FloaterDaily Brief
Friday, December 26, 1997Regular season · 11 games
← Dec 25CalendarDec 27 →

11 games, 2 went to overtime. Biggest comeback: LAL trailed LAC by 6 after the first quarter and won 118–114.

Final · Box score
Cavs88
Hornets96
Q1 Hornets 0; Q2 CHH +9; Q3 CHH +11; Q4 CHH +8
Final · Box score
Wizards97
Mavs95
Q1 WAS +7; Q2 WAS +1; Q3 WAS +1; Q4 WAS +2
Final · Box score
Warriors81
Nuggets69
Q1 GSW +12; Q2 GSW +24; Q3 GSW +19; Q4 GSW +12
Final · Box score
Heat88
Pistons74
Q1 MIA -2; Q2 MIA +11; Q3 MIA +16; Q4 MIA +14
Final · Box score
Magic81
Pacers107
Q1 IND +20; Q2 IND +22; Q3 IND +25; Q4 IND +26
Final · OT · Box score
Clippers114
Lakers118
Q1 LAL -6; Q2 LAL -6; Q3 LAL -2; Q4 Lakers 0; OT1 LAL +4
Final · OT · Box score
Hawks94
Bucks99
Q1 MIL +9; Q2 MIL +8; Q3 MIL +2; Q4 Bucks 0; OT1 MIL +5
Final · Box score
Nets96
Wolves116
Q1 MIN +7; Q2 MIN +4; Q3 MIN +2; Q4 MIN +20
Final · Box score
Sonics111
Kings95
Q1 SEA -2; Q2 SEA +6; Q3 SEA +8; Q4 SEA +16
Final · Box score
Celtics86
Spurs101
Q1 SAS +7; Q2 SAS +11; Q3 SAS +12; Q4 SAS +15
Final · Box score
Suns118
Grizzlies100
Q1 PHX +7; Q2 PHX +14; Q3 PHX +14; Q4 PHX +18
On this day · 1996–97Dec 26, 1996: 11 games. Top scorer: Christian Laettner (Hawks-Bulls), 37 points.
Dec 26 in other seasons2025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991995
The lead · Clippers-Lakers

Nick Van Exel scores 30, Lakers win in overtime

David Robinson goes for 34 points

Game flow · LAL margin at each break
-15-10-50+5+10+15OVERTIMETipEnd Q1HalfEnd Q3End reg.Final0-6-6-20+4LAL AHEAD ↑LAC AHEAD ↓
By quarter
Q1Q2Q3Q4OT1T
Clippers322335168114
Lakers2623391812118
Who led
Nick Van ExelPoints, last 10 games: 24, 7, 6, 6, 12, 11, 16, 24, 10, 30LAL30 PTS · 3 REB · 12 AST
Eddie JonesPoints, last 10 games: 10, 10, 16, 17, 32, 3, 11, 19, 17, 20LAL20 PTS · 5 REB · 1 AST
Lorenzen WrightPoints, last 10 games: 13, 2, 12, 12, 17, 13, 15, 14, 7, 32LAC32 PTS · 15 REB · 1 AST
Rodney RogersPoints, last 10 games: 18, 14, 12, 4, 10, 1, 15, 20, 20, 21LAC21 PTS · 4 REB · 9 AST
The night in charts
Clippers-Lakers combined for 232, 14 more than any other game
Points by game
Clippers-LakersClippers 114, Lakers 118
232
Suns-GrizzliesSuns 118, Grizzlies 100
218
Nets-WolvesNets 96, Wolves 116
212
Sonics-KingsSonics 111, Kings 95
206
Hawks-BucksHawks 94, Bucks 99
193
Wizards-MavsWizards 97, Mavs 95
192
Magic-PacersMagic 81, Pacers 107
188
Celtics-SpursCeltics 86, Spurs 101
187
Cavs-HornetsCavs 88, Hornets 96
184
Heat-PistonsHeat 88, Pistons 74
162
Warriors-NuggetsWarriors 81, Nuggets 69
150
3 of 11 games were decided by 5 or fewer
Closest finishes
Wizards-MavsWizards 97, Mavs 95
+2 WAS
Clippers-LakersClippers 114, Lakers 118
+4 LAL
Hawks-BucksHawks 94, Bucks 99
+5 MIL
Cavs-HornetsCavs 88, Hornets 96
+8 CHH
Warriors-NuggetsWarriors 81, Nuggets 69
+12 GSW
Heat-PistonsHeat 88, Pistons 74
+14 MIA
Celtics-SpursCeltics 86, Spurs 101
+15 SAS
Sonics-KingsSonics 111, Kings 95
+16 SEA
Suns-GrizzliesSuns 118, Grizzlies 100
+18 PHX
Nets-WolvesNets 96, Wolves 116
+20 MIN
Magic-PacersMagic 81, Pacers 107
+26 IND
LAL rallied from 6 down, the night's biggest comeback
Biggest comebacks, at quarter breaks
Clippers-LakersLAL won · Clippers 114, Lakers 118
6 pts
Heat-PistonsMIA won · Heat 88, Pistons 74
2 pts
Sonics-KingsSEA won · Sonics 111, Kings 95
2 pts
Robinson shot 11-of-14 for the night's hottest hand
Hottest shooting · min 10 FGA
RobinsonSAS · 34 PTS, 13 REB, 3 AST, 3 STL
79% (11-14)
SmitsIND · 20 PTS, 2 BLK, 1 REB, 1 STL
75% (9-12)
DuncanSAS · 23 PTS, 15 REB, 8 BLK, 1 AST
75% (9-12)
EllisSEA · 19 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL
70% (7-10)
DivacCHH · 23 PTS, 11 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL
69% (9-13)
Final · Wizards-Mavs
Wizards 97Mavs 95
TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4T
Wizards3017222897
Mavs2323222795
The story
Washington beat Dallas 97-95 behind 20 points from Juwan Howard

Michael Finley paced Dallas: 23 PTS, 10 REB, 5 AST 20 PTS, 8 REB, 4 AST · 9-20 FG

The swing

A 30-23 first quarter did the most damage for the Wizards.

WAS lead by quarter
200 +7+1+1+2 Q1Q2Q3Q4
Fantasy angle

Dennis Scott topped the game at 43.9 FPTS: 22 PTS, 7 REB

Final · Clippers-Lakers
Clippers 114Lakers 118
TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4OTT
Clippers322335168114
Lakers2623391812118
The story
Elden Campbell had 18 points and 11 rebounds as Los Angeles beat Los Angeles 118-114 in OT

Rodney Rogers led Los Angeles with 21 PTS, 9 AST, 4 REB 18 PTS, 11 REB, 6 AST, 5 BLK · 5-14 FG

The swing

Down 6 after the second, the Lakers took the third 39-35.

LAL lead by quarter
200 −6−6−20+4 Q1Q2Q3Q4OT
Final · Hawks-Bucks
Hawks 94Bucks 99
TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4OTT
Hawks21232617794
Bucks302220151299
The story
Tyrone Hill's 16 rebounds and 14 points carried Milwaukee past Atlanta, 99-94 in OT

For Atlanta, Alan Henderson had 20 PTS, 9 REB 16 REB, 14 PTS, 1 AST · 4-9 FG

The swing

The first quarter, 30-21, was where the Bucks built it.

MIL lead by quarter
200 +9+8+20+5 Q1Q2Q3Q4OT
Fantasy angle

Dikembe Mutombo was the fantasy play: 50.0 FPTS on 15 PTS, 10 REB

Fantasy angle
Heating up
+7.3points, last 5 vs season avg
Points per game
11.9Season avg19.2Last 5

19.2 points a game over his last five games, against 11.9 in 26 earlier games. Today: 13 points in 27 minutes.

Losing minutes
−15.6minutes, last 3 vs season avg
Minutes per game
20.6Season avg5.0Last 3

5.0 minutes a game over his last three games, against 20.6 in 20 earlier games. Today: 2 points in 10 minutes.

Stepped-up role
+23.0minutes, today vs season avg
Minutes per game
15.5Season avg38.5Today

38 minutes today, against 15.5 a game in 26 earlier games. Line: 17 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists.

Second story · the whole slate

Indiana posts the night's biggest win

Indiana beat Orlando by 26, the widest margin of 11 games.

WAS over DAL2LAL over LAC4MIL over ATL5CHH over CLE8GSW over DEN12MIA over DET14SAS over BOS15SEA over SAC16PHX over VAN18MIN over NJN20IND over ORL26Final margin, points. Pink = the widest win.
Top performances

David Robinson leads the day with 34

David RobinsonPoints, last 10 games: 25, 19, 14, 30, 18, 22, 33, 11, 39, 34Spurs-Celtics · W
24.3 PPG season to date · +10.1 vs his regular-season average before tonight
34 PTS · 13 REB · 3 AST
Lorenzen WrightPoints, last 10 games: 13, 2, 12, 12, 17, 13, 15, 14, 7, 32Clippers-Lakers · L
10.8 PPG season to date · +22.0 vs his regular-season average before tonight
Career high32 PTS · 15 REB · 1 AST
Sam CassellPoints, last 10 games: 23, 7, 19, 8, 22, 15, 19, 15, 28, 31Nets-Wolves · L
19.7 PPG season to date · +11.8 vs his regular-season average before tonight
31 PTS · 3 REB · 13 AST
Nick Van ExelPoints, last 10 games: 24, 7, 6, 6, 12, 11, 16, 24, 10, 30Lakers-Clippers · W
16.0 PPG season to date · +14.5 vs his regular-season average before tonight
30 PTS · 3 REB · 12 AST
Glenn RobinsonPoints, last 10 games: 10, 18, 6, 20, 28, 24, 21, 27, 22, 30Bucks-Hawks · W
21.2 PPG season to date · +9.2 vs his regular-season average before tonight
30 PTS · 6 REB · 3 AST
Glen RicePoints, last 10 games: 19, 29, 21, 32, 14, 13, 32, 16, 23, 26Hornets-Cavs · W
22.3 PPG season to date · +3.8 vs his regular-season average before tonight
26 PTS · 2 REB · 4 AST
Hot and cold

Last 10 games against the season so far

Hot
Corliss WilliamsonSAC+5.1 20.9 last 10 · 15.8 season
Erick DampierGSW+3.7 13.3 last 10 · 9.6 season
Kobe BryantLAL+3.6 21.5 last 10 · 17.9 season
Derek AndersonCLE+3.6 15.5 last 10 · 11.9 season
Kevin WillisHOU+3.5 21.3 last 10 · 17.8 season
Cold
Kenny AndersonPOR−4.4 8.7 last 10 · 13.1 season
Lindsey HunterDET−3.9 10.6 last 10 · 14.5 season
Ike AustinMIA−3.5 13.5 last 10 · 17.0 season
Jamal MashburnMIA−3.3 12.0 last 10 · 15.3 season
Dell CurryCHH−3.1 8.0 last 10 · 11.1 season