Kuzma's Big Night Snaps Rockets' Streak
The Houston Rockets have defended their home floor with ease during their recent win streak, but Kyle Kuzma had no care for that fact on Wednesday night. Kuzma scored a career-high 38 points to help the Los Angeles Lakers overcome James Harden's big night in a 122-116 victory, which snapped Houston's 14-game winning streak. Harden put up 51 points on 15-of-27 shooting in the Rockets' first loss since November 14th. The game was tied in the fourth quarter before the Lakers went on a 10-0 run to pull ahead for good. Kuzma also had a career high with seven three-pointers to help the Lakers snap a three-game losing streak. It was a tough night for Houston injury-wise as well, as Chris Paul left the game in the fourth quarter with a sore left leg. Paul had eight points on the night before exiting. Houston was held to just eight field goals in the final eight minutes of the game, as a late three-pointer from Corey Brewer was too little too, too late. The Lakers led by as many as 22 points in this one, as they earned their 11th win, and just fifth victory away from the Staples Center.
Warriors Extend Win Streak to Double Digits
Many worried about what the Golden State Warriors would look like without Steph Curry, but a 10-game win streak emphatically implies that everyone needs to stop worrying. Klay Thompson scored 29 points on Wednesday night in the Warriors' 97-84 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, extending the win streak to double digits. Thompson made his first nine field goals and scored 27 of his points in the first half, as the Warriors out-shot the Grizzlies by 12 percent, Kevin Durant added 22 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks, leading the Warriors to victory despite being down five players. That included Curry missing his sixth straight game with a sprained right ankle. The Grizzlies' struggling season continued with their 22nd loss of the year. Marc Gasol had 21 points, nine rebounds, and five assists for Memphis, who was just 10-of-44 from the floor in the second half. The tough night started a stretch that has them on the road in seven of the next eight games. On the other hand, this was the first of a seven-game homestand for the Warrios, as they have nine of the next 10 games taking place at Oracle Arena. The defending champs will not be on the road again until January 3rd when they visit the Dallas Mavericks.
Wofford Takes Down UNC in Massive Upset
So much of what the Wofford Terriers did on Wednesday night was a rare occurrence for both parties involved, which made the feat that much greater for the underdogs. Fletcher Magee scored 27 points to give Wofford a stunning 79-75 win over fifth-ranked North Carolina in Chapel Hill. The win was the first over an AP Top-25 team in school history, while it also snapped the defending champions' 23-game home win streak. The Terriers led by as many as 14 points on the night and led for the entire second half and improved to just 2-3 in road games this season. Wofford sealed the upset win with four free throws in the final 15 seconds, handing the Tar Heels their second loss of the year, the first of which came to Michigan State. With Wofford being 25.5-point underdogs coming in, this is the largest upset in college basketball since 2005. The loss for the Tar Heels is the first to an unranked team at home as a top-5 team since falling to Boston College in January 2009. Joel Berry II had 23 points in the loss, which came off of a tough conference win over No. 21 Tennessee over the weekend.
The Houston Rockets have defended their home floor with ease during their recent win streak, but Kyle Kuzma had no care for that fact on Wednesday night. Kuzma scored a career-high 38 points to help the Los Angeles Lakers overcome James Harden's big night in a 122-116 victory, which snapped Houston's 14-game winning streak. Harden put up 51 points on 15-of-27 shooting in the Rockets' first loss since November 14th. The game was tied in the fourth quarter before the Lakers went on a 10-0 run to pull ahead for good. Kuzma also had a career high with seven three-pointers to help the Lakers snap a three-game losing streak. It was a tough night for Houston injury-wise as well, as Chris Paul left the game in the fourth quarter with a sore left leg. Paul had eight points on the night before exiting. Houston was held to just eight field goals in the final eight minutes of the game, as a late three-pointer from Corey Brewer was too little too, too late. The Lakers led by as many as 22 points in this one, as they earned their 11th win, and just fifth victory away from the Staples Center.
Warriors Extend Win Streak to Double Digits
Many worried about what the Golden State Warriors would look like without Steph Curry, but a 10-game win streak emphatically implies that everyone needs to stop worrying. Klay Thompson scored 29 points on Wednesday night in the Warriors' 97-84 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, extending the win streak to double digits. Thompson made his first nine field goals and scored 27 of his points in the first half, as the Warriors out-shot the Grizzlies by 12 percent, Kevin Durant added 22 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks, leading the Warriors to victory despite being down five players. That included Curry missing his sixth straight game with a sprained right ankle. The Grizzlies' struggling season continued with their 22nd loss of the year. Marc Gasol had 21 points, nine rebounds, and five assists for Memphis, who was just 10-of-44 from the floor in the second half. The tough night started a stretch that has them on the road in seven of the next eight games. On the other hand, this was the first of a seven-game homestand for the Warrios, as they have nine of the next 10 games taking place at Oracle Arena. The defending champs will not be on the road again until January 3rd when they visit the Dallas Mavericks.
Wofford Takes Down UNC in Massive Upset
So much of what the Wofford Terriers did on Wednesday night was a rare occurrence for both parties involved, which made the feat that much greater for the underdogs. Fletcher Magee scored 27 points to give Wofford a stunning 79-75 win over fifth-ranked North Carolina in Chapel Hill. The win was the first over an AP Top-25 team in school history, while it also snapped the defending champions' 23-game home win streak. The Terriers led by as many as 14 points on the night and led for the entire second half and improved to just 2-3 in road games this season. Wofford sealed the upset win with four free throws in the final 15 seconds, handing the Tar Heels their second loss of the year, the first of which came to Michigan State. With Wofford being 25.5-point underdogs coming in, this is the largest upset in college basketball since 2005. The loss for the Tar Heels is the first to an unranked team at home as a top-5 team since falling to Boston College in January 2009. Joel Berry II had 23 points in the loss, which came off of a tough conference win over No. 21 Tennessee over the weekend.
