Around the Association: Embiid Waves Goodbye, Giannis Takes Over, Beal's Big Night

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 just a three-game slate last night, but here is all you need to know:

Nightly Notables

Embiid spoils Durant's return as tempers flare 

• By far the best game last night came out of Brooklyn when the 76ers matched up against the Nets while Kevin Durant returned to court after missing the team's last three contests. The game was tightly contested throughout, but the 76ers ended up victorious by a score of 110-102. Joel Embiid talked his smack and backed it up with  34 points (11-23 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 9-12 FT), seven rebounds, one assist, one block and three steals in 32 minutes. The All-Star center is firmly in the MVP race as he is averaging 33.7 points and 10.0 rebounds over his last six showings.
  • Tyrese Maxey was clutch for the 76ers during the entire game. The second-year guard ended with 25 points (10-18 FG, 5-8 3Pt), seven rebounds and four assists in 33 minutes. Usually, Maxey does most of his damage off the dribble, but he impressed me with his catch-and-shoot buckets last night.
• Well, Durant showed no signs of rust as he dropped in 33 points (13-24 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 4-6 FT), six rebounds, four assists and one block in 38 minutes. The forward is averaging video-game-like numbers over his last five games, posting 36.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game.
  • It was very encouraging to see James Harden continue his solid play even with Durant coming back to the lineup as he finished with 33 points (9-20 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 14-18 FT), 14 rebounds, 10 assists and two steals in 40 minutes. This marked Harden's second triple-double in his last three showings.

Beal cooks the Cavs

• This was Bradley Beal's first game from COVID protocols after missing the team's last three showings, but it might have been the best I have seen him play all season. The shot-creator was doing everything he wanted while finishing with 29 points (13-23 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 1-1 FT), six rebounds, 10 assists and one steal over 34 minutes during Washington's 110-93 win over Cleveland. After a slower start to the year, I am starting to think that Beal is officially back as he is averaging 30.5 points over his last four appearances.
  • Kyle Kuzma keeps rolling here in his first season with the Wizards. The forward finished with 25 points (11-17 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 2-5 FT), 10 rebounds, two assists and one block across 34 minutes. Kuzma is averaging 19.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per game over the team's last four contests.
  • The Wizards were without Spencer Dinwiddie (COVID), among others.
• This was a pretty ugly game for Cleveland as the Cavs looked like they had no rhythm or flow without Ricky Rubio (knee) and Darius Garland (COVID). However, Kevin Love's rejuvenated play continued as he started and recorded 24 points (7-15 FG, 4-10 3Pt, 6-8 FT), 11 rebounds, one assist and one steal across 29 minutes. Ready for this, Love is averaging 23.3 points and 8.0 rebounds over his last three appearances.
  • Evan Mobley was also impressive for Cleveland despite the loss. In just his second game back from his time in COVID protocols, he ended with  21 points (10-20 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 1-2 FT), five rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal over 32 minutes. Mobley even pulled off his best Dr. J. impression, which even had Kuzma high-fiving him.

• Giannis takes over in the fourth 
  • The Orlando Magic and Milwaukee Bucks matched up in Florida and the contest was actually a close game late into the third quarter. However, Giannis Antetokounmpo proved to be too much in the fourth and pushed the Bucks to a 136-118 victory. The Greek Freak ended with 33 points (13-22 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 6-6 FT), 12 rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals across 31 minutes.
  • Antetokounmpo is averaging 32.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game over his first three appearances since returning from health and safety protocols.
    • Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton both played great and each scored over 20 points, but the Bucks' player aside from Antetokounmpo that really impressed me was DeMarcus Cousins. The veteran big played just 16 minutes, but he ended with 15 points (5-7 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 5-5 FT), five rebounds and two blocks in the win. He just looked fresh out there and seems like he has finally found a new home
  • Franz Wagner just will not slow down. The rookie led the Magic in scoring yet again, finishing with 20 points (6-12 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 6-6 FT), three rebounds and one assist across 34 minutes of action. Wagner has now gone for 20 or more points in four out of his last five showings.
    • Moritz Wagner: 19 points (5-15 FG, 1-8 3Pt, 8-10 FT), three rebounds, three assists and one steal in 25 minutes

Best and Worst of the Night 

• Best of the Night: Joel Embiid - 34 points (11-23 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 9-12 FT), seven rebounds, one assist, one block and three steals in 32 minutes.
• Worst of the Night: Patty Mills - Five points (2-10 FG, 1-8 3Pt), three rebounds, one assist and one block over 34 minutes.
• Rookie of the Night: Evan Mobley - 21 points (10-20 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 1-2 FT), five rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal over 32 minutes.

A Look Ahead to New Year's Eve 

• Can the Celtics figure it out against the Suns?
• The Bulls look for six straight wins when they travel to meet the Pacers
• Damian Lillard and LeBron James square off in a battle of struggling teams
• What will Ja Morant do tonight when the Spurs come to town?