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The Best in Sports: December 23, 2019
Showcasing the best in the NFL, NBA, and MLB every day
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‘The Best in Sports’ is a daily PSO original series showcasing the best highlights, facts, and stories going on in the land of the NFL, NBA, & MLB every day. Get a recap on EVERYTHING that happened yesterday here.
Here is the best from December 23, 2019:
Nikola Jokic isn’t the only premier player in Denver that can nail game-winners, although he is the only one that racks up triple-doubles (more on that below).
Jamal Murray, cold-blooded! 🥶#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/cvRc0egQq2
— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 24, 2019
Related: NBA Top Highlights
In a battle of two Eastern Conference contenders, the Raptors & Pacers were both playing short-handed, but Indy forced OT and prevailed in the extra period.
T.J. for the LEAD! 👌#IndianaStyle pic.twitter.com/u0CnGY45uI
— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 24, 2019
Aaron Holiday (19 PTS, 10 AST) knocks down his 5th trey of the night!@Raptors 115@Pacers 119
28.1 to play in OT on @NBATV pic.twitter.com/vmiHro0BWY
— NBA (@NBA) December 24, 2019
Myles Turner and T.J. Warren each dropped 24 points to help secure the @Pacers OT win! 💥#IndianaStyle pic.twitter.com/elBNhqlUoj
— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 24, 2019
Related: Games of the Day
Aaron Rodgers won his sixth Monday Night Football game in a row while Kirk Cousins continued his record-breaking awful results on MNF (0-9). Za’Darius Smith had a huge game to help Green Bay become NFC North champs in HC Matt Lafleur’s first season.
No player has created more QB disruptions this season than Za’Darius Smith (81).
This was @TheRealZSmith‘s 6th game with at least 7+ QB disruptions (QB pressure, hurry, or sack), the most in the NFL. #GBvsMIN | #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/HZ2ABcQAdf
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) December 24, 2019
The @Packers are now 5-0 in division games this season.
They have dominated defensively in those games, allowing 12.8 PPG, 305.6 YPG, and have recorded 9 takeaways. pic.twitter.com/nEPkKyx8Cj
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 24, 2019
Kirk Cousins already had the worst record ever by a QB on Monday Night Football.
Now he has the longest losing streak (9), breaking a tie with Jim Everett. pic.twitter.com/70LVpaVUvJ
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 24, 2019
Related: NFL Playoffs
Led by legendary games from LaMarcus Aldridge & DeMar DeRozan, the Spurs were historically efficient from the field in a huge win over the Grizzlies.
Locked in L.A.! 🔒
LaMarcus Aldridge gets out to a quarter career-high 22 PTS in the 1st for the @spurs! #GoSpursGo pic.twitter.com/szTmbF6fr0
— NBA (@NBA) December 24, 2019
💪 @aldridge_12 drops a season-high 40 PTS on 17-25 shooting in the @spurs win! #GoSpursGo pic.twitter.com/AnICubz7m9
— NBA (@NBA) December 24, 2019
Demar Derozan tonight:
26 Points
3 Rebounds
10 AssistsFG% 90.9% (10-11)
FT% 100% (6-6)•30th career double double.
•3rd career game with 25+ PTs and 10+ AST.
•10th career game with 10+ AST.
•234th career game with 25+ PTs. pic.twitter.com/YuycsROgv4— NBA Stats (@DailyNBAStats) December 24, 2019
The @spurs had an effective field-goal percentage of 75.8% tonight, the highest such figure in a game in team history.
— Justin Kubatko (@jkubatko) December 24, 2019
Related: NBA Facts
Led by a career-high 17 assists, Ben Simmons’ triple-double fueled the 76ers win over Detroit.
👏 16 PTS | 13 REB | 17 AST 👏@BenSimmons25 sets a new career-high in dimes as the @sixers win in Detroit! #PhilaUnite pic.twitter.com/TjBqA4WqXH
— NBA (@NBA) December 24, 2019
Related: Philadelphia 76ers Facts
There were numerous dunks on Monday that made waves around the NBA:
✈️ AIRPLANE MODE: ACTIVATED ✈️
📱💻: https://t.co/lZZApswzuX pic.twitter.com/5JqLrrZv8U
— NBA (@NBA) December 24, 2019
Jerami Grant drops the HAMMER! 😤#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/xkt7UkRvMo
— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 24, 2019
Whiteside got ⬆️⬆️ #RipCity pic.twitter.com/jjdd7lT6yE
— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 24, 2019
The rookie-to-rookie connection sets up the monster slam! 💪#TrueToAtlanta pic.twitter.com/HmGfJnaggZ
— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 24, 2019
OH MY JA! 💪#GrindCity pic.twitter.com/uTcJAHi6Qt
— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 24, 2019
Related: NBA Highlights
Nikola Jokic has been racking up the triple doubles and has a top-10 spot on the all-time list all to himself now.
Nikola Jokic posts 22 PTS, 12 REB, 10 AST to move up to 10th on the all-time triple-doubles list! #MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/sMlhDe3QjI
— NBA (@NBA) December 24, 2019
The @nuggets Nikola Jokic recorded his 34th career triple-double tonight, breaking a tie with Bob Cousy for 10th place on the NBA’s all-time list. Only two players in NBA history have produced more triple-doubles before their 25th birthday: Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson. pic.twitter.com/hBxFcNhbqA
— Justin Kubatko (@jkubatko) December 24, 2019
Related: NBA Records
The Rockets superstar duo are starting to click on all cylinders as a lethal force that could lead the Rockets through the fierce Western Conference.
🚀 @JHarden13 (34 PTS) and @russwest44 (28 PTS) help the @HoustonRockets win their 4th in a row! #OneMission pic.twitter.com/u7Prv0ORVN
— NBA (@NBA) December 24, 2019
James Harden and Russell Westbrook have both scored 25 or more points in each of the Rockets’ last four games. Two other duos in team history have scored 25+ points in four straight games: Elvin Hayes/Calvin Murphy (Feb. 1971) and Tracy McGrady/Yao Ming (Apr. 2007). @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/rLzCuMMpxL
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) December 24, 2019
Related: Houston Rockets Highlights
Cesar Hernandez has been a reliable infielder for the past few years, but Philly let him go earlier in the offseason instead of paying him his expected $11.8M expected arbitration salary (smart move considering Cleveland got him for $6.25M on the open market). His signing should allow Jose Ramirez to stick to 3B while Hernandez takes over the keystone.
Cleveland Indians have agreed to sign 2B/IF Cesar Hernandez to a 1y/$6.3M deal (via @JeffPassan) pic.twitter.com/qtE1xYZPBN
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) December 23, 2019
Related: MLB Free Agency
Considering it’s been over six months since the last trade in the NBA, it’s pretty significant when any move occurs, even a minor Jordan Clarkson-Dante Exum swap with a couple of 2nd Rd picks involved.
UPDATE: Utah Jazz have acquired G Jordan Clarkson from the Cleveland Cavaliers for PG Dante Exum & two future 2nd Rd Picks (via @wojespn) pic.twitter.com/K1IjeCA4Ed
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) December 24, 2019
This is the first NBA deal since the Russell Westbrook-Chris Paul trade https://t.co/vEKrz834Ai
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) December 24, 2019
Related: NBA Headlines
NBA Player's Favorite Moments of the 2010s https://t.co/qa4R2T9wYD
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) December 24, 2019
B/R selects the MLB's All-2010s Decade Team https://t.co/kl1Z7fFyO1
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) December 24, 2019
Related: What’s HotDaniel Jones near flawless yesterday.@PFF_Sam+@PFF_Steve: https://t.co/PXFEQFRTxu
— PFF (@PFF) December 23, 2019
Toronto Raptors vs. Indiana Pacers (OT)
Related: Games of the Day
#PlayerOfTheDay Za’Darius Smith continued his DPOY campaign with a 3.5 sack night to help Green Bay clinch the division. This was Smith’s 6th game w/ at least 7+ QB disruptions (QB pressure, hurry, or sack), the most in the NFL & his 81 disruptions are the most in the NFL in 2019 https://t.co/aC3p9oJ1ZL
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) December 24, 2019
Related: Players of the Day
The most disruptive defender in 2019.
No player has created more QB disruptions this season than Za’Darius Smith (81).
This was @TheRealZSmith‘s 6th game with at least 7+ QB disruptions (QB pressure, hurry, or sack), the most in the NFL. #GBvsMIN | #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/HZ2ABcQAdf— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) December 24, 2019
Related: Facts to Know
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