Blue Devil Country

Former Duke Basketball Star Ties NBA Christmas Day Record

The NBA Christmas Day finale included two notably productive Duke basketball talents.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

Two years ago, then-Brooklyn Nets guard Patty Mills set the NBA Christmas Day record with eight made 3-pointers in a game. This go-round, in the nightcap, Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen, a 2015 Duke basketball national champ and four-year Blue Devil treasure, and Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic each matched Mills' mark.

Doncic finished with 50 points, leading the Mavericks (18-12) to a 128-114 road win over the Suns (14-15). He had help from 2022-23 Blue Devil one-and-done and lottery pick center Dereck Lively II, who tallied the fifth double-double of his rookie campaign via 20 points and 10 rebounds across his 32 minutes as a starter.

But despite Phoenix's loss, Grayson Allen was impressive. The 28-year-old full-time starter posted a season-high 32 points, adding four rebounds, four assists, and one steal in 39 minutes on the floor. And his eight threes tied his career-high. He shot 12-for-22 from the field, including his 8-for-17 clip from deep.

He had 19 points in the third quarter alone, drawing the following shoutout from the Duke basketball program on social media:

Through his 24 outings this season, his first campaign with the Suns, Allen is putting up career-high numbers pretty much across the board: 13.0 points, 4.5 boards, 2.7 dimes, and 1.0 steals per contest while shooting 45.4 percent beyond the arc.

His 3-point percentage is the ninth-best in the NBA this season.

Allen and the Suns next travel to face the Houston Rockets (15-12) at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday.

List of Every Blue Devil Currently in the NBA

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball news.

Published
Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

Home/NBA Blue Devils