Around the League: Friday's top highlights, performers and storylines

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Friday's NBA schedule featured seven games, with some of the league's best players and teams on display.

If you missed any of the action, check below for can't-miss highlights, top performers and biggest storylines.

Best Performers

Joel Embiid — 42 points (11-18 FG), 18 rebounds, 4 blocks

Kemba Walker — 30 points (9-29 FG), 9 assists, 7 rebounds

Andre Drummond — 23 points (10-15 FG), 11 rebounds, 4 blocks

Nikola Jokic — 37 points (14-22 FG), 21 rebounds, 3 assists

Karl-Anthony Towns — 39 points (15-27 FG), 19 rebounds 

Joe Ingles — 27 points (10-14 FG), 7 assists, 5 rebounds

Top Storylines

A wild one in Philadelphia

The Hornets trailed by as much as 21 points against the 76ers, but they managed to make things interesting with a huge run in the second half.

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Kemba Walker played the hero for Charlotte. The two-time All-Star had only eight points on 2-for-15 shooting through three quarters, but he exploded for 19 points on 6-for-10 shooting in the fourth quarter alone.

Two of those points came on a tough layup in the closing seconds of regulation that helped force overtime.

 

Unfortunately for Walker and the Hornets, they just didn't have an answer for Joel Embiid, who put up 42 points and 18 rebounds.

A monster game for Jokic

Nikola Jokic entered Friday night having gone four straight games scoring under 10 points.

He snapped that streak in a big way against the Nets.

In 33 minutes of action, Jokic scored a game-high 37 points on 14-for-22 shooting from the field. He also grabbed 21 rebounds, seven of which came on the offensive glass.

The only thing Jokic struggled with? Turnovers. He had six on the game, the costliest coming with 22.1 seconds remaining that paved the for Caris LeVert to hit the game-winner.

Hayward makes his return

After missing all but five minutes of last season with an ankle injury, Gordon Hayward made his long-awaited return to Utah on Friday.

Hayward finished the game with 13 points, seven assists, one steal and one rebound in 25 minutes of play. He shot 3-for-9 from the field and 1-for-5 from 3-point range.

It wasn't enough for the Celtics to get the win.

The story of the game for the Jazz was Joe Ingles and Jae Crowder. Ingles tied his career-high with 27 points and Crowder came off the bench to score 20 points against his former team.

Can't-miss highlights

Players Blake Griffin's size shouldn't be able to pass like this:


The same goes for players Nikola Jokic's size.

Nikola Jokic getting it done on both ends!#MileHighBasketball 108#WeGoHard 106

1:23 remaining on NBALP (https://t.co/L3VurkatG8) pic.twitter.com/l3xOpUXlDD

— NBA (@NBA) November 10, 2018

One of the many clutch shots Kemba Walker hit against the 76ers:


Gordon Hayward gets his first bucket in his return to Utah:


Spencer Dinwiddie from halfcourt!


Rudy Gobert made a business decision ... and still ended up on a poster.


Maybe Caris LeVert is the player on the Nets who has ice in his veins.


Box Scores

Wizards 108, Magic 117 | Hornets 132, 76ers 133

Pistons 124, Hawks 109 | Pacers 110, Heat 102

Nets 112, Nuggets 110 | Celtics 115, Jazz 123

Timberwolves 110, Kings 121 

Author(s)
Scott Rafferty Photo

Scott Rafferty is a Senior NBA Editor for The Sporting News