It was a day of blowouts around the NBA on Monday. All seven games ended with the winning team leading by double-digits. And that is why we’ve highlighted three matchups that had some bit of importance:
Clippers Clip Lakers as Home Dominance Continues
Norm Powell led three players with at least 21 points for the Los Angeles Clippers (24-17) as they continued their home dominance with a 116-102 dismantling of the Los Angeles Lakers (22-18) at Intuit Dome.
Powell finished with 23 markers and had 3 steals, while James Harden scattered 21 points and 12 dimes. Ivica Zubac dominated inside with 21 points and 19 boards for the streaking Clippers.
LeBron James’s 25 points and 11 assists paced the Lakers, who had their two-game winning run snapped abruptly by the red-hot Clippers. Anthony Davis added 16 points and 10 boards.
Up next:
Clippers vs. Chicago Bulls on January 21
Lakers vs. Washington Wizards on January 22
Thunder Rout Nets, Clinch All-Star Coaching Gig for Mark Daigneault
Mark Daigneault will be coaching in the NBA All-Star Game as his Oklahoma City Thunder routed the Brooklyn Nets, 127-101, at Paycom Center.
All the Thunder (35-7) needed was another one of their patented strong starts, this time a 39-19 first quarter, to walk all over the Nets (14-29). Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who missed OKC’s last game due to a sprained wrist, looked good in his return with 27 points, 10 assists, and 3 steals. Isaiah Joe added 24 points on 8-for-10 shooting from downtown.
Cam Johnson and Tyrese Martin paced the Nets with 15 apiece.
Up next:
Thunder vs. Utah Jazz on January 23
Nets vs. New York Knicks on January 22
Nuggets Stymie Magic Behind Another Joker Triple-Double
Nikola Jokic recorded yet another triple-double—20 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists—to lead the Denver Nuggets (26-16) to a 113-110 rout of the Orlando Magic (23-21).
Jokic added 3 steals, and 3 blocks to his 17th triple-double of the season. Christian Braun added 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. chipped in 19 and 15, respectively.
Wendell Carter Jr. top-scored for the suddenly reeling Magic with 16 points on top of 14 rebounds. The reeling Magic got only 10 points from star forward Paolo Banchero, who was shackled to 4-for-17 shooting from the field.
Up next:
Nuggets vs. Philadelphia 76ers on January 22
Magic vs. Toronto Raptors on January 22
