The new year is upon us and the NBA season rolls on with a busy nine-game slate.
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Here are some storylines at the end of the nine games:
- Denver begins a four-game road trip with a win in Indiana behind a career performance from rookie Michael Porter Jr.
- The Heat emerge victorious against the Raptors in a defensive battle in Miami
- Utah wins a close one in Chicago, to register their ninth win in the last 10.
- Behind a big 4th Q from Luka, the Mavericks handle the Nets in Dallas.
- The Kings snapped an 8-game skid by overcoming a 20-point deficit at home against the Grizzlies.
Charlotte Hornets 109, Cleveland Cavaliers 106
Terry Rozier's 30 points and a go-ahead triple by Devonte' Graham help the Hornets snap their six-game losing streak.
Devonte' Graham with the game on the line. CLUTCH ❄️ pic.twitter.com/UoSTPcyGYD
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 3, 2020
Denver Nuggets 124, Indiana Pacers 116
In his second careers start, Michael Porter Jr. goes for for a super-efficient career tally to fuel the Nuggets to a win in Indiana. Nikola Jokic (7r) and Jamal Murray (7a/5r) contributed with 22 points apiece.
Michael Porter Jr. put up a career-high 25 PTS and went 11/12 from the field in the Nuggets W 🔥#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/4xNgyHjX9X
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 3, 2020
Miami Heat 84, Toronto Raptors 76
The Heat remain dominant at home, improving to 16-1 for the season.
In a rough defensive minded game, the Raptors shoot 6-of-42 from the beyond the arc and stumble to their fourth loss in the last six games.
Statement. Made. #HEATWin pic.twitter.com/TlE9yGDLjQ
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 3, 2020
Utah Jazz 102, Chicago Bulls 98
Five players score in double figures as the Jazz win this close one in Chicago to record their ninth win in the last 10 games.
Bojan Bogdanovic top scores with 19 points while Rudy Gobert finishes with a double-double of 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks.
📹| The best buckets from another clutch win ⤵️#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/31zjLLnIbA
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 3, 2020
Minnesota Timberwolves 99, Golden State Warriors 84
After losing 11 straight, the Timberwolves record their third win in the last five games with this victory.
Shahbazz Napier scored a game-high 20 (7-9 FG's) as the shorthanded Timberwolves (without Karl-Anthony Towns, Jeff Teague and Andrew Wiggins) beat a depleted Warriors squad in Minnesota.
Had some fun tonight.
— Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) January 3, 2020
RoCo - 20 PTS / 10 REB / 53.3 FG%
Bazz - 20 PTS / 7 AST / 77.8 FG%
Naz - 13 PTS / 6 REB / 45.5 FG% pic.twitter.com/8kHjYT43NE
Dallas Mavericks 123, Brooklyn Nets 111
Luka Doncic finishes with 31 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists while Seth Curry contributes 25 as the Mavericks win after two consecutive losses.
Luka Doncic leads the way in the @dallasmavs win with 31 PTS (15 in 4th), 13 REB, 7 AST. #MFFL pic.twitter.com/Gi7krxNpMo
— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2020
Oklahoma City Thunder 109, San Antonio Spurs 103
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores a team-high 25 as the Thunder win in San Antonio, their eighth victory in the last nine games.
💪Crunch time buckets.
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 3, 2020
Vote @shaiglalex for #NBAAllStar
⭐️ https://t.co/zRCS018VwE pic.twitter.com/uGNeqTZr0d
Sacramento Kings 128, Memphis Grizzlies 123
The Kings snap their 8-game losing streak behind a game-winning performance by De'Aaron Fox.
🦊 27 PTS
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) January 3, 2020
🦊 9 ASTS
🦊 5 STLS
🦊 4 REBS
🦊 2 BLKS
🦊 W@swipathefox did it all against Memphis ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/LAE7Ly7Crf
LA Clippers 126, Detroit Pistons 112
With a regulation win over the Detroit Pistons, the LA Clippers win consecutive games for the first since mid-December.
Starting 2020 in the win column.
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 3, 2020
📼 @honey Highlights from the W. pic.twitter.com/kWUF8ot56V
