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5 groups scored a minimum of 140 factors final evening. That’s an NBA document.
Pacers Prance on Bucks
Haliburton dances on deer
The Bucks and Pacers seemingly begin a brand new recreation each different hour this season — they play extra usually than Isaiah Thomas tweets about groups needing a veteran level guard. And each time Milwaukee and Indy play, each groups ship extremely spicy basketball.
One other ridiculous efficiency by Tyrese Haliburton fueled a 142-130 Pacers victory. It sounds routine at this level, but it surely shouldn’t be. Haliburton had 31 factors, 12 assists and nil turnovers. His six video games with a minimum of a dozen dimes and no turnovers this season tie Muggsy Bogues (1989-90) for probably the most by any participant within the final 40 years. Haliburton was dealing within the third quarter, when his seven assists ignited a 47-point quarter for Indiana.
Then, he dropped 15 of his 31 within the fourth quarter to seal the Pacers’ fourth win in 5 conferences in opposition to the Bucks, marking their first season-series win since 2017-18. And what a enjoyable season collection it was! Indy talks plenty of trash. Haliburton treats half of the Pacers’ possessions like an AND1 Mixtape. In 5 video games in opposition to Milwaukee, he’s averaging 27 factors, 11 assists and simply 1.4 turnovers with a 65.1 % true taking pictures share.
The Bucks (24-10) have been on a terrific run recently, however not in opposition to Indiana. It’s price questioning if Milwaukee ought to need to keep away from Indy within the postseason. The Pacers worry no deer.
Extra from a full Wednesday evening:
The Newest From Shams
Rising disconnect in Los Angeles
The Lakers have hit a brand new nadir of their marketing campaign, amplifying issues in regards to the path of the season from each inside and outdoors the group.
Sources inform me and Jovan Buha that there’s a deepening disconnect between head coach Darvin Ham and the Lakers locker room, elevating questions in regards to the coach’s standing, and we’re informed the disjointedness between Ham and the crew has stemmed from latest excessive rotation and beginning lineup changes.
On this story printed earlier at present, we now have extra particulars of what’s happening in LA and gamers’ response to final evening’s loss to a Jimmy Butler-less Miami Warmth crew. We’ll proceed to keep watch over the scenario because the season progresses.
Blissful Birthday, Wemby!
He was a very historic NBA teenager
Victor Wembanyama turns 20 years previous at present, which means he received’t add to any teenage totals or do issues “not executed by a youngster since LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and so forth.” anymore. Wemby-mania has died down for a few causes:
- The NBA has an extremely compelling season elsewhere.
- The 5-28 Spurs have the worst web ranking (minus-11.6) for the reason that 2011-12 Charlotte Bobcats (minus-15.0) aimlessly wandered into the worst single-season win share ever (.106, 7-59 general).
Wemby’s early experiences because the NBA’s wacky, inflatable, arm-flailing tubeman have been spectacular. Coming into tonight’s matchup in opposition to the Bucks, he’s averaging 18.9 factors, 10.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists and three.1 blocks with 44.4/29.4/78.4 taking pictures splits in 29.4 minutes. Right here’s how Wemby’s early days stack up in opposition to different notable younger NBA bigs:
- He can turn out to be the primary participant to common a minimum of 18 factors, 10 rebounds, three assists and three blocks since Shaquille O’Neal in 1999-2000. David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Invoice Walton, Bob Lanier are the one others to take action. No rookie has matched these marks.
- Since blocks had been first tracked in 1973-74, Shaq and David Robinson are the one No. 1 picks to common a minimum of three blocks as a rookie. Wemby’s league-leading 3.1 blocks per recreation have him on tempo to hitch Manute Bol (5 per recreation in 1985-86) as the one rookies to guide the league block common.
- On Nov. 2, 2023, in opposition to his idol Kevin Durant, Wemby (19 years, 302 days) grew to become the second-youngest to document a minimum of 35 factors and 10 rebounds in a recreation. Solely Durant (19 years, 200 days in 2008) achieved the feat at a youthful age.
- On Dec. 8, 2023, the rookie made himself the youngest participant in NBA historical past to document a 20-point, 20-rebound recreation. He’s the primary rookie so as to add a minimum of 4 assists and 4 blocks in a 20-20 recreation since Shaq in April 1993.
- On Dec. 28, 2023, he grew to become the youngest participant to document a minimum of 30 factors, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 blocks in a recreation (19 years, 358 days). He’s the one participant to take action earlier than turning 21 (Shaq is second-youngest, at 21 years and 279 days).
- He may be the primary Spurs rookie to guide the crew in factors and rebounds per recreation since David Robinson in 1989-90. For what it’s price, Tim Duncan (1997-98) led the Spurs in rebounds as a rookie however trailed Robinson for the crew scoring lead.
Now that Wemby is 20, we’ll see what new information he can set.
On This Day
His Airness reaches rarified air
My G.O.A.T. Michael Jordan didn’t accomplish this in a Chicago Bulls uniform, however he completed it nonetheless.
On this date in 2002, MJ grew to become the fourth participant in NBA historical past to achieve 30,000 profession factors. Humorous sufficient, he did it in opposition to the Bulls, reaching the mark through the second quarter of an 89-83 win for the Wizards. You’re in all probability questioning whether or not this was a cool dunk his previous legs managed to launch into the air — or perhaps that patented fadeaway or snatch-back crossover for a midrange jumper.
Nope. It was a free throw. That’s not the sexiest solution to do it, however 30k is 30k. MJ joined Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone and Wilt Chamberlain. Since then, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki and present all-time main scorer LeBron James have joined them.
Bounce Passes
The Thunder’s offense is killing as a result of they don’t care about positions.
Veteran Celtics massive males are in awe of what Wemby and Chet already do.
I may watch Allen Iverson share his Jordan reverence for hours.
Display screen Recreation (All instances Japanese)
- Important Display screen: Nuggets–Warriors (10 p.m. TNT). The Warriors performed them powerful on Christmas Day. Can they do it once more?
- Second Display screen: Bucks-Spurs (7:30 p.m. TNT). Wemby versus Giannis is funhouse mirror basketball. Full schedule right here.
(Prime photograph: Andy Lyons / Getty Photographs)
