BBNBA: Maxey's 33 points, Randle's near triple-double headline Christmas Day slate

by:Zack Geoghegan•about 20 hours•

ZGeogheganKSR

Photos of Tyrese Maxey (left) and Julius Randle via Imagn Images

As is tradition in the NBA, basketball fans were treated to the usual five games on Christmas Day. And as has been the case for the last decade-plus, several former Kentucky players put together impressive performances. None were better than what Tyrese Maxey did to the Boston Celtics, though.

In one of the few games this season where the Philalpdehia 76ers “Big 3” were all on the floor together, it was Maxey who helped pull off the upset. He dropped a game-high 33 points (12-23 FG; 3-9 3PT) in addition to 12 assists, four rebounds, and three steals in 40 minutes. 13 of his points came in the fourth quarter as the Celtics made a handful of late comeback attempts. But Maxey and Philly always seemed to have an answer. His layup with roughly a minute to go made it a seven-point 76ers lead, effectively putting the game out of reach for Boston.

Alongside Maxey, Joel Embiid went for 27 points and nine rebounds in the win while Paul George added 12 points, four rebounds, and four assists. This group has only played a handful of games together this season. But make no mistake, this was Maxey’s team on Christmas Day. He even showcased some defensive chops down the stretch.

Over Philly’s last 11 games (8-3), Maxey is averaging 25.7 points, 6.5 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.1 steals in 37.9 minutes on shooting splits of 43.0/35.6/78.5. Another All-Star nod is coming his way, folks.

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Randle’s near triple-double leads to Minnesota win

Julius Randle is no stranger to playing on Christmas Day. This year was his sixth time playing on December 25. Now a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves, he was featured on Christmas once again, this time against his hometown team, the Dallas Mavericks.

Randle nearly dropped a triple-double in a 105-99 win for the Wolves, finishing with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. The 6-foot-9 forward shot 6-13 from the field and 3-5 from deep. He became the first player in franchise history to record at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists on Christmas. It helped Minnesota that Luka Doncic played just 16 minutes for Dallas due to injury. Not even 39 points from Kyrie Irving were enough for the Mavericks in this one without Doncic.

PJ Washington saw over 40 minutes of action for the Mavs, recording seven points, seven rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block on 3-8 shooting (1-4 3PT). Dallas trailed by as many as 28 points in the third quarter and nearly came all the way back for the last-minute win, but they could never get over the final hump. Rookie Rob Dillingham did not play for Minnesota; he’ll have to wait at least one more year before making his NBA Christmas Day debut.

More BBNBA Christmas Day notes

Karl-Anthony Towns went for 21 points, nine rebounds, and two assists as the New York Knicks just snuck past Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. Wemby was unreal on the big stage, dropping 42 points, 18 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks in spite of the 117-114 loss. He’s pretty damn good. 41 points from Mikal Bridges for New York was just enough to lock up the close win.
Jamal Murray was just okay in the Denver Nuggets’ 110-100 loss to the Phoenix Suns, which was without Devin Booker due to a groin injury. Murray, who missed Monday’s game because of a sprained ankle, went for 13 points, six rebounds, six assists, and four turnovers on 4-10 shooting in 39 minutes. Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal both scored 27 points for the Suns.
Anthony Davis saw only seven minutes of action (zero points, two rebounds) for the Los Angeles Lakers before going down with a sprained ankle early on. But LA didn’t need him as Austin Reaves and his 26-point triple-double beat the Golden State Warriors with a layup at the buzzer, 115-113.

12/25/24 statistics

Player	Score	PTS	FG (3PT)	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	+/-	MIN
Tyrese Maxey (PHI)	118-114 W @ BOS	33	12-23 (3-9)	4	12	3	1	3	7	40
Julius Randle (MIN)	105-99 W @ DAL	23	6-13 (3-5)	10	8	0	0	3	5	34
Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK)	117-114 W vs. SAS	21	9-16 (1-5)	9	2	0	0	1	-13	29
Jamal Murray (DEN)	110-100 L @ PHX	13	4-10 (1-2)	6	6	0	0	4	16	39
PJ Washington (DAL)	105-99 L vs. MIN	7	3-8 (1-4)	7	2	1	1	1	-3	40
Keldon Johnson (SAS)	117-114 L @ NYK	2	1-2	3	1	0	0	0	5	17
Anthony Davis (LAL)	115-113 W @ GSW	0	0-3	2	0	1	0	0	-7	7
Devin Booker (PHX)	110-100 W vs. DEN	DNP-Groin	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Jarred Vanderbilt (LAL)	115-113 W @ GSW	DNP-Foot	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Jacob Toppin (NYK)	117-114 W vs. SAS	DNP-CD	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Rob Dillingham (MIN)	105-99 W @ DAL	DNP-CD	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—