Around the Association: Knicks Win At Home, Suns Pull Away, Ingram And Lillard Ball Out

This article is part of our NBA Daily Recap series.

Welcome to Around the Association!  Five days per week (Monday through Friday), this article will serve as a comprehensive recap of the previous night's NBA action, taking you through all of the biggest performances, notable box scores, injury updates and any other fantasy-relevant headlines from around the league.

It was an exciting five-game slate last night. Here is all you need to know:

Nightly Notables

Walker helps snap Knicks' home losing streak

• The New York Knicks had lost five straight showings at Madison Square Garden but finally got back in the win column during a 105-91 win over the Pistons. The Knicks found themselves shorthanded but were able to end victorious behind a strong performance from Kemba Walker, as the veteran point guard dropped 21 points (8-21 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 2-2 FT), eight rebounds, five assists and one steal over 39 minutes of action.
  • The hometown hero has averaged 25.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists over his last two appearances and one has to wonder if this play will lead to Walker finding himself back in coach Tom Thibodeau's rotation full-time.
    • Evan Fournier impressed with 22 points (9-24 FG, 4-11 3Pt), three assists, two rebounds, one steal and one block over 40 minutes. After five straight games scoring in single figures, the wing has now posted 20 or more points in three straight contests while averaging 25.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists during that span.
    • Julius Randle: 21 points (8-18 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 4-5 FT), 11 rebounds, three assists and one steal across 38 minutes.
• The Pistons are still without Jerami Grant (thumb) while Saddiq Bey had a solid performance in the loss. The Villanova finished with 15 points (5-19 FG, 3-13 3Pt, 2-2 FT), seven rebounds, three assists and one steal in 36 minutes.
  • Cade Cunningham had one of his early-season inefficient performances during the loss that reminds you that he is still just a rookie and can't fully be trusted to be a useful fantasy asset on a nightly basis. That being said, he still stuffed the stat sheet with seven points (2-13 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 3-3 FT), nine rebounds and eight assists over 32 minutes. Cunningham ranks as the 84th-best nine-category option on a per-game basis over the past month.

Shorthanded Heat handle struggling Pacers

• The Miami Heat were without Jimmy Butler (tailbone), Bam Adebayo (thumb) and Caleb Martin for Tuesday's contest against the Pacers, but were still able to crush Indiana by a score of 125-96.
  • Duncan Robinson had one of his better outings of the year, totaling 26 points (10-16 FG, 6-10 3Pt), one rebound and one assist over 30 minutes of play. It's been a major down year for the Michigan product as he is averaging just 11.6 points per game on the year which would be his lowest total out of his past three seasons.
  • Tyler Herro made his return to Miami's lineup after missing the team's last three games with a quad injury. He matched Robinson with 26 points (8-17 FG, 5-8 3Pt, 5-6 FT), five rebounds and one assist over 21 minutes off of the bench. This was encouraging to see as he was averaging just 16.4 points per game over his last eight appearances prior to Tuesday's win.
  • Kyle Lowry: Eight points (3-9 FG, 0-5 3Pt, 2-3 FT), 11 rebounds, 12 assists and two steals over 30 minutes of action.
• This was another one of those losses for Indiana where it makes you wonder how long it'll be until they start ramping up trade talks. Malcolm Brogdon exited the game early due to ankle soreness and played just seven minutes. Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis combined for just 21 total points and 11 total rebounds. The team's best player was rookie Chris Duarte as he dropped 17 points (5-7 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 4-5 FT), four rebounds, two rebounds and two steals in 18 minutes as a reserve. It almost seems like changes for the Pacers are inevitable.

Ingram leads Pelicans past Lillard and Trail Blazers

• The New Orleans Pelicans earned their third straight win after defeating the Trail Blazers 111-97 Tuesday night. Brandon Ingram had yet another monster performance with 28 points (12-22 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 2-5 FT), eight rebounds and eight assists over 37 minutes. The forward continues to shine as of late, averaging 27.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game in the month of December.
  • Nickeil Alexander-Walker showed out for the Pelicans off of the bench with 27 points (10-16 FG, 6-9 3Pt, 1-1 FT), three rebounds and four assists across 26 minutes. This was the second-year guard's first time scoring 20 or more points after going 15 straight contests without topping that mark.
  • Josh Hart: 20 points (7-10 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 5-5 FT), five rebounds, five assists, one block and three steals across 41 minutes
• Damian Lillard did all he could to will Portland to victory, even getting ejected within the final seconds of the contest. The All-NBA guard finished with 39 points (13-24 FG, 6-11 3Pt, 7-8 FT), two rebounds, seven assists and one steal over 40 minutes. After a slower start to the season, by Lillard's standards, he is averaging a ridiculous 38.0 points, 6.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds over his last three showings.
  • Larry Nance: 10 points (4-5 FG, 2-3 3Pt), six rebounds, a season-best four steals and two assists.

Depleted Mavericks top depleted Timberwolves

• The Dallas Mavericks were able to defeat the Timberwolves by a score of 114-102 despite missing nearly all of their rotation players. Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway and Reggie Bullock were all on the sidelines which allowed Jalen Brunson to go off for 28 points (10-18 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 5-8 FT), two rebounds, six assists, one block and three steals across 40 minutes.
  • The Villanova product has started the last five games for Dallas as Doncic remains out and has dropped 20.4 points and 7.4 assists per game over that span. Brunson seems like his in for a nice little payday this offseason.
    • Doncic is hoping to return for Dallas' next game Thursday night.
    • Dorian Finney-Smith: 19 points (7-15 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 2-2 FT), six rebounds, five assists and two steals in 41 minutes.
• Karl-Anthony Towns continues to ball out with Anthony Edwards (COVID protocols) still sidelined. The All-Star big dropped 26 points (9-14 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 5-5 FT), 14 rebounds, seven assists and two blocks across 38 minutes. Towns is averaging 27.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game over his last five appearances.
  • D'Angelo Russell struggled mightily with his shot, but was still able to produce a solid showing with 14 points(4-18 FG, 1-11 3Pt, 5-5 FT), 12 assists, one rebound and one steal over 35 minutes.
  • Malik Beasley: 22 points (8-15 FG, 6-12 3Pt), three rebounds and two assists across 35 minutes.

Lakers take another blowout loss

• Banana boat alums LeBron James and Chris Paul faced off for their respective teams when the Suns traveled to Los Angeles to play the Lakers. The game started out very competitive and the Phoenix led by just two at halftime. However, the Suns were able to pull away and win by a score of 108-90. Devin Booker stuffed the stat sheet with a team-high 24 points (8-16 FG, 6-11 3Pt, 2-2 FT), nine rebounds, seven assists and one steal over 32 minutes. This was just the All-Star shot creator's second appearance back after missing seven straight games with a hamstring injury.
  • I seriously just can't get over how good JaVale McGee has been this season. The veteran center finished Tuesday's win with 10 points (5-7 FG), 10 rebounds and a block. McGee has played exactly 15 minutes in his last three appearances, but he's averaging an impressive 15.3 points and 8.3 rebounds in his limited playing time. The 33-year-old's 17.1 rebounds per game per 36 minutes leads the entire league.
• Despite coming up short to Phoenix, LeBron James still balled out for Los Angeles. The 36-year-old ended with 34 points (13-19 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 6-6 FT), seven rebounds, two assists and two steals in 34 minutes. What James is doing in year No. 18 is absurd. He's up to 27.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game over his last eight showings.
  • Russell Westbrook also had a decent performance with 22 points (10-20 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 2-4 FT), 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals in 37 minutes. However, that was pretty much it for the Lakers.
  • Outside of James and Westbrook, the rest of the team scored a combined 34 points while shooting 28.9 percent from the field. Simply put, this Lakers team is just not good right now. However, come playoff time, we all know that anything is possible when you have LeBron James on your team.

Best and Worst of the Night

• Best of the Night: Damian Lillard - 39 points (13-24 FG, 6-11 3Pt, 7-8 FT), two rebounds, seven assists and one steal over 40 minutes.
• Worst of the Night: Talen Horton-Tucker - Three points (1-13 FG, 0-8 3Pt, 1-2 FT), two rebounds and one assist over 31 minutes.
• Rookie of the Night: Chris Duarte - 17 points (5-7 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 4-5 FT), four rebounds, two rebounds and two steals in 18 minutes

 The COVID Corner

• Raptors-Bulls postponed Wednesday
  • The Toronto Raptors are an absolute mess with COVID protocols with Precious Achiuwa, Dalano Banton, Scottie Barnes, Malachi Flynn, Pascal Siakam, Gary Trent Jr, Fred VanVleet, and OG Anunoby all sidelined due to the virus. The Raptors' next chance to play comes Sunday against Cleveland.
• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
  • Kyle Kuzma recently left COVID protocols, but was replaced by KCP on Tuesday. The veteran guard's absence does free up 29.2 minutes and 9.5 shot attempts for the Wizards. Expect Deni Avija, Corey Kispert and Aaron Holiday to pick up additional usage in Caldwell-Pope's absence.
• Danilo Gallinari, Clint Capela, Lou Williams and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot
  • The Hawks have had four players enter protocols over the past two days. Capela's absence opens up some immediate playing time for Onyeka Okongwu, but he's expected to remain on a minutes restriction in the short term, as Wednesday will mark only his second appearance of the season. The rest of the absences should open up time for players like Cam Reddish, Kevin Huerter and Bogdan Bogdanovic.
• Tim Hardaway
  • The sharpshooting wing was placed in protocols Tuesday. In the win over Minnesota, Sterling Brown, Theo Pinson and Trey Burke all saw additional usage without Hardaway.

A Look Ahead to Wednesday Night 

• The improved Cleveland Cavaliers travel to Boston to face the Celtics.
• The Clippers and Kings face off in an in-state matchup.
• Can the Rockets head into Milwaukee and leave with a win against a depleted Bucks squad?
• Nikola Jokic has four triple-doubles in his last seven appearances. What will he do tonight against the Thunder?