NBA Game Notes (Nov. 13, 2022)

Here are the NBA game notes for games that were played on November 13, 2022.

Nov 14, 2022

Historic Night for Embiid

The Sixers’ Joel Embiid turned in one of the most impressive all-around performances in NBA history in a 105-98 win over the Jazz:

59 PTS
11 REB
8 AST
7 BLK
19-28 FG
20-24 FT

Embiid is the first player to record at least 50 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and five blocks in a game since the NBA began tracking blocks in 1973-74.

Embiid’s Game Score* was 54.4, the highest by a Sixer since individual turnovers were first recorded in 1977-78. Only two active players have recorded a higher Game Score: James Harden in his 60-point triple-double (56.6) and Devin Booker in his 70-point outing (54.5).

* John Hollinger's estimate of a player's total production in a game.

Embiid has recorded at least 40 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in consecutive games. The last center to record two such games in a row was Bob McAdoo on Feb. 15 & 17, 1976.

Embiid actually reached those marks on consecutive calendar days. The only other player since the ABA-NBA merger to achieve this feat is James Harden on March 17 & 18, 2017.

Over his last four games, Embiid is averaging 40.0 PPG, 11.0 RPG, and 5.3 APG. He’s just the fifth player since the ABA-NBA merger to average at least 40 PPG, 10 RPG, and 5 APG over a four-game span:

Larry Bird, 1984-85
Michael Jordan, 1989-90
Russell Westbrook, 2014-15 & 2016-17
Luka Doncic, 2021-22
Joel Embiid, 2022-23

Garland Drops 51

The Cavaliers’ Darius Garland scored 51 points in a loss to the Timberwolves. He became the fourth player in franchise history to record a 50-point game (a total of 13 instances):

LeBron James (nine times)
Kyrie Irving (two times)
Walt Wesley
Darius Garland

Garland scored 27 of his points in the fourth quarter. It’s the second-highest-scoring quarter in franchise history (Kevin Love, 34) and the highest-scoring fourth quarter in franchise history. The previous mark of 24 fourth-quarter points was held by LeBron James.

Garland made 10 3-pointers on the night, one shy of the franchise single-game record held by Kyrie Irving. At 22 years and 291 days old, Garland became the youngest player in NBA history to record at least 50 points and 10 3-pointers made in a game:

22-291 — Darius Garland (Nov. 13, 2022)
22-311 — Kyrie Irving (Jan. 28, 2015)
22-342 — Saddiq Bey (March 17, 2022)
22-354 — Terrence Ross (Jan. 25, 2014)
24-349 — Klay Thompson (Jan. 23, 2015)

Teammate Kevin Love became the 42nd player in NBA history to reach 1,500 career 3-pointers made. Only two players in that group have more career rebounds than Love’s 8,763: Dirk Nowitzki (11,489) and LeBron James (10,298).

M-M-M-My Sabonis

Domantas Sabonis tallied 26 points, 22 rebounds, and eight assists as the Kings beat the Warriors 122-115. It’s the third time Sabonis has recorded at least 20 points, 20 rebounds, and five assists in a game, the fourth-most such games among active players:

7 — Nikola Jokic
7 — Andre Drummond
5 — Giannis Antetokounmpo
3 — Domantas Sabonis

Sabonis has recorded 136 rebounds and 75 assists in 12 games this season. Only three players since the ABA-NBA merger have matched or exceeded both of those totals through their first 12 games of a season:

Kevin Garnett, 2004-05 (178 REB, 77 AST)
Giannis Antetokounmpo, 2019-20 (172 REB, 78 AST)
Nikola Jokic, 2021-22 (164 REB, 76 AST)

Season Highs for AD

Anthony Davis scored 37 points and grabbed 18 rebounds — both season highs — to lead the Lakers to a 116-103 win over the Nets. A career-high 10 of Davis’ rebounds came off the offensive glass.

Kevin Durant had 31 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists in the loss. He’s the sixth player in NBA history to open a season with 14 straight 25-point games (a total of seven instances):

Elgin Baylor, 1961-62
Wilt Chamberlain, 1961-62
Chamberlain, 1962-63
Rick Barry, 1966-67
Michael Jordan, 1988-89
Bradley Beal, 2020-21
Kevin Durant, 2022-23

Durant — who was 34 years and 45 days old yesterday — is by far the oldest player in this group. The closest player to him is Bradley Beal, who was 27 years and 215 days old when he accomplished the feat.

The Thunder Roll

The Thunder outscored the Knicks 145-135, shooting 55-88 from the field — including 17-31 on 3-pointers — and 18-20 from the free throw line. It’s the first time in franchise history the Thunder have shot at least 60% from the field, 50% from 3-point range, and 90% from the free throw line in a game.

The Thunder’s effective field goal percentage was 72.2%, the second-highest such figure in a game in franchise history:

72.6% — Jan. 21, 2002
72.2% — Nov. 13, 2022
69.9% — March 10, 2012
69.5% — Jan. 23, 2005
68.5% — March 14, 2021

Josh Giddey recorded the fifth triple-double of his career, tallying 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists. At 20 years and 34 days old, Giddey is the second-youngest player in NBA history to reach five career triple-doubles. He trails Luka Doncic, who was 20 years and 18 days old when he recorded his fifth career triple-double.