BBNBA: Herro Heats Up, Booker Buries Lakers

twynstagram

Just as the league plummets into protocol paranoia, La Familia is finally getting healthy! Well, sort of. Anthony Davis’ latest injury notwithstanding, there is good news in the BBNBA world — starting with the best player on the best team. Let’s get to the action from last night.

Booker, Suns top Lakers in L.A.

After missing two full weeks with a hamstring, Devin Booker is back in the saddle for the NBA-leading Suns. He played 26 minutes against the Hornets in his return Sunday, scoring 16 points; but he pulled out the full arsenal against the Lakers on Tuesday, posting 24 points with a season-high six made three-pointers. The Suns pulled away late for a 108-90 win, improving their league-best record to 25-5.

A double-double for @DeandreAyton and 24 Points for @DevinBook as the @Suns win their 4th straight!

Ayton: 19 PTS (9/11 FGM), 11 REB
Booker: 24 PTS, 9 REB, 7 AST pic.twitter.com/fNSQ295caM
— NBA (@NBA) December 22, 2021

The win gave Phoenix their second-best start through 30 games in franchise history, but it was a big one for Booker, who was able to build plenty of confidence back after his injury. The six threes tied a regular season career benchmark for him, and his 11 attempts were his highest total this season as well. Booker is scoring at a pace slightly below recent seasons, but his 42% mark from outside this year is easily the best of his career.

Los Angeles has now lost their last three games since Davis was injured. Outside of LeBron James, who dropped 34 in this one, virtually their whole team has gone through Covid health protocols in the past week; Malik Monk, Avery Bradley and Austin Reaves were among those absent Tuesday.

While both the Lakers and Nets appear to be limping into their much-anticipated Christmas Day matchup, the stage is primed for yet another excellent game between the Suns and Warriors that evening. At this rate, it may be the only Christmas game this year.

Three-point barrage powers Heat past Pacers

The Miami Heat aren’t on this year’s holiday docket (they play the Magic on Dec. 26 instead), but they remain one of the most enjoyable teams to watch from a UK fan’s perspective. Even with Bam Adebayo still recovering from thumb surgery, Miami is playing excellent basketball. When all is said and done, they should be one of the top contenders in the East once again.

At the head of that charge is Tyler Herro, who’s averaging an astonishing 20.5 points per contest despite coming off the bench in 19 of 26 games. He dropped a cool 26 on 5-8 threes against the Pacers last night, leading Miami to a 125-96 win. That effortless stroke never gets old:

#6MOTYLER pic.twitter.com/b55dueTULC
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) December 22, 2021

As a team, the Heat erupted for a franchise-record-tying 22 made triples. Herro and Duncan Robinson combined for half of those. In a game with Adebayo, Jimmy Butler and Victor Oladipo all sidelined with various injuries, the performance was impressive.

Top 10

View All

Then again, it might say more about Indiana, which is allowing the second-worst opponent 3P% in the NBA this year. The good news is that rookie Isaiah Jackson, who missed nearly a month with a knee injury, earned his most minutes (12) and points (6) since returning. Keep working, rook!

Towns goes off again, Wolves falter in Dallas

Can anyone in the world stop Karl-Anthony Towns right now? Fresh off giving the business to the Mavericks on Sunday, KAT & co. traveled to Texas for a rematch on Tuesday — and he did it again, only better. The only problem? The Wolves lost this time, snapping a four-game winning streak.

It certainly wasn’t caused by a lack of effort on Towns’ part, as the big man exploded for 26 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists in the loss. It marked the twelfth straight game he’s finished above 20 points; in those 12 games, Minnesota is 6-6. In other words, it’s a typical Tuesday for KAT.

Despite his team’s middling results, the big man is building a strong case for his third All-Star selection. He was named Western Conference Player of the Week yesterday, and he’s calling himself the best big man shooter ever. Dirk Nowitzki disagrees, but hey, I love the confidence.

KAT has Dirk Nowitzki on notice 👀 pic.twitter.com/OnMeqlWpLR
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 22, 2021

Another key cog for Minnesota has been Jarred Vanderbilt, an emerging star on defense (ICYMI, read Alex Weber’s breakdown from Sunday). Unfortunately, he’s one of many players who entered Covid protocols this week. I won’t say it’s all Alex’s fault for jinxing him, but I won’t not say that.

Omicron Updates

IN protocols: Nerlens Noel, Immanuel Quickley and Kevin Knox.
OUT of Sacramento: De’Aaron Fox, in this trade proposal, to the shorthanded Knicks. If this happens, they could become the first team to trot out an all-Cat starting lineup. Can you imagine?
IN the league: Brandon Knight, on a hardship exemption with the Mavericks, per Woj. Let’s go!

Here are the full stats from last night’s slate: