The Brooklyn Nets-Los Angeles Lakers game Saturday saw numerous players ruled out thanks to NBA COVID-19 health and safety protocols, including Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and five others for the Nets and Avery Bradley, Kent Bazemore and three others for the Lakers. But of those who actually played, there were star performances from both expected figures like Brooklyn’s James Harden and Los Angeles’ LeBron James, but also unexpected figures like the Nets’ Patty Mills. Mills (seen above) added 34 points to Harden’s 36 to help Brooklyn to a 122-115 win, which put those two in rare company:
James Harden and Patty Mills are the first pair of teammates to each score 30 points on Christmas Day since Charles Barkley and Kevin Johnson did it in 1993.
Mills also set the Christmas Day record with 8 made threes. pic.twitter.com/Z25fYCyLk9
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 26, 2021
Here are some of Mills’ highlights on the night:
PATTY MILLS SETS THE #NBAXmas RECORD WITH HIS 8TH THREE!
1 minute left on ABC/ESPN pic.twitter.com/oOxrdeSXnG
— NBA (@NBA) December 26, 2021
PATTY MILLS 🔥
34 Points (Career-High)
11/17 Shooting
8 3PTS (XMAS record)
7 Assists
0 Turnovers pic.twitter.com/rkYc1jIakW— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) December 26, 2021
Patty Mills making it look easy on Christmas Day 🔥 pic.twitter.com/RP2dJHYWXc
— ESPN (@espn) December 26, 2021
Patty Mills is taking over.
Shooting, attacking, passing…the Nets guard is up to 25 points and 6 dimes through 3Q!#NBAXmas on ABC/ESPN pic.twitter.com/naXKA8tzhX
— NBA (@NBA) December 26, 2021
That’s a great night for Mills, and one where he really stepped up with other Nets’ stars like Durant out. And it gave the Nets a big win and improved them to 22-9 on the season, while the Lakers fell to 16-18.
[NBA.com; photo from Gary A. Vasquez/USA Today Sports]
