Cyclones in the NBA: Week 9

Georges Niang and the Cavaliers continue to hold the best record in the NBA, suffering just four losses in 30 outings, while Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers saw their five-game win streak snapped this week in an action-packed holiday week of hoops.

Tyrese Haliburton - #0, Indiana Pacers (15-16)
Tyrese and the Pacers saw their season-high five-game win streak snapped this week at home to the hands of the best team in the west – the Oklahoma City Thunder. Indiana played back-to-back nights on the west coast to start the week, pummeling the Kings by 27 before besting the Warriors by six.

Tyrese about averaged a double-double on the week, falling 0.7 assists shy. He notched his seventh game with 12-plus assists this season against Golden State, as he earned his largest +/- of the season with a +28.

Haliburton's Week: 11.3 PPG, 9.3 APG, 4.3 RPG
Next Week: @ BOS (12/27), @ BOS (12/29), vs. MIL (12/31)

Georges Niang - #20, Cleveland Cavaliers (26-4)
While Tyrese saw a five-game win streak snapped, Niang and the Cavaliers are currently on a five-game win streak, picking up three more victories this past week. The Cavs have won nine of their last ten and Niang has been a big piece off the bench.

In three double-digit margin victories this week, Niang shot 46.2 percent from deep and recorded his 12th game of double-figure scoring off the bench against Philadelphia.

Niang's Week: 8.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.0 APG
Next Week: @ DEN (12/27), @ GSW (12/30), @ LAL (12/31)

Monté Morris - #23, Phoenix Suns (15-14)
Phoenix snapped a three-game skid on Christmas, besting the three-time league MVP Nikola Jokić at home by ten. Morris had one of his most productive stints of the season this week, cracking 20 minutes of playing time for the first time all year against Denver.

Morris was the only Cyclone to play on Christmas Day and had a positive +/- in all three outings. When asked about Morris and the bench production, Phoenix coach Mike Budenholzer had high praise.

Mike Budenholzer on Josh Okogie and Monte Morris: "I thought Josh and Monte set a tone for us, even though not starting the game, but maintaining our intensity, maintaining all those activity plays, hustle plays." pic.twitter.com/FrNDPmEqkU
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) December 26, 2024

Morris's Week: 7.3 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 3.0 APG
Next Week: vs. DAL (12/27), @ GSW (12/28), vs. MEM (12/31)

Talen Horton-Tucker - #22, Chicago Bulls (13-18)
A week after logging the best week of the season, going 3-0, the Bulls went 0-3 over the holiday. The Bulls were matched up with Eastern powerhouses Boston and Milwaukee before falling on the road to Atlanta.

THT had a cold stretch over the week, scoring just five total points across the three contests in 40 minutes of action.

Horton-Tucker's Week: 1.7 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 2.7 APG
Next Week: vs. MIL (12/28), @ CLT (12/30), @ WAS (1/1)

Nationally Televised Cyclones this Week
Dec. 27 – Pacers at Celtics – NBA TV
Dec. 28 – Suns at Warriors – NBA TV

G League Check-In
Izaiah Brockington - #23, Birmingham Squadron (14 GP)
Stats: 16.8 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 2.7 APG

Hason Ward - #2, Maine Celtics (16 GP)
Stats: 6.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.1 APG, 2.8 BPG

Solomon Young - #21, South Bay Lakers (15 GP)
Stats: 6.6 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 0.9 APG

Tre King - #1, Sioux Falls Sky Force (14 GP)
Stats: 5.7 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 0.4 APG

To follow along & keep up with your favorite Pro Cyclones, head to the NBA App: https://link.nba.com/NBA-App25.

Players Mentioned

Tre King

Hason Ward

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics