FloaterDaily Brief
Friday, December 26, 2003Regular season · 13 games
← Dec 25CalendarDec 27 →

13 games, 1 went to overtime. Biggest comeback: DEN trailed HOU by 14 at halftime and won 95–94.

Final · Box score
Heat92
Wizards84
Q1 MIA -1; Q2 MIA +3; Q3 Heat 0; Q4 MIA +8
Final · Box score
Bulls87
Cavs80
Q1 CHI -1; Q2 CHI +1; Q3 CHI +3; Q4 CHI +7
Final · Box score
Nets82
Pistons79
Q1 NJN +10; Q2 NJN +7; Q3 NJN -4; Q4 NJN +3
Final · Box score
Knicks98
Grizzlies94
Q1 NYK +6; Q2 NYK +11; Q3 NYK +9; Q4 NYK +4
Final · Box score
Hawks79
Hornets109
Q1 NOH +14; Q2 NOH +16; Q3 NOH +23; Q4 NOH +30
Final · Box score
Pacers96
Bucks101
Q1 MIL -2; Q2 MIL -1; Q3 MIL -10; Q4 MIL +5
Final · Box score
Magic83
Spurs98
Q1 SAS +8; Q2 SAS +10; Q3 SAS +4; Q4 SAS +15
Final · Box score
Rockets94
Nuggets95
Q1 DEN -8; Q2 DEN -14; Q3 DEN -2; Q4 DEN +1
Final · Box score
Celtics104
Suns102
Q1 BOS -2; Q2 BOS -11; Q3 Celtics 0; Q4 BOS +2
Final · OT · Box score
Raptors94
Jazz97
Q1 UTA -4; Q2 UTA -5; Q3 UTA -4; Q4 Jazz 0; OT1 UTA +3
Final · Box score
Kings91
Warriors98
Q1 GSW +2; Q2 GSW +1; Q3 GSW +11; Q4 GSW +7
Final · Box score
Sixers98
Clippers101
Q1 LAC +6; Q2 LAC +4; Q3 LAC +3; Q4 LAC +3
Final · Box score
Wolves92
Blazers101
Q1 POR -2; Q2 POR +18; Q3 POR +6; Q4 POR +9
On this day · 2002–03Dec 26, 2002: 3 games. Top scorer: Gary Payton (Sonics-Raptors), 35 points.
Dec 26 in other seasons2025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200120001999199719961995
The lead · Rockets-Nuggets

Carmelo Anthony scores 37, Denver holds off Houston

Tim Duncan goes for 27 points

Game flow · DEN margin at each break
-20-100+10+20TipEnd Q1HalfEnd Q3Final0-8-14-2+1DEN AHEAD ↑HOU AHEAD ↓
By quarter
Q1Q2Q3Q4T
Rockets2724212294
Nuggets1918332595
Who led
Carmelo AnthonyPoints, last 10 games: 17, 13, 15, 25, 21, 14, 24, 12, 15, 37DEN37 PTS · 7 REB · 2 AST
Andre MillerPoints, last 10 games: 15, 17, 23, 15, 6, 20, 11, 21, 21, 22DEN22 PTS · 4 REB · 7 AST
Maurice TaylorPoints, last 10 games: 10, 10, 8, 10, 14, 13, 10, 4, 14, 22HOU22 PTS · 5 REB · 0 AST
Cuttino MobleyPoints, last 10 games: 24, 19, 7, 4, 18, 22, 16, 4, 15, 17HOU17 PTS · 4 REB · 5 AST
Lead changes
Raptors-Jazz15
Celtics-Suns12
Kings-Warriors11
Pacers-Bucks3
Wolves-Blazers3
Magic-Spurs2
Hawks-Hornets1
Rockets-Nuggets1
Sixers-Clippers1
Knicks-Grizzlies0
Shot of the night

Davis's jumper with 2.8 seconds left breaks the tie, 104-102 final

The night in charts
Celtics-Suns combined for 206, 7 more than any other game
Points by game
Celtics-SunsCeltics 104, Suns 102
206
Sixers-ClippersSixers 98, Clippers 101
199
Pacers-BucksPacers 96, Bucks 101
197
Wolves-BlazersWolves 92, Blazers 101
193
Knicks-GrizzliesKnicks 98, Grizzlies 94
192
Raptors-JazzRaptors 94, Jazz 97
191
Rockets-NuggetsRockets 94, Nuggets 95
189
Kings-WarriorsKings 91, Warriors 98
189
Hawks-HornetsHawks 79, Hornets 109
188
Magic-SpursMagic 83, Spurs 98
181
Heat-WizardsHeat 92, Wizards 84
176
Bulls-CavsBulls 87, Cavs 80
167
Nets-PistonsNets 82, Pistons 79
161
7 of 13 games were decided by 5 or fewer
Closest finishes
Rockets-NuggetsRockets 94, Nuggets 95
+1 DEN
Celtics-SunsCeltics 104, Suns 102
+2 BOS
Nets-PistonsNets 82, Pistons 79
+3 NJN
Sixers-ClippersSixers 98, Clippers 101
+3 LAC
Raptors-JazzRaptors 94, Jazz 97
+3 UTA
Knicks-GrizzliesKnicks 98, Grizzlies 94
+4 NYK
Pacers-BucksPacers 96, Bucks 101
+5 MIL
Kings-WarriorsKings 91, Warriors 98
+7 GSW
Bulls-CavsBulls 87, Cavs 80
+7 CHI
Heat-WizardsHeat 92, Wizards 84
+8 MIA
Wolves-BlazersWolves 92, Blazers 101
+9 POR
Magic-SpursMagic 83, Spurs 98
+15 SAS
Hawks-HornetsHawks 79, Hornets 109
+30 NOH
DEN erased a 14-point hole
Biggest comebacks, at quarter breaks
Rockets-NuggetsDEN won · Rockets 94, Nuggets 95
14 pts
Celtics-SunsBOS won · Celtics 104, Suns 102
11 pts
Pacers-BucksMIL won · Pacers 96, Bucks 101
10 pts
Raptors-JazzUTA won · Raptors 94, Jazz 97
5 pts
Nets-PistonsNJN won · Nets 82, Pistons 79
4 pts
McInnis shot 9-of-12 for the night's hottest hand
Hottest shooting · min 10 FGA
McInnisPOR · 21 PTS, 8 AST, 3 REB, 2 STL
75% (9-12)
WesleyNOH · 32 PTS, 6 AST, 3 STL, 2 REB
72% (13-18)
Jim JacksonHOU · 16 PTS, 7 REB, 2 AST, 1 BLK
70% (7-10)
Brian GrantMIA · 14 PTS, 5 REB, 1 STL
70% (7-10)
ReddMIL · 26 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST
69% (9-13)
Final · Rockets-Nuggets
Rockets 94Nuggets 95
TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4T
Rockets2724212294
Nuggets1918332595
The story
Andre Miller had 22 points as Denver beat Houston 95-94

Cuttino Mobley led Houston with 17 PTS, 5 AST, 4 REB 22 PTS, 7 AST, 4 REB · 8-18 FG

The swing

Down 14 after the second, the Nuggets took the third 33-21.

DEN lead by quarter
200 −8−14−2+1 Q1Q2Q3Q4
Final · Celtics-Suns
Celtics 104Suns 102
TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4T
Celtics24213029104
Suns26301927102
The story
Boston beat Phoenix 104-102 behind 27 points and 11 assists from Paul Pierce

Shawn Marion paced Phoenix: 25 PTS, 8 REB 27 PTS, 11 AST, 7 REB, 4 STL · 9-15 FG, 3-5 3PT

The swing

A 30-19 third quarter erased a 11-point hole for the Celtics.

BOS lead by quarter
200 −2−110+2 Q1Q2Q3Q4
Final · Raptors-Jazz
Raptors 94Jazz 97
TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4OTT
Raptors27232018694
Jazz23222122997
The story
Andrei Kirilenko's 17 points carried Utah past Toronto, 97-94 in OT

For Toronto, Jalen Rose had 18 PTS, 8 AST, 6 REB 17 PTS, 7 REB, 6 BLK, 5 AST · 6-11 FG, 1-2 3PT

The swing

The Jazz trailed by 4 going into the fourth, then won it 22-18.

UTA lead by quarter
200 −4−5−40+3 Q1Q2Q3Q4OT
Fantasy angle

Vince Carter was the fantasy play: 57.4 FPTS on 30 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST

Fantasy angle
Heating up
+9.3points, last 5 vs season avg
Points per game
5.5Season avg14.8Last 5

14.8 points a game over his last five games, against 5.5 in 24 earlier games. Today: 20 points in 42 minutes.

Losing minutes
−15.7minutes, last 3 vs season avg
Minutes per game
22.7Season avg7.0Last 3

7.0 minutes a game over his last three games, against 22.7 in 21 earlier games. Today: 6 points in 11 minutes.

Stepped-up role
+19.9minutes, today vs season avg
Minutes per game
12.1Season avg32Today

32 minutes today, against 12.1 a game in 16 earlier games. Line: 8 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists.

Second story · the whole slate

Six close finishes and one Hornets rout

Six of 13 games were decided by four points or fewer. New Orleans beat Atlanta by 30.

DEN over HOU1BOS over PHX2NJN over DET3UTA over TOR3LAC over PHI3NYK over MEM4MIL over IND5CHI over CLE7GSW over SAC7MIA over WAS8POR over MIN9SAS over ORL15NOH over ATL30Final margin, points. Pink = decided by 4 or fewer, plus the widest win.
Top performances

Carmelo Anthony leads the day with 37

Carmelo AnthonyPoints, last 10 games: 17, 13, 15, 25, 21, 14, 24, 12, 15, 37Nuggets-Rockets · W
19.0 PPG season to date · +18.6 vs his regular-season average before tonight
Career high37 PTS · 7 REB · 2 AST
David WesleyPoints, last 10 games: 20, 18, 14, 23, 5, 10, 12, 16, 12, 32Hornets-Hawks · W
16.6 PPG season to date · +16.0 vs his regular-season average before tonight
Season high32 PTS · 2 REB · 6 AST
Vince CarterPoints, last 10 games: 22, 30, 22, 35, 12, 21, 16, 18, 17, 30Raptors-Jazz · L
22.5 PPG season to date · +7.8 vs his regular-season average before tonight
30 PTS · 7 REB · 5 AST
Jamal CrawfordPoints, last 10 games: 28, 26, 9, 18, 12, 22, 16, 12, 5, 30Bulls-Cavs · W
16.7 PPG season to date · +13.9 vs his regular-season average before tonight
Ties season high30 PTS · 1 REB · 5 AST
Keith Van HornPoints, last 10 games: 19, 16, 9, 16, 2, 16, 15, 20, 20, 28Knicks-Grizzlies · W
15.6 PPG season to date · +13.0 vs his regular-season average before tonight
28 PTS · 13 REB · 2 AST
Mike BibbyPoints, last 10 games: 17, 25, 10, 12, 19, 11, 18, 3, 23, 28Kings-Warriors · L
16.8 PPG season to date · +11.7 vs his regular-season average before tonight
Season high28 PTS · 2 REB · 5 AST
Hot and cold

Last 10 games against the season so far

Hot
LeBron JamesCLE+6.6 26.4 last 10 · 19.8 season
Donyell MarshallTOR+5.4 18.8 last 10 · 13.4 season
Jiri WelschBOS+5.1 12.7 last 10 · 7.6 season
Dwyane WadeMIA+4.6 21.4 last 10 · 16.8 season
Shawn MarionPHX+4.5 23.3 last 10 · 18.8 season
Cold
Ricky DavisBOS−3.9 10.3 last 10 · 14.2 season
Vin BakerBOS−3.9 8.9 last 10 · 12.8 season
Chauncey BillupsDET−3.9 14.7 last 10 · 18.6 season
Predrag DrobnjakLAC−3.8 4.6 last 10 · 8.4 season
Derek FisherLAL−3.3 3.9 last 10 · 7.2 season