This archive report was first published on 7 January 2022.
On January 6-7, 2022, the NBA witnessed a series of thrilling matches that saw the Phoenix Suns power past the Los Angeles Clippers, the Golden State Warriors fall to the New Orleans Pelicans, and the New York Knicks edge the Boston Celtics.
Chris Paul led the Suns to a 106-89 victory over the Clippers, securing his 17th career triple-double with 14 points, 10 assists, and a career-high 13 rebounds. The Suns' win marked their 30th of the season, moving them one game ahead of the Warriors for the best record in the league.
Meanwhile, the Warriors struggled without the presence of Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, who were sidelined due to injuries. The team fell 101-96 to the Pelicans in New Orleans, marking their first back-to-back losses since last season.
Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with 32 points, helping the team end a three-game losing streak. The Warriors' loss came on the heels of a setback in Dallas, where Curry sat out with a sore left quadriceps after banging into the knee of Dallas' Dorian Finney-Smith.
On the other hand, the Knicks staged a remarkable comeback against the Celtics, overcoming a 25-point first-half deficit to win 108-105. Evan Fournier led the charge with a career-high 41 points, including 10 three-pointers, to fuel the Knicks' fightback.
With 2:07 left to play, Fournier's three-pointer gave the Knicks their first lead of the game, 99-98. However, Boston's Jayson Tatum knotted the score with a step-back jump shot with 2.2 seconds remaining, setting the stage for RJ Barrett's game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer.
