One of the really fun things about this game is that sometimes, every so often, you're in the right place to see something really special. There were several big events in the NBA on Wednesday night, from LeBron James tying Michael Jordan's all-time streak of games with double-digit points scored, to Jaylen Brown's game-winning shot in Utah, to Kemba Walker becoming the all-time leading scorer for his franchise.
But the night belonged to the Big KAT.
With a Timberwolves record 56 points, Karl-Anthony Towns also grabbed 15 rebounds. He's the youngest player with 50 points and 15 rebounds in a game since Shaquille O'Neal on April 20, 1994 vs the Timberwolves (O'Neal was 22 years, 45 days, Towns is 22 years, 133 days). pic.twitter.com/NCrSDiQSmG
- ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 29, 2018
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 56 points (19-32 FG, 12-15 FT) with 15 rebounds, 4 assists, 6 3-pointers, 1 blocked shot and 2 TO in 41 minutes to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves over the Atlanta Hawks.
Now, to be clear, the Hawks have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing centers and are playing out the string on a deep lottery run, and they are so lowly that Ben Simmons tried to talk KAT into playing a video game late into Tuesday night because he shouldn't need much rest to deal with them. But the point is that Towns dominated them all the same at a time when his team absolutely had to have it.
The Timberwolves had just blown an ugly game earlier this week against an even worse Memphis Grizzlies team and entered Wednesday night clinging to the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Wolves got solid efforts from Andrew Wiggins (17 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals), Jeff Teague (11 points, 8 assists, 2 3-pointers, 2 steals) and Nemanja Bjelica (14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 3-pointers, 1 steal), but they were absolutely carried over the finish line by Towns.
In the last 30 years, there have been exactly five players to score at least 55 points with at least 15 rebounds in the same game: Michael Jordan (1990), Karl Malone (1990), Shaquille O'Neal (2000), Anthony Davis (2016) and now Towns (2018).
The pressure to make the playoffs can be crippling, especially for a franchise like the Timberwolves that hasn't made the playoffs since 2004. But for Towns, it would appear that the pressure is turning him into a diamond, which bodes well for his continued mega-elite production down the stretch of the season.
Wednesday recap
Box scores
Highlights:
• LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers: 41 points (14-26 FG, 9-11 FT), 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 3-pointers, 1 steal, 4 TO
• Dario Saric, Philadelphia 76ers: 26 points (9-19 FG, 6-6 FT), 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 3-pointers, 2 steals, 2 TO
• Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic: 24 points (11-21 FG, 1-1 FT), 15 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 3-pointer, 3 TO
Lowlights:
• Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies: 8 points (3-8 FG, 1-2 FT), 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 3-pointer, 2 TO
• Shabazz Napier, Portland Trail Blazers: 8 points (2-11 FG, 3-4 FT), 2 assists, 1 rebound, 1 seal, 1 3-pointer, 1 TO
• Nicolas Batum, Charlotte Hornets: 6 points (2-5 FG, 2-2 FT), 5 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 TO
Wednesday takeaways:
• The Boston Celtics took their perpetually injured group into Utah and pulled out a surprising win over a tough Jazz team. They got solid fantasy performances from Brown (21 points, 5 rebounds, 3 3-pointers, 3 assists and 2 steals), Terry Rozier (13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 3-pointers), Jayson Tatum (16 points, 3 assists, 2 3-pointers, 2 rebounds and 2 steals) and even Aron Baynes (13 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist). But the play of the night goes to the near buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Brown that won the game for the Celtics, in a scene that can be summed up with one image:
With Jaylen Brown's game-winning 3-pointer to overcome the Jazz, the Celtics completed their 14th double-digit comeback this season (tied for 2nd most in the NBA).
Boston now has 5 go-ahead FG in the final 5 seconds of the game this season, most in the NBA. pic.twitter.com/3HjUjoYa8m
- ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 29, 2018
• James put together a monster line on Wednesday, flirting with a 40-plus-point triple-double. However, he entered the record books for a streak that he began during the 2006-2007 season, 11 years ago:
With his 10th point, LeBron James has scored at least 10 points for the 866th straight regular season game, tying Michael Jordan for the longest streak in NBA history.
The last time he didn't score in double-figures in a regular season game was January 5, 2007 vs the Bucks (8). pic.twitter.com/dIlfdhdlgG
- ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 28, 2018
• Walker scored 21 points with 4 assists, 2 rebounds and 2 3-pointers on Wednesday night. He and Dwight Howard (19 points, 10 rebounds, 1 block, 1 assist) led the way for the Hornets on a night where they came up short to the Cavaliers. However, Walker made his own history on the night:
Kemba Walker (9,841 points) has passed Dell Curry (9,839) to become the all-time leading scorer in Hornets history. pic.twitter.com/U0ukFmW1Lb
- ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 29, 2018
Walker passed Dell Curry (AKA Stephen Curry's dad) on his way to setting a new franchise record for points scored. This was enough to make Walker emotional even on a night when his team lost in the midst of a lottery-bound campaign.
• Trey Burke scored a very solid 18 points with 6 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 3-pointers and 1 steal in 28 minutes on Wednesday night. This was a very solid effort, which supports the notion that his monster outburst on Monday wasn't a complete fluke. The worst news of the night for Burke was that Emmanuel Mudiay returned from his illness and played a big game himself off the bench, scoring 22 points with 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal and 1 3-pointer in 25 minutes.
Injuries of note:
• Joel Embiid collided with rookie teammate Markelle Fultz in the first half of Wednesday's game and suffered a facial contusion. He cleared the concussion protocol, but the severity of the contusion has not been released as yet. Consider him questionable for now.
• Lonzo Ball took a knee to the back of his leg on a back screen in the third quarter of Wednesday's game against the Dallas Mavericks. Team doctors and Ball himself have weighed in that they believe this to be a minor injury, but he will undergo a precautionary MRI just to be sure. With it being so late in a season with no playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers could decide to be cautious with their prized rookie, so consider him questionable moving forward until more information is released.
• Enes Kanter had a hard fall near the end of Wednesday's game, but x-rays on his back and wrist after the game came back negative. He should be considered questionable for Saturday's game.
• Al Horford missed Wednesday's game with a sprained ankle after he felt some minor discomfort during pregame warmup. Consider him questionable for Saturday's game.
• Elfrid Payton is dealing with knee tendinopathy, and did not play on Wednesday. He should be considered questionable to play on Friday, but tendinopathy can be more severe than tendonitis, and this close to the end of the season, all injuries must be considered potential season-enders. In Payton's absence, Tyler Ulis returned to the starting lineup on Wednesday with a big outing.
Analytic advantage for Thursday
There are two games on Thursday in which both teams are in the playoffs hunt: Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs, and Milwaukee Bucks at Golden State Warriors. Injuries could potentially play a big part in both games, as the Spurs are uncertain about the status of LaMarcus Aldridge (Q, knee), while the Warriors will be without at least two of their all-stars.
However, of the two games, Bucks-Warriors looks to be the more fantasy-friendly. Both the Warriors (third, 114.1) and the Bucks (10th, 109.7) are ranked in the top 10 in the NBA in points scored per 100 possessions. The injuries should slow the Warriors, but if Kevin Durant (probable) and Draymond Green (probable) both play, the Warriors will still have some impact assets. The injuries could actually make the game more competitive, which could lend itself to both teams playing well.
Top players to watch tonight
All eyes will be on Durant (rib) and Green (illness) tonight, as they are both probable to return and will look to start helping the Golden State Warriors right the ship. Curry (ankle) and Klay Thompson (thumb) are still out, but the return of half of their star players is a step in the right direction.
