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 ⭐️
Nikola Jokic compiled game highs of 29 points, 18 rebounds, and 16 assists as the Denver Nuggets outscored the Brooklyn Nets 144-139 in overtime. Jokic shot 9-16 from the field and made 11 of his 13 free throw attempts. He committed just one turnover in 41 minutes of playing time.
Second ⭐️
Kyrie Irving scored a team-high 35 points to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 120-114 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Irving sank 13 of his 23 shots from the floor, including a 6-8 effort from 3-point range. He also dished out five assists and was charged with only one turnover in 39 minutes of action.
Third ⭐️
Domantas Sabonis produced game highs of 28 points and 11 rebounds in the Sacramento Kings’ 113-96 win over the Utah Jazz. Sabonis made 13 of his 18 field goal attempts, including one 3-pointer. He posted a game-high rating of plus-23 points in 34 minutes played.
Milestones
Jokic recorded at least 15 points, 15 rebounds, and 15 assists in a game for the eighth time, tying Wilt Chamberlain for the third-most such games in NBA history. The pair trail Oscar Robertson (14) and Russell Westbrook (10).
The Kings’ DeMar DeRozan scored 20 points on 9-14 shooting from the floor. He increased his career total to 8,472 field goals made, enough to surpass Allen Iverson (8,467) and take over 31st place on the NBA’s all-time list.
The New Orleans Pelicans’ Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram scored 31 and 30 points, respectively, in a 124-106 loss to the Golden State Warriors. It’s the sixth time they’ve each scored at least 30 points in the same game, tying Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins for the most such games in franchise history by a duo.
The Golden State Warriors sank 21 threes, becoming the first team in NBA history to make 20 or more 3-pointers three times in their first four games of a season. Buddy Hield led the way with seven triples, followed by Moses Moody with five.
Streaking
Jokic is just the fourth player in NBA history to record a 40-point game and/or a triple-double in each of his first four games of a season. He joins Wilt Chamberlain (1961-62 and 1962-63), Oscar Robertson (1961-62), and Russell Westbrook (2020-21).
The Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards scored a game-high 37 points, going 7-13 from 3-point range. He joined Stephen Curry (2018-19) as the only players in NBA history to make at least five 3-pointers in each of their first four games of a season. Edwards also became the first player in franchise history to make at least five 3-pointers in four straight games.
The Kings’ De’Aaron Fox had 19 points, six assists, and one steal, extending his franchise-record streak of games with at least one theft to 32 (steals have been tracked since the 1973-74 season).
The Mavericks’ Luka Doncic once again needed a late three to extend his 3-point streak, hitting his first triple with 1:04 remaining in the fourth quarter. Doncic has made at least one 3-pointer in each of his last 74 regular season games, the longest such streak in franchise history by 26 games.
Doncic has also scored at least 15 points in each of those games. His run of 74 consecutive games with at least 15 points and one 3-pointer made is the longest such streak in NBA history by 11 games.
Team(s) with a losing streak of five or more games (dating back to last season): Utah Jazz (five).
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Miscellany
Edwards was the night’s leading scorer with 37 points. Irving (35), Williamson (31), and Ingram (30) also had 30-point outings.
Jokic was the top glass cleaner, hauling in 18 rebounds last night. The Nets’ Nic Claxton (12) and Sabonis (11) also collected double-digit boards.
Jokic was the night’s top playmaker too, handing out 16 assists. Also delivering double-digit dimes were the Nets’ Dennis Schroder (14) and the Jazz’s Keyonte George (11).
Jokic has been his team’s leader (either outright or tied) in points, rebounds, and assists 173 times, the second-most such games in NBA history behind LeBron James (233).