Wednesday night in the NBA generally means a lot of basketball. This week we had got a whopping 11 games, with over two-thirds of the league in action.
To start the night, two Central division foes met in Indianapolis, and the Pacers made surprisingly easy work of the Bucks. Then, the Celtics won their seventh in a row, as Kyrie Irving outdueled John Wall in overtime.
Later on, the red-hot Thunder lost to the Pelicans on national TV, while the suddenly reeling Trail Blazers dropped another game in Memphis against the Grizzlies.
Finally, to close the night, we saw a surprising potential Finals preview as the Raptors blew out the Warriors at Oracle Arena.
Here's everything you need to know about Wednesday's NBA action:
NBA scores for Wednesday, Dec. 12
*All times Eastern
- Brooklyn Nets 127, Philadelphia 76ers 124 (Box Score)
- Cleveland Cavaliers 113, New York Knicks 106 (Box Score)
- Indiana Pacers 113, Milwaukee Bucks 97 (Box Score)
- Charlotte Hornets 108, Detroit Pistons 107 (Box Score)
- Boston Celtics 130, Washington Wizards 125 -- OT (Box Score)
- New Orleans Pelicans 118, Oklahoma City Thunder 114 (Box Score)
- Memphis Grizzlies 92, Portland Trail Blazers 83 (Box Score)
- Dallas Mavericks 114, Atlanta Hawks 107 (Box Score)
- Utah Jazz 111, Miami Heat 84 (Box Score)
- Sacramento Kings 141, Minnesota Timberwolves 130 (Box Score)
- Toronto Raptors 113, Golden State Warriors 93 (Box Score)
NBA schedule for Thursday, Dec. 12
- Los Angeles Lakers at Houston Rockets, 8 p.m. (GameTracker) -- TV: TNT Streaming: fubo TV (try it free)
- Los Angeles Clippers at San Antonio Spurs, 8:30 p.m. (GameTracker) -- Watch on FuboTV with the NBA League Pass extension
- Chicago Bulls at Orlando Magic (in Mexico City), 9:30 p.m. (GameTracker) -- Watch on FuboTV with the NBA League Pass extension
- Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns, 10:30 p.m. (GameTracker) -- TV: TNT Streaming: fubo TV (try it free)
Irving outduels Wall in OT, Celtics win seventh straight
The Celtics were once again shorthanded when they took on the Wizards, but luckily they had Kyrie Irving back. That was a good thing, because he poured in 38 points, including two clutch 3-pointers late in overtime. They needed all of those points, because John Wall was nearly as good on the other side, finishing with 34 points and 13 assists. The win was number seven in a row for the Celtics.
Dinwiddie drops 39 as Nets beat Sixers despite Embiid's big night
The Nets surprised the Sixers, taking them down 127-124, and they did so thanks to a career night from Spencer Dinwiddie, who dropped 39 points off the bench on a highly efficient 11-of-18 shooting performance. He wasn't the only one who had a great night though, as Joel Embiid went for 33 points, 17 rebounds and six assists for the Sixers. On this night though, it wasn't enough.
.@SDinwiddie_25 pours in a career-high 39 PTS to lead the @BrooklynNets to victory in Philly!#WeGoHard 127#HereTheyCome 124
— NBA (@NBA) December 13, 2018
Allen Crabbe: 20 PTS
Joel Embiid: 33 PTS, 17 REB pic.twitter.com/kburnGeJBB
Walker has big night, Lamb hits game-winner for Pistons
Kemba Walker had yet another big night on Wednesday, as he continues his impressive campaign. This time out, he poured in 31 points and added eight rebounds and nine assists. But it was Jeremy Lamb who played hero, hitting a last-second jumper for the win.
Jeremy Lamb wins it late for the @hornets with the clutch jumper!#Hornets30 108#DetroitBasketball 107
— NBA (@NBA) December 13, 2018
Kemba Walker: 31 PTS, 9 AST, 8 REB
Blake Griffin: 26 PTS, 10 REB, 7 AST pic.twitter.com/iZCWNE8CAb
Simmons soars for alley-oop
Usually, Ben Simmons is the one throwing alley-oops, but this time he was the one throwing down the slam. And judging by this effort, perhaps he should be doing that more often.
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) December 13, 2018
Knox puts Delly on a poster
Matthew Dellavedova received a warm welcome home from the Cavaliers crowd. Knicks rookie Kevin Knox was not quite as kind.
KEVIN KNOX 💪 pic.twitter.com/DIGShXwS0C
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) December 13, 2018
Giannis throws down another crazy dunk
Giannis Antetokounmpo has added another crazy dunk to his ever-growing highlight reel. In the second quarter against the Pacers, he drove inside, avoided the defense and rocked the rim.
Them: Why do you call him The Greek Freak?
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 13, 2018
Us: pic.twitter.com/ah57UW5ZOM
Tatum crosses and slams
Jayson Tatum made easy work of the Wizards early in the second quarter. First, he used some nifty dribbling skills to leave Tomas Satoransky stranded, then soared in for a nice two-hand slam.
Tatum with the JAM 💪💪💪 pic.twitter.com/BskpEuZrQt
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 13, 2018
Schroder accidentally hits a 3
Dennis Schroder made the weirdest 3-pointer of his career against the Pelicans. He was trying to throw a lob up to Hamidou Diallo, but accidentally threw the ball into the basket instead.
"That went in!"
— NBA (@NBA) December 13, 2018
Schroder's lob from beyond the arc finds the bucket! 😮#ThunderUp 38#doitBIG 41
WATCH on ESPN pic.twitter.com/kSvEvnya4g
Brown says no
Bruce Brown had a bit of an embarrassing moment the other day when he tossed up an absolute brick from 3. This time, though, he's got a good highlight to his name. Check out this emphatic block.
This Bruce Brown block is a thing of beauty. #PistonsNow pic.twitter.com/yIHrARlDhg
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) December 13, 2018
Monk elevates for emphatic dunk
Malik Monk hasn't been having the most efficient season on the offensive end, but you don't have to worry about that when you're throwing down dunks like this.
.@AhmadMonk is out here hurting some rims! 😨#Hornets30 pic.twitter.com/feBzKJfsOo
— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 13, 2018
Irving returns, Horford and Hayward still out for Celtics
The Celtics were super shorthanded against the Pelicans the other night, missing all of Kyrie Irving, Al Horford and Gordon Hayward. Yet they took down the Pelicans to extend their winning streak to six games. Now, they'll try to keep things going against the unpredictable Wizards. Horford and Hayward will still be out, but Irving will return to the lineup.
Butler out for Sixers
Jimmy Butler made headlines earlier this week after his revelation that he only shot the ball one time during his infamous scrimmage with the Timberwolves. But that may be all we hear from him for a bit, as he's dealing with an injured groin. Listed as day-to-day, he will not play for the Sixers against the Nets on Wednesday.