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NHL Morning Skate – Dec. 31, 2022

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NHL Morning Skate – Dec. 31, 2022

* Connor McDavid did what he does best – collect points in bunches. While he assisted on two of Edmonton’s three goals in the opening 3:55, the Oilers captain finished with five points and four assists to eclipse the 70-point mark in 2022-23.

* The Hurricanes benefited from another shutout performance to push their win streak to a franchise-record 10 games while also extending their point streak to 16 contests.

* As the calendar year approaches its conclusion, many star players have milestones on their mind before the clock strikes midnight on an #NHLStats-filled 2022.
 

McDAVID DAZZLES ON ESPN+ WITH FIVE-POINT PERFORMANCE
In a contest broadcast nationally across the United States on ESPN+, Connor McDavid (1-4—5) collected his first two of five points on Edmonton’s three goals in the opening 3:55 of play and extended his point streak to 17 games – but he wasn’t done there. The Oilers captain (32-40—72 in 37 GP) then factored on three more to reach the 40-assist and 70-point mark in the process.



* The 2022-23 campaign is the second season McDavid has collected 40 assists in 37 games or fewer following 2020-21 (35 GP). He is one of only two active players to accomplish the feat multiple times joining Sidney Crosby (34 GP in 2006-07 & 35 GP in 2012-13).

* Friday marked the 25-year-old’s eighth career game with at least five points – tied with Evgeni Malkin for the most among active players. In fact, only seven players in NHL history have recorded more such performances before their 26th birthday: Wayne Gretzky (71 GP), Mario Lemieux (29 GP), Dale Hawerchuk (11 GP), Bryan Trottier (11 GP), Steve Yzerman (10 GP), Paul Coffey (10 GP) and Jari Kurri (9 GP).

* With Leon Draisaitl out of the lineup, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (0-4—4) also played a crucial part in Edmonton’s seven-goal outburst. McDavid has been involved in each of the past two instances where Oilers teammates each had four-plus assists in the same game (also Jan. 31, 2021; Draisaitl: 0-6—6 & McDavid: 1-4—5). The last instance before Jan. 31, 2021 was March 14, 1986 (Coffey: 2-6—8 & Gretzky: 1-4—5).

HURRICANES SURGE TO 10TH STRAIGHT WIN AND FRANCHISE RECORD

Brent Burns (0-2—2) was one of three players with multiple points and Antti Raanta (19 saves) posted his second consecutive shutout as the Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes (24-6-6, 54 points) established a franchise record with 10 straight wins.

* Carolina, which has trailed for only 6:08 and posted four shutouts through its current 10-game win streak, joined New Jersey (13 GP from Oct. 25 – Nov. 21) as the second team to register a double-digit win streak in 2022-23. All but two campaigns in the past decade have featured multiple teams register a win streak of 10-plus games (2020-21: VGK, 10 GP & 2014-15: none).



* Carolina has also collected at least one point in each of its past 16 games dating to Nov. 25 (14-0-2) – also the longest such run in franchise history. The Hurricanes held a 10-6-4 (24 points) record prior to their point streak and sat eight points back of the first-place Devils (16-4-0, 32 points) in the Metropolitan Division, but now hold a six-point advantage on New Jersey (23-11-2, 48 points).

HUGHES, FORSBERG SHINE IN LATEST EDITION OF #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
On the night Filip Forsberg (1-2—3) played a pivotal part in his 600th career game for the Predators (15-14-5, 35 points), Jack Hughes (2-0—2) reached the 20-goal mark for the second time in as many seasons to lift the Devils (23-11-2, 48 points) to victory. Tap here for the latest edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates, which includes everything you need to know from the action Friday.

* While the Predators scored at least six goals in a road game for the fifth time in 2022 (excluding shootout-deciding goals), Forsberg boosted his career totals to 231-267—498 in 600 games – the most goals and points by any player through their first 600 contests with the Predators franchise. Martin Erat holds the next highest point total (133-252—385).
 
* After finishing with 26 goals in 49 games during 2021-22, 21-year-old Hughes scored No. 20 in his 36th contest of 2022-23. Only six players in Devils franchise history have reached the mark in fewer games: Paul Gardner (23 GP in 1977-78), Claude Lemieux (27 GP in 1991-92), John MacLean (29 GP in 1990-91 & 31 GP in 1988-89), Lanny McDonald (32 GP in 1979-80), Sylvain Turgeon (33 GP in 1989-90) and Zach Parise (35 GP in 2008-09).



NHL PODCASTS: WEEKLY ROUNDUP

* NHL @ The Rink (Dec. 28):Winter Classic, Bruins’ needs, Super 16 & Alex Ovechkin
* NHL Fantasy (Dec. 29): Fantasy waiver wire pickups, mailbag for Week 12


QUICK CLICKS

* National Anthem at 2023 Winter Classic to be performed in ASL

* ‘Ideal’ rink, weather expected for 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic

* Linus Ullmark of Bruins chosen as Unmasked Goalie of the Year

* Fans of Bruins, Penguins enjoy atmosphere at 2023 Winter Classic Plaza

* Alex Ovechkin‘s son Sergei scores goal at Capitals practice

BRUINS READY FOR FINAL TUNE UP AHEAD OF WINTER CLASSIC

While the Penguins (19-11-6, 44 points) contested their final game before the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic on Friday, the Bruins (28-4-3, 59 points) will do the same Saturday when they eye an NHL-first against the Sabres (17-14-2, 36 points). Boston, with 65 regular-season wins since Jan. 1, 2022, can become the first team in League history to record 66 such victories in a single calendar year.

* Click here for the 2022 Year in Review for #NHLStats, a detailed breakdown of all the biggest storylines that caught our attention this year. Please note, all stats are updated as of games through Dec. 18 and will be updated again on Dec. 31.
 



* The Bruins return to TD Garden after a three-game road trip – an arena which has witnessed the team collect at least one point in their past 20 outings (18-0-2) as well as David Pastrnak finding the score sheet in each of his past seven home contests (6-4—10 in 7 GP since Dec. 3). Pastrnak already has 56 regular-season goals in 2022 and should he score again, he would tie Phil Esposito (57 in 1972) for the sixth most in a calendar year by a Boston skater.



U.S.-BORN GOAL-GETTERS ALSO LOOK TO END 2022 ON A HIGH NOTE
A trio of high-scoring Americans are set to contest their final game of 2022 when Auston Matthews, Jason Robertson and Tage Thompson take to the ice.

* Matthews (57), Robertson (55) and Thompson (52) have each scored more than 50 regular-season goals in 2022, marking the first calendar year in NHL history with three U.S.-born players to have each reached the mark. Prior to 2022, the only years to have featured multiple U.S.-born players with 50-plus tallies were 1997 (John LeClair: 56 & Keith Tkachuk: 55), 1996 (Tkachuk: 55 & LeClair: 54) and 1992 (Pat LaFontaine: 61 & Kevin Stevens: 54).

* The Maple Leafs forward has found the score sheet in all but two games during the month of December (5-8—13 in 11 GP) and sits three points shy of 500 in his career (276-221—497 in 443 GP). Matthews can require the fourth-fewest games by a U.S.-born skater to reach the milestone behind Jeremy Roenick (430 GP),Stevens (431 GP) and Craig Janney (435 GP).

* Robertson (13) also shares the lead in game-winning goals in 2022 with Sidney Crosby and Leon Draisaitl. Should he score another Saturday, he would become the fourth player in NHL history with at least 14 in a calendar year.
 



* Thompson has collected 5-4—9 in his past five games and has registered 98 regular-season points in 2022 to go along with his 52 goals through that span (52-46—98 in 79 GP). He can become the sixth different Sabres player to record 100-plus points in a single calendar year and first since Alexander Mogilny in 1993 (59-50—109 in 75 GP).


OVECHKIN EYES MORE HISTORY AS CALENDAR YEAR COMES TO AN END

Alex Ovechkin has collected a plethora of milestones this year and most recently his 802nd career goal just before the Holiday Break on Dec. 23. While he has amassed 49-33—82 in 2022 (82 GP), Ovechkin returns to Capital One Arena with the hopes of closing out another calendar year with another stretch of 50 regular-season goals.

* Ovechkin has netted at least 50 regular-season goals in a calendar year seven times in his career to date: 2018 (54), 2015 (57), 2013 (62), 2009 (57), 2008 (60), 2007 (51) and 2006 (54). Should he do so in 2022, the NHL’s second-highest goal scorer would tie Mike Bossy (8: 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 & 1986) for the most in League history.

NBA Preview: Miami Heat (18-18) at Utah Jazz (19-19)

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NBA Preview: Miami Heat (18-18) at Utah Jazz (19-19)

Two teams looking to end the year on a good note after taking disappointing losses Friday night will square off on Saturday when the Utah Jazz face the Miami Heat in Salt Lake City.

The New Year’s Eve contest gives the teams a quick opportunity for a positive outcome after each side squandered a late lead on the road on Friday. Miami is coming off a 124-119 loss to the Denver Nuggets, while Utah clawed back to take a lead over the Sacramento Kings, only to stumble in the final seconds of a 126-125 setback.

The Jazz, who didn’t take their first lead until early in the fourth quarter, were up 124-121 with under a minute to go after Lauri Markkanen hit a 3-pointer with 1:03 left and another bucket with 36.1 seconds to go.

However, Markkanen’s 36-point effort went for naught. Sacramento’s Kevin Huerter drained a game-winning 3-pointer with nine seconds to go after the Jazz couldn’t corral a defensive rebound on two misses by the Kings. Huerter scored 15 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, a period in which the teams exchanged the lead 12 times.

Markkanen’s 16-foot shot at the buzzer was off, resulting in a third straight loss for Utah. The Jazz saw their record slip to 19-19, marking the first time they’ve been at .500 all season after a sizzling start.

While the Jazz rallied from a 10-point, third-quarter deficit to move into position for a possible win, Miami squandered a second-half advantage in Denver.

The Heat, who were outscored 39-29 in the fourth quarter, held a 117-115 lead with two minutes to go before the Nuggets finished with a 9-2 surge.

The result got the Heat off to a sour start to their five-game Western Conference trip and spoiled a historic night for Duncan Robinson. He hit three 3-pointers to surpass Tim Hardaway (806) and become Miami’s all-time leader in treys made with 807.

Tyler Herro led Miami with 26 points and 10 rebounds, while Bam Adebayo scored 22 points.

Coincidentally, the Heat also saw their record drop to .500 at 18-18 as they lost for just the third time in nine games.

The Saturday game will be the first of two games between Utah and Miami this season, with the Heat having won the past three meetings. The Jazz will visit Miami on March 13.

NBA Preview: Philadelphia Sixers (20-14) at Oklahoma City Thunder (15-20)

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NBA Preview: Philadelphia Sixers (20-14) at Oklahoma City Thunder (15-20)

Philadelphia guard Tyrese Maxey will take some time to return to form after missing more than a month of action, 76ers coach Doc Rivers said.

After a nine-point outing in his return on Friday, Maxey may or may not be on the court Saturday as the 76ers visit the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Philadelphia lost its second game in a row on Friday, falling 127-116 to the host New Orleans Pelicans. Maxey came off the bench to hit 4 of 10 shots while adding one rebound and one assist in 19 minutes.

Before going down with a fractured foot, Maxey was averaging 22.9 points, 4.4 assists and 3.5 rebounds — all career highs for the third-year player.

Though Rivers said before Friday’s game that it was unlikely Maxey would play both games of the back-to-back set, both Rivers and Maxey left open the possibility afterward.

Maxey’s return figured to take some of the scoring pressure off star Joel Embiid, who enters Saturday as the NBA’s leading scorer at 33.8 points per game.

Over the past four games, Embiid is averaging 41 points per game and shooting 57.5 percent from the floor. He had 37 points, eight rebounds and five assists at New Orleans.

The Saturday game will be the first of two meetings between the teams this season. The 76ers have won five consecutive matchups with the Thunder.

Oklahoma City is coming off a 121-113 road loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, a game in which it was outscored 66-56 in the paint.

The Thunder are third in the NBA in paint scoring, averaging 55.8 points per game.

The recent improvement in paint defense helped Oklahoma City win four of its last six games.

Next the coach wants to see consistency.

Philadelphia is sixth in paint defense, holding opponents to 47.3 points per game.

Saturday’s game is the finale of a four-game road trip for the 76ers, who need a win to salvage a split before returning to play five of their next six at home.

For Oklahoma City, the matchup is the first in a two-game homestand.

The game will mark the 15th consecutive time the Thunder have played at home on New Year’s Eve since their move to Oklahoma City.

NBA Preview: Detroit Pistons (9-29) at Minnesota Timberwolves (16-20)

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NBA Preview: Detroit Pistons (9-29) at Minnesota Timberwolves (16-20)

One of the NBA’s most perplexing teams this season has been the Minnesota Timberwolves, who carry a five-game losing streak into their Saturday matchup against the visiting Detroit Pistons.

Expected to contend in the Western Conference following the acquisition of center Rudy Gobert, the inconsistent Wolves are 16-20 heading into the final game of the calendar year.

Gobert sat out Minnesota’s 123-114 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday due to a non-COVID illness and is listed as day-to-day. With center Karl-Anthony Towns out indefinitely because of a right calf strain, the Wolves struggled to slow down Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The two-time MVP had 43 points and 20 rebounds against Minnesota, which led by 11 at the half but was outscored 39-22 in the third quarter.

The Wolves will aim for a more complete effort against Detroit, which has lost seven of its past eight games. The Pistons faded at the end of a 132-118 defeat against the host Chicago Bulls on Friday. The Bulls pulled away after leading by two points with 7 1/2 minutes left.

Ivey had 22 points and six assists to lead Detroit, which played without guard Killian Hayes and forward Hamidou Diallo. Both were suspended for their involvement in an altercation against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.

Hayes will continue his three-game suspension on Saturday, while Diallo will return after serving his one-game punishment.

Detroit coach Dwane Casey is asking for an improved defensive effort after the Pistons allowed Chicago to shoot 57.6 percent from the field on Friday.

Pistons forward Saddiq Bey has averaged 22 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists in three career games against Minnesota, which is beginning a four-game homestand.

The Wolves are monitoring the status of guard Anthony Edwards, who had 30 points and 10 rebounds on Friday. Edwards gave the team a scare when he landed hard on his hip late in the fourth quarter and remained on the floor for several minutes before remaining in the game.

Forward Luka Garza, who had a season-high 16 points in the loss to Milwaukee, said the Wolves aren’t far from meeting their lofty expectations.

Minnesota has won the past five meetings against Detroit, which is shooting 44.3 percent (51 of 115) from 3-point range over its past three games.

NBA Preview: New Orleans Pelicans (23-12) at Memphis Grizzlies (21-13)

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NBA Preview: New Orleans Pelicans (23-12) at Memphis Grizzlies (21-13)

The New Orleans Pelicans and the Memphis Grizzlies, two of the top three teams in the Western Conference, are led by the top two picks in the 2019 NBA Draft.

The Pelicans’ Zion Williamson and the Grizzlies’ Ja Morant will face each other in their final game of 2022 on Saturday night in Memphis, but they figure to be competing with each other throughout the 2023 portion of the season, too.

New Orleans beat the visiting Philadelphia 76ers 127-116 on Friday night to win its fifth game in a row and stay tied with the Denver Nuggets atop the West.

Williamson, the top pick in 2019, had 36 points after scoring a career-high 43 in a win against the Minnesota Timberwolves two nights earlier. His relentlessness in driving to the basket against Philadelphia enabled him to hit 13 of 19 field-goal attempts and to make frequent trips to the foul line, where he went 10-for-16.

Williamson is the Pelicans’ leading scorer on the season, but he was only their No. 2 scorer against the 76ers. CJ McCollum poured in a season-high 42 points and set a franchise record by making a career-high 11 3-pointers.

Speaking of career highs, Morant, the No. 2 pick in the 2019 draft, had a career-best 17 assists and scored 19 points as the Grizzlies beat the host Toronto Raptors 119-106 on Thursday night.

The teamwork proved contagious as Memphis finished with a season-high 37 assists.

Memphis’ Desmond Bane added 16 points before fouling out, and Steven Adams had 14 points and 17 rebounds. The Grizzlies outscored Toronto 70-50 in the paint.

Memphis had lost four of its previous five games and had made fewer than 10 3-pointers in each of the past four games before Thursday. The Grizzlies sank 13 3-pointers against the Raptors as seven players made at least one.

Memphis and New Orleans have split their first two meetings this season, with the home team winning each time. The Pelicans prevailed 113-102 on Nov. 15, and the Grizzlies won 132-111 on Nov. 25.

The second meeting featured the most points allowed by the Pelicans in a regulation game this season and matched their largest margin of defeat. It also marked the Grizzlies’ first win in the five meetings in which Williamson and Morant have both played.

The teams conclude the season series April 5 in New Orleans.

NBA Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers (22-14) at Chicago Bulls (16-19)

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NBA Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers (22-14) at Chicago Bulls (16-19)

The Cleveland Cavaliers, coming off a trio of rough defensive showings, hope to snap their three-game losing streak on Saturday night when they visit the Chicago Bulls.

Cleveland is in the midst of its second-longest skid of the season and faces the possibility of Darius Garland sitting out due to a sprained right thumb. Garland was injured Thursday in the fourth quarter of the Cavaliers’ 135-126 loss at Indiana when he collided with Pacers forwards Oshae Brissett and Jalen Smith.

The Cavaliers won eight of their first nine games this season, when they were allowing 103.9 points per contest. Then came a five-game losing streak from Nov. 7-13 when the Cavaliers allowed 118.8 points per game and 51.1 percent from the field.

Cleveland followed up its five-game slide by winning 14 of 19 starting with a double-overtime victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Nov. 18. During the 19-game run, the Cavaliers allowed 101 points per game and earned nine double-digit wins.

The final game of the hot streak was a 114-106 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Dec. 21. Since then, the Cavaliers dropped home games to the Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets before allowing their highest point total of the season at Indiana.

During the past three games, Cleveland allowed 126 points on average as opponents shot 54.6 percent. The Pacers shot 56.5 percent from the floor vs. the Cavaliers after Brooklyn shot 57.3 percent. The Cavaliers also conceded a season-high-tying 19 3-pointers on Thursday, and they are allowing 57.1 percent shooting (56 of 98) from behind the arc in the past three contests.

The Bulls endured a stretch of 12 losses in 17 games, culminating with a disastrous defensive showing in a 150-126 road loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Dec. 18. After that contest, Chicago coach Billy Donovan cited a severe lack of compete level.

Since allowing its highest point total in regulation since 1969, Chicago has improved. The Bulls are 5-1 in their past six games, a stretch that includes last-second road wins at Atlanta and New York along with a 119-113 overtime win at Milwaukee on Wednesday, when Chicago erased a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

The Bulls continued its strong form Friday in a 132-118 win over the visiting Detroit Pistons.

Zach LaVine scored a season-high 43 points, including 18 in the first quarter and seven in Chicago’s 17-3 run over the final 4:10. DeMar DeRozan added 22 after scoring 42 against the Bucks and a week after he hit the game-winning shot in New York.

While Chicago is 5-2 against the top four teams in the East (Boston, Milwaukee, Brooklyn and Cleveland), its biggest margin of defeat this year came in a 128-96 home loss to the Cavaliers on Dec. 22. Cleveland, with Garland out due to an eye injury, shot 56.5 percent from the floor. Donovan Mitchell paced the Cavaliers in that game with 32 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

NBA Preview: Dallas Mavericks (20-16) at San Antonio Spurs (12-23)

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NBA Preview: Dallas Mavericks (20-16) at San Antonio Spurs (12-23)

The Dallas Mavericks will look to expand on a five-game winning streak when they travel south to square off against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday in this season’s first battle between the Lone Star State rivals.

The Mavericks have been rolling over the past two weeks, riding otherworldly play from superstar Luka Doncic and a solid contribution from the team’s role players to their most successful stint of the campaign.

Dallas heads to the Alamo City after a 129-114 win at home over Houston on Thursday in which Doncic racked up his second straight triple-double, amassing 35 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds. It was his eighth triple-double of the season.

The Mavericks’ supporting cast was up to the task, too, on Thursday. Christian Wood added 21 points, Dwight Powell went 8 of 8 from the floor and tallied a season-high 19 points, Tim Hardaway Jr. had 18 points and Spencer Dinwiddie contributed 15.

The Mavericks, who rely mostly on execution in half-court sets, had a season-best 25 fast-break points in Thursday’s win. It’s taken awhile but Dallas is finally coming together and look capable of making a repeat run deep into the playoffs.

The win moved Dallas to four games above .500 for the first time this season.

Doncic is dealing with left ankle soreness but is listed as probable.

The Spurs have won two of their past three games, including a 122-115 home victory over New York on Thursday. Keldon Johnson scored 30 points and Romeo Langford added a career-high 23 as San Antonio Spurs built a 17-point lead in the third quarter and had all the answers late to send the Knicks to a fifth consecutive loss.

Tre Jones scored 13, Jeremy Sochan had 12 and Jakob Poeltl took 12 rebounds for the Spurs, The win was without Devin Vassell, who missed the game with a sore left knee.

With Vassell, the Spurs’ second-leading scorer this season (19.6 points per game), listed as doubtful for Saturday’s game, San Antonio will need to rely on Langford to pick up the slack. He was more than up to the task in Thursday’s win.

NBA Preview: New York Knicks (18-18) at Houston Rockets (10-25)

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NBA Preview: New York Knicks (18-18) at Houston Rockets (10-25)

Momentum is fickle, and over the course of an 82-game schedule, there are enough twists and turns to make sustained excellence difficult for most teams.

As recently as Dec. 20, the New York Knicks were riding high. On that date, the Knicks extended their winning streak to a season-best eight consecutive games with a 132-94 dismantling of the Golden State Warriors that seemed to confirm that all of their pieces were meshing perfectly.

The Knicks have not tasted victory since. On Thursday, they suffered their fifth consecutive defeat, a 122-115 road loss to the San Antonio Spurs in the second stop of the “Texas Triangle” that will end on Saturday against the host Houston Rockets.

The Knicks were again without guard Jalen Brunson (hip) and forward RJ Barrett (finger), and their absences have played a role in the team’s ineffective play of late. However, much of the blame can be linked to the Knicks’ defense, which has the worst defensive rating in the league — 125.6 points per possession allowed — during their losing skid.

The Knicks are 11th overall in defensive rating on the season, according to NBA.com.

Getting back on the same page will be a challenge down two starters, but the Knicks need to find a way to excel regardless. Injuries are part of every NBA season, and the teams that figure out how to succeed in spite of them are the teams that thrive.

The Rockets had no excuses following their 129-114 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, their seventh setback in eight games and second to the Mavericks in seven days.

Among their most glaring deficiencies against the Mavericks was a lack of transition defense. Dallas, which ranks 29th in pace, posted a whopping 25 fast-break points in the victory.

The Rockets, who lead the NBA in offensive rebounding percentage at 34.5 percent, have been vulnerable in transition because of their relentless pounding of the offensive glass. However, what transpired in Dallas was different, a performance that requires correcting.

NBA Preview: Brooklyn Nets (23-12) at Charlotte Hornets (10-26)

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NBA Preview: Brooklyn Nets (23-12) at Charlotte Hornets (10-26)

The Charlotte Hornets have lacked a finishing touch for most of the season, but they’ll try to at least cap 2022 with something to remember.

The Hornets host a New Year’s Eve game Saturday night against the scorching Brooklyn Nets.

The task looks challenging for Charlotte, as the Nets enter on a 10-game winning streak.

The Hornets opened their homestand with Thursday night’s 121-113 victory against Oklahoma City.

The Hornets need to start producing in home games. They had lost five in a row on their home court until the result against Oklahoma City.

If there’s a new surge of excitement stemming from the Hornets it might revolve around point guard LaMelo Ball, who was one assist shy of a double-double Thursday night with 27 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

The Hornets also are bound to be pumped up about rookie center Mark Williams, who has spent most of the season in the G League. He came off the bench to rack up 17 points (7-for-7 shooting), 13 rebounds, two blocked shots and two steals Thursday night.

Williams turned out to be quite a combination with starting center Mason Plumlee, who posted 14 points and nine rebounds. The two big men combined to shoot 13-for-14 from the field.

The Nets have been off since Wednesday night’s 108-107 escape in Atlanta. This visit to Charlotte will conclude a three-game road trip.

Brooklyn’s winning streak began Dec. 7 with a 122-116 home victory against the Hornets, with Kyrie Irving pouring in 33 points in that game.

Either Irving or Durant has been the Nets’ leading scorer in all except one game this season. Durant racked up 27 points in a Nov. 5 win at Charlotte.

The Hornets would covet sustained success. They’re aiming to secure back-to-back wins for just the second time this season. Ball missed both previous games against the Nets.

NBA Preview: Los Angeles Clippers (21-16) at Indiana Pacers (19-17)

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NBA Preview: Los Angeles Clippers (21-16) at Indiana Pacers (19-17)

The Indiana Pacers welcome the Los Angeles Clippers to Indianapolis on Saturday in a New Year’s Eve matinee matchup.

Indiana looks for its third consecutive win and fifth in the last six games as it continues a home stretch. The Pacers are playing the third of four straight at home, a run that will include eight of 10 overall in Indianapolis.

They opened this stretch with a pair of high-scoring wins, beating Atlanta 129-114 on Tuesday, and then 135-126 against Cleveland on Thursday.

Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers in scoring with 29 against the Cavs. He dished nine assists to maintain his NBA-leading pace of 10.2 assists per game. Buddy Hield shot 5 of 6 from 3-point range en route to 25 points, Aaron Nesmith scored 22 points and Bennedict Mathurin finished with 23 points off the bench.

Mathurin’s 17.3 points per game rank second among all rookies in the NBA.

Indiana is one of the surprises of the NBA this season thanks to a mix of youthful energy and veteran leadership. Mathurin and third-year guards Haliburton and Nesmith have blended with the experience of key veterans — seventh-year guard Hield, eighth-year center Myles Turner and eighth-year reserve spark plug TJ McConnell.

Indiana is averaging almost 115 points per game, a jump of more than three points per game compared to a season ago. The Pacers put their improved offense to the test in Saturday’s meeting with the Clippers, one of the NBA’s premier defensive teams.

Los Angeles heads into Indiana, its fifth straight road game and part of a stretch with seven of eight away from home, holding opponents to 108.8 points per game.

The Clippers are coming off a 116-110 loss in Boston, however, which dropped their record in games when an opponent scores 115 points or more to 3-8. They are 18-8 when holding opponents to 114 points or fewer, a mark that includes their 114-110 defeat of Indiana on Nov. 27.

Los Angeles played without Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in the previous matchup against the Pacers, but Ivica Zubac shouldered the load with a season-best 31 points and a career-high 29 rebounds.

Zubac is coming off another double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds at Boston, while Leonard and George — the Clippers’ tandem of former All-NBA honorees — scored 26 and 24 points, respectively.

Leonard returned to the lineup on Dec. 5 and played consistently with sporadic absences, missing three games. He scored 25 points or more four times while ramping up his minutes played.

Thursday’s 36:53 were the most minutes Leonard has logged on the season.

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