Around the League: Sunday's top highlights, performers and storylines

NBA.com India Staff

•
Around the League: Sunday's top highlights, performers and storylines image

Sunday's schedule featured seven games with the league's best teams and talent on display.

If you missed any of the NBA action, don't sweat it because we've got you covered with all of the can't-miss highlights, top performers and biggest storylines!

Top storylines

Embiid wins this round

In a back-and-forth rivalry between Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond, this round went to Embiid by a long shot. Embiid tortured the Detroit Pistons defense for 39 points shooting an efficient 10-for-18 from the field. Embiid also got to the free throw line 23 times, knocking down 18 of those attempts in the Philadelphia 76ers' 109-99 win.

Drummond was held to only eight points and nine rebounds but Blake Griffin was fantastic scoring 38 points to go with 13 boards and six assists.

After the game, Embiid took to Instagram to make it known that he 'owns a lot of real estate' in Drummond's head. Drummond and the Pistons won their first game against the Sixers this season 133-132 in an overtime thriller and the teams still have two more matchups to go. They'll face off in back-to-back games early in December that you will not want to miss.

Oladipo called game

With eight seconds remaining in the game trailing by two, Victor Oladipo decided to take matters into his own hands:


He knocked down the game-winning three to beat the Boston Celtics 102-101, ending their four game winning streak. Kyrie Irving knocked down a pair of clutch threes down the stretch but Oladipo had an answer each time. When Irving missed the layup that would have sealed the game, Oladipo made him pay. He finished with 24 points in the game to advance the Pacers to 7-3 on the season.

Marcus Morris scored 23 points off the bench for Boston as the Celtics fall to 6-3.

Denver wins... again

The Denver Nuggets have been one of the league's hottest teams to start the season and that did not change in this one. Trailing by five going into the final quarter, the Nuggets took over on both ends of the floor - they held the Jazz to just 15 points in the game's final frame and used a 20-1 run to determine the outcome. Their 35 points in the fourth secured a 103-88 victory to improve to 5-0 on their home floor.

Gary Harris was Denver's highest scorer with 20 points and Jamal Murray chipped in 19 but the most impressive stat line came from their crafty big man Nikola Jokic. Jokic had a double-double with 10 rebounds and 16 assists, the most assists any player has dished out in a game so far this season.

The Nuggets advance to 8-1 and have now won four consecutive games.

Lakers hang on in Portland

The Los Angeles Lakers led by as much as 20 points in the fourth quarter when the Portland Trail Blazers went on a 20-6 run. They cut it as close as six points, but LeBron James wasn't going to let the Lakers blow this one. In a six point game with just over two minutes remaining he asserted himself to the rim for this vicious dunk.


C.J. McCollum did everything he could to will the Blazers back into this one. He scored 10 points in the final two minutes but for every bucket he had, James and Josh Hart had an answer. LeBron finished with 28 points and Rajon Rondo added 17 points, 10 boards and six assists. McCollum and Damian Lillard both scored 30 in the loss. The Lakers are now 4-5 on the season and the Blazers fall to 6-3.

Best performers

Joel Embiid - 39 points (10-18 FG, 18-23 FT), 17 rebounds, two blocks, one assist

Blake Griffin - 38 points (12-21 FG, 12-16 FT), 13 rebounds, six assists, two blocks

James Harden - 25 points (7-17 FG, 5-12 3PT), seven assists, four steals, one rebound

LeBron James - 28 points (9-20 FG, 9-11 FT), seven assists, five rebounds, two blocks

C.J. McCollum - 30 points (13-24 FG), five rebounds, four assists

Trae Young - 24 points (9-19 FG), 15 assists, six rebounds, one block

Can't-miss highlights

Get up young fella!


TP with the lob to a cutting Malik Monk for a nice alley-oop.


James Harden with a smooth behind the back pass through traffic.


A couple smart Rockets defenders to get out of the way of this Chandler Hutchison dunk.


Trae Young with a 94-foot DIME to Kevin Huerter!


DeRozan THROWS it down!


We see you still getting up there Vince!


Three Nuggets defenders vs. Donovan Mitchell - Winner: Donovan Mitchell


Ladies and gentlemen, your NBA blocks leader.


Brandon Ingram puts Jusuf Nurkic on a poster!


Box scores

Pistons at 76ers | Celtics at Pacers | Cavaliers at Hornets

Heat at Hawks | Rockets at Bulls | Pelicans at Spurs

Jazz at Nuggets | Lakers at Trail Blazers

NBA.com India Staff