Image Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

NBA Daily Recap, January 01 – Nikola Jokic’s historic triple-double, Raptors end losing streak and more

Let's take a look at what happened on Wednesday in the NBA.

Image Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Here’s the NBA Daily Recap for Jan. 01, 2025, where we witnessed eight matchups. It was New Year’s Day and lower-seeded teams were in good form to change the table on the first day of the year. Players like Immanuel Quickley, Trae Young, Nikola Jokic, Josh Hart and De’Aaron Fox delivered top-class performances.

From Toronto Raptors ending season’s longest active losing streak to De’Aaron Fox leading Sacramento to a comeback, let’s go through the key highlights from the NBA action on Tuesday night.

Pistons 105-96 Magic

Jaden Ivey scored 22 points before leaving the court on a stretcher due to a leg injury as Piston overcame Orlando Magic. Cade Cunningham chipped in with 19 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. Jalen Duren added 18 points and 11 rebounds. Tobias Harris had 17 points and eight rebounds for Detroit Pistons, who have won four of its last five games.

Jalen Suggs paced Orlando with 24 points, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 21 points and Wendell Carter Jr. had 15 points and eight rebounds. Magic had another chance to pull off a comeback but Pistons controlled their offense in the second half. Detroit had a 73-55 lead in the third quarter but Magic sparked a 14-1 run. Orlando cut the deficit to three points in fourth quarter but 8-0 run helped Piston to take the game away from the visitors.

Raptors 130-113 Nets

Toronto Raptors made a positive start to the new year as they ended the NBA’s longest active losing streak (11) after beating the Nets 130-113. Immanuel Quickley had a double-double in his return to Toronto’s lineup with 21 points and 15 assists. Scottie Barnes also had a double-double with a game-high 33 points and 13 rebounds. Gradey Dick added 22 points to surpass the 1,000-point milestone.

Cam Johnson was the top-performer for the Nets with with 24 points. Nic Claxton chipped in with 16 points and 10 rebounds. After the trade from Lakers, D’Angelo Russell scored 22 points and eight assists off the bench. It was a toe-to-toe encounter in the first three quarters. However, a 25-6 run from the Raptors in the fourth quarter changed the narrative. Quickley hit a three-pointer with 4:17 left to play to stretch the lead to 20 points.

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Knicks 119-103 Jazz

New York Knicks extended their winning streak to nine matches with a win over Utah Jazz. Karl-Anthony Towns dropped 31 points and 21 rebounds to become the second Knicks player to log multiple 30-plus-point, 20-plus-rebound games in the same season. Josh Hart scored his second straight triple-double. He is the first Knicks player since Michael Ray Richardson in 1981 with consecutive triple-doubles.

Jalen Brunson-less Ne York was led by Mikal Bridges’ 27 points and OG Anunoby’s 22. Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton scored 25 apiece for the Jazz. Lauri Markkanen scored 16 points while shooting just 6 for 22. Utah lost their fifth straight and fell to 7-25.

Josh Hart has registered his second consecutive game recording a triple-double.

He is now the first Knick since Michael Ray Richardson (1981) and the fifth in franchise history to accomplish this. 📈 pic.twitter.com/qULrzLLrgl
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 2, 2025

Rockets 110-99 Mavericks

Houston Rockets rallied a decisive second-quarter run to end a two-game losing streak in a five-game homestand. Alperen Sengun scored 23 points and Cam Whitmore added 18 points off the bench. The duo charged the Rockets with a 23-4 run to flip a 10-point deficit to a nine-point lead at halftime. Jalen Green also contributed 22 points while Dillon Brooks had 19.

Kyrie Irving finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Klay Thompson had 16 points for the Mavericks, who also lost PJ Washington due to a right knee sprain. Dallas lost a 10-point lead early in the first quarter which was controlled through a 12-2 surge. Houston outscored the Mavericks 37-22 in the third quarter and Dallas lost the momentum.

Nuggets 139-120 Hawks

Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murry had a great show in the opening half to help Denver Nuggets snapping Atlanta’s four-game winning streak. Jokic produced a fastest triple-double in NBA history in just 29 minutes. Denver’s 41-24 surge in third quarter allowed full control on the game. Jalen Johnson-less Atlanta were led by Trae Young who scored 30 points, who hit two straight three-pointers to reduce the deficit heading into the fourth quarter.

Nikola Jokić of the @nuggets is the first player in NBA history to have at least 15 points, 15 rebounds & 15 assists in a game while playing 30 minutes or less. pic.twitter.com/y9vD4G4sY2
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) January 2, 2025

Jokic chipped in with 23 points, 17 rebounds and 15 assists while Jamal Murray added 21 points. Russell Westbrook contributed 16 points and Nuggets are 9-2 when Westbrook starts in the lineup. Vit Krejci and De’Andre Hunter came off the bench to contribute in double figures but shotting slump denied Atlanta a potential comeback.

Other results

Wizards 125-107 Bulls

Heat 119-108 Pelicans

Kings 113-107 76ers

Image Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

De’Aaron Fox

Houston Rockets

Jaden Ivey

NBA Recap

Nikola Jokic

Toronto Raptors

Gulshan Sharma

nba

soccer

wnba

A native of Jaipur, Rajasthan, journalist, and a complete soccer and basketball fan, he found the huge interest with basketball by watching videos of Allen Iverson and Tony Parker, but fell head over heels in love with the sport during the Warriors’ championship era (2015-2018). A sports game addict since his late PS1, he’s also passionate about the Eagles, Inter Miami and the Fever. He’s fortunate to have seen all his favorite teams win championships. He also has a special love for cricket and football (soccer), where he is a fan of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Barcelona.