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 ⭐️
Darius Garland led the shorthanded Cleveland Cavaliers to their 15th consecutive victory, scoring a game-high 30 points (18 of them in the fourth quarter) in a 109-104 win over the Brooklyn Nets. Garland shot 11-24 from the field (7-10 in the final period) and sank all five of his free throw attempts. He also produced game highs of eight assists and four steals, and was not charged with a personal foul in 36 minutes of action.
Second ⭐️
Pascal Siakam scored a game-high 25 points as the Indiana Pacers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 115-114 on Tyrese Haliburton’s game-winning four-point play with 3.4 seconds remaining. Siakam shot 10-15 from the field, making three of his seven 3-point attempts. He added a team-high 12 rebounds, five assists, and one steal in 37 minutes of court time.
Third ⭐️
Zion Williamson recorded his second career triple-double (both coming in his last six games), scoring 22 points to go with team highs of 10 rebounds and 12 assists in the New Orleans Pelicans’ 127-120 upset win over the LA Clippers. Williamson went 8-13 from the floor and a perfect 6-6 from the charity stripe. He also blocked one shot in 33 minutes played.
Milestones
The Detroit Pistons’ Cade Cunningham (27 points, 10 assists) recorded his 25th 20-point, 10-assist game of the season in a 123-103 rout of the Washington Wizards. The only player in franchise history to record more such games in a single season is Isiah Thomas (three times).
The Clippers’ James Harden (25 points, 17 assists) recorded at least 25 points and 15 assists in a game for the 23rd time, breaking a tie with three others for the fifth-most such games in NBA history.
The Cleveland Cavaliers improved to a league-leading 55-10, the fifth time in franchise history they’ve won at least 55 games in a season. Only four teams in NBA history have reached that mark in fewer games: the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors (60 games), the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls (62), the 1996-97 Chicago Bulls (63), and the 1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers (64).
The Cavaliers clinched the Central Division title for the eighth time in franchise history and the first time since LeBron James departed following the 2017-18 season. Cleveland leads the Eastern Conference by eight games with 17 games remaining.
Streaking
The Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton (10 assists, one turnover) has recorded double-digit assists with two or fewer turnovers in each of his last seven games, tying Muggsy Bogues for the longest such streak since the NBA began tracking individual turnovers in 1977-78.
Cunningham has scored at least 25 points in each of his last five games, matching the longest such streak of his career. He’s the first Detroit Piston to record five straight 25-point, 5-assist games since Grant Hill in 1999-2000.
Team(s) with a winning streak of five or more games: Cleveland Cavaliers (15).
The Cavaliers are just the sixth team in NBA history to post multiple winning streak of 15 or more games in the same season. They join the 1946-47 Washington Capitols, the 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks. the 1996-97 Utah Jazz, the 1999-2000 Los Angeles Lakers, and the 2006-07 Phoenix Suns.
The Cavaliers shot an ugly 10-42 from beyond the arc, but that was enough to extend their streak of games with 10 or more 3-pointers made to 70. It’s the third-longest such streak in NBA history, trailing a 97-game run by the Houston Rockets and an 87-game run by the Utah Jazz.
Miscellany
Garland paced all scorers last night with 30 points. The Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard was next in line with 29 points, followed by Cunningham and the Nets’ Cam Thomas with 27 apiece.
The Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo was the night’s top board man, hauling in 17 rebounds. The Cavaliers’ Jarrett Allen and the Pistons’ Jalen Duren tied for runner-up, each snagging 13 boards.
The Clippers’ James Harden was the leading playmaker, matching his season high with 17 assists last night. Also delivering double-digit dimes were Williamson (career-high 12), the Bucks’ Damian Lillard (11), Cunningham (10), and Haliburton (10).
RIP to Junior Bridgeman, who passed away yesterday at the age of 71. The eighth overall pick in the 1975 NBA Draft out of Louisville, Bridgeman spent 10 of his 12 seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks. He averaged 13.6 PPG in 849 regular season games, ranking 79th in league history with a career free throw percentage of 84.6%. Bridgeman is best known for his highly-successful career as a businessman following his retirement from the NBA.