Lhe season that turned the NBA into the quintessential competition for offensive talent experienced a historic moment. 19 players scored on the same night (taking American time) 30 or more points. A few days after the only one of the year without any in 30, the NBA presents one of the great scoring bacchanalia that is remembered in the 10 games played.
Son Kawhi Leonard, Paul George (Los Ángeles Clippers), DesMond Bane (Memphis Grizzlies), Zach LaVine (Chicago Bulls), Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers), Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics), Anthony Davis (Los Ángeles Lakers), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams (Oklahoma City Thunder), Immanuel Quickley, Julius Randle (New York Knicks), Kevin Durant, Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving (Dallas Mavericks), Mikael Bridges (Brooklyn Nets), Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards) y Jalen Green (Houston Rockets).
The ’29 club’
They could have been more, because there were also three with 29 points. Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), RJ Barrett (New York Knicks) and Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics).
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Paul George’s 42 points against the Grizzlies
Of course, it generated a string of franchise records. Perhaps the most impressive corresponds to the Los Angeles Clippers who had a magnificent Paul George (42 + 11) in command in the win over the Grizzlies. He became, along with Kawhi Leonard (34 + 10), the first couple in franchise history to score 30 or more points and grab 10 or more rebounds since 1982.
Also in the new fashion couple. Devin Booker (36+10) and Kevin Durant (37+7), in their brilliant performance against the Dallas Mavericks that included a shot to win from ’35’, they achieved something that had not happened in the Phoenix Suns since 2017. The last time in the franchise in which two players, on that occasion, DBook’ and TJ Warren, went to 35 or more per head.
The pique between Doncic and Booker, it shows that they want to!
Others stayed on the edge of changing a historic streak, which defines, on the other hand, the present and recent past of the franchise. The New York Knicks, in their victory against the Boston Celtics, came close to breaking a record for the 1978-79 season. They fell just one point behind RJ Barrett from having three players with 30 or more points thanks to Randle’s 31 and Immanuel Quickley’s 38.
And it goes to the individual field. Jalen Williams, young rookie for the Oklahoma City Thunder, he joined a galactic company by billing 32 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. He is only the third rookie, after Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, to sign a game of 30 or more points, 5 or more rebounds and 5 or more assists. A crazy night.
