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 ⭐️
Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded his second straight triple-double, compiling game highs of 36 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 121-115 overtime win over the Miami Heat. Antetokounmpo shot 13-21 from the field and 10-14 from the free throw line. He also blocked one shot and was charged with just one personal foul in 43 minutes of action.
Second ⭐️
Rudy Gobert scored 23 points and hauled in a game-high 19 rebounds as the Minnesota Timberwolves picked up their fifth straight win with a 114-109 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Gobert was nearly flawless from the floor, making 10 of his 11 field goal attempts. He also blocked a game-high three shots and swiped a team-high two steals, committing just one turnover in 36 minutes played.
Third ⭐️
James Harden produced game highs of 29 points (tied with Kawhi Leonard) and 14 assists in the LA Clippers’ 135-104 rout of the Dallas Mavericks, LA’s 14th win in its last 17 games. Harden went 10-19 from the field and made eight of his nine free throw attempts. He also grabbed seven rebounds and swiped one steal in 31 minutes of playing time.
Milestones
Clippers center Ivica Zubac (11-11 field goals) set a franchise record for most field goals made in a game without a miss. The previous mark of 10 was shared by Charles Smith (April 11, 1992) and Zubac himself (Aug. 6, 2020).
The Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards (6-13 on threes) made his 300th 3-pointer of the season, becoming the first player in franchise history to reach that mark. He’s hit 303 triples this season, a total that has only been exceeded by Stephen Curry (five times) and James Harden.
The Detroit Pistons’ Malik Beasley (3-12 on threes) became the first player in franchise history to reach 300 pointers made in a season in a 109-103 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. He’s tied with Klay Thompson for eighth place on the NBA’s single-season list with 301 makes from beyond the arc.
The Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young (nine assists) set a franchise record for most assists in a season with 832 in a 121-105 loss to the New York Knicks, breaking a tie with Doc Rivers (1986-87).
Young (3-7 on threes) also made his 200th 3-pointer of the season, the third time he’s reached that mark. He’s just the third player in NBA history to record at least 800 assists and 200 triples in a season, joining James Harden and Russell Westbrook, both of whom did so in 2016-17.
The Memphis Grizzlies (9-32 on threes) set a franchise record for most 3-pointers made in a season with 1,076, surpassing the mark of 1,071 they established last season.
Streaking
Antetokounmpo became just the third player in NBA history to record at least 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists in back-to-back games, joining Oscar Robertson (Dec. 25 & 27, 1963) and Wilt Chamberlain (March 16 & 18, 1968).
Antetokounmpo is the first frontcourt player (i.e., forward or center) in NBA history to record three consecutive games with at least 35 points and 10 assists.
Antetokounmpo has scored at least 30 points on 60% shooting from the field in each of his last seven games, breaking a tie with LeBron James (Feb. 3-12, 2013) for the longest such streak in NBA history.
Antetokounmpo has recorded 152 straight 10-point games, 12 straight 20-point games, eight straight 25-point games, seven straight 30-point games, and three straight 35-point games.
Gobert is just the second player in NBA history to record at least 20 points and 10 rebounds with 90% shooting from the field in consecutive games. He joins Chamberlain, who did so three times.
The Hawks’ Dyson Daniels (two steals) has recorded at least one steal in 48 consecutive games, the longest such streak in franchise history. He’s accumulated 146 thefts over that stretch.
Zubac (25 points, 10 rebounds) has recorded 11 straight double-doubles, breaking a tie for the longest such streak of his career. He’s averaging 18.5 PPG and 13.0 RPG with a field goal percentage of 62.0% over that span.
The Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard (29 points) has produced 12 consecutive 20-point games, matching the fourth-longest such streak of his career. He’s averaging 26.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG, and 2.1 SPG with 56.5/50.0/84.8 shooting splits over that span.
Team(s) with a winning streak of five or more games: Minnesota Timberwolves (five).
Team(s) with a losing streak of five or more games: Philadelphia 76ers (11).
Miscellany
The Grizzlies’ Desmond Bane was the night’s leading point producer, bagging 38 points. He was followed by Edwards (37), Antetokounmpo (36), the Heat’s Bam Adebayo (31), and the Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns (30).
The Grizzlies’ Zach Edey was the chairman of the boards, snagging a career-high 21 rebounds last night. Gobert ranked second with 15 boards, while Antetokounmpo placed third with 15.
Harden was the top playmaker last night, handing out 14 assists. Also delivering double-digit dimes were the Knicks’ Josh Hart (11) and Antetokounmpo (10).
The Philadelphia 76ers have lost 26 of their last 29 games, including the last 11 in a row. They have dropped 15 games by double digits over that span, with an average scoring differential of minus-10.8 PPG.