NBA scores 2016: Grizzlies a force to be reckoned with out west

Memphis had seven players score in double digits in win over Warriors, their sixth consecutive win.

Dec 11, 2016, 1:00 PM UTC

NBA: Golden State Warriors at Memphis Grizzlies

Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

Memphis had won five straight before the 20-3 Warriors came to town. So there was a good chance their winning streak would come to an end on Saturday. But the Grizzlies shocked Golden State, handing them their fourth loss of the season with a streak-extending 110-89 home win on Saturday.

Memphis enjoyed seven players scoring in double-digits, including Tony Allen and Marc Gasol’s combined 38 points, and the Grizzlies, without both Mike Conley and Chandler Parsons, advanced to a 17-8 record on the season.

Kevin Durant was the only Warriors player to shoot efficiently, scoring 21 points on 7-for-13 shooting, but both Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry shot 4-for-14 from the field, and Golden State couldn’t find a way to go on the signature runs the team is known for.

“We couldn’t have played much worse,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said, “and I thought (the Grizzlies) were great. They came out, took it to us.”

The Grizzlies (17-8) are fifth in the Western Conference despite missing star forward Chandler Parsons for 19 games with a knee injury. Memphis could end up a scary team to play against in the playoffs if its newest pickup and perimeter sharp-shooter returns to the rotation.

Parsons, signed to a four-year, $94 million deal over the summer, has played in just six games this season, averaging 7.7 points, but he hasn’t gotten into the flow of the Memphis offense. When the Grizzlies finally bring him along, and Conley recovers from his back injury, they may be a team no one wants to face in the postseason.

But a few players broke records on a historic Saturday night. Here’s what happened if you missed the games:

Chris Paul had 20 points, 20 assists, and no turnovers against the Pelicans

Paul became just the first player in the last 40 seasons to have the NBA’s version of a perfect game. And he broke Pelicans big man Alexis Ajinca in the process. Ajinca’s legs crumbled when CP3 hit him with a vicious in-and-out crossover that cleared the way for an open jump shot.

Maybe New Orleans should do a better job communicating on defense.

Paul George scored 15 straight in the fourth quarter

Indiana needed every bit of Paul George if it was going to pull out a win on Saturday, and their star wing delivered down the stretch. George scored 15 straight Indiana points in a six-minute stretch of the fourth quarter, lifting the Pacers to .500 with a win over Portland. George scored 37 of Indiana’s 118 points and sent Portland below .500 with a 12-13 record.

LeBron made history with his 7,000th assist

He just continues to break the books.

LeBron became the only player in NBA history to record 27,000 points, 7,000 rebounds, and 7,000 assists, improving what’s already been a Hall of Fame career. He scored a game-high 44 points, leading his Cavaliers to an 11-point win over Charlotte.

Kyrie Irving also got into the Cleveland history books, joining James and Mark Price as the only players in Cavaliers history to notch 600 career three-pointers.

Friday’s top-five performances

James Harden: 18 points, 4-for-12 shooting, 16 assists

Harden finished with just 18 points on a poor shooting night, but his 16 assists helped the Rockets pull off a 22-point victory over the Mavericks on Saturday. Houston had six players score in double figures because of The Beard’s precision passing.

LeBron James: 44 points, 17-for-24 shooting, 10 assists, nine rebounds

The Hornets pushed Cleveland, but a 44-point outburst from the King helped the Cavaliers shut down a valiant effort from a scrappy Hornets team. James was one assist short of a triple-double in establishing his dominance over Charlotte.

Kawhi Leonard: 30 points, 10-for-18 shooting, six rebounds, three assists

Leonard seemingly couldn’t miss against a hapless Nets team, and he helped San Antonio grow a lead as much as 38 points in its win over Brooklyn. If he keeps playing like this, Leonard could force his name into the MVP race

Jimmy Butler: 31 points, 8-for-15 shooting, 15-for-16 free throws, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals

With the lens on Wade against his former team, Butler was The Flash’s wingman, scorching Miami for 31 points. He continues to prove he’s a legitimate scorer and Chicago is following his lead this season.

Rudy Gobert: 17 points, 5-for-6 shooting, 14 rebounds, six blocks

Teams just shouldn’t attack the paint when Gobert is in the game. The Jazz center is averaging a career-best 11.8 points, but he more than doubled his season average of 2.6 blocks per game in 20-point win over the Jazz on Saturday.