BBNBA: Julius Randle's 33 points lead Knicks to 3rd straight win

The New York Knicks continue to stay afloat in the Eastern Conference. After taking down the Charlotte Hornets 121-102 on Friday night, the Knicks extended its winning streak to three games and move back to .500 on the season at 13-13. New York can primarily thank Julius Randle for the last two victories.

In 35 minutes against the Hornets, Randle dropped 33 points just two days after popping off for a 34-point, 17-rebound double-double in a 24-point win over the Atlanta Hawks. The former Kentucky Wildcat tacked on seven rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block with two turnovers while shooting 9-21 from the floor and 4-10 from beyond the arc. He also went 11-14 from the charity stripe.

The Knicks had no issue taking care of the Hornets, and looked impressive in its other two wins against the Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers on this mini-streak, particularly on the defensive end. New York received 11 points, two rebounds, and four assists off the bench from third-year guard Immanuel Quickley.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the court, PJ Washington added 10 points and five rebounds on 5-12 shooting for the Hornets. Nick Richards contributed two points and two rebounds in 15 minutes off the bench. Charlotte is now 7-19 on the season and riding a four-game losing streak.

Anthony Davis’ 31 not enough to beat 76ers in OT

Tyrese Maxey is still “a ways away” from returning from a foot injury that has kept him off the floor since mid-November, but the Philadelphia 76ers didn’t need him against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. Joel Embiid exploded for 38 points and 12 rebounds while De’Anthony Melton posted a career-high 33 points off the bench in a 133-122 overtime win for the Sixers. Philly blew a nine-point lead in the final 30 seconds of regulation but recovered to secure the victory in the extra period.

For the losing Lakers, Anthony Davis did all he could to sneak out of Philadelphia with the win. The former ‘Cat went was special once again, finishing with 31 points (21 of them in the fourth quarter) to go along with 12 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks on 9-13 shooting in 36 minutes. Davis was coming off an illness that forced him out of the Lakers’ previous game but quickly bounced back with another 30-point outing, his seventh of the season.

Other BBNBA notes

• Kevin Knox dropped 13 points and four rebounds on a 4-5 shooting clip, including a perfect 3-3 mark from distance, in the Detroit Pistons’ 114-103 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Knox’s teammates, Hamidou Diallo and Nerlens Noel, both received DNP-Coaches Decisions. This was the fourth double-digit scoring outing of the season for Knox and his first since Nov. 23.
• Despite De’Aaron Fox being sidelined with a foot injury he’s been dealing with for about a month, the Sacramento Kings rallied late to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 106-95 on the road. The Kings rattled off a 19-0 run to end the game, moving to 14-10 on the season. Malik Monk added nine points on 4-8 shooting (with five turnovers) while Trey Lyles contributed five points and two rebounds for Sacramento.
• After starting the first 24 games of the season for the Utah Jazz, Jarred Vanderbilt has come off the bench in his last two outings. On Friday night, he went for 12 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 26 minutes, although the Jazz fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves 118-108.
• Lastly, Phoenix Suns All-Star Devin Booker shot just 5-17 from the field and 2-8 from beyond the arc in a 128-117 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. After a hot start, the Suns have lost four of its last five contests but still sit at 16-10 on the year. Over the last three outings, Booker is averaging just 14.0 points on 31.9 percent overall shooting.

12/9/12 statistics

Player	Score	PTS	FG (3PT)	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	+/-	MIN
Julius Randle (NYK)	121-102 W @ CHA	33	9-21 (4-10)	7	2	1	1	2	17	35
Anthony Davis (LAL)	122-133 (OT) L @ PHI	31	9-13 (0-1)	12	0	2	2	3	16	36
Devin Booker (PHX)	117-128 L @ NOP	14	5-17 (2-8)	2	7	1	0	3	-18	36
Kevin Knox (DET)	103-114 L @ MEM	13	4-5 (3-3)	4	0	0	0	0	-2	16
Jarred Vanderbilt (UTA)	108-118 L vs. MIN	12	4-8 (0-2)	10	2	2	0	0	-10	26
Immanuel Quickley (NYK)	121-102 W @ CHA	11	4-11 (3-7)	2	4	0	0	2	11	27
PJ Washington (CHA)	102-121 L vs. NYK	10	5-12 (0-3)	5	1	0	1	0	-15	22
Malik Monk (SAC)	106-95 W @ CLE	9	4-8 (1-5)	1	0	0	0	5	-7	21
Trey Lyles (SAC)	106-95 W @ CLE	5	2-5 (1-3)	2	1	0	0	1	-3	17
Nick Richards (CHA)	102-121 L vs. NYK	2	0-2	2	0	1	1	2	-13	15
Wenyen Gabriel (LAL)	122-133 (OT) L @ PHI	DNP-Shoulder	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Isaiah Jackson (IND)	121-111 W vs. WAS	DNP-Knee	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
De’Aaron Fox (SAC)	106-95 W @ CLE	DNP-Foot	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Hamidou Diallo (DET)	103-114 L @ MEM	DNP-CD	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Nerlens Noel (DET)	103-114 L @ MEM	DNP-CD	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Tyrese Maxey (PHI)	133-122 (OT) W vs. LAL	DNP-Calf	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN)	118-108 W @ UTA	DNP-Calf	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Tonight in the NBA

5:00: Spurs (Johnson) @ Heat (Adebayo, Herro)
7:00: Nets @ Pacers (Jackson)
7:00: Clippers (Boston Jr., Wall) @ Wizards
7:30: Thunder (Gilgeous-Alexander) @ Cavaliers
8:00: Mavericks @ Bulls
8:30 (ABC): Celtics @ Warriors
9:00: Jazz (Vanderbilt) @ Nuggets (Murray)
10:00: Timberwolves (Towns: out) @ Trail Blazers (Sharpe)