BBNBA: Trey Lyles scores 28, Devin Booker wins 20 in a row

Absolutely packed day of NBA hoops yesterday, especially from our former Kentucky guys. Trey Lyles scored a career-high, Devin Booker made some history and Tyler Herro led the Heat to a close win. Let’s chat.

Devin Booker wins 20th straight game

As of Christmas Eve, the Phoenix Suns have the best record in the NBA at 26-5. In their last 20 games with Devin Booker on the floor, they’re 20-0. Now, they lost a few games when Booker went down with a minor injury earlier this month, but with Book, they’ve been unbeatable.

20+ game win streaks in NBA history:

33 — Lakers 1971-72
28 — Warriors 2014-16
27 — Heat 2012-13
22 — Rockers 2007-08
20 — Capitols 1947-49
20 — Bucks 1970-71
20 — Devin Booker 2021-22 pic.twitter.com/v35WmTyDx6
— StatMuse (@statmuse) December 24, 2021

Yesterday, he narrowly out-dueled Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to help lead Phoenix to a double-digit win over the Thunder. Booker converted over 50% of his shots to finish with 30 points along with seven rebounds and seven assists.

Meanwhile, SGA shot an even 50% from the floor on his way to 29 points, five rebounds and seven assists. But he received a little less help from his teammates on the road as Oklahoma City fell to the NBA-best Suns 113-101.

Check out this Cat-on-Cat battle.

Career day for Trey Lyles

Led by the dynamic trio of Trey Lyles, Saddiq Bey and Cory Joseph, the Pistons nearly toppled the Heat on the road to win their sixth game of the season. They failed, but Trey Lyles managed a career night in the exciting loss. He scored 28 points on just 13 field goal attempts, made three triples and went a perfect 11-11 at the free-throw line. His best game as a pro? Seems so.

Tyler Herro literally one-upped Lyles, though. The Bucket topped Lyles’ 28 with 29 of his own, including a stepback three in double-coverage to give the Heat the final lead with just over a minute to go.

Miami has played with half a roster for most of the last month-and-a-half and Tyler himself has expressed a desire to start, but he’s still coming off the bench behind Gabe Vincent and Max Strus. Either way, Herro is in the midst of his best professional season by far.

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Check out his highlights from the win, including the dagger three:

Nice "Encore" for Tyler vs. Detroit.
31 points in the first matchup and 29 tonight. pic.twitter.com/aepNDQKpK5
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) December 24, 2021

Kemba goes for 44, Randle scores 23 in loss

Nerlens Noel, Immanuel Quickley and Kevin Knox are stuck in COVID protocol. Otherwise, the New York Knicks are actually one of the healthier teams in the NBA. Last night Cardiac Kemba returned to form with 44 points and Julius Randle added 23 of his own at home vs. a Wizards team that’s missing Bradley Beal.

Yet the Knicks still lost. Even with their stars playing and performing extremely well. Just a very disappointing result given the circumstances. They were at home, the much healthier team and in need of a few wins to get back into the playoff picture. Instead, they’re wasting prime opportunity to beat up on less-healthy opponents while their stars are recording huge numbers.

Gotta get it right in Madison Square Garden.

Other NBA Notes

Boogie starts and plays well again. That’s right, Bucks starting center DeMarcus Cousins is getting it done for the reigning champs. He’s scored 12, 18 and now 22 points in his last three games to help the Bucks stay in the top half of the East playoff race.

Brandon Knight is back? Yes, he is. Brandon Knight’s last appearance in an NBA game was pre-COVID in 2020. But the Mavericks enlisted his help against Milwaukee last night. He only scored a bucket but it’s nice to see the heart and soul of the 2011 ‘Cats back on a pro court.

Maxey solid in bad 76ers loss. Like New York, Philadelphia was healthy and at home against a depleted Eastern Conference foe. Atlanta was missing its starting backcourt, including Trae Young. But Philly virtually had its main rotation available and still fell at home to the Hawks. Tyrese Maxey played well, though, scoring 17 off the bench.