Three Stars
The three stars in ice hockey are the three best players in a game, with the “first star” considered the best of the three players, similar to the player of the match in other sports. Here are my “three stars” from yesterday’s NBA games.
First ⭐️
Zion Williamson scored a game-high 40 points, but it wasn’t enough as the New Orleans Pelicans fell to the Los Angeles Lakers 110-106 in a Play-In Tournament game. Williamson made 17 of his 27 field goal attempts, adding 11 rebounds and five assists in 36 minutes of action.
Williamson left the game with 3:19 remaining in the fourth quarter with an apparent leg injury. The Pelicans get one more chance to qualify for the playoffs, facing off against the Sacramento Kings Friday night. Williamson’s status for that game is unknown at this time.
Second ⭐️
Keegan Murray led all scorers with 32 points as the Sacramento Kings routed the Golden State Warriors 118-94 in the Play-In Tournament, eliminating Golden State from postseason competition. Murray shot 10-20 from the floor, making eight of his 13 attempts from 3-point range. He also had nine rebounds and two steals in 39 minutes played.
The Kings will move on to the play the Pelicans in New Orleans on Friday. The winner will get the number-eight seed in the Western Conference Playoffs, where they will face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.
Third ⭐️
LeBron James compiled 23 points, nine rebounds, nine assists, three steals, and two blocks in the Lakers’ win over the Pelicans. James was held to 6-20 shooting from the field, but made all 10 of his free throw attempts. He committed just two turnovers and no personal fouls in a game-high 41 minutes of court time.
The Lakers earned the seventh seed in the Western Conference Playoffs with the win. They will square off with the second-seeded Denver Nuggets in a seven-game series that starts Saturday, a rematch of last season’s conference finals.
Milestones
Williamson became the first player in the five-year history of the Play-In Tournament to record a 40-point, 10-rebound game. It’s also the first such game of Williamson’s NBA career.
Williamson set a Play-In-Tournament record with his 17 field goals made, the most he’s ever recorded in any NBA game. His previous single-game high was 16 field goals made, achieved twice in a 17-day span (March 26, 2021 and April 11, 2021).
Murray’s eight 3-pointers made broke the Play-In Tournament record of seven shared by Devin Vassell (April 13, 2022), Fred VanVleet (April 12, 2023), and Max Strus (April 14, 2023).
The Warriors’ Klay Thompson went 0-10 from the field, setting an ignominious record for most field goals attempted without a make in a Play-In Tournament game. Thompson doubled the previous mark of five field goals attempted without a make shared by Draymond Green (May 19, 2021), Kessler Edwards (April 12, 2022), and Jordan McLaughlin (April 11, 2023).
Led by Murray’s record-setting effort, the Sacramento Kings made 18 of their 39 attempts from 3-point range. They broke the Play-In Tournament record of 16 3-pointers made in a game shared by four teams.
Streaking
The Lakers’ Anthony Davis scored 20 points to go with game highs of 15 rebounds and three blocks. Davis has appeared in three Play-In Tournament games, posting at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in all of them.
Davis’ teammate, James, has also appeared in three Play-In Tournament games. He’s recorded at least 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists in each of them.
The Warriors’ Stephen Curry scored a team-high 22 points, going 8-16 from the field with three 3-pointers made. Curry has scored at least 20 points in each of his three Play-In Tournament games.
The Los Angeles Lakers are now 3-0 in Play-In Tournament games, winning one game apiece in 2021, 2023, and 2024.
The Golden State Warriors have dropped all three games they’ve played in the Play-In Tournament, losing twice last season and once this season.
Miscellany
Williamson led all players with 40 points last night. He was followed by the Kings’ Murray (32) and De’Aaron Fox (24); James (23); Curry (22); and the Lakers’ D’Angelo Russell (21) and Davis (20).
Davis was the night’s leading rebounder, hauling in 15 boards. The Pelicans’ Larry Nance Jr. (12), the Kings’ Domantas Sabonis (12), Williamson (11), and the Pelicans’ Jonas Valanciunas (10) also collected double-digit rebounds.
James was the top playmaker last night, dishing out nine assists. Next in line were the Pelicans’ Jose Alvarado and Sabonis with seven dimes apiece.