come back.
- Marcus Morris ended with a team-high 23 points (10-17 FG, 3-6 3Pt), four rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block over 30 minutes. Morris has scored 20 or more points in three out of his last four games.
- Ivica Zubac: 12 points (5-9 FG, 2-3 FT), 13 rebounds, five assists and one block over 31 minutes.
Best and Worst of the Night
- Best of the Night: Giannis Antetokounmpo - 50 points (17-21 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 14-18 FT), 14 rebounds and four assists across 36 minutes.
- Worst of the Night: Devonte' Graham - Four points (1-6 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 1-1 FT), one rebound and three assists over 22 minutes.
- Rookie of the Night: Evan Mobley - 22 points (9-16 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 4-6 FT), 10 rebounds, four assists, four steals and one block over 35 minutes.
Quick Hitters
- The Hawks and the Cavaliers had quite an exciting matchup that ended with Atlanta pulling away to a 124-116 win. Trae Young was unstoppable as he went off for 41 points (13-22 FG, 4-7 3Pt, 11-13 FT), three rebounds, nine assists and one steal over 35 minutes.
- Danilo Gallinari: 25 points (8-17 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 6-6 FT), three rebounds, one assist and one steal over 32 minutes.
- Darius Garland was stellar despite the losing effort. The All-Star guard ended with 30 points (12-22 FG, 4-10 3Pt, 2-2 FT), two rebounds, eight assists, one steal and one block over 35 minutes.
- Evan Mobley: 22 points (9-16 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 4-6 FT), 10 rebounds, four assists, four steals and one block over 35 minutes.
- The Mavericks came into Miami and were able to walk away with a 107-99 win over the Heat. Luka Doncic dazzled once again as he put up 21 points (5-19 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 9-12 FT), 10 rebounds, six assists and one block over 38 minutes.
- Davis Bertans: 12 points (4-8 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 1-1 FT), three rebounds and one assist over 13 minutes.
- Miami's loss was certainly not Jimmy Butler's fault. The wing totaled 29 points (8-18 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 13-14 FT), 10 rebounds and three assists over 37 minutes.
- Bam Adebayo: 21 points (10-19 FG, 1-2 FT), 12 rebounds, three assists and two blocks over 33 minutes.
- Ja Morant was sidelined for the Grizzlies' contest in New Orleans, which enabled Tyus Jones to go off for a new career-best in scoring. The Duke product ended with 27 points (8-20 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 4-5 FT), seven rebounds, two assists and one steal over 32 minutes.
- Jaren Jackson: 23 points (8-20 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 4-5 FT), seven rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block over 25 minutes.
- CJ McCollum had yet another solid outing for the Pelicans as he ended with 30 points (12-25 FG, 0-5 3Pt, 6-7 FT), six rebounds, seven assists and two steals over 37 minutes. The newly acquired guard is averaging 26.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game over his first four showings with the Pelicans.
- Brandon Ingram had a solid game in the loss, totaling 18 points (8-18 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 1-1 FT), four rebounds and four assists over 33 minutes, but his overall numbers are a bit concerning since McCollum was acquired.
- Ingram is averaging just 16.3 points per game in the four contests since McCollum arrived.
A Look Ahead to Wednesday Night
- The Celtics go for 10 straight wins against Cade Cunningham and the Pistons
- The Nets and Knicks square off in the battle for New York
- The Lakers look to figure things out against the Jazz
- Jokic and the Nuggets travel West to take on the Warriors
