NBA NEWS - NBA PREVIEW for WEEK 11

LeBron James, Lakers: Needs to make 47 field goals to pass Michael Jordan for fourth place in NBA history - (NBA - photo)

Milwaukee’s George Hill - (NBA - photo)   Ersan Ilyasova, Bucks - (NBA - photo)   Utah’s Rudy Gobert - (NBA - photo)

Jan. 5, 2001: Sacramento’s Chris Webber posted 51 points and 26 rebounds against the Indiana Pacers- - (NBA - photo)

Dennis Rodman is the last player to...??? - (Maxi Basket photo)

LeBron James, Lakers: Needs to make 47 field goals to pass Michael Jordan for fourth place in NBA history. ... Needs 53 assists to pass Isiah Thomas for eighth place - New Orleans will take a season-high four-game winning streak into Friday’s visit to the Los Angeles Lakers on ESPN. Friday marks the first time that the Pelicans’ Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart will face their former team at Staples Center - Milwaukee’s George Hill is shooting an NBA-best 53.0% (53-100) from three-point range, up from 31.4% (48-153) last season. 53.0 - THIS DAY IN THE NBA

NEW YORK, N.Y. USA

Monday, December 30, 2019

THREE POINTS

1. Flying High: New Orleans will take a season-high four-game winning streak into Friday’s visit to the Los Angeles Lakers on ESPN. Friday marks the first time that the Pelicans’ Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart will face their former team at Staples Center. Ingram ranks 10th in the NBA in scoring. In the Pelicans’ most recent game, Ball made a career-high seven three-pointers and scored a season-high 27 points in a win over Houston on Dec. 29.

2. Heat Check: The Heat has won five straight games to move into second place in the Eastern Conference. With a 117-116 overtime win against Philadelphia on Dec. 28, Miami improved to 6-0 in overtime games and an NBA-best 15-1 at home this season. The Heat is 11-3 this month, its first December with double-digit victories since 2013. Miami hosts Toronto on Thursday on NBA TV.

3. Auspicious Start: In his first career start, Denver’s MichaelPorter Jr. scored 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field in a victory over Sacramento on Dec. 29. The 6-10 rookie helped the Nuggets (23-9) win for the ninth time in their last 10 games and continue the best start in team history. Now second in the Western Conference, Porter and the Nuggets visit Houston on Tuesday on NBA TV.

TRENDING TOPICS

The Holidays: New Orleans’ Jrue Holiday and Indiana’s Aaron Holiday and Justin Holiday appeared in the same game Dec. 28, marking the first time three brothers played in the same game in NBA history.

Contract Dates: Teams can begin signing players to 10-day contracts Sunday (Jan. 5). All contracts become guaranteed for the remainder of the season Jan. 10. The last day to sign NBA two-way contracts is Jan. 15.

All-Star Voting: The first fan returns from NBA All-Star Voting will be shared Thursday (Jan. 2).

Utah Jazz: Utah has won seven of its last eight games, ranking second in the NBA in offensive rating during that stretch.

Julius Randle, Knicks: Randle has scored at least 30 points in three consecutive games for the first time in his career.

Ersan Ilyasova, Bucks: Starting in place of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ilyasova has averaged 17.5 points and 15.5 rebounds and made 7-of-8 threes in his last two games (both victories).Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder: The second-year guard has scored a career-high 32 points in three of his last five games and reached 20 or more points in six straight games.

DeMar DeRozan, Spurs: The four-time All-Star is averaging 25.0 points on 71.4% shooting from the field in his last four games.

Detroit’s Andre Drummond is on pace to average 15+ rebounds for the third straight season. Who is the last player to do this?

GO FIGURE

Utah’s Rudy Gobert is shooting 74.6% from the field in his last 12 games. He is hitting an NBA-leading 68.8% for the season. 74.6

Milwaukee’s George Hill is shooting an NBA-best 53.0% (53-100) from three-point range, up from 31.4% (48-153) last season. 53.0

Dallas has already won 12 road games this season, surpassing its total of nine from both the 2018-19 and 2017-18 seasons.

BACK IN THE DAY

Jan. 4, 2002: Washington’s Michael Jordan scored his 30,000th career point during a game against Chicago. He became the fourth player at the time to reach the milestone.

Jan. 5, 2001: Sacramento’s Chris Webber posted 51 points and 26 rebounds against Indiana.

MILESTONE WATCH

Vince Carter, Hawks: Needs 41 points to pass Alex English for 19th place all time.

Kyle Korver, Bucks: Needs to make two three-pointers to become the fourth player in NBA history with 2,400 in a career.

LeBron James, Lakers: Needs to make 47 field goals to pass Michael Jordan for fourth place in NBA history. ... Needs 53 assists to pass Isiah Thomas for eigh pthlace.

James Harden, Rockets: Needs 147 points to reach 20,000 for his career.

SAVE THE DATE

Jan. 9: Russell Westbrook returns to OKC as the Rockets face the Thunder.

Jan. 18: The fifth season of NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC premieres with Lakers vs. Rockets in Houston.

Jan. 20: TNT tripleheader and NBA TV matinee on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Jan. 24: Charlotte meets Milwaukee in NBA Paris Game 2020.

TRIVIA ANSWER:

Dennis Rodman is the last player to average 15+ in three consecutive seasons. He did it four times in a row from 1991-92 – 1994-95.

THIS DAY IN THE NBA

December 30, 1961 Wilt Chamberlain scored 42 points in a 116-111 loss to Boston, the 14th straight game in which he scored at least 40 points, an NBA record.

December 30, 1971 The Los Angeles Lakers posted a 122-106 victory at Seattle, giving them a perfect 16-0 record for December, the best monthly record in NBA history. It was the Lakers’ second consecutive undefeated month, as they also posted a 14-0 mark in November, during their NBA record 33-game winning streak.

December 30, 1990 Orlando’s Scott Skiles dished off an NBA record 30 assists as the Magic defeated Denver 155-116 at Orlando Arena. Skiles surpassed previous record holder Kevin Porter of New Jersey, who handed out 29 assists in the Nets’ 126-112 win over Houston on February 24, 1978.

December 30, 1992 The Phoenix Suns defeated Houston 133-110 to finish December with a 14-0 record, tying for the third-best month in NBA history. The Lakers set the NBA record by going 16-0 in December 1971.

December 30, 1996 New York became the fourth NBA franchise to reach 2,000 victories, following a 98-96 home win over New Jersey. The other three NBA teams that had surpassed 2,000 victories are the Celtics, Lakers and 76ers.

December 30, 1997 Chicago's Michael Jordan scored 33 points to surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's mark of 787 consecutive games with at least 10 points.