On December 31, Beijing time, today the NBA has a total of 3 games, Durant returned, clashed with Embiid, and the Nets lost to Philadelphia. The Bucks completed a five-game winning streak, and the Wizards made a comeback to Bill to give the Cavaliers a 2-game losing streak.
Durant returned to conflict
Nets 102-110 Philadelphia, Durant returned from isolation, shooting 13-of-24 from the field, scoring 33 points, 7 boards and 4 assists. 30+ for the 14th time this season, tied with James for first place in the league.
Harden shot 9-of-20 and 14-of-18 from the free throw line, scoring 33 points, 14 boards and 10 assists. It was his 64th career triple-double and sixth of the season, finishing second on the triple-doubles list, behind Westbrook. Harden scored at least 30 points and 10 assists in three consecutive games, the first in Nets history.
Aldridge returned with 12 points, eight rebounds and two blocks, mills on 2-of-10 shooting for five points and three rebounds.
For Philadelphia, Embiid played 32 minutes, shooting 11-of-23 from the field, 3-of-5 from three-point range, and 9-of-12 from the free throw line, contributing 34 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals and 1 block. Embiid has scored 30+ in seven consecutive away games, the first of its kind in the past two seasons. He is also the third man in team history, rivaling Chamberlain and Iverson.
Seth Curry had 17 points and six assists on 6-of-13 shooting, and Maxi had 10-of-18 shooting and 5-of-8 three-point range for 25 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
In the final moments of the game, Durant and Embiid had a fierce verbal altercation, and after the two quarreled, both suffered technical fouls. At the final whistle, Embiid waved goodbye to Durant and shouted to go home. Durant responded with both hands and thumbs up, saying after the game that they respected each other and didn't say anything out of bounds.
The Bucks have won 5 straight
The Bucks 136-118 Magic, with five straight wins. Alphabet played 31 minutes, shooting 13-of-22 from the field, 1-of-4 from three-point range, 6-of-6 from the free throw line, contributing 33 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks.
Holliday 25 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks, Middleton 22 points, 6 assists and 3 rebounds, Cousins 15 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks, Matthews 11 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.
For the Magic, Wagner Jr. had 20 points and 3 rebounds, and Wagner Jr. had 19 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Carter Jr. had 14 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists, and the game was a clipper, roaring and celebrating.
Bill's comeback
The Wizards 110-93 Cavaliers, Beal returned to play 33 minutes and 44 seconds, shooting 13-of-23 from the field, 2-of-5 from three-point range, 1-of-1 from the free throw line, and a team-high 29 points plus six rebounds and 10 assists, plus-minus +16. Kuzma played 33 minutes and 49 seconds, shooting 11-of-17, 1-of-4 from three-point range, 2-of-5 from the free throw line, and had 25 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block.
For the Cavaliers, Love started with 29 minutes and 26 seconds, 7 of 15 shooting, 4 of 10 three-pointers, 6 of 8 free throws, a team-high 24 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal. Morbury played 32 minutes, shooting 10-of-20 from the field, 0-of-2 from three-point range, 1-of-2 from the free throw line, and had 21 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks. After a baseline extreme pull-down basket in the game, Kuzma was conquered and high-fived.